HAPPINESS

By Darcy Keith

Mother's Day is a recent memory. Like most moms, I was treated to a day where I could do whatever I want. I was Queen of the remote control. The lunch menu detailed food that I wanted, and I didn't have to cook it. My daughter, young as she is, made several Mother's Day cards at school, church, and home with various scrapbooking adornments, which she proudly presented to me and begged that I select my favorite one. The sun was shining, and the day was happy.

There are times in our lives where things may not seem happy or joyous at all. Events happen and steal our joy. How do you recover from this? Where are you getting your joy? I must confess, life is not all roses. One of my six year-old daughter's favorite sayings is, "It's not fair". She is learning that life isn't fair at times.

What would life be like if we had everything we wanted? King Solomon in the Bible had it all: power, fame, fortune, and wisdom. Yet, he put his happiness in temporal things and became very unhappy. Have you ever said to yourself, I will be really happy when I get that new car? How long does this happiness last? Or what about an accomplishment you have achieved. The next one must be bigger and better. It's never enough and the cycle continues, searching for the happiness "high" that you experienced before.

What makes you happy? I'm not just talking about for a few hours or days. I'm talking about happiness for a while longer.

Here are four suggestions on living a happier life:

1. Think of the small things that make you happy and write them down. This could be a sunny day, the smell of freshly cut grass, or hearing your favorite song on the radio.
2. Keep everything in perspective. Put things in their proper place. If something makes you unhappy, consider the scenario in the big scheme of things. Will it really matter when you are 80 years old?
3. Look at the root cause of what makes you happy in your life. Remember what gives you joy.
4. Put yourself second and serve others, which is contradictory to what the world says. Happiness in serving another person first, rather than ourselves, is a humbling experience that shows others that they matter more than us.

Have you heard of the saying, "Giving the shirt off of your back"? Happiness is a great feeling. The wonderful thing about being happy is that it can be found in small packages. Why not take time to look for the small stuff that makes you happy today?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darcy Keith is a national award-winning professional speaker and author, and is an expert on overcoming challenges. She has presented before numerous corporations, associations, service organizations, churches, and universities, as well as being featured on various television and radio venues including ABC, CBS, and FOX. To have Darcy share her expertise through her captivating presentations, contact her at www.DarcyKeith.com, or to sign up for her FREE monthly inspirational newsletter, email her at Darcy@DarcyKeith.com.

Simple but effective!

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.

The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around.... After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

And, remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there..... This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. -Albert Einstein

Thought for Today

True success is not necessarily about being the best at all cost. It's about DOING your best at all times. If you do that long enough, who knows, you might just end up being the best.

Tope Popoola

The Girl I Used to Be

Author Unknown

She came tonight as I sat alone,


the girl I used to be,


And she gazed at me with her earnest eyes,


and questioned reproachfully,


Have you forgotten the many plans,


and hopes I had for you?


The great career,


the splendid fame,


all the wonderful things to do?


Where is the mansion of stately height,


with all of its gardens rare?


The silken robes that I dreamed for you,


and the shining jewels in your hair?


And as she spoke,

I was very sad,


for I wanted her pleased with me,


This slender girl from the shadowy past,


the girl I used to be.

So gently rising,


I took her hand and guided her up the stairs,


Where peacefully sleeping,


my babies lay, innocent, sweet and fair,


And I told her that these are my only gems,


and precious they are to me,


That silken robe is my motherhood,


of costly simplicity,


And my mansion of stately height is love,


and the only career I know,


Is serving each day in these sheltered walls,


for the dear ones who come and go,


And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,


she smiled through her tears at me,


And I saw the woman that I am now,


pleased the girl that I used to be!

Happy Mother's Day