All is Well

I just read a great article in the Ensign by President Uchtdorf - All is Well.  In my course of work I see many parents, teens and children that can't seem to grasp and hold onto happiness.  In my own life I am often wondering if I am doing enough, which then leads to --- am I enough.

Tenants to live by: FAMILY. Stu is
waiting patiently outside a dressing
room as Addie tries on several out-
fits.  Welcome to preteen girl!!

"It is one of the great ironies of our age, that we are blessed with so much and yet we can be so unhappy."  It makes me wonder what brings lasting happiness.  It certainly doesn't come from circumstance.  As the above statement indicates- the pioneers circumstances were anything but joyful and yet in their hearts they found joy.  While many people have ease and "fun" things, the deep joy is missing.  "They (the pioneers) woke up each morning with clearly defined purposes and goals that everyone understood." I think (now you can think different but it is my blog - so I get to type my opinion- feel free to comment and share yours) ... I think happiness comes from living in accordance with those defined purposes - but the goal that we live towards is what makes the difference.  If our clearly defined purposes are transient - such as success in something transient - then that happiness is not lasting- we must win another trophy - get another A - earn more money etc...

So what is lasting?

We can't wait for more family
adventures in New England

I came home yesterday and Adderly said she just couldn't keep helping Stuart with the pool it was taking too long.  I asked how long and she said 5 minutes.  --- Now if that isn't indication of transient.    The ability to call or text someone without putting thought into what we say - to live second to second instead of planning out our day, our week etc..  brings irritation and angst.   In the course of my studies, child development has fascinated me.  Infants need to know they will be fed and taken care of, toddlers need to know that the world has order - consequences - both natural and imposed that come from the choices they make.  When the world has order, they can then move forward knowing what their purpose is.  As we move into adulthood we start to create our own order and purpose - we define our own goals and standards and therein lies the worry, the irritation and the angst.  If we are not bound to something more lasting to determine our order- our mindset and goals we live in constant flux and irritation.  While it is important to live in the now- we want to be alert and present in each situation and not so focused on the future that we don't take joy in each little period of our life, we not to live now with

a mind on the future.  We live now with the DEFINED PURPOSES AND GOALS OF ETERNITY.  Happiness comes when our ultimate goal is based on deeper meaning and purpose - we can then enjoy all the little 5 minute periods that bring us closer to that goal, that help us learn, that bind us together as eternal brothers and sisters.

So what brings you lasting happiness, what rocks or tenants of life do you live by?  Our you true to them?

One of my tenants is compassion - I find when I start treating others (unfortunately and especially my family) unkindly, the unhappiness seeps in; and fairly quickly - because I am not living according to an eternal purpose.

Based on the article and my ponderings I am more determined to have a tenant of the day - to work towards a loftier lasting goal, to be in the moment with an eye on eternity.  What will be the tenant of your day so that you can awake with a defined purpose and goal?

Quiet

Well things are finally slowing down here and in the quiet moments I've been thinking: what you say Nisha thinking?  Ohh yesss.  So in my reflections I noted that it is almost the 4th of July and yet it doesn't feel like "Summer" to me.  That of course led me to the premise:  well, what makes summer.  As I was looking through photos to post, I came across several that portray summer.
For me summer is that lazy time of year, where you lie on the tramp and stare at the clouds as they pass by, you play night games with a dozen screaming kids in your yard, you watch a movie outside, and of course popsicles, lots and lots of popsicles.  So I realized that at least half of my list isn't really doable right now, we don't know a dozen kids to come over - and well frankly there are a lot of nocturnal animals in the woods behind my house - most; probably harmless, but still not quite the same night games chasing a fox per se.  Movies outside with only half my family and no Tanner Harward just wouldn't be the same.  So I took the time to lie on the tramp, but more importantly (in that effort to avoid being Lot's wife and looking back not forward), I started to dream of new summer traditions.  Summer camp (which is a huge thing out here).  Swimming in our pool, The BEACH Yippee, and ice cream stands - again one on every corner out here (you can even go to a couple of farms to see how the ice cream is made - might be a bit ripe in the summer if you know what I mean).  Regardless, I'm sure there is plenty of summer fun to be had in Mass as well as Utah.  I'm coming to realize, that while not always easy, life (summer) is truly what you make of it.  Inside each of us is the power to be.  The power to be wise, beautiful, funny, creative, HAPPY!!  So what will you be TODAY.