Happiness never decreases by being shared

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

 - Buddhist Quote


You ever notice that smiles are contagious? The same with laughter. And laughter IS the best medicine.

I know that I've got a nasty habit of trying to make a glum person smile. An honest compliment to a person that needs it is one of the best and easiest gifts to give, wouldn't you say?

I've also noticed that when I'm busy trying to make someone else smile, I end up smiling too. Have you ever noticed that? Happiness is cool. People want it. Give it to them, and they'll remember you as being someone cool. And you didn't do anything other then trying to make them happy and you also forget your own troubles.  It's a Win Win.

That's how 12 step programs (and happiness) work, you can't keep it, unless you give it away. 

Beauty is what you make it.

When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator. - Mohandas Gandhi

Beauty is found everywhere in nature. I also tend to think that most peoples souls are also beautiful, as a person's soul is also a work from the creator. But I think as a society we tend to think to highly of surface beauty. We forget about the real beauty of a person's nature, their intentions.  

Sure, we see a nice fancy car, it'll rust. If we see a beautiful young person, they'll wrinkle.  It's the guts that matter for the long haul.  What about that old geezer that makes you laugh at the corner store, he's sharing happiness, and that's a beautiful thing. What about that old rusty pickup truck that gets the farmers grain to his chickens or cows? That old truck will get more use then most flashy cars, and it's got a beauty of getting the job done. 

I ought to strive to be beautiful like an old pair of jeans. A little worn, and a welcomed comfort. 

Dirty Laundry

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies, We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie, Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry!

- Don Henley / Dirty Laundry 

Rumor has it, that rumor's are juicy little tidbits of intel on our neighbors, or co-workers or family.  And they are. But they're dangerous little bombs, aren't they?  Rumors can also get misshapen, and miss the mark of truth. 

Another thing that is bad about rumors is what once they fall out of your mouth, they don't go back in. Wouldn't it be nice if rumors could just get washed up and put away like dirty laundry gets washed up and turns into clean sheets? 

Sometimes sorry isn't enough either. The damage is done. 

We've got to be careful about what we think, and say. It's easier now not to get ourselves jammed up like we might have once done when we were drinking with oh so loose tongues. 

I'm grateful that in sobriety that even tho' I'm not perfect, I'm not saying as many hurtful things today as I once did.