I've just been reading Deepak Chopra on happiness. You know what that means. I've gotta get over something.
I might be getting a little hypochondriac-ish. Gotta get over that. But I have a lot of stuff going wrong with me. I was playing on my Wii and stretched a tendon in the arch of my foot past the point of no return. That's a kick in the pants.
What if I'm on my way to dowager-ville? Some people gain weight in their hips or thighs. I might gain weight on my back! Up high. Oh no!Quasimoto! With hips and thighs.
I've got a a floater in my left eye. It does as its moniker suggests, drifting in and out of my field of vision just when the six pack abs commercial comes on.
My mood - mostly okay. I quit saying, "Fine," when people ask how I'm doing. Partly because George Carlin said it's inane to say "fine," and partly because I've realigned my responses to more nearly match reality. "Fine" could be overstating it. Sometimes I say "groovy." I haven't been truly groovy in many years, but I enjoy the reaction.
But am I happy? Sure. Except, the more I know the less lee-way there is. Smaller margin of error.
I remember in The Big Chill, Mary Kay Place is talking to JoBeth Williams about the men she meets. She says with her experiences she can size men up in the first 10 seconds after she meets them and know whether they're worth any effort. JoBeth says, "Well, at least you give them a fair shot."
That's me. I can zero in on the salient pretty quickly now. With age and experience comes insight, sometimes mistaken for wisdom. It just doesn't take that long to size up the newest ride and figure out if it's worth buying a ticket.
But often enough I'm wrong, and I love a surprise. For example, I can cook! I'm pretty good at it. Who knew? Check out The Flavor Bible.
I still hang out with kids for the wonder. Dogs and cats rock. Simple and deep all at once.
Often joy comes in the familiar: Seeing my husband peek around the living room corner again this evening. Returning to Yellowstone. Watching The Sixth Sense the sixth time. Replaying Achmed the Dead Terrorist and laughing like an Alzheimer's patient. "Silence! I keel you!"
Can you hear me Deepak? I'm happy I tell you. I'm over it, whatever it was.
Whew! I have never seen you NOT get over something! But I'm not with you twenty four seven either.
ReplyDeleteYou always seem to look on the bright side of things- and I admire that about you.
As a matter of fact- you are one person that I think about during my regular life on a frequent basis! Why?
Well, maybe your wisdom shines through.
Maybe you have always set yourself up as a good example.
Maybe your innate ability to be serious and then silly all in the same five minutes.
Maybe your core happiness exudes into all aspects of your life and it shows.
Whatever it is- I like you and I am glad you are my friend!
If that don't make you happy- nuthin' will!