Reaching Your Happy Place

It's the time of year when people begin to get all reflective and start to make their resolutions for the next year. While I do enjoy reflection, I am not one to make resolutions. To me, resolutions are stated intents with no system to measure progress. What's to point in trying to change something if you can't measure your progress?

Last night, while my daughter laid in bed next to me watching Zombieland, I had a long, deep conversation with my dear friend Alicia. A lot of what we talked about had to do with finding happiness while staying true to yourself and true to your God.  While I try to keep this space secular, to know me is to know that I am a Christian. Many years ago, following the death of my husband, I welcomed Christ into my life and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  Although I fall short, I wake each day with the intent to live His will and make choices to glorify Him.

For those that do not hold my beliefs, please, don't feel alienated and close this page. That is all I have to say about Him. What I am getting at is really less about faith and more about happiness. More about that little voice in the back of your head that tells you whether or not you are on the right track.




Via Google images



So often we make choices that in the here and now seem like great ideas. Like a night on the town with libations flowing freely. Then, the next day, we wake up feeling like a pile of poo thinking, "Why on Earth did I drink so much?" It made us happy at the time, but really, long term, it contributed nothing to our overall happiness.

I'm not saying, "Quit drinking." That's an absurd thought, in my opinion. What I am saying is, how often do we really evaluate our overall happiness? Not how we're feeling right at that moment, but overall? How often do we consider all of our options? How often do we look at the options and really consider necessary steps to achieving the seemingly unattainable goal?

I know that I personally have aspired to things that have quickly fallen to the wayside because of doubt and fear that clouded my way. I'm here to tell you that I refuse to be a product of my fear. Going forward, I refuse to be a product of my self doubt. While I am not here to make a list of changes I'd like to see in me, I will say that 2011 will see me embracing my challenges and facing my fears. 2011 will see me not being defined by the things I don't think I can do, but working to acheive the things that bring me overall happiness.