Love, happiness and words from my favorite writers

Happiness is a Choice

Last week was an extremely long and stressful week; at least that is what I’m blaming my lack of inspiration and creativity on tonight. So I turn tonight to some of the people whose writings have inspired and supported me on my own journey to increase my happiness. A thought, there isn’t a destination, you don’t arrive at happiness one day, our journey is to always strive to be happier. So whether we are seeing progress or reversal on the path we keep moving forward, even if that progress is incremental.

Words below from two of my favorite poets, Peter McWilliams and Charles Bukowski, two of my favorite philosophers the Dalai Lama and Kahlil Gibran and a nice thought from Helen Keller. A side note, the more I learn about Helen Keller the more I realize how utterly amazing she was.

As always my friends have a happy day. ~ Rev Kane

Havasu Falls

I see nothing wrong with the human trait to desire. In fact, I consider it integral to our success mechanism. Becoming attached to what we desire is what causes the trouble. If you must have it in order to be happy, then you are denying the happiness of the here and now. ~ Peter McWilliams

If You But Knew ~ Peter McWilliams

If you but knew
How all my days seem filled with dreams of you,
How sometimes in the silent night
Your eyes thrill through me with their tender light,
How oft I hear your voice when others speak,
How you ‘mid other forms I seek–
Oh, love more real than though such dreams were true
If you but knew.

Could you but guess
How you alone make all my happiness,
How I am more than willing for your sake
To stand alone, give all and nothing take,
Nor chafe to think you bound while I am free,
Quite free, till death, to love you silently,
Could you but guess.

Could you but learn
How when you doubt my truth I sadly yearn
To tell you all, to stand for one brief space
Unfettered, soul to soul, as face to face,
To crown you king, my king, till life shall end,
My lover and likewise my truest friend,
Would you love me, dearest, as fondly in return,
Could you but learn?

Happiness means taking risks. And if you’re not a little scared, you’re not doing it right. ~ Charles Bukowski

The Milky Way in Wadi Rum

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed-door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. ~ Helen Keller

We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness. ~ Dalai Lama

We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve