The title of this article
sounds ridiculous, does it not? Yet most people look for happiness as if it is
an object they can find if they just look long and hard enough. There is a
relatively new field of psychology that studies the causes of happiness and what
has and continues to emerge is that happiness is in the doing, not in the
having.
It is found in the
experiences we share with others as opposed to the material things that we so
steadfastly believe will bring happiness. This is poignantly evidenced by
deathbed utterances. What you will hear is, "I sure wish I had danced
more, gone barefoot on the beach more, traveled more, spent more time with my
family, and not sweated the small stuff." Oddly, the dying seems to have a
crystal clear understanding of the true nature of happiness that is lost on the
living.
Think about how many
examples there are in your life of friends or acquaintances who choose to spend
almost all of their leisure time on their couches in front of the television or
surfing the web.(By the way, using the term "surfing" to describe an
activity that involves sitting in a chair staring at a screen is a terrible
disservice to a word that really means being outdoors in the glorious sunshine,
carving up a triple set of turquoise blue waves.) Life will pass you by on your
couch - I promise. Can you imagine a dying person saying, "Man, I sure
wish I'd have stayed home and watched more TV"? The reason healthy people
stay planted is just plain laziness in most cases. A walk in the woods with
your love (spouse, partner, dog, friend all qualify) can be one of the most
amazing things in the world.
You will have long
forgotten the car, the clothes, the big screen TV. I love Fridays. We will
share a meal then start planning our weekend. Who knows what's in store - the
museum? a drive through the Louisiana
By Edward Dunn
Article Source: EzineArticles
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