Friday 12 November 2010

If ...





Two weeks ago we were fortunate to see 1927 in concert ...they perfomed for a hour or so. This is one of my favourite songs of theirs. I am showing my age now ...



If ...

How many times do we say to ourselves, or to our friends or spouses if we are open enough;

I could be happier

  • if only I (or spouse) had a different job or was earning more
  • if I lose weight
  • if I didn't have ...
  • if my in-laws ...
  • if we had a bigger house or a new car
  • if only I had a house cleaner, chef or laundry fairy
  • if only I can get through this rough patch
  • if only I wasn't juggling way too many balls ...or rather #FAILing at it.
  • if I could had more control over ...
or maybe we have a little more positivity and we say when

I'll be happier when ...
  • I lose weight
  • get a job
  • move house
  • finish my studies
  • have more money
  • this year is over
  • win ...

Everything will get better...
.when ?

I've seen a few people write about what is happiness ? They all say it so differently.

I think I am happy enough ; I am blessed compared to many people. However, I feel guilty I want things to be happier, easier and better.

I certainly have goals and dreams of things yet to happen.
I find it's easier to look further down the road and want that kind of happiness; when .... all the planets are aligned and the pieces fit together.

I realise, instead, I should live for today, find happiness in the now.
I should accept the hard things and get on with it ... being happy today.

I qualify the above by saying that sometimes we need help when we speak about depression and deep abiding unhappiness or discontent.
Unhappiness that endures for a long time or robs us of any joy is not something you can just get over. (My DH has taken medication/counselling for depression for several years.)

I should ...write down 5 things that made me happy today ...to really tune into the bright spots or moments in my day.

I just don't make the time. I will.
If I can't find 5 ...then 2 or 3 will do.
God, grant us the...
Serenity to accept things we cannot change,
Courage to change the things we can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference
Extended version ...
Patience for the things that take time
Appreciation for all that we have, and
Tolerance for those with different struggles
Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the
Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other and the
Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless.Commonly attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr
In 1953 William Spence added a new section after the first 4 lines:
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Just for today !
At some meetings of Narcotics Anonymous, the line "Just for today" is added to the end of the prayer (WIKIpedia)

A few will know of the more humourous versions.

God grant me the senility

to forget the people I never liked anyway,

the good fortune to run into the ones I do,

and the eyesight to tell the difference. author unknown


or this naughty one

Happiness
is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.

How do you define happiness ?


rrsahm


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11 comments :

Crazed Nitwit said...

Live in the moment. Relish each second with those you love. No more ifs for me I'm grabbing the reigns.

Love you.

Hugs

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

@Janice (hugs) you know I love you too.
(ps I love relish ...and hold onto your horse my gorgeous friend)

ClaireyHewitt said...

I so loved this song, sorry couldn't get into all the other issues of being grateful etc, just loving eighties music so much!!

Jayne said...

Embrace all the little happies cos they happen more often and are worth more

Maxabella said...

Happiness is feeling grateful for what you have and knowing that the future is going to be even brighter.

I love that song too... x

allison tait said...

Happiness can be as simple as accepting what is. Being content with what you have. Thanks for linking up today!

Glow said...

So very true. When we stop and realise just how much we have it is amazing. I might not have enough money to buy a fancy car or a big screen TV but we have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and love in our hearts.
Glowless x

MultipleMum said...

Good on you Trish. So many of us keep putting off life, don't we?

"Life is not about waiting out the storms, it is learning to dance in the rain".

Happy days to you xx

Loz said...

And in the bad times remembering - "This too shall pass"

ClaireyHewitt said...

I am back again, still loving bad songs from the eighties!

allison tait said...

Is a lovely post. :-)

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