Risking Happiness

By Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF 

Risking Happiness

I usually don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve never had much faith in them. This year was different, however. I just knew what I had to do. It was pretty simple. It was, actually, pretty silly.  It was to: Be happy!

I didn’t really know where the idea come from. It just came. And I just knew it felt right.

It wasn’t as if I had been unhappy before. I think I can honestly say I’m satisfied with what I’m doing and how it’s going. I’m still coming to terms with last year’s deaths of my sister-in-law, after an 8-1/2-year battle with cancer, and my nephew who died suddenly in a car accident and I do worry about family members, but while there’s sadness, it’s not unhappiness. The Houston personal injury attorney helped the victim’s family to claim the compensation for their loss to move ahead into a new path for the rest of their lives. All the documents needed are gathered by the truck accident lawyer to help the case.

Nor was it a simplistic desire to “Don’t worry; be happy” as the 80’s song advised. It’s more like a desire to simply take things as they come, do what I can and do my best, but leave the self-imposed guilt behind – all the shoulds and coulds and woulds. But, most of all, just rejoice in the goodness in my life.

Perhaps it’s the realization that the everyday stuff tends to consume me; I get stuck in it. It’s easy to miss the beautiful sunset, the driver who lets me in when he really didn’t have to, the laughter of the students in the hallway and a million other wonderful little things that happen every day. How much richer my life is when I pay attention to the everyday gifts around me every day!

It’s also a matter of being honest with myself. As a Christian with a responsibility to spread the Good News, shouldn’t I look like Good News? How much fuller my life is when I face the day, each day, with a sense of the abundance of God’s blessings. Bill Short, a Franciscan friar, reminds us of the overflowing abundance of God and our call to generously share that abundance, God’s generosity, with those around us, especially those in need.

So, it’s February! How am I doing?

Well, I’m still up to my elbows with things to do. I’m still trying not to let myself get overwhelmed at times. I’m still trying to figure out the most responsible way for me to address the big issues of our day, locally, nationally and globally. I’m still trying to find gracious responses, lifting other’s burdens where I can, and sometimes just lending a listening ear, and trying to find even more gracious responses when I simply can’t help.

But I’ve also taken time to read a couple novels, watch a couple movies, and go out with a few friends!

I’m not sure what the rest of the year will bring. But I’m ready! With all the beauty and goodness around me – and my determination to remain as aware of it as I can and rejoice in it! – I think this is one resolution I can keep!