Raise your hand if you’ve been to England.
Raise your hand if you’ve been to Africa.
China?
Australia?
The North Pole?
What if I told you that those places didn’t exist? You wouldn’t believe me, would you? I could argue that if you haven’t seen one of those places or all of those places, how do you know they are real?
You’d tell me that you’ve heard of them, that you’ve known people who have been there, that you know about the customs and the cities and the histories. Even if you haven’t been to those places, it would be impossible for me to convince you that they didn’t exist. There is too much proof.
How about wellness? Happiness? Have you ever been truly happy, depression free, hopeful?
Sometimes I forget that those things really exist. I can think about happiness and feel like I’d probably meet the Loch Ness Monster before ever feeling truly happy.
But other people have been there, they have been happy. Hundreds of thousands of people over the centuries. Millions! They have written music about it, books, movies and plays. They have put their flag in the ground to stamp proof of their conquest, just like Neil Armstrong planted his flag on the moon in 1969.
Emotion is harder to prove than physical measurable things, but it’s as real as anything else. And until I get there myself, I’m going to surround myself in as much proof of happiness as I can. Then, when it decides to make its way into my life, I will not only believe in it, I will recognize it. And I will hold onto it until you get there too.
Apr 16, 2012 @ 10:31:01
This is a great post very well written. Great job Just what I needed today Thank you So much a comfort :)
Apr 17, 2012 @ 19:26:29
Thanks, Jan! I’m glad it was comforting. I hope to look back on it myself when I need it, too.
Apr 16, 2012 @ 11:57:31
Beautiful post and great reminder. Brought tears to my eyes.
Apr 16, 2012 @ 19:26:20
oh, erin- this couldn’t have been more perfect and more true. i want to get there, too, with you…
<3
thank you, dear girl.
Apr 17, 2012 @ 09:08:59
Can we trap happiness? Bottle it up? It seems it’s elusive and invisible. Let’s set out on a Happiness Hunting Party. We can drink wine, wear pretty dresses and dance. And then perhaps find it attracted to the party.
Hope you’re ok.
May 01, 2012 @ 10:47:33
I was depressed for most of my life and anxious, until about 4 years ago. When I used to feel happy, it made me anxiuos, cause I always knew it would eventually end after a day or a week or whatever. But after treatment in therapy and many life changing events, and people that helped to change me in ways that I could’ve never imagined or done without them, I am happy almost all of the time. It is the down/blah days that are the exception. And I always know that the bad days are the ones that are temporary and circumstantial, not happiness.
So it can definitely happen! And it does exist!! :)
You will get there!