Localising Food Tour Aotearoa

By Paul Smetana

This morning as I sat by the lake in the pouring rain, there was this endless grin on my face. What put it there? Well, nothing actually. I was just happy. I came to the lake happy. I woke that way, Cleaned my teeth happy. You get the picture. So I’d say that I was happy first. I’d also say that there was no cause to all this grinning.

This seems odd. All the happiness must have come about because I had a good day, or won the lottery, made a top cup of coffee, saw a rising sun, heard the perfect piece of music, …. But Nope!

None of the above. My days have been without any outstanding features, and yet I remain … Happy. Go figure!

Children are mostly happy. Someone once counted how many times a child laughs and it’s a lot. Kids seem to be happy as a matter of course as if it’s just a natural part of being. [which it is.]

We … as adults, are not so happy. We laugh a lot less. It usually takes something to make us happy. Humour, friends, a movie, comedy routine, slipping on a banana peel, and so forth. But if these things are not available, we don’t get to be very happy. We’ve linked happiness to something that helps us to be that way.

But it’s the other way round. Happiness comes first. And if you’re asking how, as I’m sure you are, just consider that once upon a time, you were a little kid who was happy a lot and without probable cause.  It was just the way it was. That natural happy way hasn’t gone any where, by the way. It’s still there. Just a little bit inaccessible. It’s in
hiding.

The habits of adult life have become our way of life, and the natural happy person you are, gets to come out only when you forget to be this adult type person. So a little forgetting about being highly intelligent, well educated, cultured and important, could be a good start.

I think that Alcohol, drugs, and distractions generally, do just that. And by that, I mean they help you to forget you the adult for awhile. A lot of drunk people seem happy, having lost inhibition and genteel poise, and just let er rip. Imagine if you could just be happy at will, rather than wait for a certain substance to do it for you. Wouldn’t that make you happy ….Hmmm?

We humans just can’t stand not being happy. Just count the volume of liquor consumed, the grass grown, the pills popped. All in the name of getting to be happy as we once were.

I suppose acting like a little kid could help. But you know what would really help? Start to become a person who looks for the little moments of happiness through out the day. Who just smiled, laughed, seems somehow happy. Notice the mom or dad with child in tow, and wonder what loveliness are they having.

Once you get started, you’ll be surprised at the vast amount of happiness available.  On tap.  Now.

About the Author: Paul Smetana writes about the Simple Secrets of Being Touched by Life, How you can finally take control of your destiny, and the simple reason most people fail.  In Aged Care for 30 years, he has discovered How our most successful Elders Attained “A Life worth Living”. One Brimming with vitality and Joy. And how easily you can too, without waiting any longer.  For Instant Access to more Articles, e-books, and Resources on Living your best Life, Visit www.betouchedbylife.com

Tags: Happiness