Happiness is a Choice

This morning I wake up, do my everyday workout, and enjoy a nutritious breakfast and go out to seize my day. It is a fantastic day; the shining sun offers every opportunity for me to create the best day of my life. A good friend of mine always says: Today is the only day that we can actually act and do something to either change our lives completely or in case we already have our dream life then to simply embrace and enjoy it to the most.

 So I jump onto my bicycle, letting the warm breeze caress my unruly hair. As I bike along with a song on my lips, I suddenly hear a friend holler while waving at me. We hadn't seen each other for a long time, so I stop immediately and we start sharing our life stories.

My friend is a handsome man; tall, blond, with a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes and he runs a successful company of his own. He is married to a gorgeous woman and they have two wonderful babies. I presume most people out there would indeed feel blessed to be in his shoes.

As we chat along I start feeling weird; hearing him moaning about his life, our Greek crises, about the bills and his over charged credit cards and of his lack of free time. Then he starts moaning even about the weather that it’s too hot; what else do you expect during June in Greece! He keeps talking while sweating (only after a while do I realize that I am wearing one of my hot short pants; perhaps the heat is induced).

I feel really sad about him, because even though he has everything he probably seeks in life, he focuses on what he doesn’t have and in all the negativity that exists anyway.  Ok, we all know Greece is in crises; financial and cultural too. But should we stop dreaming and do nothing either to reverse or to improve the whole situation? Should we stay blindfolded within our self-created so called paradise (which isn’t making us happy either) watching our life pass by as a meaningless sham full of pretence?

No; certainly not!

We must stop moaning and start doing. Dreams are good. But without action, without hard work, persistence and insistence we will never achieve our dreams. Even if you don't feel ready yet for the change or even better be the change, at least stop moaning and complaining. See the positive side of life. The glass of life is always half full. Because even if indeed it is half empty your negative perspective and views won’t fill up the other half. Instead a more optimistic attitude would help in adopting a happier life and achieving your everyday goals, no matter how big or small they are, will become easier. A positive view of life will surely lead you to a happier life. I know it works. I have applied it personally and realize the results.

Here I will give you some tips with examples of how positivity can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life, no matter what the issues are:

·        Embrace life for what it gives you. We live in a wonderful world. Nature supplies us free the most vital things that we need to live like the air we breathe, water we drink and the sun and so many nutritious food found in the wild free. Spend time outdoors and you will soon realize that all the stress you may feel will disappear immediately. While being in nature words like stress, worries and problems sound smoother and lighter and mostly they even don't exist.

·         Embrace God (whatever that means for each one of us, for me nature is god) for what you have: Instead of doing what my blond friend did with his life, feel grateful for what you have. If you have a woman or a man who loves you and takes care of you, don't focus on his/her negative side of character, but encourage him/her get the best out of him/ her. Be thankful for what he/she has and does for you. If you have a job but still not your dream job, either be thankful for having a job (unemployed people would die for being in your shoes) or start working in creating the appropriate conditions or procure the skills needed for starting your dream job.

·         Start smiling. It is contagious. The power of a smile is so powerful that it can solve and even take you out of sticky situations.

·         Start socializing with positive and optimistic people. Friends are good. But if they give you stress, why should you put up with them and their misery? Your time is limited and priceless. Spend it only with those who make you feel happy, who are creative and get the best out of you. For sure we must stand by our friends when they are down and stressed but not with those who choose continuously to remain gloating in their misery and refuse to emerge out of their sorry shells.

·        Seek for alternative ways to get informed about worldwide news. The majority of TV Channels mainly focus in disasters, poverty, wars and negative news. They try to scare people. Control them. Stop torturing yourself. There are many e- radio stations and e-magazines which focus in the positive news. So many praiseworthiness things are happening worldwide but no one speak or write about them in the main TV and radio channels. Here are some web sites I dig out after a research and I propose to all of you.

            https://www.upworthy.com

            https://www.buzzfeed.com

            https://positivenews.org.uk

   https://www.dailygood.org 

·        Discover happiness in small and simple things. How often big and extraordinary things happen in your life that gives you the ‘big’ happiness? Rarely; this is why we should start finding happiness and beauty in small things which occur every day. In that way there will always be a reason for which we will celebrate and embrace life. Small things happen every day. They may be small and ordinary but if viewed as a gift they offer great pleasure and happiness. 

Being the master of our own lives it is up to us to make it what we want and mostly it is about making the right choices. I have already made my choice. I have chosen Happiness.

I am happy because I choose to be. It needs no other reason to substantiate or authenticate.

Happy Living – Love Simply

I often ponder: what purpose does life serve and what’s the meaning of life.  What is “this” that we all seek? Why every act, every choice we make is the way it is!

