In my front yard// Someone else's thoughts on happiness.

Thinking of my walk around the block challenge, I gave myself another little challenge: to seek after and capture beauty in my front yard. I sat with my dog, just being present in the moment, and took these pictures.

And in relation to my last post, here is a quote on happiness by Alfred D. Souza, which I think speaks so much truth:

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. 

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with... and remember that time waits for no one...

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter... there is no better time than right now to be happy... Happiness is a journey, not a destination."

I've needed this reminder lately.

On a walk around the block// Thoughts on happiness.

(a found treasure from my walk, just lying on the sidewalk upside down, now it has a new home on my windowsill) 

Sometimes I give myself little challenges. One of my most recent challenges was to notice the beauty on an evening walk around the block.

Lately, I've been thinking about happiness and how it is that one is happy in life. Here's a little confession: happiness doesn't come naturally to me. It's something I have to actively seek out in life. I want to be the type of person who is always naturally, effortlessly happy, but it's just not me. I overanalyze every little thing, I worry, I wonder if I'm a good enough teacher, wife, person, I am exhausted by my work on a regular basis, I get in little funks that I can't seem to get out of... the list goes on. 

After spending so much time studying to get a Master's degree in Peace and Justice Studies a few years ago, I've spent the past year focusing on developing inner peace. To tell you the truth, I don't even know what that last sentence really means, but I've realized that finding inner peace and happiness takes effort for me, and so I've been trying to put in the effort. I've let myself seek and find happiness, when I used to feel selfish doing things just for myself, like I didn't deserve to really enjoy life while there are so many people out there who are suffering. However, I've come to learn that I only really have something true and authentic to give others when I focus on my own inner happiness and peace. And so that is what I continue to seek after and find, even on simple walks around the block.