Choose Happiness

I skipped yesterday’s post because it was just too hectic of a day and I felt I had neglected too much the previous day when I tried to film, edit, and produce that coffee making video all in a matter of hours. I now know, film and edit in the days prior to the post or it all just goes to shit. Anyway, I’m not feeling so bad since the subject was on things that make us uncomfortable and, well, LOTS of stuff makes me uncomfortable. I’m getting better in my older age, and with the help of a stubborn husband who refuses to give in to my quirks, but still I’d rather not think about it all or they might just find their way back into my life.

Today I am happy to share a quote that I love with all of you. It has long been my favorite go to quote, holding a lot of significance in my life during a time when I was really searching for answers. And even though there are plenty of beautiful quotes that I love, this one, this simple statement, has always been there in my heart.

“Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response.” ~ Mildred Barthel

I’m sad to confess I don’t know the context of the quote or even who Mildred was, a writer of the poetry kind I believe. It was a random internet find at the right moment and has stuck with me ever since.

Today, now, I am happy. I have so very much to be happy for and very little to feel sad about. Every day I have two beautiful, happy, blue eyed children calling me mama. Reaching their arms for ME when they are sad or hurt. Curling up into my arms when they need to be close. Kissing me with their wet sloppy mouths. I have a husband who is currently outside weeding my flower beds and let me tell you that fuels a lot of happiness (even though he just took a break from his weeding to nag me about getting in the shower, as IF there are better things to be doing today!).

But I could just as easily go through my days focusing on the pile of toys at my feet that I will likely have to clean up several times today. The pillows no one cares to put back in their place. The sleep I didn’t get…you see, if I try I can think of things that are not so “happy” and there are a lot more. Every day I say I am happy. If not out loud then always to myself. Sometimes I might not act very happy but at the end of every day I kiss my children and I say how happy they make me, I whisper it in Maddie’s ear when I go for one last check in before crawling in bed. Just having a good life doesn’t mean I will feel happiness. I have to look for the good and choose the happiness. A long time ago I cried nearly every day. Now I rarely do, and it feels good.

At certain times in my life this wasn’t always so easy. I am no stranger to depression, I watch people I love most in the world fight with it every single day. So this is not me saying, “Oh choose to be happy and you will immediately be happy!”. But I do believe that it is a start. Wake up and choose happiness, eventually the happiness is easier to see, to feel. If you wake up waiting for the happy to just smack you in the face? It’s not likely to happen quite as easily.

So, today, and every day, choose happiness!