Road to Happiness

Notes to self:

There are moments when you were truly happy. We're talking, "kid swinging to the moon, finding extra money in your pocket, taking home the perfect pet, watching videos of babies laughing" happy.

The first was August 1987. Getting married was a great start. That's also the month you set out from Fargo, North Dakota to Cottonwood, Arizona to begin your career. There were challenges, like when one of the two vehicles wouldn't start at a rest stop in pouring rain. But it was an exciting start to a new life, and your new husband helped you through it all.

The second and third were the births of your two daughters. That's a happiness that keeps on giving. Again, it wasn't all happy, happy, joy, joy, but you faced life together as a family.

Without getting into the losses that preceded it, since this is all about happiness, the fourth was your second marriage. Look at you, finding love a second time around!

Are you sensing a pattern here? Your happiness in the past has been centered around other people.

Now that you're on your own again after yet more losses, it's time to focus on what makes you happy, rather than who.

So, what really floats your boat (well, not the one that you sold)? What kind of hobbies should you be focusing on for ultimate happiness?

Number one here has to be music, since that's what you teach. Okay, that's easy. You belong to both the community band and the community chorus, and you're still the music director at your church. You could focus more on composing new music.

Reading and writing also make you happy. Don't you think they go together like a good PB & J? Vocal is the most fulfilling reading and writing platform you've found. So, carry on. You managed to publish a series of four books, which is a great accomplishment. Your marketing skills need work. After you retire, maybe you can work on that.

Next on the list is definitely swimming. This one is tough, because given your sensitive skin and dry hair, chlorine doesn't work very well for you. That only leaves summer and early fall for swimming in the river. The solution is to get a saltwater pool. You could even wear your wetsuit in the winter. Cottonwood may not be in the desert, but if you do get snow, it melts on contact, so that may work. Perhaps you can look into that after retirement. I sure hope so!

Travel is something you haven't done much of. That would bring you happiness in a new way. Just wait until you have time to do that.

You've dabbled with artwork and jewelry making. You love colorful pieces. Maybe you can expand on those skills after retirement also.

You’ve thought about volunteering at the humane society, literally a stone’s throw from your backyard. Other organizations could use your help when you have time.

Here's another pattern. So much of this is contingent on retirement. It's coming soon. Can you feel it? 2027 isn’t that far away! Then, you’ll have time to do so much more.

Planning is fun. Now, it's time to start making some of these happy hobbies happen.

One more course that will guide you towards happiness happens when you let go of things that make you unhappy. Learn from the past and don't sweat the small stuff.

You deserve happiness.