I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes--the finer things of life-- would make you happy. My concept of happiness is to be fulfilled in a spiritual sense. - Coretta Scott King I was watching a documentary and Allison Mack was on the screen. They were detailing how she fell into a cult that had sex slaves. She was one of the main characters in Smallville, a very popular show in the early 2000s. Mack was saying that she seemed to have everything she ever thought she wanted- a great career, money, friends and etc but was still unfulfilled. Regardless of all these things she felt her self wanting more. In essence, Mack stated that she was not happy. I do not know that people, in general, give thought to what happiness is and what it means for them to be happy. To do that is to practice a level of mindfulness and we definitely do not do that enough. Life is to be filled with moments of happiness, moments that bring us joy. Happiness is a feeling that ebbs and flows. I think...

The hardest thing you can do is smile when you are ill, in pain, or depressed. But this no-cost remedy is a necessary first half-step if you are to start on the road to recovery. - Allen Klein Painted satelite 😊taken by Denise Augustus An unexpected smile is a gift for the mind and soul. Research has shown that smiling (whether forced or genuine) has many beneficial effects on our bodies. Smiling can boost your mood, immune system  and help relieve stress. Smiling cost nothing at all and is so good for us. I am always amazed how people can smile and laugh even at the toughest times in their lives. I remember being in the hospital, feeling like crap because I was in pain and a good friend would come to visit and make me smile or laugh even when it hurt to do so. I would say, "Please, don't make me laugh. It hurts," all while giggling and appreciating this momentary relief. What little do we know is that it is not momentary. The effects of that visit and the smil...

To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness. The other day I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about happiness. We discussed what it was, what it meant to us, and what it looked like. I maintained that it is not a sustained feeling but that life is filled with moments of happiness that ebb and flow into our lives. I mentioned that we can be content with where we are in life while still working on a goal.  What we find now; however, is that people are not at all content with where they are and most do not have any idea about where they are going or where they would like to go because they do not stop to think about it. Most people seem to busy to do this because they are working on maintaining or getting through life. It is as if we are driving through a beautiful rain forest while ignoring all of its splendor, not even realizing that as we zoom in out vehicle, we are completely out of place. I find t...

Happiness is the default state of mind. Happiness is not something you pursue; it is something you allow. Happiness is just being. -Chade-Meng Tan We want to be happy. Our bodies want to be in that good place where everything is right and we are content and at peace and happy. However, things get in the way of that state. Half the time, we are fighting against our own happiness. We are not allowing that happiness to come into our lives and grow. We let life circumstances steal our joy by worrying too much about the outcome. It is something that we cannot help. How can we preserve and protect our feelings if we do not anticipate the negative things that can happen? How can we protect ourselves if we do not mount a defense against the unknown? We are supposed to live in the present. We are supposed to remind ourselves that although we plan for the future our happiness and our state of being is now. Worry is the bedrock of stress. Making possible scenarios up and then worrying abou...

These hands  they move slowly  thoughts transform from fragments  floating in my mind onto the  pages -Wanda M. Toby

Happy Feet Some days I'm not walking in or towards purpose with love and peace, I'm just happy to walk I am big on walking in your purpose or at least working your way towards it. We all have special talents and gifts that once we unlock and realize what they are, we can flourish. Actively engaging and practicing our gifts is like tapping into an infinite well of energy which can lead us to joy and peace. This space is where we can thrive. Even if we are not making a living at it, at the very least we can enjoy the benefits of exercising our gifts and benefiting from  the stress relief it can bring to our lives.

The words thank you are sometimes taken for granted. There are times that we may feel they are not enough. Just know that they are powerful, meaningful and just enough as they are. All we have to do is remember to you them.

There are things in life that bring us happiness and joy that other people may not see or understand. What one person does not appreciate may be as precious as gold to the next person. It does not matter what another individual thinks. His or her negativity does not have to put a damper on the simple pleasures in life.  "Might not be diamonds but it shines for me." "Simple things that light me up. What a beautiful world and I see the love in everything and everyone. When I'm digging softly oh the tide will come. It all feels like gold,gold to me. Might not be diamonds but it shines for me. It all feels like gold Gold to me." -Gold, Andreya Triana