Secrets to Happiness

Once in a while, inexpilcably, and for some reason fairly often lately, I find myself feeling a rush of pure happiness. It is usually spurred on my something minor, a great song, a dip in a lap pool, the sight of two baby geckos hunting among the banana trees in my back yard...but I think often about what can make me suddenly so happy...so this is what I have been able to come up with so far.

1.) Earn the money you make: I recognize that people all over the world do not get paid an ounce of what they are worth, but if we believed the going rate for wages in this country, I feel that I offer my employer a good transaction, my labor for my wage. I feel I make a good honest commitment to my work and I do as I am asked and therefore earn an honest wage.

2.) Spend money (or energy/time) on ways that further your belief system: For the money I do make, I feel that I am not forced into spending money in a way that harms me or others. I do not spend money on drugs, or alcohol, or medical expenses for a harmful lifestyle, or other harmful "escapes". I spend money to educate myself - books and newspapers, and books on tape and renting educational movies and lectures and tuition. I buy eco-friendly and human-friendly (fair-trade) products and vegan food. I know I can do better and I continually strive to do better, but it is a wonderful journey.

3.) Say "yes!" and show up when you say you will: I have had so many wonderful experiences simply becuase I have a rule - When I am offered an opportunity to participate in an activity, I accept and I show up. Even if it seems scary, even if it is awfully early in the morning, even if I know no one I know will be there. It is amazing what you can experience if you take each oppportunity that arises and show up!

4.) Accept people for who they are: I have learned that it is so much more freeing to accept that everyone has weaknesses and you much learn to love people for the good in them, and overlook the bad. And actually, the bad in people really just makes them more interesting! You cannot change people, you can only change yourself. It has brought me so much peace in my life when I am able to do this, but it is not always easy.

5.) Look at the little things: You can be happy if you just notice the little things. The rain lilies blooming, that my cat Calsetta just began to purr, that I have found a few mosquito larvae to feed to my fish as a treat. These little pleasures can be such a thrill if only you notice!

6.) Eating well: I can't get over how lousy I feel when I eat something heavily processed, with white flour and/or white sugar or high fructose corn syrup or MSG or tons of grease. If I maintain a diet of whole plant foods, I never stop! Give me fruit for desert and crunchy greens for dinner. When people say life is too short to eat healthy, I say life is too short NOT to eat healthy!

7.) Keep your mind occupied: I want to have a lifetime of constant learning. A new interest completely energized me and thrills me. And only through learning can I find new interests. Therefore I try to learn anything I can and expose myself to all kinds of new things. There is a world of new foods and way to cook them, sports and hobbies, plants and animals, technology and economic changes, political issues and social issues, ways to dance and languages to learn. I have a lifetime to discover them all!

8.) A good marriage: I have a husband I adore. We have managed to learn to compromise and work through our differences and we have a remarkably exciting, comforting, challenging, satisfying, precious relationship. He is such an inspiration to me in how he learns and experiences life...and his face is the most beautiful site in the world.

9.) Life your own life: I am not overly-influenced on society's expectation of how to be. I think it is sad to make choices based on other's people expectations of you. The more I relinquish myself from such outside influences, the more free to be me I am!

10.) Just be HAPPY: Happiness is a choice. I firmly believe this. But it is not as simple and just forcing yourself to smile. Happiness is somthing to work towards, something to strive for. I consiously choose to fill my days one way or another. I believe if your life thoughtfully and honestly, you can find what might make you happy too!