Happiness is.....

Happiness and Kindness are challenging to define because they mean something different to everyone, even slightly. However, I know that Happiness and Kindness start within myself. Through introspection and reflection, I can feel joy and project it to others. Life isn't always pleasant, and we must accept that fact before working toward Happiness and Kindness.

No process is 100 percent perfect, but practicing consistently makes the results more noticeable and boosts my mood. I feel better after I take the time to explore within myself before facing the world, as surprises often catch us off guard. That is when mental preparation makes Happiness and Kindness more attainable. The discipline required is difficult to maintain at times, but it is worth it in the end.

I periodically reflect on my life and behavior so that I can make changes, both big and small, that help me move forward. I sometimes obsess over trivial things because I give them more importance than they deserve. Once I reflect, I realize that those things only have the amount of control I grant them. I can no longer let those trivial things dictate my life and mood. 

An old friend who disagrees with my political opinions is a perfect example. He has every right to do so, but he fails to understand that my views and beliefs came from my parents and are, therefore, not subject to change due to his disagreement. He told me he no longer reads my blog, but that is no significant loss to me. If he disagrees with what I say, that is his right, but I won't compromise my beliefs for him or anyone else. My political opinions came from my parents, who always served me well. I am very Liberal and Progressive, and I am proud of it. My Father bombed the shit out of Nazis in World War 2, and I cannot stand the Republican Nazis we have here today.

Because Hal and I are mostly alone here, I seldom have the chance to practice my Happiness and Kindness directly with other people. I make every effort to be upbeat in my interactions with people, although, like I said, that seldom applies in a genuinely social sense. I use a daily mantra to keep things in perspective. 

“Don’t respond to negativity. It just allows it to control your life. I need to keep telling myself this.” Repeating this in my head helps me cope with the unpleasant aspects of the outside world. I can finally tell the world to FUCK OFF and stay out of my life as much as possible. This might sound contradictory to Happiness and Kindness, but protecting one’s sanity and mental health is essential. Don’t let others bring you down unnecessarily. Let them be happy or sad in their worlds; live and let live.

I’m starting a new reading routine based on putting my feelings first and letting the world deal with them after I move on. I wasted too many years trying to please others and neglecting myself in the process. If people can’t accept who I am, that is no longer my problem. I must finally be true to myself. I have shifted all my reading from Amazon to Apple Books, Barnes and Noble books, and the Nook e-reader. I canceled my Amazon Prime account and Prime Video as well. I won't reward billionaires like Bezos who bend the knee to tyrannical Nazis like tRump. I can find other places to get my necessities, especially directly from the manufacturers' websites. I feel better not supporting Nazi sympathizers whenever I can.

Be Kind to each other.