Happiness

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them but that they seize us". Ashley Montagu

Oh those moments!

When they happen, they can be mild or they can be intense. They may warm you up; bring a smile to your face and a feeling of contentment to your heart. Or they may fill you with such bliss that you feel you want to burst. You can barely contain the joy.

To some degree I believe you can choose the former. You can actively appreciate your surroundings and your life and feel gratitude for who you are and what you have. Focusing on the positives does bring some happiness.

The intense happiness, the kind that seizes you, is usually created by outside factors. It may be other people bringing you ecstasy. It may be the actions you are taking - the thrill and delight of a rollercoaster perhaps. It may be beautiful scenery, amazing music or captivating artwork. It may the touch of a hand or the look in someone's eyes. It could be the sound of someone else's laughter or the feeling of your own. It isn't always the same nor is it caused by the same factors each time you experience it. It may be loud and flamboyant like a parade or a Las Vegas show. It may also be quiet, the comfort of someone you love beside you, not necessarily speaking, just enjoying the total pleasure of each other's company.

Whatever it is next for you, I hope you cherish the moment as, and after, it seizes you.