While standing in l line at the grocery store a woman in front of me asked a little girl – who was dressed up as a doctor for Halloween – if she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. The little girl shyly leaned into her mom with a smile and said, “No, I want to be happy!”
Wait! What!? Did I hear that right?
Apparently the woman was as surprised as I was and asked, “Did you say you want to be happy when you grow up?”
To which the little girl nodded her head up and down enthusiastically while still holding onto mom. The woman told her she thought that was the best idea ever and that she was already off to a great start. This had the little girl twirling around mom in total happiness.
And then there was me, quietly taking in this amazing exchange with my heart beaming for this little girl. Seeing her mom smile with such pride I’m guessing her loving influence brought about such a beautiful answer.
Can you remember?
Can you remember the first time you were asked what you wanted to be when you grew up? Back then you probably didn’t think much of it. It most likely excited you to give answers like, a fireman, nurse, doctor, mommy, actress or a thousand other things.
Do you have enough fingers and toes to count the amount of times you’ve been asked in your adult life, “What do you do?”
I certainly don’t.
What I do know, is there have been times in my life when I have felt miserable, only to recognize that I lost my happiness and my own voice along the way.
Perhaps you have too.
From the inside out
Living from the inside out and staying connected to your own voice that can define your happiness isn’t necessarily easy. It’s not easy when so many people seem to value who you are as a person based on what you do. It’s easy to find yourself placing accomplishments above your deepest truth and then making those accomplishments define your self-worth.
There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t want to be happy, loved and accepted. That’s human nature and it’s a need as natural as breathing. But having a belief that your accomplishments makes you happy and more worthy of love and acceptance can create a vicious cycle of ongoing doingness. Becoming numb to your most authentic place of joy and peace. The brass rings keep being reached for with very little room, if any, for just enjoying the everyday simplicities of life as well as the soulful companionship of those in your life.
Of equal importance
I truly believe that no one human being is more important than another. Because when you strip away all the titles, money, fame and material stuff, all you’re left with is exactly what you came here with; YOU. The you that deserves all the happiness you can create for yourself. Without any concern for what others may think.
So the next time someone asks you what you do, why not tell him or her, “I do my best to be happy as often possible.”
Their reaction alone would make it so worthwhile!
