Are you as happy as you'd like to be? Do you feel others are happier than you are? Or are you waiting for things like a new job, a new house or a romantic partner to make you happy? While it's wondering having or even anticipating those things, we can only be happy right now, this minute. Not yesterday because it’s gone. We can think about yesterday and that can make us happy, sad, regretful, indifferent or any combination of the above. We can be happy right now planning tomorrow or miserable dreading what might come instead.

Happy people know they can choose how they feel about yesterday, today and tomorrow. Are we coping with endless disasters or knowing we’ll get past them? Do we trust or expect others to harm us? Are we full of gratitude for what we have or brooding over what we have lost?

The joyful news is we can decide to be happy! And we can start immediately – or sooner. Start by realizing that YOU are the most important person in the room, your family, your city, you country and even the universe! Not your new baby, not your spouse, not your sick mom or cranky boss or the President. It’s you! And you have to love yourself first and foremost to have love available to give to those you cherish and flow through them to the rest of the planet.

Love yourself, honor yourself, take care of yourself physically and emotionally and above all, keep promises to yourself. How often do we tell ourselves “I’m going to make time for a walk today” and don’t quite know why we didn’t do it? Or think I want to travel BUT..... But is the worst single word in the English language and keeps us from recognizing and realizing our dreams.

I suggest treating yourself by putting that walk on your calendar and let the laundry pile up while you enjoy the great outdoors and breathe clean air. Something special happens when we keep our promises, especially the secret and so often neglected ones to ourselves. It will make your days a joy and you a beacon to everyone around you. You’ll never regret enjoying that sunshine, either! And you just might meet a special someone, a job contact or find that perfect new house.

Let's close with a happy thought from St Paul:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Phil 4:12