Happiness is a Mood

Another lovely nugget from my favorite series...

So the gorgeous girl looses essentially everything she feels is her identity. And obviously she's feeling a little lost. So her boyfriend tells her

"people get lost when they think of happiness as a destination."

 

 

A lot of us live our lives thinking that they'll be happy "when." The new job. The new car. The new house. Make more money. Take this great vacation.

 

But really happiness is a MOOD. It's about the here and now. I know well the feelings of "I'll be happy when.." It used to be when we bought a house because I'd grown to hate our condo even though I loved our ward and the people we lived near.

 

But then, we got the house. And just five days later, I broke my shoulder. It was a devastating injury, excruciatingly painful, and forever changed our path. It changed my job security, because people don't wait FIVE MONTHS for their favorite waxer or hairstylist. It changed our financial security, both our plans and our current state. It made us dependent on outside help from our friends and family in a way we never had been before.

 

Frequently I still catch myself saying things like, "well we were going to, but then I broke my shoulder," or "we had that planned, but then I broke my shoulder."

 

I am currently, and have been for more than a year, living in the "I'll be happy when...." state of being and I'm realizing that I've also been quick to lay blame for things that were truly out of anyone's control. Maybe I've been focusing too much on the "when" and not enough on the "now."

 

Maybe, happiness really is a mood. It's something we have to decide to be and work for each moment of every day. And maybe gratefulness and happiness are slightly interchangeable. Maybe being appreciative of the things in front of us helps us see the happiness we have NOW.

 

Today I'm so grateful for my wonderful husband, the strength and support he is to me. I'm thankful he is a worthy priesthood holder who can bless our family daily. I'm so grateful that he has a job and is on a career path when so many do not have those things.

I'm thankful for two healthy, vibrant children.

I am grateful for the blessings of the gospel and the temple, for my eternal marriage, our prophet, the scriptures, and modern day revelation.

I'm thankful for a roof that doesn't leak, for a car that runs, for our amazing friends who show up in our darkest hours, and for our family and all that they are and do.

 

Today, I choose to be happy. But please, someone remind me at nap time, I'll probably forget. :)