Time Off

"Happiness may well consist primarily of an attitude toward time." Robert Grudin

I took some time off last week from writing this blog. I had to reassess my usage of "time." For several weeks after my heart attack and surgery I thought I was running out of time so I began running through lots of things. I ran through my memory searching for people I needed to reconnect with. I ran through my dreams making sure every morning I was remembering as many as possible looking for clues and messages that would add meaning to my life and help me understand where I was, who I am and what I wanted to do next in life. I ran through books like a marathon man getting through each page as fast as possible.

I was in such a hurry, just like pre-heart attack days, but only this time I was more internally than externally directed as if somehow this made my rapid pace justified. I decided to slow down, take some deep breaths and hope and trust that what needed doing would get done, who needed to be connected with would be. A new attitude towards time.

Question: Do you know what time it is for your deepest self?

What is Happening?

“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.” —James Oppenheim

Some days before my heart attack I would wake up hell-bent on happiness. If I pause now I usually notice that I’ve found it, and wonder how I got here. More often than not my happiness comes from what happens, and what I do with it. For me these days happiness exists in what’s happening now, not in my daydreams of what’s going to happen some other day.

Wise souls in all ages have been saying this same thing for thousands of years. While I can't put any claim on wisdom yet I do know if I don’t practice the art of finding my “happiness” right where I am, then nothing that changes outside me will make me happy.

Question: Is what is happening now in your own life resulting in happiness?