Happy is the#FiveMinuteFriday word for today. There has been a lot of talk about being happy lately. What does it take to make me happy?
There is so much unhappiness in the world. It almost seems like I should not try to be happy. But that is no way to live. I can’t change all the unhappiness in the world, but I can look for ways to be happy right where I am.
[bctt tweet=”I can choose to be happy or I can complain about all the mess around me. ” username=”GaylWright”]Today, when I first started to write I couldn’t really think of how to start. So I did what I often do when I am stuck. I went outside to look around and see what I could find.
I looked down at my garden and could see green tomatoes and flowers of varied colors. There were butterflies and bees around.
The more I looked the more I found to be happy about. I think happiness in a sense is a choice. I can’t always change my circumstances, but instead of dwelling on the bad I can look for beauty in simple things.
You know what I think holds a key to being happy? Contentment. [bctt tweet=”If I am content I can enjoy life right where I am. ” username=”GaylWright”]That doesn’t mean I don’t work to make things better if I can. It does mean I will accept where I am now and learn to be content.
Acceptance is where I need to start. Then I can take baby steps toward making improvements, but I can learn to be content with each step.
How about you? What makes you happy?
Here’s something to think about.
A new book compiled from past Five Minute Friday writings! I actually have an article in it along with many of my friends. Any proceeds from the book will be split equally between two ministries in South Africa: The Vine School and the Ten Dollar Tribe.
I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday, #ThankfulThursday, #Glimpses,#Faith’nFriends, #InspireMeMonday, #LMMLInkup, #RaRaLinkup
I love your garden pics and post! Thank you for sharing. yes, keep it simple. The best things in life are free and can bring much happiness. Stopping by from FMF! Leigh
Thank you so much, Leigh! It helps if we can be intentional about looking for the beauty in the simple, everyday things. It’s so easy to get busy and miss what is right in front of us.
Thanks for stopping by and blessings to you!
I’m so excited about the FMF book. It makes me happy! Jennifer talks about happiness being a decision in her book. I think you’re saying the same thing as she is. I’m in the 5 spot this week.
Yes, it is exciting, isn’t it? Thanks so much for stopping by, and I’m glad you are happy, Tara! Blessings to you!
Acceptance and contentment. Whew. Two areas I’ve been struggling with a LOT lately but just the few days the Lord has been bringing peace again. Noticing and appreciating the little things. What a difference it makes to one’s state of mind and heart!
And thanks for the pics of the flutterbys, as I call them. Love ’em and we don’t get a lot here.
Shelby, thank you so much for your comments. I, too, struggle with acceptance and contentment. It’s easy to look around and only see what there is to complain about, but if we first look for the beauty our whole perspective can change.
I love the “flutterbys” too! 🙂 If I had not gone outside I would have missed them!
Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by!
“Acceptance is where I need to start.”
Yes, exactly. Today went horribly wrong for me, around mid-day, with pain, nausea, and other stuff I won’t describe (being terminal isn’t pretty).
But there is happiness in each moment, if I choose to find it. An example…
When all the dreck was cleared away, one of my service dogs (I have two!) decided that we should put in the DVD of “Tora, Tora, Tora”…and watched it with me, looking alertly at the screen, cocking her head in places I’m sure she found appropriate, and furrowing her brows when the theme became more ominous.
How could that not be Happy, even though I was kinda wishing I was dead, it hurt so bad?
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/08/your-dying-spouse-190-mustard-seed-of.html
Oh, Andrew, I’m sorry you have so much pain, but inspiring to see you look for the “happy.” Thank you for sharing that story of your dog. It’s like she knew what would bring you some joy.
I’m glad you were able to find some happiness in the midst of the pain. I can just picture her in my mind watching it with you. 🙂 What a blessing!
I pray God will comfort and strengthen you and grant healing in His time. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
Love the photos! It’s so important to allow the beauty God created to infuse us with happy thoughts and gratitude :).
Thank you, Anita! Yes, looking at nature almost always fills me with gratitude to God. I loved seeing the butterflies, etc.
Glad you stopped by! Blessings to you!
I noticed the word “content” in your post, and that resonated for me because so much of our happiness or “joy” is a choice — Doesn’t Jennifer Dukes Lee say that 40% of it is up to us (with the rest being determined by genes and circumstances).
Blessings, Gayl.
You’re right, so much of it is a choice if we’d only realize it. I haven’t read Jennifer’s book yet, but I hope to be able to get a copy soon.
Blessings to you, Michele!
“Acceptance is where to start.” Yes! I so agree. We all have happiness-initiators all around us if we’ll just look. Accept where God has planted us. Thanks for sharing this, Gayl. It makes my day happier. 🙂
Lisa, thank you for visiting and for your encouragement! I’m glad it made your day happier!
Many blessings to you!
Beautiful garden! It is so often in the simple things of nature that we find beauty and happiness. Tuning in to those things and choosing where we focus is so key. Thanks for linking up with Thankful Thursday again.
Thaks, Jodi! Yes, tuning in and choosing where we focus are so important. Now if I can only remember to tune in and really focus every day.
Blessings to you!
Love the idea of being happy where we are due to being content. Sounds just like the Apostle Paul! Thanks for sharing at the #LMMLinkup.
Thanks, Leslie! I’m glad you stopped by. Blessings to you!