That Old-fashioned Recipe for Happiness

I continue to purge my home of old papers - collections of hopes and dreams now outgrown - (and that's okay because there's never a vacuum; I've got new hopes and dreams to keep me happy). This is the job of the century because I have worked hard through the years to find spaces for them so I didn't have to deal. Well, time's up baby!!
So far, out have gone three packed bags of paper for recycling, and 2 packed bags of shredded. One could say, "why in the world would she/I keep that?!" Wellllll...... and that's just the point, isn't it? Why would I undermine myself by not facing what I need to? This job would have been much easier had I done this very long ago. Nevertheless, I'm not whining, I'm doing - disciplining myself, accomplishing something that only I can/must do.

I have been reintroduced to some papers with ideas and info on them that I am so glad to see again; things that spark my life, my interests. I just found a piece of paper with my mom's handwriting on it. She had written down a "Recipe for Happiness". She passed away over three years ago, and it's nice to have a memento of her beautiful handwriting. So, here I will share it with you:

Recipe for Happiness
2 heaping cups of patience
2 hearts full of love
1 dash of laughter
2 hands full of generosity
1 head full of understanding
1 Tablespoon courtesy
Mix well with humility. Sprinkle generously with kindness and plenty of faith. Spread over a period of a lifetime. Serve to family, friends and strangers.

I know that a lot of people are depressed these days. I have been, too. The feelings of helplessness are such a burden that it seems too difficult to get through. I don't care what the world tries to tell us. I know that in each of our lives there is a door that will open to make our lives better. I reached my point when my back was finally up to the wall. Each one of us can make a difference. And all the efforts of us all will make a difference.

Remember this: There is no such thing as - "you EITHER do this/have this....whatever 'this'" (fill in the blanks), "OR you do this/have this...whatever 'this'". There is NO either/or. There are many options to pick from and choose. Don't feel alone, because many millions of us are in choppy, stormy waters together. Stop beating yourself up for why you are where you are. Stop hurting yourself. Put all of your efforts to turning your life-vessel toward smoother waters, by taking thoughtful baby steps. Intent - just having INTENT is huge and strengthening.

Have my finances improved? Hell no. Will they? I finally got myself believing that I am capable of more; so my answer is a baby-step answer - I am casting the seed of my resume on the waters; I am optimistic.

And that is the key to what I'm trying to say - we desperately need genuine optimism. Choose something, anything, to feel okay about and build from there. It all comes down to this: CHOOSE. We're always making choices; that's the engine that makes the day go like it does. We can choose to be helplessly adrift with confusion, and we can choose to take hold of our moments and improve them. (I'm talking to myself here, as well - I'm no guru! lol), and we can choose and choose and choose. Perhaps the Recipe for Happiness will help.