“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Dennis Waitley.
“Happy New Year” Just think, a million New Yorker’s gathered together at Times Square this year just to wish one another a “Happy New Year” and that message went out on TV to many, many millions more. I opened this column with a quote by Denis Waitley that I recently discovered and as I reread it again and again I came to the conclusion that Denis had hit the nail right on the head this time. Many of the happiest moments of my life were those times where I caught myself acting as a loving person. When I found I was truly giving for the sheer joy of giving and with no ulterior motive present. Too often, our Give to Get philosophy is based on giving with the hope of getting something better back and as that wonderful speaker, philosopher Charlie “Tremendous” Jones once taught me, “Giving to get is not giving at all. That is trading. But when we learn to give for the sheer joy of giving then we are often blessed as a result.” I figure this, that whatever part of this coming year I am still around or any future years here on earth for me are purely a gift. At 85 I have absolutely exceeded my life expectancy and so from here on my life is truly a gift. A very precious gift at that and I must be grateful for every second, every moment and every hour. I want to fill those hours or days with as much happiness as I possibly can and that means happiness for not just me but all those I encounter in my remaining lifetime. Reading that quote of Denis’ helps me to realize that I cannot travel to that happiness nor own it, earn it, wear it or consume it. As the quote says, “Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” That will take some real doing for me. “…every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” Whew!
Definitely I will have to change some of my attitudes and absolutely watch my big mouth. There is an old, old song I remember that goes this way:
I want to be happy. But I won’t be happy. Till I make you happy too.
Life’s really worth living, When we are mirth giving. Why can’t I give some to you?
When skies are gray and you say you are blue, I’ll send the sun smiling through. I want to be happy, but I won’t be happy Till I make you happy too.
I hope we all have a happy, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Be the first to comment