Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.- Hafiz of Persia

For years, I've been looking to the outside word to make me happy. Well, my WHOLE life really.

• If I had more friends, I'd be happy
• If I had more money, I'd be happy
• If this happened or that happened, I would be happy
• If everyone loves me and I have their approval, then I will be happy!!

You get the picture.

Well, I'm here to tell ya, it anit working. Huh.  Go figure.

Today, I think I had a break through of some sort.  Ok, it's not a genius idea, and certainity not a new idea...self-help gurus have been preaching it for years.

I heard, but never LISTENED. 

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves.

- Helen Keller

Today, for some reason, my heart decided to listen.

• To be happy, I need to be less judgemental.
• To be happy, I need to be less negative.  A LOT less negative!
• To be happy, I need to not win everyone else's approval.  The only approval I need is mine.
• To be happy, I need to find Me.  Me has been buried under a pile of crap.  It's going to take me a while to sort it out.
• To be happy, I have to be thankful every day for all that I have...I have so much to be thankful for!
• To be happy, I need to learn patience.