Collecting Happiness – October 21, 2001
It’s easy to be thankful for spring sunshine, the laughter of children, fields of colorful flowers, and rain. However, we often fail to think past the obvious. We get caught up in busy lives, feel overwhelmed by negative events, and forget how much there is in life to be grateful for.
If someone gave us a bucket of sand containing particles of iron, we might dig with our fingers for hours and decide there was no iron to be found. But one quick sweep with a magnet would produce the iron particles previously indistinguishable to the eye. Likewise, the unthankful heart, like fingers in the sand, discovers nothing to be grateful for; while a thankful heart, like the magnet attracting iron, finds blessings in every moment.
A young college student overwhelmed by tests, time limits, work, and social life realized she was losing her optimism and joy. One night she impulsively pushed aside her homework and on a large piece of poster paper began writing things that made her happy. In red she wrote “sweaters with hoods” and “fairy tales”; in orange “blowing dandelions” and “springtime smells”; in blue “the sound of rain” and “toy blocks.” Finally, she mounted the colorful poster on her bedroom door where she could see it. It provided a much-needed respite that evening. But it wasn’t until a few weeks later she realized that making the poster had changed her. Instead of days clouded by thoughts of discouragement, she found herself eagerly looking for new items to add to the “Happy Door.”
Like a magnet attracting iron, her changed heart was collecting happiness. Collecting happiness brings feelings of optimism and joy into our lives.
Program #3766