Oof. This one struck home. Who else is guilty of “I’ll be happy when…” thoughts? (Raising both my hands and a foot).

It seems like the simple act of being happy escapes me a lot of the time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not unhappy – technically – but there is always that underlying desire for more, better, different. Always a sense of being unsettled instead of being happy with what I have, where I am and what my life is. I have very little to be unhappy about. Until recently I always thought of it as having goals. My desire to be better at something, have more of this or nicer that. I’m always striving for the next “thing,” chasing change and bettering life.

This quote makes me realize that maybe I need to allow myself to be happy with what I have and make that my goal. Please don’t misunderstand me, goals are so important and looking for ways to improve our world and the life we live is huge. But maybe we get so caught up in chasing goals we have forgotten how to be happy in our present. My “New Mid-Year Resolution” is to focus on being proud of who I am, what I’ve accomplished, the people I have and the life I’m living without always having to seek “more” in order to be happy.

Happy is here. Happy is now. Look at your now and live in that unconditional happiness. You deserve it!

Sarah Deats

Sarah Deats is a Behavioral Health Technician at RI International and the Hope Inc. Stories Inspiration Engineer.