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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Wake up Some Happiness!



I was browsing through some old posts and decided to resurrect this one because of its timely message.

The above song shook me up....in a good way. It inspired me to contemplate, and pursue, happiness in a very conscious way. What better time of year to seek happiness than at Christmas time when everything is decked and festive?

Sometimes life can become predictable and boring, and you have to take life off the shelf and give it a shake or two, like a snow globe, and stir up some excitement.



I have a bad habit of waiting for life to hand me happiness. Like a hungry beggar I stand with my little heart wide open, hoping that life will give me a handout. But it rarely does. Some people stay this way for years, lamenting their misery and blaming bad luck, or the world, for their lack of happiness.

My mother used to say, “You have to make your own happiness Leah.” Then she would patiently steer me into a direction of amusement by providing me with a piece of fabric and a needle and thread, or a box of Crayola’s and a sheet of clean white paper. Within minutes I’d be happily engrossed in my project as time swept swiftly by.

I guess I’m equating happiness with happenings, unlike joy, which I consider a more spiritual attribute. Happiness pacifies the flesh and mind, while joy comforts the spirit. The Christian mystic, Madame Guyon, said, “It’s better to engage in a mindless hobby than to entertain a spirit of melancholy.” Basically it’s the same message my mother gave me so many years ago. So now that I’m grown….well mostly, I know that I am responsible for creating my own amusements and happiness’s. If I’m miserable and bored it’s my own damn fault.

Today, make a plan for happiness. Go out of your way to find it. Think outside of your stuffy little life box; call an old friend, watch your favorite movie, or try something new like skydiving, or acting. Do the thing you have always wanted to do, but never had the courage to try.

Don’t wait for somebody else to make you happy. They’re all too busy trying to figure out their own plan. The path to happiness is yours to find and follow. So, make yourself up a batch of happiness. With all the ingredients available to you, there’s no end to the possibilities.

45 comments:

Cathy said...

Your mother is an exceptionally wise woman, she has shown you the landmarks without pushing you one way or another. A perfect reflection of Lao Tze's saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."

Leah Griffith said...

Cathy, she was not only wise but she was one of the most creative people I've ever known. She set an excellent example.

Marie from Rock The Kasbah said...

I'm pretty sure wine is one of those ingredients for me. So cheers Leah on another post well done!

Leah Griffith said...

Oh yes Marie! And chocolate also! Did I mention pie because if pie ain't in there I ain't joining!

Kathy said...

Leah....Love, love, love that song....and great ideas and insights in your post....wonderful, wonderful! : ) kathy
ps..my husband just came in to hear the song... and asked me to pass that word along to you that he likes the song and post too.
psps....ohhh....I know this feeling..."Like a hungry beggar I stand with my little heart wide open, hoping that life will give me a handout."....it will, but I have to be receptive, open and willing to engage....

JANU said...

Wonderful post again Leah. Very well said. I would like to pull myself out of my comfort zone...thanks.

Healing Morning said...

I think this is a flavor of a similar malady that many of us entertain - I call it "waiting to live". And I've been guilty of it many times over my life. "When I get X, Y and Z done, THEN I'll be able to be happy." "If I can accomplish A, B, C and D, then I can start to enjoy myself." How annoying this is when I think of the time lost! I guess that in a way, it's never wasted time, as we're always growing and learning, even if we do it with dragging feet and a mastery of getting in our own way. Perhaps I'm just always going to be a Late Bloomer in this regard; it takes me twice as long as some, occasionally. Or perhaps that's just me comparing my insides to other peoples' outsides. Another thing which I'm really good at doing!

Well, you know, in the midst of all this getting sidetracked and taking the long way around and about the Back 40 to reach my destination, I discover beautiful moments. That single flower in the midst of a muddy spot beside the path. That spot where if I stand still, I hear the musical sounds of a small stream painting the air with liquid tones. That moment when, if I quiet my breathing, I can hear the Earth's heartbeat. So, even though I dally and tarry longer than some, I guess it's all in balance.

Wow, I love coming to play here with you, Leah! I always discover something of myself in the process.

Much love to you, darling girl! <3

- Dawn

S. Susan Deborah said...

Spot-on Leah. And, there are no end to possibilities.

