Sometimes I think the harder we look for happiness, the more elusive it can be. It's like searching for Mr. Goodbar. But if we just sit quietly, appreciating and in the moment, it sneaks up on us.

That's not to say that we don't have to work at it or take charge of our own happiness. Like Cathy writes below in the comments section, I often say that I fight for my happiness!

I've learned through the years that I need to bring happiness into my moments, if I expect to experience it. I remind myself to do those small things for myself that secure my happiness, to be good to myself, to take time to enjoy the moments that run through our fingers.

I've talked with a number of folks over the years and in recent weeks whose concerns are ratcheting up. They are looking to establish (more) joy in their lives in the face of negative reports and a general malaise. Concerns about the world; their finances; life in general; their health, their work, their marriage; retirement funds -- anything you can think of -- are stealing their peace and occupying their thoughts.

Over the years I've looked into happiness, read a number of books, worked on it for myself, and tried to discern what, exactly, is happiness? I don't know that it is possible to be happy every moment, but even in the midst of problems, it is possible to be a happy person, or at least to experience joy at some level and in some moments. So happiness isn't determined by whether a person is happy every single moment, but whether it is an attitude of heart and mind.

An analogy that came to me a number of years ago that I've often shared with others is this:

Every incident of goodness; every moment of joy; every good thought or deed; every kind word experienced or given; every beautiful thing we notice; every bit of gratitude we express; every note of music we hear or play; every time we appreciate something around us; every time we give or receive a compliment; every time we take time to take time is like a pearl we are stringing in our lives.

The knots in the string are life's problems.

When we look at a strand of pearls, yes, we see the knots, but we don't focus on them. They only serve to make the strand more beautiful. What we see is the complete strand with the individual pearls. The knots hold the pearls securely, as well as set them apart from each other so that we may better see and appreciate the individual pearls.

That seemed like enough, and for years that is what I strove to understand and share.

But this past week, when talking to someone, it occurred to me to think out loud as we were talking: What is the string?

And in an instant I listened to the idea come out of my mouth that I hadn't yet had:

The string is happiness.

I loved the idea that there is a string of happiness moving through our lives and that we are stringing together moments of love, joy, goodness, peace -- the loveliness of life -- on it.

May you be blessed by this idea, as much as I was to receive it, and may today and every day be filled with many beautiful and precious blessings.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-12 21:51:15.

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