i raise my glass to happiness {self-portrait challenge}
A toast to happiness.
The bracelet, a Christmas gift from my mother, has the phrase, “Choose happiness” stamped into it.
It is always a choice. All of it. Happiness, sadness, quiet, life, laughter, love, truth, anger, fear…all of it.
But to choose happiness; sometimes I think that this is the harder path. When you choose to live in your life with your eyes wide open, you see the other stuff…the ugly stuff. When you are wide open to it all, when your heart is wide open, you can be hurt. Over and over again. You feel things and understand things and notice things that others may not be willing to notice yet. When you are living in your life with your eyes wide open, you also see the beauty. The gorgeous moments. You see it all. And through it all, you have a choice. You always have a choice. This can seem so hard at times. So. very. hard. Yet, you have this choice. Which means, really, that you are on the path that is full and rich and alive. The other path, the one full of not paying attention, that is the one that is harder even though it feels easier.
And you can still choose.
To choose happiness, even in the midst of all that you know, even in the midst of the pain and the beauty...it is such an incredible choice. Full of light. Full of life.
So tonight, I raise my glass to happiness. To deciding to choose it a bit more often.
(to see other self-portraits of red visit self-portrait challenge)
(And I want to also say this. The giving of presents is something I enjoy. I am always on the lookout for little gifts for my friends, family, people in my life. The moment when I find the “perfect” gift – the gift you know another person needs, well, that makes me so happy. And I love it when I can also be there when they open it. And I admit that I love, love it when someone gives me a gift that is so "me." But to put this note into context, I have to be honest about something: The bah humbug [whispering now…martyr] in me sometimes resents opening a gift and knowing that the person just simply didn’t take the time to think of me but instead just said, “crap, I need something.” Little do they know that for me, a hand-written note means more than another empty picture frame. I know, yes people, I know, this isn’t the spirit of gift giving, but I am willing to be honest about this. However…opening the gifts from my mom last night, especially this bracelet and a necklace she bought me…well, I just felt my heart sigh inside [in a good way]. These gifts mean so much to me. Gifts from someone who is seeing me and the path I am on. Thank you.)
self-portrait
Reader Comments (17)
I love that phrase..."choose happiness." My husband tends to be a bit of a pessimist (total opposite of me in this, as in most things) and I tell him that sometimes - that we can't always choose what happens to us but we can make choices - positive choices! - about how we respond to it. Choose happiness...Yes.
Lovely photo, Liz.
A girlfriend and I saw Will Smith's new film today...and there's a moment in the voiceover when he talks about the PURSUIT of happiness. (Duh. Yes, I know it's the title of the film.) Sometimes the pursuit can feel so exhausting...that when we finally do get those moments of it (as he does in the film), it's all the sweeter. We can CHOOSE it in any moment, but sometimes it takes a while to SHOW UP...(for that choice to manifest, if you get my drift). ;) But my favorite line in the film is when he tells his son, "Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something...even me."
Cheers to you, to happiness, to eyes wide open, and to choosing.
I could not agree with you more...happiness is a choice, and when we do live our lives with our "eyes wide open" we immediately open ourselves to more...more of everything. It makes us stronger and better though, no matter how you look at it. I am raising my tea cup to happiness, right along with you.
xoxoxox
Thank you for the re-confirmation. I woke up this morning and reminded myself: "Everything that has happened in my life has been for the good. So stop grumbling and start enjoying"
i say cheers to happiness too! hope you have a great christmas and new year and continue to choose happiness in the new year.
this is a lovely post, liz. we can choose so many things, healing is a goodie too. happiness, i like to think that i get to choose what happiness looks like for me-sporadic moments of glee or silent gratitude....the fact that i get to define it means that i get to create it! be it!
i hear you about the gifts. i get very torn about what receiving means. i want to be humble and think that i can't know what the person wast thinking when she purchased me a (i'm not kidding) an arsenic testing kit for tap water last year. i think she was trying to comment supportively on my interest in health. not very romantic, though, eh? when you figure it out, please let me in on how to be my best receiving self. love to you, p
we all have the choice ~ to live life with the cup half empty or half full, it really is simply, a choice. excellent photo and theme liz!!
This is such an important message...and such a difficult task. I find myself working towards this more and more all the time and your "reminder" was beautifully said. I also love the motion in your photo here...raising my glass for happiness as well...
--D.--
I love this self portrait.
I find it amazing just how "fleeting" happiness is... that's what gets me...
it's there one minute and "whoosh", it's out the door in another...
And I agree, Liz... all I need is something thoughtful, little, and kind... that's all it takes.
Cheers to you, honey.
LIZ!!! How amazing it is to return here!! I'm so sorry for my MIA status of late, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things now...
Your words fill me with such hope, such light, such happiness. Choosing happiness, you're so right, is difficult but always rewarding. I'm so happy you're mother knows you as the beautiful spirit you are (aren't moms great like that?).
I've missed you so and I'm glad to be back here!! Also, LOVE the red lipstick you're wearing in your pic! Beautiful! xoxo
I so agree with what you say about the gift getting and giving. It is such a great feeling to know you have found JUST the thing for someone, too. I hate feeling the pressure of having to get gifts under the crunch of time.
You are a wise, beautiful person.
Happiness IS a choice. An Action word.
:)
cheers! and knowing some of your story with your mom i know how powerful and amazing it is when she gets you...i know how affirming it can be and how it must feel like the most wonderful blessing ever being poured gently over your head.
'Choose happiness' is a bueatiful statement. I wrote it on the first page in my new journal. It's one of the best choices one can make i think.
Cheers! Sophie
Wonderful post, Liz. Totally agree that happiness is a choice. So glad ot see you making it.
Such a great post. "Choose happiness" is empowering. I love how you didn't overstate redness in the picture, so that it's subtle, but there. I don't celebrate Christmas, but giving presents to the friends of mine who do is awesome. Choosing the perfect thing--or simply making a glittery card--is like a cleansing act: wash away the selfishness. Ok, I'm done!