Joy always,
Susan

Ms. Faustus said...

I think I equate happiness with happenings, too. You just got me thinking about that. I get bored with everything so quickly and I just feel the need to move, move, move on before I start yawning. But I am also a fan of mindless hobbies and repetitive activities, simply because they calm me down.

Luckily for me, somebody has already made me happy today. I think I am going to make them happy back - that will be my snow-globe-shake for today :)

Thank you for this. Now go get yours, girl!

Corinne Rodrigues said...

Mama sure was wise, Leah! Eating Life Raw is my 'Blog of the Week' - check my blog's sidebar! Have a happy week ahead!

PS: Would you believe the CAPTHA I got for this is MOTHERS!!

sulekkha said...

I agree with you and am like you in a lot of ways. I like to shake up my life once in a while to get the happiness flowing :) enjoyed reading your different post.

Savira Gupta said...

True words spoken by a wise lady... Happiness lies in our hands...

Martha Jane Orlando said...

Truer words were never spoken. Yes, we ARE responsible for our own happiness. Your mom was wonderful in helping steer you toward yours.
Blessings!

Karen Wojcik Berner said...

Great post, Leah, as always. :)

Rimly said...

I really needed to read this today Leah. I have been moping around the whole day. Just like you I get into this habit f waiting for happiness to fall on my lap. I have to keep telling myself that my happiness does not depend on anyone, I am responsible for it. Love you for this wise post

Bongo said...

OH how I wish I can just bring on happiness..I have too much garbage in the way still to be cleaned out..but working on it..Christmas is a huge trigger for me...and it's usually the lowest time in my life..when my kids were young i used to try and change the memories by getting in their lives and changing things..unfortunately ..i quietly go away and feel tears..my efforts didn't work..happiness..I wish...As always..XOXOXOXO

The Poet said...

Hello.
How right you are Leah!
In this life, WE are the only ones holding us back. This is why I immerse myself in my poetry. It's what brings me alive & my happiness (besides the company of my wife). Even if I only write a sentence or a word, I can always add to it later.
Very nicely said.
Thanks for sharing.

Leah Griffith said...

Kathy, I'm so glad that you and your husband enjoyed the song and the post. That little song gets me going every time. And yes, life will give us a hand out but we have to be receptive like you said.
Well...back to cookie baking! Yum;)

Leah Griffith said...

Janu, you don't seem like the type to let life pass you by! I'm forming a group for a bungee jump, you want to join? *grin

Leah Griffith said...

Dawn, you can point out the most annoying faults in the most poetic of ways! LOL!! I love it when you come here and think out loud. I too have put life off and compared myself to scores of others only to come out with a low score. Yeah...it's not a fruitful exercise. Anyway, like you said, we learn and we grow, and sometimes we discover the most beautiful flowers.
Sending my love right back to you!

Leah Griffith said...

Hi Susan, I bet you're like me...always wanting to try something new. The latest on my list is to learn Spanish. Perhaps after Christmas I'll dip into my set of Rosetta Stone CDs. Thanks for your comment Susan, it's great to see you!

Leah Griffith said...

Chris, I'm glad that you had a good dose of "happy"...you deserve it! I can imagine you jumping from one activity to the next and all along the way leaving a trail of origami boats to be happily discovered by weary souls.
I'm working on an email for you.
Hugs,
Leah

Leah Griffith said...

Sweet Corinne, I am honored to be your blog of the week! Thank you so much. This is my first blog of the week honor;)
I'm so out of touch Corinne that I have to admit that I don't know what a CAPTHA is...yikes huh? LOL!!
I also won a couple of awards from fellow bloggers and haven't got a clue as to what to do with them. I am so bad!

Leah Griffith said...

Sulekkha, we all need to shake things up to prevent us from going stale. We used to be couch potatoes but now I think we've become computer potatoes. Yup. Anyway, it's good to get outside in the sunshine and find neat stuff to do.
XO

Leah Griffith said...

Savira, you are so right! And, by the way, you have very pretty hands;)

Leah Griffith said...

