So What Makes Us Happy?

There is an ever-growing body of knowledge about the nature and causes of happiness.

For one thing, it’s clear that happiness is a feeling, not a circumstance. Happiness is more than just fun or pleasure. It’s a more durable sense of well-being.

Our happiness depends not on what happens to us, but what happens in us. In other words, it’s the way we choose to think about our lives. Abe Lincoln said, “People are generally about as happy as they’re willing to be.” A Buddhist proverb tells us that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

So, what are the most common attributes of happy people? Well, it’s not money, fame, or good looks. It’s not even intelligence or talent. No, the two most important factors are gratitude and rewarding personal relationships.

The formula is simple: count your blessings and enjoy your family and friends.

Sadly, simple is not always easy.

People whose natural instincts produce a gloomy outlook and pessimism need to re-train their minds. It’s one thing to say happiness is not getting what you want but wanting what you get; it’s quite another to really be satisfied with what we have.

For many people, it takes discipline and practice to think positively.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of changing one’s perspective, choosing to see and appreciate the silver lining, the half-full glass. In other cases, what’s required is refusing to dwell on pain, disappointment, or envy, and instead force one’s mind toward good thoughts, including all the things we should be grateful for.

Interestingly, the ability to maintain a positive attitude is also important in forming and sustaining meaningful relationships – seeing and bringing out the best.

I want a guy...

Okay....i guess everyone has gotten over the pump and excitement of the Royal wedding of Prince William and now Duchess Catherine which took place last weekend. As much as I tried not to make any comments on that wedding, I can't keep up without saying a word or two, so all I'm going to say is former Ms. Kate Middleton must really feel like a Disney princess right now; having a fairy tale husband and wedding is something that only Cinderella could have and we dream of!!!

Long before that wedding, I've always thought of the kind of guy I'd want as a husband [yes o, husband and not boyfriend, no time for play anymore!] and what my wedding would look like.Their wedding rekindled that thought. So first of all I'd like to share on my type of guy...

I want a guy…

…who would think I was beautiful, if I dressed trashy it was classy      

 

…who would move my hair away from my eyes and then kiss me, 

…hold my hand in line at the mall and make all the girls jealous, 

…who’s very smart, intelligent and compassionate

…who would sing to me at random moments

…who buys me the littlest gifts over every achievement

…who doesn’t feel anyway inferior because of me or what I've achieved

...who encourages me to work

…who stands his ground for what is right

…who corrects me so lovingly when I do wrong

...who tells me he's sorry when he upsets me 

...who's not egoistic

...who's ready to drop his pride for the sake of our love

…who is very confident of himself but definitely not proud

...who's very principled

...who wouldn't look at any other girl because I'm all he wants

…who would let me sleep on his chest

…who would get mad at someone if they called me ugly or was mean to me,

…who would call me 3 times a day if he went away, 

…who would let me gossip to him and would just smile and agree with everything I said.

…who would get along with all my friends

…who would make fun of me

…who would look me in the eye and tell me something serious that was also funny and makes me promise not to laugh. 

….who’s just like my dad 

…who would make me laugh like no one else could. 

…who I smile about every time I think of him

…who would still want to listen to me even though I sing really off-key

…who, when I’m really sleepy, would wake me up and go with me to vigil

…who goes to church without any coercion because he enjoys worship with other people

…who respects me and is not afraid to show it

…who is not afraid to show his emotions

…who pulls his own weight

…who opens the door for me when we go out

…who listens to everything I say and is very sensitive to what I’ve not said

…who tells me everything that’s going on with him

….who trusts me so much

…who is committed to me

…who tells me exactly where he is at any point in time

…who enjoys reading the Bible with me

…who would never be afraid to say  "I love you'' in front of his friends 

…who would count the stars with me at night and make me laugh like no one else could and 

Most importantly, I want someone who would be my best friend and would never break my heart.

So I was saying...

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! . She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?"

You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...

