Being a recipient and/or donor of “wishes for happiness” seems to be a relatively common experience. However, “how to actually achieve such” appears not so universal.
I first met herein spoken of friend and co-worker many years ago. An at the time very respectable married lady; blessed with a young son and daughter, and like many parents, proud of them to a fault.
At work we occasionally shared some self-proclaimed bits of wisdom (or youthful naivety) about life. And knowing she was stretched rather thin between employment, family, church, social activities, etc., at times I would in jest suggest in her “spare time” she might determine and share the “meaning of life” and “recipe for happiness.”
If my dear friend ever locked in on the “meaning of life,” I don’t recall her bringing such to my attention. However, what she did do one day was hand me a very special little note she had written which read: “The recipe for Happiness: (1.) Something to do; (2.) Someone to love; (3.) Something to hope for.”
In a most respectful effort to add a bit of perspective to her little note and recipe therein—it was written and shared by a lady whose life-challenges included, but were not limited to—the deaths of her husband and thereafter a most special soul mate; considerable workplace pressures; special single-parent child-rearing challenges; and a life-threatening battle with breast cancer. Throughout which she never seemed to lose her faith, hope, sense of humor, work ethic, or desire to pursue her . . . “Recipe for Happiness.”
Early one morning long ago she died suddenly and unexpectedly, at home, at a relatively young age. And, knowing her as I did, my bet has always been that—if given the opportunity at the time of passing—her parting thoughts were very likely spiritual in nature and about her children’s wellbeing.
It seems that regardless of the aspects of good or poor health, wealth or poverty, fortune or misfortune, or other life circumstances—some of us will forever consider our glass to be only “half-full,” while others will choose to see theirs as being only “half-empty.” As we seem to be surrounded by overwhelming evidence that much of what many of us pursue in our respective gift-of-life journeys, falls notably short of being a true and lasting “Recipe for Happiness.”
And, after all is said and done, it is likely that Abraham Lincoln touched upon a universal fact-of-life when he long ago reportedly expressed . . . “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
In a most respectful effort to add a bit of perspective to her little note and recipe therein—it was written and shared by a lady whose life-challenges included, but were not limited to—the deaths of her husband and thereafter a most special soul mate; considerable workplace pressures; special single-parent child-rearing challenges; and a life-threatening battle with breast cancer. Throughout which she never seemed to lose her faith, hope, sense of humor, work ethic, or desire to pursue her . . . “Recipe for Happiness.”
Early one morning long ago she died suddenly and unexpectedly, at home, at a relatively young age. And, knowing her as I did, my bet has always been that—if given the opportunity at the time of passing—her parting thoughts were very likely spiritual in nature and about her children’s wellbeing.
It seems that regardless of the aspects of good or poor health, wealth or poverty, fortune or misfortune, or other life circumstances—some of us will forever consider our glass to be only “half-full,” while others will choose to see theirs as being only “half-empty.” As we seem to be surrounded by overwhelming evidence that much of what many of us pursue in our respective gift-of-life journeys, falls notably short of being a true and lasting “Recipe for Happiness.”
And, after all is said and done, it is likely that Abraham Lincoln touched upon a universal fact-of-life when he long ago reportedly expressed . . . “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
Of course, the merit and wisdom of Abe’s words also come with an often difficult challenge—“making up our minds”—“making the right choices.”
Nevertheless, our ever so unique human design appears to include a very special tool to aid our doing so . . . a tool we have long ago labeled “free-will.”
—William James Moore
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[The above was also included in the Public Mind section on page 4 of the Parsons Sun’s Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, July 09-10, 2022 Edition.]
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[Photo of "Original" Note referenced in "above" writing.]
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