There you are, with everything you thought you wanted. You worked so hard to get there. You didn't stop to enjoy the trip much because you thought happiness would be found in the destination, not in the journey. You kept thinking, "When I've accomplished this, when I've acquired that, when we've made this much money.. then I can finally enjoy life.." And so it continued and the journey to where you now are feels like one great big blur, a rushed frenzy that you now desperately wish you could recall more details of. You wished you let yourself live more in the moment, let yourself be happy in the moment and less rushed.
Now you're panicking because, as you lay on this tropical beach with the waves lapping your toes and the sun glistening on your skin, you think "I'm bored of paradise!". An uneasiness sets in because you realize..this paradise you were waiting for isn't all that great.
Because you didn't need to wait! It was right there! It was your son asking for help on his math homework - feel grateful he's asking and that you can; tripping over your kids toys- think, 'so glad I have these beautiful healthy kids who sometimes leave messes'; it's piles of laundry to face- be so happy that there are so many people that you get to love and take care of; the unending mess in the kitchen- think 'I am so glad I have a healthy and able body to tackle this every day, and enough food to put on the table for my family'. Paradise is here, in your life now. At least it can be if you let it. The thing is, it's what's in your heart, not what's around you.
There's a guy that works at the Target here in Longmont taking care of the shopping carts, a seemingly un-glamorous job. Anyway, he's always got a smile on his face, always saying hello to anyone who walks by, always making a comment about how great the weather seems today. He is in paradise because he created his own! Even though to most people his world seems pretty mediocre. But he chooses to be happy!
I believe if we're serving and caring for other people, and developing charity, we will create our own little paradise in our sphere of influence. For us, and those around us. Then we won't be metaphorically 'sitting on the beach' of our accomplishment one day and realize we let happiness evade us. Because there is so much joy and happiness to be found and shared in this world every day!
