Day 99 Question 99:

Are you happy?

I am one day away from entry 100.  Honestly, I was unsure if I would get this far but my determination has proven me wrong.  I have come to realize lately that I really am a person filled with great determination and strength.  I could not say that in the past.  Last night I was at the gym and I walked past some mirrors to do some weight training after I did my cardio.  I glanced at myself in the mirror and what I felt was something I have not felt in who knows long.  I did not detest what I saw.  I was actually very proud of myself because my strength and determination have made me proud…proud to see results from the hard work I have put in.  I do not looooove my body but most women don’t and most women will find flaws but I love this person I have become.  I feel like it has taken me quite a while to get here but I also think that it was supposed to.  I believe I was supposed to walk this rocky road to get to this place of contentment and self-love.  The answers were always there but I needed the journey in order to keep growing.  Right now I am the happiest in my life that I believe I have ever been.  I have no recollection of ever feeling this sort of euphoria and this natural state of peace.  It is truly amazing.  I am reaching goals that I once doubted myself on.  I am keeping my mind sharp by diving into books, documentaries, films…LIFE!!!  I ask a lot of questions nowadays…probably to the point of being annoying.  I find life and humanity so fascinating and there is .so much I want to do.  I may not accomplish everything in my years in this life but I know I will surely accomplish a lot.

There are so many lessons I have taken from this life.  I have found my likes and dislikes and I have found my voice.  I no longer bow down to the majority.  I hold my own when necessary with the ability to use tact and respect.  I have found my loves.  I have been finding myself…my strength…my happiness.  This is a beautiful gift to receive and I could only hope that everyone in this world were to be able to experience this kind of happiness.  It seems so natural and so deserving.  Everyone has this beauty and all of these gifts within themselves but some people never let them bubble up to the surface.  I was one of those people for a very long time because I was a puppet to society…I was allowing those that I thought had the power to control me.  Once I learned, accepted that the only person that controls my life is me…everything changed.

Yesterday while at the gym I read an article/piece titled: I Have Learned…  I wanted to share this piece in hopes that many of you have learned a lot of the same things and allow everyone the opportunity to add to the list.  I believe it is that seeking of knowledge and that seeking of self that allows us to experience true happiness.  Once we are able to love ourselves and to see all that we are able to offer to the world then we are able to experience peace and love.  Call me a hippie if you would like, but I now pass through almost every day and absorb my experiences and live for the moment as opposed to worrying about the past or concentrating strictly on the future.  I am able to literally stop and smell the roses or enjoy the life that is going on around me.  I would never want it to be any other way again because in my opinion this is the natural state of life…this is pure goodness and pure living.

I would love to hear your thoughts as always…on the subject at hand of on anything for that matter.  My friends near or far (whether in person or virtual) have been able to teach me and my appreciation goes far beyond your imagination.  I truly do hope that all of you are able to reach into yourselves and find your true happiness because regardless of what you think it is there.  I have put asterisks next to the ones that seem to be important in my life.  :0)

I have learned…

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.

I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

**I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.

I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do.

I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

**I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

**I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

**I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

**I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

**I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings, and standing up for what you believe.

**I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

DON’T HOPE…DECIDE!