Is Anyone Happy and Thankful

I recently made a post on Facebook asking "is anyone happy and thankful".  It didn't get much of a response so far, but that doesn't surprise me either.  To start with, I want to say I am in awe with those that seemingly are overwhelmed with happiness and thankfulness - they are so inspiring to me. People like Kirk Weisler who constantly tells stories of  how happy and thankful he is with his life that is centered around his wife and family.  Phil Gerbyshak with his branded smile, it's always there, on his face and in his tone (even when he waited months to get paid for an engagement).  My friend Dr. Sunshine who always reminds me to work on my "fun factor" because it is so critical for happiness (OK, there's an inside story there, that's not my friends real name, just a pen name, so to speak). A co-worker that is so into her kids and family, happy and thankful for all they have and can do.  Then there are those dear and departed friends I once sat and talked with, that even though they lost battles with illness, told me many stories of happiness and thankfulness and how important it is to understand and enjoy before we are in a situation so dire we lose the ability to enjoy it for all it is worth.  I'm not naive to think all of these and others live in 100% happiness all the time - we are humans! I hope I'm wrong and they are in happiness and bliss all the time, I strive to feel that way too.

Why aren't we all suffering from happiness and thankfulness? Why do we dwell on the unhappiness and complain about things that are not perfect in every way? Why is there not enough forgiveness and so much hostility.  I wish I knew.  Even more, I wish I had the answers that could help turn things around.

Jokes make people laugh and feel good. Those same jokes make people withdraw and get mad. Can we not see both sides of the coin? Can we not see when a joke to one person is an attack on another?  I think sometimes we do, and do it anyway because it is all about us, not them.  Is it for self indulgence?  Why do we tell stories and talk about what others have done or not done? Do we think it makes us look better? 

In my heart, I want to feel like I am remarkable each and every day.  Thank you Seth Godin for providing me that inspiration in the Purple Cow, a story I had pins made for to give to people when I catch them being remarkable.  I love the Big Moo, my favorite book of all, I can find time to read a short story from it to gain inspiration almost anywhere I go.

One thing I get to accomplish, whether I want to or not, by choice or my default, I get to read a lot.  Not necessarily a book from cover to cover, I haven't done that in years.  I often pick up a book and let fate tell me where to start reading and what lesson to take from the reading....  and then hopefully the wisdom to apply a little of it.  I read blogs, fancy names for editorials, opinions and the things that people do for their own reasons.  You're doing the same right now.  I'm writing this for me as much as I'm writing it for you.  I'm hoping we both come out the other end a little bit happier and more thankful.

I'm not happy I have not been able to do things that helped others be happier.  I worked hard on that sentence because I've learned that I can not make anyone happy nor can anyone make me happy.  All we can do is provide someone with an environment that is conducive to happiness, the choice is theirs, or mine. I'm struggling with if I should really try to be happy despite the influences that I come in contact with that are not conducive to my happiness anyway, but because some of that come from dear friends, it bothers me.

I believe that our society and our upbringing has brought us to where we are - duh, you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out.  What I want to learn is how to teach the proverbial dog new tricks. How do you teach, or turn a child around to be thankful for all he or she has, what ever that amount might be?  How to you instill into an employee that it is called work for a reason, have fun, enjoy the time, love what you do, but...  work!  How do we create a culture of people that first and foremost, want to help others?  I wished I had taken my kids to the gulf to help clean up after Katrina or to Hatti that was so violently ravaged.

As Rosamund and Benjamin Zander reminded us in The Art of Possibility, remember rule #6.  Be thankful for for all you have, share all you can, and above all, be happy each and every day. Try doing something different, Be Remarkable.