Happiness is.....?

As we are now in the New Year one of my resolutions is to put my thoughts on paper(or blog). Kind of like a public journal. I know this is our family blog but I share most of our life on Facebook. I love to write so why not put fingers to keys and type away. Now before I get started all my thoughts are in relation to me and if I am talking about someone else I will be specific. This is in no way meant to offend anyone but if that happens I apologize in advance.

"The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters.
                                                                                                   - Audrey Hepburn
What is happiness? I often try to define this word but I have come to the conclusion that there is no one definition. My happiness is obviously going to be different than someone elses. Another resolution this year is try to be happy everyday..doesn't have to be all day but I want to feel happiness everyday. Maybe that sounds absurd but there are so many good things still left in this world and I want to look at those things and smile. Happiness isn't just something that is there I believe it is something we have to earn.
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. -Dalai Lama

(My back story) My journey to happiness: As soon as I graduated high school I moved to Arizona....where I was going to school full time and working full time and in between going to church. One day I decided I didn't want to go to church anymore and made some decisions that were not good for me. My family cut ties with me for a few years because they didn't like my decisions. But it wasn't their life to live.. it was mine. As I went down this dark path, I soon learned how unhappy I was and there was no one there to help me out of this situation I had created. Long story..shortened...I married my husband and almost divorced in the first two years. After a separation and marriage counseling, and a move to Japan....I(we) finally got to a happy place. Now I look back on my situation not wanting pity or sympathy. I look back thinking if things had not gone the way they were supposed to I would not be where I am today. Married going on 8 years to a wonderful man and being able to have a beautiful daughter..both whom show me unconditional love everyday. My bad actions will not go unpunished! I know that with happiness comes every other emotion or feeling...disappointment, anger, sadness, etc...
"Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged. Things will work out." -Gordon B. Hinckley

My happiness is seeing my daughter smile, seeing my husbands boots by the door. Hearing my daughter sing along in the car...knowing I am being taken care of forever. Being able to go for a run. Being a mother. Being a wife. Being alive.

I know there are bad things in this world and they will always be there. We each have our own battles but let us not forget that through the bad we can have the good. Heavenly Father knows us all and is there to guide us all to a better place.

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." -Groucho Marx

 My closing thoughts, I once read that for every minute you are mad, you lose sixty seconds of happiness. May we all look for the good things in life. I know that can be hard at times but knowing we have a loving God can help us achieve our own happiness, whatever that may be. 
                                                                                   May we all be happy,
                                                                                             Nicole