I’ve learned a bit over the last 18 months after losing dad and then each of his sisters. Life will always be filled with challenges AND there is JOY in the middle of it.
We convince ourselves that happiness in life is coming up just around the bend. When we marry, when we have children, when the kids have grown up enough to take care of themselves, when we can finally buy that house, or retire with a good amount in the bank. Fill in the blank with that thing you are longing for!
Alfred D. Souza says, “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin. 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.
I encourage you to treasure every moment that you have shared with someone special. You truly never know when that time will be over.
Stop waiting until you lose ten pounds or gain ten pounds. Don’t wait until you have kids or until your kids leave the house. Maybe you think life will start when you start work, or when you finally retire. Stop waiting to be happy until you get married or until you get divorced. Don’t wait until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, or until the seasons change.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.