Starting out the week with Happiness

Weekly email from The Ripples Project... on "happiness." It really struck me this morning when it is cold and dreary outside, I can choose to be happy!

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Without happiness we cannot be a refuge for others.
Ask yourself, What am I waiting for to make me happy?
Why am I not happy right now?
-Thich Nhat Hanh, submitted by Kalea B., Chico CA


=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o

There is a story told about a dog who discovered that happiness was in his tail.
He kept trying over and over to get it, but all he could do was run around in circles.
Exhausted and frustrated with this endless pursuit, he eventually stopped.
And then he discovered that if he would just go on about his life, it would follow him wherever he went.
-altered from unknown source, submitted by Jen M., Mt. Pleasant MI

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

On the subject of this week's theme, HAPPY RIGHT NOW!: I hope that you can do take a moment right now to pause and ask yourself Thich Nhat Hanh's question: "Why am I not happy right now?" It may be tempting to respond that you're not happy because of some situation you're in or a problem you have or a certain person you have recently argued with. Even if they are truly yucky, events or people are not causing your unhappiness. With a little effort you can remember that happiness is a choice. Of course there are extreme situations of crisis or distress where happiness is nearly impossible to experience; I am more interested for you to experience happiness in your daily crazy merry-go-round of deadlines and to-do lists and meetings and errands. Give it a try!