Thoughts . . .

April 9-15, 2000 - Vol. 3, No. 10

To return to the Index click here. For a free email subscription click here.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions. The little soon forgotten charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment -- countless infinitesimals of pleasurable and genial feelings.
--Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) English poet

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

We sometimes think of happiness as coming from some grand action or event, the culmination of great efforts toward a goal. We may look at it as something that is the result of a journey, but not as the events of the journey itself. Do only the great and the grand events bring happiness? Is not happiness, as Coleridge says, ". . . made up of minute fractions."?

We are presented every day with so many opportunities for happiness that we so easily overlook or take for granted. This morning, as I write this week's "Thoughts . . .", I am seeing the sun rise and feeling the warmth of its rays through my window. This brings a pleasurable, peaceful feeling. Is this small event not one of the "minute fractions" of happiness? When we walk down the street and meet the eyes of another who in turn gives a warm smile for no particular reason, does not this add a lift to our day? Is this not another "minute fraction" of happiness? Walking along a beach, listening to the rhythm of the waves and feeling the cool, pristine ocean breezes, does this not generate a warm glow of happiness?

As we strive toward our various goals, great and small, we can easily find ourselves ignoring the moments. Instead we focus only on the final "something" that we feel will bring us happiness. In reality, true happiness is ours to have every minute of every day. Even under the most adverse conditions and events, the seed of happiness is lingering in the recesses of those events. It is our choice whether or not to water that seed and let it sprout into the flower of happiness. Allowing ourselves to do so, helps us through the trials and tests of life and gives us hope for the future.

So look for the happiness in all things, big and small — particularly in the small elusive ones. Every day find the small happiness that threads its way through events, people and places. Enjoy and return the ". . . soon forgotten charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment." Be happy!