Reece Gardner: What it means to be happy

Today I want to talk about what it means to be happy, as outlined by Columnist Crystal Boyd. We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married and have children. Then we are frustrated that our children aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with and we'll be happy when they pass that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, or reach retirement age. The truth is there is no better time to be happy than right now.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza: "For A time it 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, a debt to be paid, a friendship to be mended. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles WERE my life, and that there is no WAY to happiness. Happiness IS the way."

So let's treasure every moment we have, and treasure it more because we shared it with very wonderful and precious people. We don't need to wait to be happy. Happiness is a journey. Let's enjoy it NOW!

Now for a little humor:

A cowboy who had just moved from Texas to Wyoming walked into a bar and ordered 3 mugs of beer. He sat in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finished them he came back to the bar and ordered three more.

Bartender: "You know it would taste better if you bought one at a time."

Cowboy: "I have two brothers. One is in Arizona, the other is in Colorado. When we all left our home in Texas we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself."

The cowboy became a regular patron and drank the same way, 3 mugs.

One day he ordered only 2 mugs, and the bartender said, "I want to offer my condolences on your loss," to which the cowboy replied, "Oh no, everybody's just fine. It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking. It hasn't affected my brothers though!"

Now to close with this illustration of what really matters in life:

"I'm running late for a meeting," he said as he slung his coat over his shoulder and bounded out of the house. As he drove away, his 7-year-old daughter came running down the stairs calling to him, "Wait, Wait," but he had already left..

"He forgot to give me a goodbye kiss," she whispered, in a voice that trembled with hurt. She called his cell number, "You left without giving me a kiss," she said. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart," he said, his voice contrite. "It's OKAY, Daddy," she whispered, trying to be all grown up.

She finished her breakfast, picked up her school bag, and started to walk out the door, her shoulders slumped. As she climbed down the steps a car glided to a stop outside the house. Her Dad got out of the car. She ran to him, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"I'm sorry I forgot." he said, as he picked her up and hugged her.

Fifteen years later no one would remember he was late for a meeting, but a little girl would never ever forget her father drove all the way back home just to kiss her Goodbye!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!