Martha, my mom had yards and yards of wisdom. I'm still feasting off her words to me. She was, and always will be, a huge blessing in my life.
Sending you a hug Martha!

Leah Griffith said...

Thanks Karen! I'll be by to see you!

Leah Griffith said...

Miss Rimly, I know how you feel that's why I wrote it. I've done the same thing many times, and then I'll remember my mother's words and perk back up. I'm glad this post perked you up Rimly. I guess my mom was speaking to you today <3

Leah Griffith said...

Bongo, I wish I coud erase all your bad memories. It breaks my heart to see you so sad. I remember when holidays were a nightmare. My step father enjoyed ruining anything special. I'm so grateful to be the boss of me now and create my own holidays.
It will come Bongo. It will come.
Sending extra big hugs,
Leah

Leah Griffith said...

Andy, I know what you mean. Writing brings me such fulfillment and happiness. Do you find yourself writing in your head throughout your day? Sometimes it's so distracting that I can't concentrate when people are talking to me. "Huh, Sorry" LOL!!!

photos by jan said...

Great post, very well said, happiness from within. What a wise mama you have.

Shreya said...

Yea, I agree with your post. Nicely written, well I don't need to say this; its understood. ;) Love your posts. :) xx

Happiness is something that we grow, it doesn't fall in our bag out of the blues. And waiting for something to happen you have never done anything for is like waiting for the fruit to grow even when you haven't yet planted a tree for it.

"Fools have wishes, wise men grows it under their feet." -Quoted an author, I can say I am fool to keep on wishing but I know I have to grow it on my own.

Manisha Bhatia said...

Thanks for this post Leah, we r humans n at times we all r swayed away by our emotions n pressure in life n stop discovering happiness in small things of life.

Then articles from writers like u s a wake up call.

PS- I believe I came to ur blog fr first time...neverthless the relation will be an enduring one. :)

Love
Mani
www.mani-wheniwaslostinme.blogspot.com

Debbie Maxwell Allen said...

Great thoughts! I love the snowglobe analogy!

~Debbie

fantasy in practicality said...

always in search of possibilities to make life filled with chocolate happiness. i agree with you. we must find out our own happiness. not wait for anyone to bring it for us.

love and hugs
sancheeta

Leah Griffith said...

Thank you Jan. Some of the simplest wisdom is the toughest to grasp.

Leah Griffith said...

Shreya, planting and reaping is the most basic of laws. We should know this because the earth demonstrates it to us on a daily basis. Perhaps we can hold onto this truth and find happiness. Perhaps...
Thank you for you post Shreya, I always smile when I see you here.
XO
Leah

Leah Griffith said...

Miss Mani, thank you for visiting. We need to pinch each other awake sometimes...remind us each other to live and smile, get out there and make something happen!
I stopped by your place and love it!

Leah Griffith said...

Debbie! Hey lady, I've been really enjoying all your wise advice for writers...are you working on that diet plan for us yet? LOL!!

Leah Griffith said...

Sancheeta...chocolate happiness brings happiness to a whole new level! Yummy happiness;) I love it!

Debra said...

Well it is a timely message. Thank you! Happiness is contingent on outer circumstances, while joy comes from a place deep within. Peace and joy!

Leah Griffith said...

Hi Debra, that's exactly what I believe, although it's nice to have the two going on at the same time ;)

Cathy said...

What lovely greetings! And you look as lovely as the tree my dear!

To me, joy comes from the divine vessel of the heart, a chalice overflowing with love but never, ever empty. And yes, the heart has it's suffering, too. It will take on the world's suffering and, in the way of the divine, transform it into something better. Compassion.

Leah Griffith said...

Thank you sweet lady! I just love Christmas!

I love your description of the heart...a chalice overflowing...

Jayne said...

“It’s better to engage in a mindless hobby than to entertain a spirit of melancholy.” Oh, I like that message! Leah, I cannot imagine you ever bored! I'm sorry, but that is just not a plausible image!

Hey-I finished my writing project and made a little doll (of the main character) to go along with it. So, see! I've been amusing myself!
Just hope my little nephew, the recipient of my silly project, is half as amused. ;)

(Now maybe I'll get back to blogging. But wait--the holidays are upon us! Oh dear.)

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