I believe that my mission here on earth is to spread joy. Last night I was reading The Happiness Revolution, by Blair Lewis, P.A., and I came across this quote from Pandit Rajmani Tigunait:
“If you design your life around the goal of happiness, then your capacity to help and serve others will eventually become unlimited, for only with limitless joy and enthusiasm can you have the courage to do what needs to be done and the mental clarity to see what needs to be done.”
My reaction was, “Oh! Of course I deserve to be happy. How else would I be able to spread joy?” You see, I’ve been feeling guilty for having such a cushy, happy set up. I love all my forms of employment. I have enough free time to spend with my loved ones and create beautiful things. I get to be outside often, and practice yoga to my hearts content. I should be singing from the roof tops at such good fortune, so why do I feel like I shouldn’t have it? I thought about it, and none of the reasons I came up with made any sense at all. There’s also a pretty huge reason to go for happiness: the work that I do is important, and it helps people.
So now I get to claim my happy! All this weekend (including Friday) I’m going to wear an awareness bracelet for happy. If I catch myself with any guilty thoughts, my bracelet will help me notice so I can change them. It shouldn’t be too hard since I have some awesome things planned 
I’m off to spread joy! How will you claim your happy?
I’m learning to play the guitar. I come from a musical family on both sides, with plenty of singing. I can play the piano, but I have a special tie with the guitar that I own. It belonged to my grandmother, who purchased it from a traveling Swedish revivalist preacher in the 30s for $5. I’m not ready to perform, but I’ve learned enough chords to fumble along, and I’m enjoying having a new skill and in feeling a connection to my family history. I’m 40, but you’re never too old to learn. Reach for something new and you’ll touch happiness.
That’s beautiful! I didn’t know you were musical; such a multi-talented lady