Happiness is.......
Years ago, my grandmother and great-grandmother decided to pursue a dream that they shared by publishing a "coffee table" book. The concept of the book was very simple, they would spend the next year asking people one simple question... "What is happiness?" After a short explanation of the project, 397 answers to that simple question were listed along with the age of the person providing the answer. From ages 4 - 104, people were happy (no pun intended) to answer the question and provided responses that were as varied as one could imagine. At the time the book was published, I was entering the 4th grade, and scattered throughout the book were pictures of our extended family at birthday parties, on fishing trips, or other excursions. I was proud to point out to all of my friends and family that I had appeared in the pictures more often than any other family member and therefor considered myself a celebrity. Oddly enough, I was never asked for an autograph or to pose for a single photograph... but there's still time.
I picked that book up this morning and read through a number of pages. I specifically searched for the responses given by people my age and I quickly found a common theme in the short, one-lined answers. While many teenagers and people in their early twenties expressed joy in their independence, it was my age group that found pure happiness in sharing their experiences with other people. One response from a 24 yr old woman explained that... happiness is.... "arriving at home to congratulatory flowers from my boyfriend after receiving a promotion at work". I was intrigued by this answer because the young lady does not mention her promotion as a reason for her happiness, but rather the deliberate gesture of flowers by her boyfriend. Now I never want to walk into my apartment to find flowers from some guy as a congrats for anything in my lifetime, the idea behind this girl's answer definitely resonates with me. If I found out tomorrow that I had been offered the job of a lifetime, while I would be excited and grateful, the good news would be short lived if I had nobody to share it with.
All of that to say this.... surround yourself with people that will lift you up during your accomplishments as much as they will hold you up during your failures. On the other hand, be sure to be that person that congratulations your friends during the good times while consoling them through the bad times. A very wise lady told me that you create your own happiness, and while that is often true, the ability to share that happiness with others is what constitutes lasting joy. For example... we all know that I love Alabama football and that Alabama football makes me happy. Now lets flashback to the2009 Bama vs Tenn. football game. Perhaps one of the most memorable endings in Bryant Denny stadium will be the day that Terrance Coady lifts his mammoth arm to block the field goal attempt and save the season that would eventually lead to Bama's first national championship in 17 years. (Wow. I even got pretty happy typing that) Now lets say that I was the only fan in the stands when that game was being played. No one to high five, no one to share my lighter with while smoking the traditional victory cigar, no date to hug as I jumped up and down shouting Rammer Jammer..... The true joys that we experience in this lifetime are those that we share with others.
If you are one of the few to read this post today, take the time to tell a friend congrats and how proud you are to have them in your life. Share in their happiness and allow them to share in yours. Pay it forward.
