How Did I Miss International Day of Happiness Yesterday?!?

Dear A & H…A special day is never needed to write but, if there ever was a day to reach out to you, today is the day. Well, actually, maybe yesterday would have been ideal but, better late than never. ت

I Totally Missed It

I realized this while finishing up for the night as one late night program after another played on YouTube in the background. When one ended, the next would begin, and on and on.

Then, it happened. One late-night host welcomed everyone to his show and wished them a “Happy International Day of Happiness!”

What!…Really!?! Today, March 20th, is International Day of Happiness? How the heck did I miss this one?

That was yesterday and, being a sucker for days like these, I would have loved to have known about this day before it was almost over.

Well, we all kind of know why days like these get away from us. With so many “Days” out there to celebrate, it’s no wonder a few will pass quietly by. I mean, with National Meatball Day (March 9), World Emoji Day (July 17), International Asteroid Day (June 30), National Pasta Day (October 17), World Television Day (November 21), and the like vying for our attention, many will, unfortunately, pass unnoticed.

But…International Day of Happiness? How can this one ever pass quietly by? I mean, happiness is something everyone can relate to. It’s like Coke…love…money.

Hmm…

It’s Like $

Money?

Yes, almost exactly like money. We all want it, we all can benefit from it, and, when we have it, we usually want more of it. But, unlike money, there is no downside to having as much as your heart could possibly desire.

Especially now, when, day after day, on top of dealing with our own particular everyday challenges, worrisome news about the general state of the world reaches our ears.

That’s why a special day like International Day of Happiness is so important, a cathartic 24 hours, if used well, to slap some sense back into us.

The whole world needs this.

A time to refocus and reconnect with what’s important in life. To recalibrate and redirect our thoughts to what matters most to us.

So, with the realization that I had only 10 more minutes to celebrate the official day, I decided to postpone the “celebration” and take advantage of its spirit on March 21.

Now, writing this post with only a few minutes left to my belated International Day of Happiness, this is what I learned about happiness and what it looks like to me.

Happiness is…

Going about my day on this belated International Day of Happiness, I celebrated by letting my thoughts ponder the question of happiness.

On the surface, it seems like an easy question to answer but, unfortunately, like so much in life, when we think an answer to a question is “C” (A + B = C), it likely is really “Q” (A + B = the square root of E – T/W = … = Q)

Such happened when I thought about “Happiness” today. When something seemed to be the answer, it actually led to something else. To illustrate what I mean, here’s a little snippet of the whittling down process which led me to discover the one thing that, to me, is synonymous with happiness.

Musings

Is it family?

Well, yes, usually. But, sometimes, when compromise is so hard to come by, I’m definitely not happy.

Why is that?

Is it money?

Well, maybe. But, I’d have to say “no” because, with only 22 cents in my checking account at the moment, why am I not unhappy.

Is it work?

Well, yes, definitely. Now that I’ve found work that’s productive and meaningful, though entrepreneurship has its share of long days and financial insecurity, I wouldn’t go back to where I was or change where I am right now.

So went the questioning until there was nothing left but The Answer.

Getting to this point, realizing what it was, it made all the sense in the world. As I should have guessed, it was simple. Dependable. Nothing to brag about. Just good, old-fashioned…

Trust.

That’s all.

Trust

Trust is the ingredient my life needs to make me happy because, when there is trust, there is security and peace and confidence and joy.

Having that, there are no unwanted surprises.

When there is trust, all that you see, hear, and know is true and right and real.

I think that is why I love running so much.

When I head out to my usual spots, I know what to expect. I trust, when I head over to my favorite trails, the oaks and redwoods will be there and…they are.

Likewise, when it’s about sundown and I’m running around the pond near my home, I trust the frogs I can never see will be croaking and…they’re never late.

And, when I head to the beach, I trust the waves will dance their dance upon the vast sandy stage below their “feet” and…they never disappoint.

Most importantly, when the people I trust in my life live bravely, imperfectly, and true to the skin they were born into, there’s no greater feeling in the world. It’s a priceless, wonderful thing.

I wish I could say this trust is something I can always find within each day that greets me in the morning but, realistically, I can’t.

But, knowing it’s mostly there…well, that makes me happy enough. So, with this insight, it’s nice knowing a little of the spirit of March 20^th can be found within every day of the year.

Summing Up

Yes, I admit it. I’m a hopeless optimist. Sometimes silly. But, that, too, makes me happy.

With that, I wish you all a Happy Belated International Day of Happiness.

May it’s spirit, in one way or another, find you today and tomorrow and the next day and…

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So, A & H, hope your day has been a good one, too.  Sending happy thoughts your way. ت  Until my next letter…

Much love, O.M.