Happiness is a Choice

In spite of her physical and emotinal challenges my fun loving, well-poised, and proud friend Helen made a choice to be happy. She was fully dressed each morning by nine o'clock, with her hair coiffed and makeup applied even though she was crippled with Arthritis and confined to a wheel chair.

Helen had every reason to be angry, her husband left her. She lost her beautiful home, moved into a petite apartment where there was little room to maneuver her wheelchair. Arthritis had twisted her body from a model like figure into a distorted pretzel shaped invalid. Yet; she radiated joy.

Friends came to cheer her up. But she cheered them up - and left them laughing and singing with a new sense of wonder and joy. She lived the magic of the moment and shared it with all who came to visit her.


One day I asked her how could she possibly be so happy?

"Each day is a gift,” she said. “Every morning when I wake up I praise and thank God for a new day and I make the decision to be happy. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed thinking about the pain in my joints and the parts of my body that don’t work. Or I can get up, get dressed and praise and thank God for the parts of my body that do work.

I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends. I store the memories of their visits in my heart. When I’m alone and in pain I relive the memories and they bring me joy and healing. "

Although Helen went home to heaven many years ago, I miss her laughter, stories, wisdom and prayers. By choosing to be happy she discovered five secrets to joyful living:

Praise and thank God in all things,
Enjoy the magic of the moment,
Appreciate your gifts,
Choose to forgive and
Encourage others.

Embrace the Five Secrets to Joyful Living and You will be Happy.