Happiness is a journey, not a destination

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough, and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our partner gets his or her act together when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice holiday, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

A quote comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said,

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until winter, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink.... there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Work like you don't need money,

Love like you've never been hurt,

And dance like no one's watching.

Do It Anyway

Happiness come from the inside

The Top 10 Human Values

Everything you THINK… everything you FEEL… every action you take… is because of your beliefs and VALUES.

You may not be aware of it… You may not be conscious of it… but your VALUES shape your decisions… and your decisions shape your LIFE.

If you value MONEY more than HAPPINESS your life might be full of expensive things, but there will be no joy in that experience.

Your VALUES signal what is important to you. They are emotional states that show you what is important, and what you want to experience. Imagine how different your life would be if you changed a value of MONEY and replaced it with the value of LOVE.

Creating and STATING your values consciously can change the direction of your life.

If you decide to apply any of these values to your life, in your own words, in your own way, your own life will be of more value!

 The following, are the 10 most important human values. 

This is only our opinion, you can and should create your own in your own words.



Number 1. Health and Energy.

This might be the most important value of all to some people. 

It will be the most important value of all to some of those who have experienced serious health problems.

 Without physical health, it is very unlikely you can experience and enjoy all the other values at their deepest levels.

Great health gives you energy and vitality which enables you to dive deeper into the more important things in life, and give more energy and time to those you love. 

Make the value of HEALTH and ENERGY a priority in your life, by learning what daily nutrition and exercise is best to fuel your body.



What would it take, for you to be at your physical peak?

 LEARN it. APPLY it.

Number 2. Love.



The overuse of this word makes it easy to misunderstand the true meaning of it. 
This is not just romantic love, but LOVE of all things. 
True, non judgemental LOVE. 
The love you have for your family, friends. The love you have for your favourite things. The love you have for your passion, and your mission.



Making LOVE a priority in your life means there is no room for HATE or indifference.

You could experience LOVE doing anything or with anyone.

 You could experience LOVE in yourself, by yourself.

How would your life change if you valued LOVE higher?

Number 3. Gratitude and Appreciation

There’s truly no greater power on earth than gratitude. 

REAL gratitude shuts down all other negative emotions in the moment.

So, how important is Gratitude to you?

 Well, how important is it for you to FEEL GOOD?

 If it is important, you must make gratitude a top VALUE and practice it as a priority every day.

It costs you nothing, but makes you so RICH.

 It takes nothing away from anyone else, but gives you so much power.



How much more magical would your life be, if you lived in a constant state of appreciation for everything that IS GREAT in your life?

Number 4. Kindness and Compassion.



The world would certainly be a better place if people showed more kindness and compassion. 

Less judgement, more respect.

It’s placing yourself in someone else’s shoes before you judge them.

Have you ever noticed how good it feels when you are kind to someone for no reason?

 It feels good to be kind, because it is RIGHT to be kind.

What would your life be like, what would your world be like if you valued kindness and compassion more?

Number 5. Integrity.

Knowing you do the right thing, even when no one is watching, and no one will no either way. 

The inner knowing you always do what is right.

 That brings PRIDE and it brings inner PEACE.



When you value INTEGRITY you value doing what is right.

 It is such a powerful value that not only makes a difference in your own life, but also sets a powerful example to all those close to you. 

It brings HONESTY and TRUST.



How would your life be different if everyone knew you as a person of INTEGRITY?

Number 6. Giving

.

This ties in with Kindness and Compassion… as humans we are built to GIVE. 

Not just give money, or things, but give ourselves fully to others in need. 

To serve, selflessly.

Karma always ensures what you give is returned, but that is not WHY you give.

 You GIVE because that is your nature. It’s not an EFFORT, it is natural, it feels good and you know there is no lack.

How differently would you feel if you valued GIVING higher in your life?

Number 7. Growth.

Human beings are wired to GROW.

