Are You Happy?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately. That’s never been a good thing for me in the past. Except this time. I’ve decided that I am happy. I feel different. Some nugget of bad feeling in the pit of of my stomache has disappeared. I hope for good.

I chose to be happy for the past few months. It took some practice and I worry that saying I’m happy will jinx it. But I find that I feel aligned. I love my wife. I love and I’m very proud of my kids and who they are as people. My extended family is good. My friends are excellent and supportive. My health is great and this is the first Christmas in almost 14 years that I haven’t been tested for cancer. The docs tell me that I’m cured and I’m choosing to believe them. I love my career and my professional friends and colleagues are awesome. My work is wonderful and my work friends and colleagues are amazing and we’re doing good things together that contribute to the world in a positive way. I’ve had some wonderful professional travel and good challenges this year. I made new friends. Any complaints (like sore knees and airport shoulder) are minor in comparison.

And I am happy for what I am and not just for what I’m not. I’ve been watching the family reunions on CNN this week as too few Canadian and US soldiers come home for Christmas. This year I didn’t help the world in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wasn’t personally subject to an earthquake, volcano, hurricane, tsunami, tornado, fire, or anything bad. I am grateful for that. I’m happy that we survive to see the beauty in little things like flowers, babies, starry nights, wapiti, mountains, penguins, smiles and hugs.

So, in this holiday season, I hope you’re happy too. Try it for a day and keep going. I live a lot for the future but happiness is about the present.

Have a great 2011 and beyond!

Stephen