Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/mZg33tFD5p8/
“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” ~The Dalai Lama
A while back my sister arrived for a family get-together and remarked, “Your mad laughter is missing. What’s happening?”
My mind trailed back to my childhood and teenage years and showed me images of a girl who could laugh easily, loudly, and madly.
Somewhere along the line I had lost my ability to laugh—truly laugh, with wonder and without worry.
At first I brushed it off because I didn’t even notice myself changing. The change was gradual, imperceptible.
I had come to take life too seriously.
As a child and teenager, I had disappointments. But as I think back, the hope for my future greatly outweighed my setbacks.
Of course, my future didn’t play out exactly as I’d imagined it would, and I encountered a series of disappointments.
My financial situation was far from great. My relationships went through turmoil and turbulence. I let them become set in stone and define my life.
I blamed myself for not being wise enough to make good decisions. I blamed myself for not being smart enough to catch my wrong decisions. I felt miserable. And then I blamed myself for feeling miserable, because strong people don’t waste t…