GROWTH comes from experience, from LEARNING, from failures, from achievements and INTENTION.

 Intention to get better. This doesn’t mean get better so you can “win”. It means getting better so you can GIVE MORE to the world.

 So you can EXPERIENCE more. ENJOY more.



It’s about becoming the greatest version of yourself. Not just FOR yourself, but for others. Setting the example of what is truly possible.

Reaching your highest potential with INTENTION.

How much better will your life be, when you VALUE GROWTH higher on your list?

Number 8. Peace.

Ahhhhh peace.

 Peace. 

Nothing more needs to be said. 

It’s getting to that place of needing nothing.

It’s being alone, and being in bliss.
 It’s presence.

 It’s reaction-less. 

It’s the silence at the peak of the mountain.



How high do you value peace?
 How much better would your life be if you had more PEACE in it?

Number 9. Family, Friendship and Connection.

It’s caring about someone more than you care about yourself.

 It’s putting others first. 

It’s making time for the people you care about.

It’s giving the people you love, and maybe even strangers, your complete presence, and building that connection. 

It’s making someone else’s day BETTER just because you were in it.

It’s bringing your BEST SELF to every encounter, so the other person walks away with a smile.

How different would your life be, and countless others if you took this approach?

 Will you VALUE CONNECTION higher on your list?

Number 10. Happiness.

It’s Joy.
 It’s Playfulness. 
It’s Fun.
 It’s Non-Seriousness. 

It’s a state of real happiness. When time stops and you LOVE what you are doing.

It’s what we all seek.

 But we do it in so many different ways.

 Some try and find it through money. But no type of paper is going to bring it to you.

 Some try and find it through achievements and success… but they come up empty.

It’s within, and it’s a CHOICE. 

It’s always available and never on sale.

 YOU DECIDE when you make this a priority and a top VALUE.

How different would your life be if you had HAPPINESS as your highest VALUE?

Quotes on Life by Keanu Reeves

1. Every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today. Be thankful for the hard times, they can only make you stronger.
2. I do think there must be some kind of interaction between your living life and the life that goes on from here.
3. Mortality is very different when you’re 20 to when you’re 50.
4. It is incredibly empowering to know that your future is in your hands.
5. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so live today!
6. Art is about trying to find the good in people and making the world a more compassionate place.
7. You have to change your life if you’re not happy, and wake up if things aren’t going the way you want.
8. Sometimes enemies are our best teachers, people can learn from their mistakes, destruction sometimes means rebirth.
9. Grief changes shape but it never ends.
10. Sometimes simple things are the most difficult things to achieve.
11. So in the end, I think we can all pretty well agree that even in the face of tragedy, a stellar person can thrive. No matter what’s going on in your life, you can overcome it! Life is worth living.
12. Try to be wrong once in a while, it’ll do your ego good.
13. None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an afterthought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean.
14. If you have been brutally broken, but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a badass with the heart of an angel.
15. Letters are something from you. It’s a different kind of intention than writing an e-mail.
16. I was also raised to treat people exactly how I would like to be treated by others. It’s called respect.
17. Our dreams can teach us, instruct us, confuse us, sometimes I think they look to be considered. They are an opportunity and I think they most certainly could be utilized to focus, to try and achieve — whether it’s looking for someone, or influencing us, or inspiring us.
18. When I don’t feel free and can’t do what I want, I just react. I go against it.
19. I’ll always be in love with love.
20. Multi-culture is the real culture of the world — a pure race doesn’t exist.
21. The person who was holding me back from my happiness was me.
22. A good date is when you are intoxicated with each other’s company and everything becomes good in the world.
23. Energy can’t be created or destroyed, and energy flows. It must be in a direction, with some kind of internal, emotive, spiritual direction. It must have some effect somewhere.
24. I thank the earth and the sky every day for the opportunities I’ve had.
25. Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget to take the time out to enjoy the beauty in life. It’s like we’re zombies. Look up and take your headphones out. Say ‘Hi’ to someone you see and maybe give a hug to someone who looks like they’re hurting.
26. The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.
27. It's always wonderful to get to know women, with the mystery and the joy and the depth. If you can make a woman laugh, you're seeing the most beautiful thing on God's Earth.
28. Nothing ever truly dies. The universe wastes nothing, everything is simply transformed.
29. Life is good when you have a good sandwich.
30. I thank the earth and the sky every day for the opportunities I’ve had.
31. Luxury is the opportunity to experience quality, be it a place, a person or an object.

