Be Right Here

I naturally tend to live in the now, not really thinking too much about tomorrow, just today.  And I like to be that way.  But as I get older, I am finding more and more experiences (the not so nice ones) piled deeply within myself, drawing me away from the beautiful present and into the darker past.  I am easily distracted by this place, all the while holding desperately on to the beauty that is today.

So much so that my dreams haunt me; my subconscious lashing out in protest to the unsuccessful stifling and ignoring of what stays unresolved in my heart.  I guess that sometimes there is no closure, only questions.

I walked the puppy to the park today.  Every bee and blade of grass found her curious.  We settled into a nice spot, she lay down in the crook of my arm, and I closed my eyes.  The blue sky wrapped us up in its nowness, its clarity.

"You wander from room to room

Hunting for the diamond necklace

That is already around your neck!"

~Rumi

Finding Meaning & Happiness

I'm taking a workshop this semester about happiness.  Isn't that a wonderful topic to study?!  I am really enjoying it so far and learning a thing or two about what happiness actually is.

We watched this little video (I think you'll like it too).

Some things the class has discussed:

>>>Hobbies and intellectual pursuits that you find yourself vitally engaged in bring a sense of meaning to life, and thus a sense of happiness.

>>>Having a sense of purpose to life, that your life is significant, creates a sense of well being, or happiness.

>>>Meaning in life comes from:  comprehending one's existence, identifying and achieving valued goals, feeling fulfilled by life, etc.

>>>A sense of well being or happiness causes all sorts of good things to happen:  stronger immune system, better cardio health, economic and career success, productivity, dependability, and creativity....

These things seem kind of obvious, but there are real scientists out there researching the meaning of happiness and how to achieve it.

The one thing that I am really taking away so far is that in order to find true happiness, we have to do what we love.  We have to pursue the things in life that give us purpose.  We have to get lost in our passions.  And, hey, if science is backing those mantras, even better!


"My Happiness is not the means to my end.  It is the end." ~ Ayn Rand