Happiness is your choice
Computers! We can’t live without them. But it’s very hard to live with them sometimes!
At least, that’s the way I felt last Wednesday night.
I’ve been trying to get rid of the dozens of emails coming my way daily – blocking spam and asking legitimate sites to take me off their lists.
It takes time, but it is worth
it.
By last Wednesday evening, I had almost achieved my goal. Still, I had from 50 to 60 emails that I wanted to reply to or read. And then it happened. Suddenly, all of my emails were deleted. Gone! Kaput!
I must have done something, but I have no idea what.
Some of the emails were important, and some weren’t recent. So I had to check through all my “recently deleted” ones.
It took a long time, but to my surprise, it was a HAPPY experience.
As I checked the subject lines, I was very surprised how many emails were about how to achieve happiness.
The very best one was from Real Age, and I followed the link to their website. The site includes columns by “You Docs” – Drs. Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen. What a find! Real Age says that a large part of happiness is genetically determined – up to 40 to 50 percent, some researchers say.
But even if that statistic is true, it still means that a whopping 50 to 60 percent is up to us.
So, whether you were born happy or not, remember that happiness is your choice. And it is a very important choice to make! Happy people are healthier, have less risk of heart disease, have more friends, are more successful in their careers, cope better with pain and are less likely to get colds and flu viruses. And, obviously, they are happier! Isn’t all of that worth striving for? Yes, indeed!
But how do we choose happiness? What makes people happy? What makes YOU happy?
The Real Age website has many suggestions and you can also come up with your own list.
Here are three helpful tips from Real Age: 1. GO WITH THE FLOW. Do what you love. Don’t push yourself. Take a walk in the woods. Sit on your front porch. Spend time with your friends. Relax. Enjoy every day.
2. VALUE YOURSELF. “Be good to yourself,” says Real Age. Talk nicely to yourself. After all, you are a nice person. Value your talents and use them to help other people. Bake a cake for a friend or teach a Sunday School class.
3. APPRECIATE WHAT IS. Value your family. And your friends. Appreciate a sunny day. And a rainy day! Be thankful for life itself and your health. “Gratitude multiplies happiness.”
Also, do the things that make you healthy. Good health contributes to happiness. Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies. Keep stress levels down.
As everyone knows, exercise is very important. And it is especially important to exercise with friends, as having friends makes you happy. And make sure to LAUGH often! Real Age says, “Happiness is a personal journey of self- discovery.” A personal journey you can’t afford not to make!
And always remember, happiness is your choice!