Dynamic Duo

by Dotti

When we started Focusing on Life, we wanted our space to be about more than ‘just photography’. We wanted it to be about life, as well. So let’s chat a little bit about the ‘life’ side of our focusing today, shall we?

Let’s talk about what I’ve started calling the ‘Dynamic Duo’.

You see, the theme of happiness is one that has been playing on my mind now for some weeks. I knew I wanted to do a post about it but I couldn’t quite get it into focus. Bit by bit, it began to take shape in my heart and mind. All this thinking brought me to the conclusion that happiness is a choice.

When  I found the quote on the uptop photo in the Word document where I collect my favorite quotes, I knew that it was the perfect lead for today’s post. So much truth in it, don’t you think?

But I’m getting ahead of my story.

My  6 year-old granddaughter comes to my house after school each day and she usually ends up at her Peepaw’s desk {which, if you ask, she’ll tell you is her desk}, where she loves to write. I find little scraps, big scraps, all kinds of paper scraps with her thoughts, ideas, emotions written down. Two weeks ago, I found this note, at the bottom of which, she had signed her name.

Of course it brought a huge smile to my face and I confiscated it, thinking it would be perfect to post here when I shared my thoughts about happiness. We’re blessed that this little girl does indeed have a sunny disposition and has done since she was born. Does this mean she’s always in a good mood? Heck, no! But deep down inside, she finds happiness because most of the time she chooses it mostly because it's more fun.

Then a week ago, at a medical appointment, as I sat waiting for the technician, I noticed this handwritten note that she had stuck up on the wall above her desk. This led us into a wonderful discussion about happiness as a choice. She told me she believes that nobody should have a bad day because of her. She owes it to everybody she meets during the course of her day to choose happiness and try to share it with others. Isn’t that beautiful?

Finally, the third piece to my puzzle.

I’m a big fan of Karen Walrond and read her blog Chookooloonks every time she posts. Just last  week she had this to say and it blended perfectly with what I had concluded as I pondered this idea of happiness. Karen says it much better than I can.

One of the things I talk a lot about … is gratitude.  Indeed, I am convinced that gratitude is the key to living a more joyful life:  the practice of being grateful makes it easy to see the moments of joy in your life; furthermore, I think it helps when things aren't going as well as they could to spend some time noticing the moments that do bring you light.  Gratitude just works.

There it was. My thoughts exactly! The choice of happiness and the practice of gratitude are a dynamic duo and if we choose to let them, they will guide us to a more joyful … dare we say, more creative? … life.

Now of course, this doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Life gives us some pretty nasty blows from time to time. But even in those times, I believe if we take just a few minutes a day in the midst of our heartache and struggle, we will find a better place and the strength to go on. It sounds kind of Pollyannaish, I know. And there are plenty of ordinary days when I have to consciously remind myself to 'choose happiness'. But I can’t think of a better guiding light to navigate the tricky and sometimes treacherous waters that we call ‘life’.

Can you?