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Is happiness as compelling as fear? That’s what I wondered after last week’s exercise on remembering fear.
Like fear, happiness for me is best remembered in moments. It’s often fleeting, but oh so delicious. Contentment tends to be longer lasting, but happiness? That is when you experience a joy so profound that you suddenly realize that this moment is perfect. The heart swells, the stomach flutters, the eyes crinkle and you think, this is what life is for, these moments.
I had one of those moments recently. All three of my kids are home together for about a month, and soon they will all be dispersing. They were in the family room laughing and talking, remembering stories. I was in the kitchen and the sound of their laughter, their familiar voices, gave me a sudden explosion of happiness. All we have been through together, the ups and the downs, has led to this point and, for that moment, it was all good.
Maybe you disagree. Happiness is longer lasting for you. Happiness is a choice. You remember periods in your life when you were just really happy. Tell us about it.
When was the last time you were happy, really happy?
© 2010, kimmanleyort. All rights reserved.
Remembering… http://goo.gl/fb/xB2e7 #featured #kim #memoirs #content #contentment #joy #kimmanleyort #memoir
Remembering… http://goo.gl/fb/xB2e7 #featured #kim #memoirs #content #contentment #joy #kimmanleyort #memoir
Memoir writing exercise: Recall (and post) a moment of happiness http://trunc.it/a0tlb #memoir
RT @KarenTBTEN: Memoir writing exercise: Recall (and post) a moment of happiness http://trunc.it/a0tlb #memoir
Love the happy moment you just shared with us! This might be harder than one might think. I have a tendency to be happy most of the time…such little things make me happy, truly happy.
I am happy with the very simple things in life — which are really its richest gifts. Have had those precious moments like you describe with your family, Kim. Life is always changing; I don’t see how we can really remain in that state or any other one state. But, I think we can try to manage our attitude.
Life is frequency. Peaks and valleys. Yin and Yang. How we remember, or more to the point, the lessons we take away from the floors and apexes determine what we allow ourselves to know about….ourselves.
The dark times, such as fear, are very compelling because we flinch at discomfort; a very easy and frequent stimulus/reaction.
On the other hand, pleasure, comfort, and happiness can be just as compelling; more compelling than the dips. The highs are harder to fully engage because we approach them with caution and have a difficult time fully embracing those notions.Those moments may suddenly be jerked away, and with them would go all emotional investment.
Of course, I speak as if I know everything. I’m not sure I know all bout myself…
Revisited: Remembering Happiness – Is happiness as compelling as fear? That's what I wondered after last week's… http://is.gd/hbUjF #ewn
Revisited: Remembering Happiness – Is happiness as compelling as fear? That's what I wondered after last week's… http://is.gd/eiGKj7 #ewn