Happiness, the butterfly

A little over a week ago I attended the wedding reception of a friend from high school. It was nice to see some people I don't talk to very often and don't get to see much at all anymore. As we were sitting there I was thinking about how drastically different all of our lives are - and how parts of our lives will always be the same.


One has lived in NY for several years and just recently returned to NW Ohio.
One spent some time in CA and recently moved to Georgia.
Another friend who is still in Ohio near me, unfortunately we don't see each other.
I have spent all of my life in NW Ohio (except for a couple years for school).
A friend's sister and her family are living in Italy right now.
and on and on and on...


It's all so different. And yet we ALL seem so very happy. We all are doing the things and living the lives that make us happy.


I'm sure there are people who look at the choices I have made in my life and think, "boy that Sarah, she's hasn't left. How depressing."  (they couldn't be more wrong about my life).


I know someone who who lives far away who cannot wait to get back here someday.


You know what think this all boils down to? Happiness is what you make it. It is what you want it to be. Happiness is a way of being. I think it's a conscious decision that one makes.

Far too often I think people are constantly on the hunt for their happiness. They live with the hope that one day, happiness will come knocking on their door.  If I could live here. If I could meet the man of my dreams. If I had a baby. If I lost weight. You get it.


Now, please don't confuse this with dreams. Dreams are good. Dreams are necessary.


I just fear that there are so many people out there with this hope to someday overtake happiness when the conditions are perfect. But you can experience happiness in the present moment, without waiting, if you give yourself permission. Perfect is not written in stone. And perfect is different for everyone. There is no need to meet any requirement, fulfill any quota, or compete with rivals in order to allow yourself the liberty of carrying unconditional happiness inside you every moment of the day. 


You call the shots here...your life is yours alone to experience.


Have I ever thought about living somewhere else? Sure. But in all honesty, I don't want to. There is nothing better, to me, that living so close to my family. Nothing secures this feeling in me more than when I see my daughter with her grandparents, her aunt and uncles, our cousins. There is nothing more valuable than having so much unconditional love and support available at the drop of a hat.  And that's just me, that's what is right for me. I've always thought, "I don't care where I am, I just care about who I am with." and that's true of a city, a state, a bar, a party.


I am not saying that people won't find the happiness they're searching for by changing something. By moving, etc. Obviously, some do. Heck, I found some of the greatest happiness in my life by having a baby girl. However, if that never happened to me, I know that I still would have had a happy life. I would have chosen to make the most of what was handed to me.


I wouldn't change my life right now for anything. Could there be more in store for me? I think so, I do dream about having another baby. I hope it happens. But, today is now. Happy is now.


Don't ask me where this came from, I'm not sure. I just hope that all of you, all of my friends, are living for today. Choose that, for yourselves.