I was listening to a book the other day and something I heard made me think. Life is more than what we get; it’s also what we give. That’s why I believe that sharing happiness is a choice.
Here’s what I mean.
A Fellow Chattanoogan
I am just finishing the book “How Y’all Doing?” by Leslie Jordon. He’s an actor and comedian who brings a lot of fun, joy, and entertainment to the roles he takes on.
I was surprised to find that he grew up in Chattanooga, a place I called home for nearly 20 years. It’s an area my kids grew up in, and a great place to live.
Not only did he catch my attention with this tidbit, he also engaged me with his stories and personal insights. I enjoyed his stories and his delivery, but I also thought that he had a lot of good things to say.
Happiness Is a Choice
One of those things was about the time he met Phyllis Diller. It was a moment that stuck out to him, but really spoke to me.
Phyllis Diller came up to him at an event and he was thrilled to meet a comedian whom he adored, and the words she said stuck with him.
After a few pleasantries she said something to him that he relayed in the book, “Happiness is a choice. Happiness is a habit. And happiness is something you have to work hard at.”
Her words rang true to me. We have to look for the bright spots in life. We have to look for hope and happiness. We have to set our sights on joy.
And then I thought, “but is that enough?” I think we need to go a step further. I think we need to realize that sharing happiness is a choice too.
Sharing Happiness
Too often, people get so wrapped up in finding happiness for themselves they forget to share. The sad thing is that sharing happiness is the best part.
Yes, we need to make sure to do the hard work of being happy: changing our focus, inviting joy, and believing the best. We also need to share that with other people. It’s the best way to get into other people’s business.
It’s a challenge to stay happy day after day when you’re the only person in the picture. It’s much easier when you see the joy and happiness you bring to other people through your actions, kindness, hope, and giving. It’s something where we don’t have to be perfect, just better each day. After all, better is better than perfect.
Sharing happiness is a choice. It’s a choice we should make everyday to help other people. It’s an item we should put in our reminders list to find at least one person we can share happiness with each day.
Today’s a great day to start. Open your reminder app, and add a simple daily reminder: “Share Happiness”. Imagine the world we can live in if everyone did the same thing.
