ENJOYING THE MOMENT

Alicia Jones

I was thinking (I do this a lot. My friends tell me I am always thinking).

Where was I? Yes, I was thinking and I thought why not put your thoughts down in writing so forgive me if sometimes I sound like I am rambling.

I am really at a loose end right now. I thought doing another degree would automatically help me get a better job and now I am thinking maybe it wasn't such a good idea.

Funny, isn't it how we say to ourselves, if only I had a better job I would earn more money. If only I had this or that qualification or more education, I would be able to get a better job or if only I was earning more money or if only I was married or had children, I would be happier. So many 'if onlys'.

However, when we do get our wishes they often fall far below our expectations and we sometimes are left worse off than before.

I think happiness has nothing to do with our circumstances or our position. It is or should be a state of the mind. You could be poor and happy (though that would be rather difficult); on the other hand, you could also be rich and very unhappy (as seen by examples of celebrities with various emotional troubles).

I guess happiness is all about accepting your situation and learning to deal with it until the situation changes. It is about seeing the good and the positive in every situation.
They say the grass always looks greener on the other side. Many of us spend our lives looking into the future, worrying so much about what is not that we have very little time to enjoy what is. Take time to smell the roses is a popular saying. Yes, take time to enjoy the present, accept each new day as a divine gift and enjoy it. Enjoy the small things in life, quit worrying about the big things.

As for me, I have decided to make the Serenity prayer my mantra; to accept each day as it comes with a grateful heart, to deal with the things I can deal with and to accept the things I cannot change with peace in my heart.

Alicia's Blog: aliciasreflection.blogspot.com