Six Little Stories to Live By

Write It On Your Heart: Every Day Is The Best Day

An Amazing 9-11 Story from a Flight Attendant

Here is an amazing story from a flight attendant on Delta Flight 15, written following 9-11.

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, we were... about 5 hours out of Frankfurt, flying over the North Atlantic. All of a sudden the curtains parted and I was told to go to the cockpit, immediately, to see the captain. As soon as I got there I noticed that the crew had that "All Business" look on their faces. The captain handed me a printed message. It was from Delta's main office in Atlanta and simply read, "All airways over the Continental United States are closed to commercial air traffic. Land ASAP at the nearest airport. Advise your destination."

No one said a word about what this could mean. We knew it was a serious situation and we needed to find terra firma quickly. The captain determined that the nearest airport was 400 miles behind us in Gander, Newfoundland.

He requested approval for a route change from the Canadian traffic controller and approval was granted immediately -- no questions asked. We found out later, of course, why there was no hesitation in approving our request.

While the flight crew prepared the airplane for landing, another message arrived from Atlanta telling us about some terrorist activity in the New York area. A few minutes later word came in about the hijackings.

We decided to LIE to the passengers while we were still in the air. We told them the plane had a simple instrument problem and that we needed to land at the nearest airport in Gander, Newfoundland, to have it checked out.

We promised to give more information after landing in Gander .. There was much grumbling among the passengers, but that's nothing new! Forty minutes later, we landed in Gander. Local time at Gander was 12:30 PM .... that's 11:00 AM EST.

There were already about 20 other airplanes on the ground from all over the world that had taken this detour on their way to the US. After we parked on the ramp, the captain made the following announcement: "Ladies and gentlemen, you must be wondering if all these airplanes around us have the same instrument problem as we have. The reality is that we are here for another reason." Then he went on to explain the little bit we knew about the situation in the US. There were loud gasps and stares of disbelief. The captain informed passengers that Ground control in Gander told us to stay put.

The Canadian Government was in charge of our situation and no one was allowed to get off the aircraft. No one on the ground was allowed to come near any of the air crafts. Only airport police would come around periodically, look us over and go on to the next airplane.

In the next hour or so more planes landed and Gander ended up with 53 airplanes from all over the world, 27 of which were US commercial jets. Meanwhile, bits of news started to come in over the aircraft radio and for the first time we learned that airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York and into the Pentagon in DC.

People were trying to use their cell phones, but were unable to connect due to a different cell system in Canada . Some did get through, but were only able to get to the Canadian operator who would tell them that the lines to the U.S. were either blocked or jammed.

Sometime in the evening the news filtered to us that the World Trade Center buildings had collapsed and that a fourth hijacking had resulted in a crash. By now the passengers were emotionally and physically exhausted, not to mention frightened, but everyone stayed amazingly calm. We had only to look out the window at the 52 other stranded aircraft to realize that we were not the only ones in this predicament.

We had been told earlier that they would be allowing people off the planes one plane at a time. At 6 PM, Gander airport told us that our turn to deplane would be 11 am the next morning. Passengers were not happy, but they simply resigned themselves to this news without much noise and started to prepare themselves to spend the night on the airplane.

