What does it mean to be happy?

Yo Gusby!

I was just outside, enjoying the brisk fall evening, watching the stars and thinking about my life. I thought to myself, "If someone asked me, right now, to describe my life in a single word, what would that word be?"

I replied, "Happy."

Which got me thinking... What does it mean to be happy?

For some, it's driving an expensive automobile. Others, living in a big house. Or making lots of money. That fancy new cell phone everyone either has or wants. But that's not what makes me happy.

I think that being happy means wearing rose-colored glasses. Now, I don't mean wearing blinders, to hide everything you don't want to see, but seeing things differently than you have in the past.

Life isn't just a series of upgrades and purchases... it's about achievements and accomplishments... those things in your life that you've done that you can take some pride in, because they were wholesome and valuable. Like watching your child playing with friends, then resolving the conflict of who gets to go across the monkey bars without yelling or pushing. Like knowing, really knowing deep down inside, that your mere existence brings joy to another.

Being happy isn't about things, it's about people... and staying happy means you need to learn to see things differently than our consumer culture programs us to see. You have to put on the rose-colored glasses.

That stressful situation that keeps you up at night; it's not a failure, it's an opportunity to learn another method of overcoming an obstacle.

Your partner has an annoying habit; it's not something to fight about, it's a part of the entirety that makes up the whole of the person you're choosing to be with.

When you walk the path of personal growth, there comes a point where you just accept. People are who they are. The bad people are building up karma, and the good people will walk with you. The trick is surrounding yourself with the good ones, the people who will stand by your side, regardless of the obstacles facing you, the ones who support you no matter what.

You know as well as I do that I'm thankful daily for the woman I've chosen to marry, that she above all others is by my side, walking and supporting. But there are many people in my life, and I can honestly say that the people that I've chosen to let in are good people.

So Gusby, let us turn for a minute, and address the people in my life.

If you are in my life, then know that I have seen you. I do not know everything there is to know about you, but I have looked into the core of your being, and I love it. For all of your faults, for all of your quirks, the crazy, the literal, the loving, the humor, the everything... I accept. And I am grateful that you have chosen to have me in your life.

That is what it means to be happy.

November 10th

Yo Gusby,

I think I'm done with the angry rants for a while. Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations, though. It's nice to have someone to talk to when I feel like people are out of control.

Today, I'd like to talk to you about November 10th.

When I graduated from Dunwoody in June, I spent some time sending out resumes left and right, 5-10 per day, for an entire month. It was nearly a full-time job, hunting for work, and I didn't get a single call or email about any applications. When I realized that no one wanted me as a welder, I gave up. I stopped hunting. I stopped applying. I fell into a trench of depression, complete with nearly overwhelming feelings of self-worth, and my lack thereof. I mean, here I was, another $24,000 in debt, with a professional talent that no one wanted.

Early October turned things around for me. I re-read some books I'd forgotten about, and I decided to open myself to change. I threw wide the doors of spiritual reception and listened carefully for the response. What I heard was astounding and astonishing.

I am not your typical American worker-bee. The 9-5 cube-monkey crunch that most Americans toil through, suffering daily for something as minor as a paycheck that isn't enough... that wasn't for me. I was told, and I'm still being told, that I need to follow a different path to financial security and contentment. I was also told that I needed to stop measuring my personal value with a paycheck. It doesn't matter if I make $15,000 a year or $1,500,000 a year, so long as I treat my loved ones with kindness, respect, and fairness. Our happiness is NOT dictated by how much money we make! I am not valued only for my financial contribution to my family, but also for my love, commitment, and all of my other contributions.

I can't buy my wife fancy new shoes, or a Coach purse, but I sure as hell can put a smile on her face when she comes home from a long day. And you know what? That's actually enough for me. The term "house husband" has been thrown around a bit, and rather than be put off by it, I feel it's a compliment. I met some housewives a few weeks ago, and they were strong women, who provided a true value to their families, who deserve respect for the effort they put into their lives.

But I digress (again), 17 days ago, I was reading a book on Mayan prophecy and their Tzolkin calendar, when I was struck (and struck hard) by a feeling, a sensation that November 10th was going to be the beginning of the end of my financial worries.

This feeling has stayed with me over the past two and a half weeks, and grown in strength. The more I thought about it, the more it just felt right. Conversations with my spiritual advisory team all seemed to support and confirm my feeling. In fact, my one of my spiritual advisers talked to one of her spiritual advisers, and he talked about me! This feeling, this energy surrounding me, is large enough to impact near-strangers... which only lends more credence to it!

When I realized that today, November 10th, was going to be such a big day for my financial trouble, I stopped even the half-hearted job-hunting that I had been doing. I've spent the last few weeks preparing and getting ready, and opening myself to whatever opportunity you decide to send my way, Gusby.

This morning, I awoke to a message that said, "I saw this position and thought of you. You're quite qualified for it, and it's at a company that you trust, morally and ethically." It's not the perfect position for me, but the feeling I've been having has never seemed like it was going to be a permanent (5+ years) solution for me. It has always come across as a temporary solution. And since I now know what I need to do, and how I can earn money while I work on what I need to do, I'm positive that things are turning around.

It's a good time in my life, Gusby, and I have you (and me) to thank for it.