"Paid in full with one glass of milk"

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You,
God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the water comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time.  If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross.

THE LITTLE THINGS OF EVERYDAY

Hi people!!!

I don't think I ever mentioned how my blog came about.

 

Okay here's the story...when I was growing up, there was this frame that my mum hung in our sitting room. The frame contained an article titled 'THE LITTLE THINGS OF EVERYDAY' . It simply talked about how our little, ordinary shows of love and care to the people around us turn out to be extraordinary events and lasting blessings. Sometimes, though we may never know, these people see us as their heroes.

 

So after all's been said and done, i just want to share the stories of love and compassion that I've read and seen and heard over the years with you on this blog hoping that someone, somewhere,  someday and somehow would be touched and blessed by these stories; and be encouraged to help the next stranger that comes along your way....

N.B: I leave you with this thought:

 

"The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are, but on how happy others are because of you"

 

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11

because his son started kindergarten;

Another fellow was alive

because it was his turn to bring in doughnuts

One woman was late

because her alarm clock didn’t go off in time

One was late because he was stuck on the NJ Turnpike

due to an auto accident

One of them missed his bus

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change

One’s car wouldn’t start

One couldn’t get a taxi

The one that struck me was the man, who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,

Took the various means to get to work

But before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band- Aid and

That’s why he is alive today.

Now, when I am stuck in traffic,

Or miss an elevator,

turn back to answer a ringing telephone…

All the little things that annoy me,

I think to myself,

This is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong,

You can’t seem to find the car keys

You hit every traffic light

Don’t get frustrated;

It may be just that

God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you

With all those annoying little things

And may you remember their possible purpose.

THIS EASTER...

Once again, its that time of the year when Christians all over the world commemorate that great event that brought us salvation over 2000 years ago.

I wouldn't want to preach but for sometime I've been thinking on how we celebrate of festivals. Should this great season of Easter only be remembered within four days of April? Shouldn't it be a daily event? With full knowledge that the only reason Jesus was born into our world- which is why we celebrate Christmas- was to die and reconcile us to God [Easter]. Had Jesus not come into our world for his overwhelming work, our case would have been hopeless. I'd like to you to reflect on the season with these two short poems I wrote although I must admit I'm not a great poet-
Easter- a short summary of my personal experience of Easter;  and True Love:

EASTER

When I was at a loss
HE left HIS Heavenly gloss
to fight my cause
on a shameful cross

TRUE LOVE

Have you ever felt such true love-
like the peace of a dove from up above
or the gentleness of a twilight
that ushers a restful night;
Could it be the happiness of a rising sun
that brings forth a new morn
or does it feel like the savour
of living everyday in the favour
of my dear Saviour
But yes it is
this is what I see...
Only HIM and me
 together we'll be
a good company.

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

  
One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the
road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she
needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and
got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached
her.  Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No
one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he
going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and
hungry. 

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in
the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only
fear can put in you. 

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in
the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan
Anderson.' 

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that
was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a
place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two.
Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty
and his hands hurt. 

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the
window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was
from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She
couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. 

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how
much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with
her. She already imagined all the awful things that could
have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice
about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was
helping someone in need, and God knows there were
plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived
his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act
any other way. 

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the
next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give
that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added,
'And think of me.' 

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had
been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he
headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. 

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She
went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before
she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy
looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The
whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over
and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a
sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole
day couldn't erase. The lady
noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant,
but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.
The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be
so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .. 

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred
dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her
hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out
the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back.
The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she
noticed something written on the napkin. 

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady
wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have  been there too.
Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you
really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let
this chain of love end with you.' 

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. 

Well, there were
tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve,
but the waitress made it through another day. That night
when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was
thinking about the  money and what the lady had written. How
could the lady have known how much she and her husband
needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be
hard.... 

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping
next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and
low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan.' 

There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around.'- law of Karma
Today I sent you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it
on. Let this light shine. God works in mysterious ways and
sometimes puts people in our lives for a reason.