[Anne07Nov05]

Hey, ladies. I received this email several years ago and thought it was pretty powerful. I know there are a lot of people right now who are feeling "stuck" for various reasons, so I thought you might enjoy this. I especially love the last paragraph that reminds us that we are ALWAYS going to be waiting for something... So just enjoy the ride.



Dance Like No One's Watching

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one...

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy...Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thought for the day:
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching.

[kmbaby]

Thats awesome! Thanks for posting that Anne. I have to say I am guilty of "waiting" for a lot of things to happen. Not today!!!! I vow to just enjoy the day and be happy the way the day turns out!!

[-Shannon-]

Thanks Anne. I just emailed that to alot of people and am going to print it out and hang it on my fridge!

[akafrogs]

Thank you so much for posting that!!!!! It is what I really needed.

[nirvanasmarigold]

That's great Anne! I didn't realize how much dh and I really say a lot of those things! When we have more money, when Eric is a little older, etc, etc. Puts a lot of things in perspective, definitely sending it out to my peeps hahaha

[*Carla*]

Thanks for sharing that Anne. I hope it helped you avoid therapy when Thatch was on deployment (I can't believe your friends told you you needed therapy!!)! I've read something similar to that before and it always makes me feel inspired, but then I think of a good reason to feel sorry for myself! Silly huh. Maybe I will stick it on my fridge like Shannon for when I need reminding. Thanks again.

[*Sonia*]

I think lots of people on this board, including me, needed to be reminded of how important it is to live in the now... thanks for sharing Anne...

[Erin]

always good to remember this!

[Austins Mommy]

Thank you so much for posting that. It is beautiful. It really made me stop and think and appreciate the things that I have NOW!!!

[Neo76]

Thats a great read! and definitely an eye opener. I think its human nature to never be satisfied and to always be looking for something bigger or better. I love that last line though, "Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Its so true! Maybe if we start thinking like that we wont always feel like our life is going nowhere and that everything we thought we worked for was pointless. Its a new day ladies...lets work on our happy journey!