Happiness Is Now
 

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a
baby, then another.  Then we are  frustrated that the kids aren't old enough
and we'll be more content when they are.  After that, we're frustrated that
we have teenagers to deal with.  We will certainly be happy when they are
out of that stage.  We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when
our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able
to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.  The truth is, there's no better
time to be happy than right now.  If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges.  It's best to admit this to
yourself and decide to be happy anyway.  One of my favorite quotes comes
from Alfred D. Souza.  He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that
life was about to begin - real life.  But there was always some obstacle in
the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business,
time still to be served, or a debt to be paid.  Then life would begin.  At
last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.
Happiness is the way.  So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure
it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend
your time... and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until
you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until
your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you
get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday
morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid
off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off
welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until
you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are
born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.