Happiness (and Keeping It Real)

You know how you read other blogs and everything looks so wonderful and fun and oh, what a happy patient and creative mom. Oh-and look, on top of all that she is absolutely beautiful and just happens to be  leaving on vacation with her family for a month in Italy later this week!

Sometimes it does seem like that though.

But I bet it's really not, even for that mom.

This has been on my mind lately and after reading Shauna's birthday post a couple of weeks ago
she just solidified it for me and gave me the weekly reminder that I needed to hear myself.
Happiness really is a choice. And sometimes it takes work.

There is always something we could wish for from someone else's life...

Their children their home, their talents, their marriage, their wonderful friends, 

where they live, their jobs...the list goes on and on. 

And it's okay to notice those things, but notice and move on people.

Stop comparing yourselves to others-to what they have and what you don't have.

Yes, a month-long vacation in Italy right now would make me very, very happy indeed.

BUT that mom is not happy just because they are able to take that vacation. 

And since I am not able to take that vacation right now it doesn't mean that I'm not happy.

Happiness is a choice. It really is.
 And you can just say you are going to be happy, or act like
you are happy, you have to live it.

And it's not always easy.
Some days are easier than others.
Some days are really freakin' hard, I'm not gonna lie.

***

Pictures don't always tell the whole story, blogs don't tell the whole story and people don't

 always tell the whole story.

Last week we stopped at the park on our way home from school because, scissors in hand, 

I wanted some branches from this pink tree. And I was going to get them today.

 These pictures might make it look like a magical day.

It wasn't.

It was a quick 15-minute trip where I hurriedly cut branches when no one was looking

 and telling half-lies;

"No honey, this is not stealing, we are helping the Park District trim their trees. 

Kind of like maintenance workers do."

Charlotte got scraped up on the tree she was climbing, Wyatt was laughing at her and kind of teasing her, he didn't want his picture taken at first and he wanted a snack because he was soooo huuungry.

Through gritted teeth I said to him- 

GetyourbuttovertherenowbeforeImakeyousitinthecar. 

NOW.

Then we both laughed because I actually threatened him into smiling for the picture.

And it worked. Then we were over it and everything was fine.

But magical, it was not.

But there are things we can do. And by WE,  I mean you and me...not just you.

Work on your marriage by planning a date night, plan fun things to do with your own children,

  get away with the girl's one weekend or at least just for a night. Daydream about that vacation, 

decide where you would want to go and where you would stay. Make plans for the future.

Relish in the little moments, the everyday moments. They are what really make up your life.

Not vacations and new cars and bigger houses, new clothes and jewelry
(although sometimes they really do help, too...i'm trying to keep it real, remember?).

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and worry about what you are doing.

And what you already have.

Make the decision to stop comparing your life to others' and make the decision to be happy

 with what you have right now...not later, not what you might have in the future... but right now.
That's what I am trying to remind myself to do, every day.