Gander had promised us medical attention, if needed, water, and lavatory servicing. And they were true to their word. Fortunately we had no medical situations to worry about. We did have a young lady who was 33 weeks into her pregnancy. We took REALLY good care of her. The night passed without incident despite the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

About 10:30 on the morning of the 12th a convoy of school buses showed up. We got off the plane and were taken to the terminal where we went through Immigration and Customs and then had to register with the Red Cross. After that we (the crew) were separated from the passengers and were taken in vans to a small hotel. We had no idea where our passengers were going. We learned from the Red Cross that the town of Gander has a population of 10,400 people and they had about 10,500 passengers to take care of from all the airplanes that were forced into Gander!

We were told to just relax at the hotel and we would be contacted when the US airports opened again, but not to expect that call for a while. We found out the total scope of the terror back home only after getting to our hotel and turning on the TV, 24 hours after it all started.

Meanwhile, we had lots of time on our hands and found that the people of Gander were extremely friendly. They started calling us the "plane people." We enjoyed their hospitality, explored the town of Gander and ended up having a pretty good time.

Two days later, we got that call and were taken back to the Gander airport. Back on the plane, we were reunited with the passengers and found out what they had been doing for the past two days.
What we found out was incredible.....

Gander and all the surrounding communities (within about a 75 Kilometer radius) had closed all high schools, meeting halls, lodges, and any other large gathering places. They converted all these facilities to mass lodging areas for all the stranded travelers. Some had cots set up, some had mats with sleeping bags and pillows set up. ALL the high school students were required to volunteer theirtime to take care of the "guests."

Our 218 passengers ended up in a town called Lewisporte, about 45 kilometers from Gander where they were put up in a high school. If any women wanted to be in a women-only facility, that was arranged. Families were kept together. All the elderly passengers were taken to private homes.
Remember that young pregnant lady? She was put up in a private home right across the street from a 24-hour Urgent Care facility.There was a dentist on call and both male and female nurses remained with the crowd for the duration.

Phone calls and e-mails to the U.S. and around the world were available to everyone once a day. During the day, passengers were offered "Excursion" trips. Some people went on boat cruises of the lakes and harbors. Some went for hikes in the local forests. Local bakeries stayed open to make fresh bread for the guests. Food was prepared by all the residents and brought to the schools. People were driven to restaurants of their choice and offered wonderful meals. Everyone was given tokens for local laundry mats to wash their clothes, since luggage was still on the aircraft.

In other words, every single need was met for those stranded travelers.

Passengers were crying while telling us these stories. Finally, when they were told that U.S. airports had reopened, they were delivered to the airport right on time and without a single passenger missing or late. The local Red Cross had all the information about thewhereabouts of each and every passenger and knew which plane they needed to be on and when all the planes were leaving. They coordinated everything beautifully.

It was absolutely incredible.

When passengers came on board, it was like they had been on a cruise. Everyone knew each other by name. They were swapping stories of their stay, impressing each other with who had the better time. Our flight back to Atlanta looked like a chartered party flight. The crew just stayed out of their way. It was mind-boggling. Passengers had totally bonded and were calling each other by their first names, exchanging phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses.

And then a very unusual thing happened.

One of our passengers approached me and asked if he could make an announcement over the PA system. We never, ever allow that. But this time was different. I said "of course" and handed him the mike. He picked up the PA and reminded everyone about what they had just gone through in the last few days. He reminded them of the hospitality they had received at the hands of total strangers. He continued by saying that he would like to do something in return for the good folks of Lewisporte.

He said he was going to set up a Trust Fund under the name of DELTA 15 (our flight number). The purpose of the trust fund is to provide college scholarships for the high school students of Lewisporte.
He asked for donations of any amount from his fellow travelers. When the paper with donations got back to us with the amounts, names, phone numbers and addresses, the total was for more than $14,000! The gentleman, a MD from Virginia , promised to match the donations and to start the administrative work on the scholarship. He also said that he would forward this proposal to Delta Corporate and ask them to donate as well.

As I write this account, the trust fund is at more than $1.5 million and has assisted 134 students in college education.

