SELF-TALK: WAITING until. . . . .OR , , (on options)

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, after we have a baby, after we have another one. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough; we'll be content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with; we certainly will be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our lives will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. A favorite quote comes from Alfred D. Souza.

He said, "For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin ---real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to begotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, 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. So treasure every moment you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend time with ... and remember that time waits for no one.

So ... stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until
Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the firsts or fifteenth, until your song comes up, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you
are born again ... to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

One of my favorite songs is
HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING (Robert Lowry)
which has one really awesome stanza:
"Since Love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?"

Therefore, Happiness is a journey, not a vocation,
View every minute to be savored:
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt ,and
Dance like there's no one watching.

This is why I can truly say:
I stopped working several years ago.
Now I do only what I love
and it's a "hoot,"
I'm having a ball!