One of the most well-known wars of all times occurred due to love, or let’s say for the desire to possess love: the war of Troy. Philosophers and poets have said since time immemorial that the only thing worth living and dying for is ‘love’ while scientists often claim that love is nothing but a series of inexplicable chemical reaction. Whatever it is, without love life wouldn't procreate for humans I suppose.

Does everything happen for love? Is love the root motivation for all our actions and thoughts? And what is love and how can we conceive it or create it or achieve it; how can we make our self-worthy of love. And by love I always refer to true love. Because true love has nothing to do with “love” that the social norms wants us to believe in. Only if we would realize how fulfilling and peaceful it is to be in love and love truly; our lives would be much happier and meaningful.

Love is simply love and needs nothing tangible to exist or happen. It’s all about our choices. We can’t coerce love. All we can do is make ourselves worthy of love and let someone acknowledge that. And if our love is not reciprocated or not in equal measure or to the degree we want it to, it doesn't mean that our love isn't fulfilled. Love is both a mean and its end. Just like a road that is its own destination. 

A friend of mine once told me “love is the only action that need not have a reaction”. It is self-fulfilling, complete within itself.

And those of you, who have loved truly, know that love gives you absolute freedom. There is no love without freedom and no freedom without love. So live and love free; live for love and live simply. For me that’s the only way of living and loving, to be free and without fear.

True love is simple anyway. Loving without desire to possess and being ourselves who we truly are, allowing our loved ones to be who they are and setting ourselves and them free. No complicated things and behaviors are needed to love or be loved. If you desire to be loved, just be yourself, allow your true self to emerge and emancipate, just like a flower doesn't pretend to be what it isn't. It simply is and remains. Sooner or later the person meant to be the “one” for you will find you. Respect yourself. Set yourself free and love will captivate you.

Love is not related just with humans, but with animals, trees, flowers, the sun and the moon…everything on earth and it comes in all forms. But for this post I would focus on romantic love in humans.

Simplicity is the key to fulfillment. By adding some simple acts of caring and sharing in your everyday life you can revitalize your relationship and express your feelings for your beloved ones. Simple act that need no preparation, time or money or even efforts but show that we care are what is truly needed. Let’s look at some examples:

Love Rock

We often don’t hug or hold or touch enough. Simple acts of holding hands and wandering together by the sea or in nature or in your own alley, or while watching a movie at home could perk things up. Touching the neck or running fingers through the hair anywhere in the house shows that you care. Giving an impromptu rub or massage especially when it is not expected will do wonders.

Give a good morning and good night kiss to your lover every single day without fail. More kisses through the day are better. Even if you are physically apart, you can say it through messaging or by telepathy. It is free, needs no effort and also burns calories! Show to your beloved one that you are there and you truly care.

Cook a romantic dinner together or simply cook together. Even if you are the one without culinary skills, you can always do the dishes or chop the vegetables or simply be there in the kitchen. No great chef skills or expensive ingredients are required to prepare a simple dish for your beloved. Even chopping some fresh fruits and feeding each other is enough for that special feeling.

Surprise each other occasionally. Keep your relationship alive by making simple changes to your daily routine. An unexpected phone call telling her /him how beautiful/handsome she/he looked in the morning and just fixing an appointment to meet outside, in a  place you both don’t go often and spend some time together, talking about you and your thoughts, is enough to rejuvenate and fan your love.

Offer a special gift. I don’t mean an expensive gift. Anyone can buy gifts from a shop, but get something that is unique. It can be a song sung by you, or a special rock you picked up from the outdoors, or a beautiful seashell or a sketch you made. You don’t need to be Picasso to draw something for your lover.

Sleep naked every night with your lover and you will realize how rejuvenating it can be for your love life, not to mention the health benefits caused by the growth hormone released while sleeping naked. Couples who sleep naked have better relationship due to the oxytocin hormone which is released by skin contact and is known as the bonding hormone. Believe me it feels so warm, even during winter.

These are some of the daily tips which can help make our life happier and simpler. Most of all be creative and be simple. But always remember that love grows deep within us. No one can plant it there. It is already inside you, its energy already exists like a seed deep inside the earth waiting for the right conditions to emerge. All love needs that it is allowed to emerge. Set yourself free and love will grow. Love people because you want to give; to offer; not to receive. If we don’t want anything in return there is no way to get disappointed. True love can turn our lives in a non-stop celebration. And we all deserve a life like that. What else are we living for!

We all seek love, but freedom is the secret. And to be free let’s start simplifying our lives.

Adopting simplicity has helped me to enhance the overall quality of my life. Love grew within me and I found love, I got loved.

 So keep it simple and real love will happen.