by Rob Purifoy

Created on: April 02, 2009

As written by a person who has not experienced a traumatic tragedy with loss of life, nor the ecstasy of winning a lottery. I've had the usual highs and lows and have been from six figures to six dollars, and from marriage to divorce and back again, but nothing like what I deem as the fatal blow to my ultimate happiness.

But through what I have experienced I seem to have finally, at the pre mid-life years, learned what happiness is. Maybe I always knew what it was but life seemed to get in the way of it. As I sat alone in a rare silent moment without phones ringing or cable news reporting about job losses and tent houses, I came to a conclusion about my state of mind and with this conclusion came a short phrase I adopted about my life.

"I thought to myself that I am currently at peace with whatever happens because I cannot control everything. I can do only what I can do to the best of my abilities and everything will fall where it may. I am sitting here with high speed internet and a sports car in the garage while another country is being bombed or it's citizens starving, how can I complain"?

I actually had an epiphany one day about how happy I am in the overall scheme of things. The phrase I spoke of above lead me to my current disposition about life. I can't wait to get up in the morning and have someone to cook breakfast for or she might do the same for me. I can't wait to see what new challenges the day might bring and what new cast of characters might call upon me in my business. When the day is done, I look forward to going for a run and a work out in the gym. I look forward to the dinner with my wife and conversation about the day and maybe a movie while we eat. And I look forward to going to sleep so I can dream about the crazy things my mind conjures up. I am fortunate enough to dream in color so things can get really cool, and sometimes strange. Those are daily blessings, and of course there are things of the future to look forward to and goals to reach. I think we all need something to look forward to in the future which seems to enhance the happiness of today.

This is not to say that I have it all figured out as I surely don't, I don't think anyone does no matter the outward appearances. I am merely stating an example of what you might feel from time to time too, but because of life's distractions, your true happiness may be there lingering in the background.

We may have setbacks, arguments with a spouse, or trouble with kids, but how it affects us is up to us. The definition of happiness has many levels, one of which is how we take on life and react to what is thrown at us. Many things in life do give elusions of happiness such as new love, new money, new car or new job. But all of those can falter as life continues and if you put all of your eggs in that basket of elusive happiness you might be set up for disappointment.

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