“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” —Aristotle

I am not in the happiest period of my life. I am happy to be alive and to charge into a new year.  But, I’m still living with the residual effects of a difficult five year period where a more than a third or more of my closest relatives including my parents have perished.  Add to that the physical and professional challenges I’ve faced and I’ve struggled, more times that I care to admit, to find joy.

Yet, when the holiday season rolled around I decided to find reason to smile and laugh every day. Whether it’s putting on a Christmas sweater, spraying my feet with numbing solution so I can go for a walk, watching a comedy special, texting with a friend or numbing my hands so I can make a meal for my husband, I force myself to enjoy each day in some small way. 

I want others who are struggling to find connections, carve out new traditions, fighting for their health, pushing to make their dreams come true, or struggling with losses to know that sometimes those who look like they are thriving are sometimes faking it until it truly manifests. You should know that they may be praying until something changes. And, they are leaning on others until they can fully stand on their own. 

My mother used to say, “every day above ground is a good day. Use it as an opportunity to live life to the fullest.” I’m certainly trying and will until my final breath. 

Thank you to everyone who shared a birthday message with me. It is appreciated more than you know. 

Peace and blessings!

#aging #birthdays #grief #bucketlist #christmassweatercountdown #uglychristmassweater #chronicillness #chronicpain #spoonie