Happiness

A warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie.  An ice cream cone. A hug. A smile from a stranger. A cute puppy. A glass of wine. Those are some of my ideas of happiness… Sometimes you can in fact bottle it up but other times, it is a little harder to define or even recognize.

As I look back to my early twenties to now, I can more clearly see that happiness is more than just that giggly, euphoric feeling you get when you’re young and innocent or how it tends to be depicted on television and in books. The best happiness is quiet. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it. It’s simple. It’s beautiful.

Remember when you were little and you’d give anything to go to the pool or swing at the playground? How’d you feel when it happened? I know I was ecstatic and it definitely induced that giggly can’t feel my toes feeling. But now after a few hard knocks of life, heartbreaks, lessons learned by mistakes, and the more defined character brought on by maturity; I know that true self-induced happiness is hard to come by. But, at the same time it’s really not.

I know you’re probably thinking, “What’s she trying to say?” I hope I can convey what I mean when I say that happiness is that inner glow, that warm sensation at the pit of your stomach, that little flutter that comes to you when you’re at…peace. No stress. No worries. No fear. It’s when you let go and just enjoy life. It’s when you concentrate on you. It’s when you put your well-being first and not someone else’s. It’s when the physical you, the spiritual you, and the mental you are on the same page.

So, even though I still get a little giddy over an ice cream cone or a cute puppy, I know that I don’t have to wait around for those moments to feel that happy that makes me give that Mona Lisa smile that makes others think, “I want whatever she’s having.” I can just spend a little quality time with ‘me’ and enjoy being happy with the Amelia I am continuing to get to know.

Family First: Taking an Active Role

Looking back over my busy weekend that included graduating with my Master of Public Administration degree, two baby showers, and an 84^th annual family reunion; one theme takes a prominent place in my mind. That theme is family.

Through everything we experience in life, family is ALWAYS there to help us through all phases of life. They support us, help us celebrate important achievements, help welcome new life, help mourn the passing of loved ones, catch us when we fall, guide us, and lift us up when we need a little push in the right direction.

We all like to think that if they need us, we’ve got our family members’ backs too. But, do we? As I think about myself and my own involvement in keeping my family’s legacy alive, I wonder if my generation and the younger ‘kids’ understand that we have a duty to take the proverbial baton and carry on traditions that our elders have managed to keep alive.

At the ripe old age of 28, I realize I need to step up to the plate and take a more active role in helping the older crew plan events such as our annual family reunions, be a leader and mentor to younger cousins, reach out to my elders more, and just be there more. I need to be there for all those important events that keep families close, informed, involved, and engaged. I may live a few hours away from my hometown but that is not an excuse to take a back seat in my involvement.

One day I plan to have kids and I want to be a good example for them. I want them to observe what it truly means to be family-oriented and to cherish the legacy of family history. As each generation begins and grows, it is vital that we all remember that it’s not just about our success as individuals; it’s just as important for us to ensure the success of our family by striving to remember that we’re who we are because of family.