Gone For Awhile - But I Am Back!

The last time I posted anything on this blog was in July.  This last year has been very busy,  and that has been my excuse to myself for not writing.  But the truth is, I could not figure out what to write about.  I have no less than a half dozen drafts of blogs of various types, but none seemed quite right to talk about.  So first, a brief but necessary update.

My entire world has changed this last year:  at my job I moved out of development and into management; at home I changed my relationship status from partnered to alone; also at home and extremely disruptive - I sold my 3800 sq foot house, and downsized to a loft with 1100 sq feet! This allowed me the opportunity to live in a hotel with my four creatures!  What an adventure it has all been.  In addition, I turned 50 last October!  Since most of this process of change has been deeply personal, and not really open for discussion with the general public, I just felt at a loss for what to share on my blog.

A few weeks ago I decided that I really wanted to get back to some of my old rhythms.  So I have been contemplating what to do as my next blog post.  Last night I found something a friend of mine texted me this last year... And I knew what my next topic would be.  

The quest for happiness is a universal one.  There are so many definitions of happiness that I am only going to focus on my own.  There are actually several components of self and life that I consider essential for happiness.  

The first is peace.  I have to be able to feel peace within my soul to be happy.  Being able to live at peace has a great deal to do with my actions.  If I can walk through each day, knowing I have done my best to be an honorable person, a strengthening member of society, and a good friend, then I can be at peace.

The second is laughter.  The action of laughing often leads to feelings of joy.  The more I can laugh, the more joyful that I feel.  The more I can laugh, the less I am stressed.  If I find myself in a place, where laughter is absent... I know this is not the right place for me.  

I tend to wake up happy.  The day is fresh, it is new, and it is unpolluted.  It is the times in my life when that is gone, that spur me to make changes.  This behavior is a barometer of the state of my soul, and all that goes with it. When that is dipping low, I know it is time for a change.

So that is what I have done, and what I am continuing to do.  The changes are still coming.  Downsizing and simplifying my life was a breath of fresh air.  It is amazing what we collect as we journey through this life.  It is somewhat freeing to let go of things.  

So for now, I seek simplicity, laughter, and peace.  And within that, I hope to continue to find happiness.