I was invited to join a daily inspiration Yahoo Group for herb gardeners. Each day I get a brief quote in my mail, and I want to share Monday’s with you.
The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance,
the wise grows it under his feet.
– James Oppenheim
So true….in so many ways. Many of us feel that happiness is just around the bend. Some feel that if they just do one more thing, and one more thing and one more thing, happiness will be their prize.
We need to live in the moment, not in the future. We need to find pleasure in the every day things we do. I have several very old-fashioned hobbies that bring me great joy. The herbs I grow reflect our life cycle, as do the seasons. Some of my herbs are annuals, and remind me that I need to live my life today, and not put things off until tomorrow. Others are perennial, and they show me how to take the best in my life and carry it from season to season.
I also quilt, and my hand quilted quilts give me the chance to create a useful item, and hopefully a beautiful item, which will be here long after I’ve gone. So, each stitch I make today, may serve to warm someone in the future, or delight their eyes. These stitches are my gift to myself. I have the pleasure of the moment, and the pleasure of knowing that I can pass my joy on.
With my herbs and quilts, I have the best of both worlds. I believe that the things you do now, may create the basis for your happiness in the future. For each of us, the accomplishment is different. For some, it’s raising exceptional children, for others it’s leadership, of a business, of a platoon, of a country. Whether your focus is narrow or wide, you are still responsible for your own happiness. Each day, I try to do my best. There are days when I fail, but I brush myself off and try again.
If you find happiness elusive…..look closer to home.