This week Leslie Jordan, the actor, comedian, writer, and singer, of “Will and Grace” fame, passed away.
I was saddened because Leslie was truly a light of joy and happiness. Although obviously I had never met him, I always loved the positive way he looked at life. As a 4’11” gay, recovering alcoholic, his life was not without trials and tribulations, but he chose to make “lemonade out of lemons” and shared that outlook with the world.
Abraham Lincoln once said: “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” and these words are still true today. No matter what our circumstances, there is still so much to be happy and grateful for, if we choose to be.
Happiness is not a destination. We do not have to live our lives waiting for this or that to happen in order to make ourselves happy. Happiness is a spiritual journey of living our lives with kindness, love and gratitude.
Changing our mindset is not easy, but making small changes in the way we live and think does make a difference.
So, this week, in honor of Leslie, and others who live like he did, I have put together five mantras for a truly happy life:
1) Choose Gratitude. No matter what is happening in our lives, there is always something to be grateful for. If we are driving an old beat up car, there is someone else wishing they had that same car as they are waiting for the bus heading to work!
2) Choose to be content – Be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are. As the old saying goes, “Bloom where you are planted”!
3) Surround yourself with positive people. Even though there are times when we have the ability to “bring up” negative people, the truth is that negative people “bring us down”, more often than not. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, who cheer for you!
4) Live in the moment. This is the one I struggle with the most. It is difficult to not project and think ahead to what might be. Today is truly a gift and all we are guaranteed. “The past is done; the future is unknown; but today is a gift – that’s why they call it the Present!”
5) Choose to live with kindness. Choosing to live with kindness helps to reinforce the feeling of happiness for you, and others, and it makes you feel more complete and alive!
Happiness is a choice that we have to intentionally choose every day.
Today, I choose happiness!
Accidental Harmony 