A Reason For Happiness

I'm feeling inordinately festive.

I haven't celebrated the season in years, but this year is different.  I feel that familiar spirit of the Holidays that I felt in days of yore. Thanksgiving was a good gathering of family and I connected.  Christmas is not a commercial time for me but a time of reflection.  And my favorite holiday of all is New Year's Day because while I don't believe in happy endings, I do believe in a new beginning that takes the bite out of the past.   

If someone had told me two years ago that I would be happy today, I would have scoffed, but I am happy.  In fact, I've been practicing it.  I refuse to allow my feet to hit the floor in the morning until I have my morning commitment to joy.  The motivation is really pronounced since I have to pee so desperately.  So I find a reason for happiness really quickly. Doesn't have to be mountain moving, but has to be genuine and I'm amazed that since I've instigated this plan that I always do find some reason to be happy.

Got my flu and pneumonia shot yesterday and my left arm was sore so I couldn't sleep on my favorite left side last night.  So instead of bemoaning the laborious night of not being able to hit my favorite spot, I was thankful for having taken the step to ensure that I would not be staring down the barrel of that insufferable sickness.  There were a few other thoughts, one or two involving my memories of past loves, and then I had to cut it and go pee.

Point is, why not start your day off with a reason for happiness?  And when the day is done, as is it definitely is now, why not hit the pillow with a few more reasons?  That's the thing about habit.  It gets easier and easier.

This is a shot of my friend Alan and a couple of neighbors the morning after Katrina.  We were SO VERY glad to be alive!

May you find your own reason for happiness this Holiday Season and every day of your life. And here's a little tip, if you can't pee until you do, you will find a reason!