Sunday, July 06, 2008

Serenity's Secret

One day when I was visiting my mom and dad, I was looking through one of Mother's books called, Secrets of Serenity. In it I found the following quote from Andy Rooney:

For most of life nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family and friends, then chances are you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness - or unhappiness - on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.

I often write about joy and how it is found in the small, daily happenings that we experience. I think I've always known, both from being taught by my parents and by observing and living, that the worthwhile and joyous things are those that come in the small, delightful packages of our everyday existence.

Life is about the seemingly simple: flowers opening outside your window....having lunch with your favorite friend.....an ice cream cone on a hot July afternoon.....a sunset on the horizon.....pound cake in the oven.....a song that stirs your soul. The big and momentous happenings should never be the sustenance for our happiness, but rather a supplement to the joy of the journey found on our daily walk.

Open your heart. Look out your window. Live for today. For within it lies serenity and in that, the secret to a happy life.

7 comments:

Cheryl said...

Thank you. Most of today has been great, in that simple sort of way. But I was letting a nasty email from my ex get to me and almost ruin it. I needed this. Thank you!

Mike said...

My Dad forwarded me the email you sent him. He thinks very highly of you. I think you are pretty ok mee self.

Thanks!

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Lori,
Hey, I think you'll enjoy the next couple posts that I'm doing ;)

John said...

Just yesterday I found myself experiencing some of that serenity. All 3 of my kids were engrossed with something on the TV and I was captivated by the thought that *I* was blessed as the recipient of these three living, breathing gifts.

Slone said...

just perfect read for my lunch break!

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Thanks for what you said Lori. I appreciate you sharing in my joy.

perfectly imperfect said...

Thank you. I stumbled onto your blog and have been focusing on the negative. Your post was a good reminder (I need many of them) find happiness in the smaller moments in life.