happiness

 Happy? It is something we all strive to have in our lives. Is it a goal or is it just present in your everyday life. Do  you find happiness in the small things or do you overlook those in search of a larger emotional impact?

My daily Buddhist teaching today was on this topic. Do we focus so much on a goal that we think will make us happy that we forget to find happiness in the present moment. Be mindful and in the present moment and feel the joy that is there. For me as I read that, I had just finished my Yoga and short meditation. I was feeling peaceful, relaxed and happy in a calm reflective way. Most days and at most times I am happy. It might be a subdued happy emotion, but it is joyful. 

Happiness takes many forms. There have been times where I feel like I am walking on clouds. My face reflects the elation I feel. A big smile, easy laughter, a joyful heart. The feeling that all is perfect in that moment. Happiness comes when you are enjoying a social interaction, playtime with a pet, a wonderful meal. Achieving a goal brings a sense of elation. I will never forgot the feeling I had when I reached the top of the Manitou Incline. I had doubts going up of my ability to complete it. Oh but when I stood at the top and looked out I felt like I was flying. 

Finding happiness in the everyday can at times be more challenging. Loneliness, work, boredom, stress can often overpower all else. I find if I just pause and think about the breath I take, how wonderful I feel, the life I am in at that moment, how can I not but find joy. 

The weekend is nearly here and with it comes the commitment I have made with myself to go to the gym on Saturday and Sunday. I often find that I am negotiating with my self trying to find excuses not to go. Why I do this I am not sure. I think it is just that I love being home and not getting out having to drive somewhere. I also dread the first 10 - 15 minutes of my workout, it is always the most difficult. But every time when my workout is complete and I have gone further than the previous workout I leave the gym with a smile on my face feeling wonderful both physically and emotionally. I think about how the difficulty and challenges I face as I push myself harder on my workouts will pay off when I go hiking on event more difficult trails. I know that I have to push myself harder to achieve the trekking goals I have to do the Inca Trail and EBC. It is with the dreams I have to accomplish those that brings me happiness as I work out. Recently I have been challenging myself on the treadmill to do longer segments at 15% incline. I have gone from a start of five minutes and am now up to thirty minutes. My goal is to do a full 60 minutes at 15%. I am currently only doing 500  steps on the stair master once a week prior to my treadmill workout. I will increase it over the summer as I prepare to take on the Manitou Incline again in the Autumn. I will continue then to get up to an hour on the stair master and an hour on the treadmill before I go to Peru. 

We each have our own definition of happiness and what makes us happy. I am so grateful to be at a place in my life where just being present brings me joy. Age has brought wisdom and patience that guides me a mindset to not let life's stresses and challenges bring me down. This is not to say that I don't get sad, stressed or angry. I have just learned to let it go much quicker. 

Life is so good. Live it in joy. Live it in peace. Live it in the present moment. Live happy.