January 2013

SEASONS GREETINGS!
This time of year speaks of Joy and Happiness. Happiness is our birthright. In this Season of exchanging gifts, we are reminded that our happiness is one of Life’s greatest gifts to us, and that we may open it at will. No matter what the circumstances, the decision to be happy is ours to make every day. Too many of us have grown up believing that life must be a “certain way” for us to be happy. We have exhausted ourselves looking for the “right” lover, the
“right” job, and just the “right” clothes. Over time, we have perhaps even looked to alcohol, drugs, or food — to no avail. We persistently looked outside ourselves for the key to happiness.
Lesson learned: Happiness lies within.
First, we must learn that happiness is fully within our power. The most difficult circumstances cannot steal our joy when we have tapped the source within!

Life is a gift we are granted — moment by moment; let us be in awe of the wonder of it, as we celebrate how blessed we are to be participants. Happiness will saturate us if we let it. We can best show our gratitude for the wonder of this gift by smiling every day within and without. That I am here is a wonderful mystery to which joy is the natural response. It is no accident that I am here.

Michael Singer, in his book The Untethered Soul, tells a story of God having a conversation with a human being.
“Do you think God likes to be around people that are miserable?” It’s not hard to tell. Think about it by imagining that you’re God. You created the heavens and earth so that you can play and experience Yourself, and now you’re dropping down to check on your humans. So God asks the first human He sees,
“How are you doing?”
The human says, “What do you mean, how am I doing?”
“Well, do you like it here?”
“No,I don’t like it here.”
‘Why not? What’s wrong?”
That tree is bent in five places; I want it to be straight. This person went out with somebody else,and that person ran up a hundred dollar bill. This person has a nicer car than mine and that person dresses funny. It’s just terrible. Plus my nose is too big, my ears are too small, and my toes are weird. I’m not happy with it. I don’t like any of it.
So God says, “Well, how about the animals?”
“The animals?” The ants and mosquitoes bite you; it’s a terrible thing. I can’t go out at night because there are all those animals out there. They howl and poop all over the place, and I just don’t like it.”
Do you think God likes listening to this? He says, “What do you think I’m a complaint department?” Then He goes and visits somebody else and again asks,
“How are you doing?”
This person says, “I’m ecstatic!”
God says, “Wow! Well, how do you like things?”
“They’re beautiful. Everything I look at just creates waves of joy inside me. I look at that bent tree, and it blows me away. The ant comes and bites me, and it’s just so amazing that a tiny ant could be brave enough to bite a giant like me!”
Now, can you guess who God wants to hang around with?
If you want to be close to God, learn to be joyful. If you remain spontaneously happy and centered, no matter what happens, you will find God. That’s the amazing part. Yes, you will find happiness, but that is nothing compared to what you’re ultimately going to find. Words like ecstasy, bliss, liberation, Nirvana, and freedom become familiar friends as your happiness grows.
There are two things you can choose for yourself in the coming year. Happiness or Unhappiness . . .
Which do you choose to experience?

Happy Holidays!
Daniel

THOUGHTS FOR THE SEASON:

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” ~ Chinese Proverb

“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” ~Lord George Gordon Byron (1788 – 1824)

Look to this day, for it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the realities and verities of existence.
The bliss of growth, the splendor of action, the glory of power.
And yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision.
But today – well lived – makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness,and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.
~ Sanskrit proverb ~

LIGHT THOUGHT:

I was a vegetarian till I started leaning towards the sunlight ~ Rita Rudner

It’s not the load that breaks you down, but the way you carry it.

Jack,this one is for you. The box said “Requires Windows 2007 or better,” so I bought a Macintosh.

The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe we are above the average driver.