What makes you happy?
This seems like an easy question to some, but a lot of us are so lost in our daily routine, getting or already got so numb about the agenda. Especially if you are like me, have kids, pets, and have something major going on in life. Quite often, we are used to eliminate ourselves from the priority list. It’s like we are here to please others, others we love and care about, or have to at least pretend that we do (you know you can think of a few too).
For a long time, I knew I would be OK, I could survive. I was willing to sacrifice myself for everyone else around me. I was willingly putting myself at the bottom of the never ending list, and I wasn’t complaining. I never realized that 80% of the chit chat I had with my besties were about kids, 20% was to air out. Some of my besties are the same way. We talked about kids, husbands, fights, tiffs, and rarely sweet moments. I knew this but refused to believe it, those chit chats are my outs a lot of the times, we vented to each other, we cried at restaurants during lunch breaks, we laughed so hard I swear I peed my pants a little a couple times. But none of that happiness was about ourselves, about what makes us happy, about what WE want to do. Our emotion was completely surrendered to the people around us.
It’s funny, it took a lot longer for me to adjust to having extra time on hand. I was told by a few good friends, I look so much happier than I was for a long time, for years, they said. I was shocked at first. But I have to agree. I was never on my own agenda for over a decade. But now, with this extra time, I started taking care of myself. I am finally able to do things I always day dreamed about doing, or kept telling myself, one day, when I have time…
I like where I am now, simply by doing some things I wanted to do, feeling free, finally hanging out with people I always wanted to, and doing things for the first time. I feel like I am 25 again!
Happiness is taking care of yourself, look out for what makes you feel you. If someone doesn’t care to make you happy, move on. Don’t keep bending backwards and hope one day people will appreciate you sacrificing yourself. Sadly, a lot of us are walking this route, but it doesn’t really lead us anywhere. Pave your own path, find your own happiness, and I am sure you will be wonderfully surprised that your path will cross so many amazing people’s.