I just wanted to share this story because we need good stories right now. It gives me a little bit of hope to know that some people in a faraway place were kind to some strangers who literally dropped in on them. It reminds me how much good there is in the world. In spite of all the rotten things we see going on in today's world this story confirms that there are still a lot of good people in the world and when things get bad, they will come forward.

Happiness: A Choice?

 

 

 

See also: Happiness Quotes

This Is Why You're Not Happy by Matthew McConaughey

What Matters

Sailing Quotes

“Calm sailing doesn't come from calm waters, it comes from having a good navigator; a good crew and a good vessel.” ― Anthony T.Hincks

“A sailor is not defined as much by how many seas he has sailed than by how many storms he has overcome.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“The winds of fortune tend to favour the sails of those who politely yell out to it, 'Nice to meet you!”
― Nabil Sabio Azadi

“A small boat that sails the river is better than a large ship that sinks in the sea.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“You don't throw a compass overboard because the ocean is calm.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Simply sailing in a new direction you could enlarge the world.”
― Allen Curnow

“To reach a port we must set sail –
Sail, not tie at anchor
Sail, not drift.”
― Franklin D. Roosevelt

“I can't control the wind but I can adjust the sail.”
― Ricky Skaggs

“I sail the ocean depths, not to travel the world, but because I fell in love with her changing moods.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

“Those who sail without oars stay on good terms with the wind.”
― Unknown

“Sometimes i pretend i’m an anchor because there’s a difference between sinking and drowning.”
― r.i.d. inkskinned

“As long as I have air in my lungs, I will have wind in my sails.”
― Anthony T.Hincks

“When I'm out sailing, I don't wonder what heaven is like because I know.”
― Anthony T.Hincks

“A shipwrecked sailor may find the isle of his dreams in the depth of all his fears.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

“I set sail, not to sail the seven seas, but to enjoy what life has to offer.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

“It's when you follow the wind that you are taken to new, and exciting places that you would never normally sail to.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

“If you feel that you are rotting in a port, nothing can make you happy other than leaving that port and sailing to new ports!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“The only ship you can truly steer in this ocean is the one you're sailing. Quit trying to alter the winds; harness them.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

“Life is a voyage across troubled waters where our days are often spent clinging to the top of the highest mast, scouting for a comforting glimpse of shore.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

See more at:
https://positivethinkersjournal.blogspot.com/2012/04/learning-how-to-sail-my-ship.html

Felt by the Heart

Before You Take Things for Granted Watch This - by Jay Shetty

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If I Had My Life to Live Life Over

Commit to Something - What Netflix Taught Me About Life | Pete Davis

Laws are ineffective without love and righteousness

Inside the Storkyrkan Cathedral in Stockholm is found a plaque with an excerpt from a talk given by King Gustav V of Sweden in 1925. The message is sweet and clear:

Society's laws can be ineffective unless love and righteousness are found in the hearts of mankind.

 

Here's the quote, both in English and in Swedish:

"Laws and ordinances are more or less ineffective unless they are revealed in the hearts of mankind through an honest will and a spirit that places love and righteousness above selfishness. It is in the hearts of mankind that the foundation is laid for peace and mutual trust, within society itself as well as among people. Nothing causes greater unity than when men are inspired by lofty goals, and with self-sacrificing zeal and seriousness, devote their thoughts and lives to realizing them."

 

"Lagar och förordningar bliva mer eller mindre vanmäktiga så länge de icke i människornas hjärtan uppbaras av en ärlig vilja och av ett sinnelag som sätter kärleken och rättfärdigheten över själviskheten. Det är i människornas hjärtan som grunden maste läggas för fred och ömsesidigt förtroende såväl inom samhället självt som folken emellan. Ingenting kan bättre tjäna enheten än att människor besjälas av höga mål och med självuppoffrande nit och allvar ägna sina tankar och sitt liv åt att förverkliga dem."

 

 

Life Advice from Disney Movies