Happiness is...

on everyone's lips, or rather the search for happiness is.   I have been awakened to this universal search for happiness.  It seems to be as sought after as fame, fortune, and power, and perhaps is just as elusive.  Coming home from Idaho a few days ago, I was on an airplane and the woman next to me was reading one of the latest self-help books on finding happiness "for no reason"; the napkin which rested under my ginger ale showed two bottles of Coca-Cola and the inscription: "Open Happiness".

The world would have us believe that finding happiness should be as easy an opening a coke bottle.

Is it?  Where do you find your happiness?  Can it be bottled, ready at a moment's notice to satisfy our thirst, our need?

My friend, Charlie Brown melodically believes that "HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL."  Sounds simple enough.  I'm not sure finding a pencil does it for me, though. Maybe Schroeder is on to something: "HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE; or maybe Sally gets it: HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND."

One of my New Year's Goals is to discover as many sources for happiness that I can, and to note them, and to make a collection of them.  In doing so, I hope to be able to open my own "coke bottle" at will to find the happiness I may be needing at the moment.

Here is part of the list I have come up with.  And please note that the Peanuts gang has contributed to my list.  One must give credit where credit is due.

Happiness is...
a good movie while folding laundry
a Friday night date with my sweetheart
a Saturday night date with my sweetheart;-)
HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND
finding a new favorite song
a good conversation
browsing in a book store
burying myself in a good book in front of the fireplace
HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER (or in my case having THREE!)
a fresh batch of photos ready to be put in a scrapbook
having a beloved hobby
sharing in the happiness of my children
being a grandma
HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN
spending time at the beach
learning how to paint
traveling the world, discovering its wonders
AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.

I would love to hear what some of your sources for happiness are.

I have one more that I would like to share, but again, I must give credit where due:  I was reminded of this source while reading in the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, chapter 44, verse 5:

"the sacred word of God, to which we owe ALL our happiness"

Thanks for the reminder, Captain Moroni.

Happiness is reading my scriptures every morning while laying in my warm bed.  Can't get better than that...