Being a mother of grown children took me by surprise. One minute, they were on my lap, giving me gooey kisses. The next, driving away, waving, smart, beautiful, capable adults.
I’ve already mentioned how I felt a little duped by the fact that if I grew them up to be responsible children . . . they’d leave me.
Unfair.
But it’s made me rethink the definition of happiness. Not that I didn’t understand it before, but I just never contemplated it.
I always looked out there for happiness. You know, beyond this moment of stress, or sickness, or fatigue, or housework, or dinner (really, why do we need to eat?), past the next deadline, or the next speaking engagement to a moment when…
What? I could stop? Breathe? Because in my life, those moments come far and few between.
And really, do I have to wait to be happy until then?
Me no think so. I’ve decided that “Happy” isn’t a destination, but an attitude. A moment my moment realization of the good things.
Happy can be found as I stop to watch the sun rise. Or a moment when my daughter texts me just to say hi. Or even just, as I pull out frozen meat for dinner, that I have enough, for today. Enough food, enough warmth, and enough grace to make it through the day. (Thank you, Lamentations 3:20!)
But I also think cultivating Happiness needs to be intentional. There are three disciplines that I’ve instituted to finding the happy in my daily life.
- Daily Gratefulness. I start each day by listing three things (different each day) for which I am grateful, and thanking the Lord for them.
- Daily Kindness. I pick someone to bless with a word of encouragement every day . . . and in doing that, I am blessed.
- Daily Psalm. I took this advice from my father, who told me years ago to start each day with a Psalm. It’s made all the difference in aligning my heart toward happy each day.
I know life is so very busy, and the older I get, the more time seems to slip through my fingers. I’m not going to wait for happiness, or let it slip through my fingers.
“Happy” isn’t a destination, but an attitude! @susanmaywarren @grit_grace
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More About Susan May Warren:
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women’s events about God’s amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.
New from Susan May Warren | It Had to Be You
A Christensen Family Novel.
Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.
Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.
