If You’re Happy and You Know It…. April 21, 2008
I was mindlessly flipping through channels yesterday when something caught my eye. There on PBS was Deepak Chopra (a doctor and one of the world’s greatest leaders in mind body medicine) wearing what looked like Elton John’s glasses. I’m familiar with Deepak (but not in those glasses!). I love his work but I’d rather read it than listen to him because his voice puts me to sleep (how enlightened am I?). The glasses caught my attention so I tuned in just long enough to hear him say that happiness comes from making other people happy.
Hmmmm…..I tried that in my former marriage and it was a bust (I’m not bitter…..) but I generally believe in the concept. It occured to me that perhaps it was time to try the approach again. So, in the fashion of “Operation Smile” (see http://lifeonhysterialane.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/big-toothy-grin/ ) I decided to put “Operation Happy” into effect.
But on whom could I focus my happy attention? My son would be happy if I just left him alone for one minute……I can do that… My parents might be happy if I got a real job, with real benefits so that I could stop playing Russian Roulette with my future….but that can’t happen today……My ex would be happy if I dropped dead, but that’s not going to happen today either (God willing) because I just passed my stress test…
Hmmm….I guess I’ll have to find a stranger and think of something that might make him/her happy. Animals count, right? If I had a dog, I’d rub its belly. I don’t have a dog. Maybe I could throw some nuts out the door to the squirrel that harasses me on my front porch. Do squirrels eat Planters Peanuts? They do on the commercial. I’d sure hate to kill the poor little guy with my Spicy Glazed Nuts…..
That would not make me happy.
Well, I’m off on my Hunt as a Happiness Helper. I’ll keep you posted.
Yes One would think how simple and obvious it is, finding happiness according to Deepak ……
“happiness comes from making other people happy….” Yes, why couldn’t I have thought to make Deepaks zillions and say the same thing…….I know Ya gotta have those glasses and the key word is ‘people’. I think ‘We’ have to be careful who we choose to make happy because some are really not people but other life forms disguised as people, (in my experience) so thats the trick, as the knight in Raider of the Lost Ark said to Indiana Jones, “….choose wisely.” something I am still trying to get the knack of.
You made me happy, when I read your post.
…and you just returned the favor…thanks!