HAPPINESS IS TENUOUS
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019
Happiness is a tenuous thing, a foundational element in who we are – which is not to suggest that a happy person is smiling brightly and waving wildly exuding excitement. Sure, for some, and on certain occasions but for most of us, the signs of happiness are muted, sometimes obscure, and rooted deeply like roots of a big old tree …
My happiness survives, so far, despite life’s perils. Compared to ‘real trouble,’ I’ve not had much – yet when I tell my stories of riding the financial roller coaster of small business, the volatility of making a living in the real estate business, as a writer, and publisher it gets ‘colorful.’ Add alcoholism, sobering up, marriages, divorces, relationships the failed to gel, I could look in the mirror and get a tad depressed.
But I don’t. I’m not delusional, not self-destructive, and not blowin’ smoke up anyone’s backside.
I have and retain the non-desperate but yet hopeless desire to be hopelessly desired. Still looking. She is out there somewhere – I know it. Much work to do, but I believe the work and wait will be worth it.
Bestseller? Maybe, but I do know I have a work in progress that will be a trilogy of three stories, three novels, which with the right editor (still looking), the right marketer (got one), and determination (I have it), there will be something published to put in a device or a shelf sometime next year. Much work to do, but I believe the work and wait will be worth it.
Health concerns all of us – and the older I get, the more I appreciate the value of this diminishing commodity, which is the ‘container we come in’ being maintained, repaired, rejuvenated, and rebuilt with sleep, diet, and exercise. No magic potion – vigilance, keeping away from the fridge. And keeping the refrigerator and cupboards bare – just enough there to feed my needs without succumbing to my unhealthy desires. Much work to do, but I believe the work and wait will be worth it.
The future will be of ‘an undetermined duration’ for all of us. A lot of people my age are dead already, with many ‘on the verge.’ Many, however, like me, have a reasonable expectation of a long road yet to travel. That’s what we say, but most people are merely managing the pace of their decline rather than exercising the choice to manifest a different outcome.
We can get stronger.
We can live longer.
We can eat better, sleep more, get more exercise, and smile more.
These are all teachable, reachable, and feasible.
Reader feedback:
Agree completely Mark. Tackling our demons can be bigger than anything we tackle on the outside, LH, Lethbridge, AB
