Cultivating Happiness - Personal Essay
Happiness is a garden that is easily overrun with weeds if not tended to with care.
Whenever I find myself in the dumps, I always come to realize that I have been neglecting my garden of happiness. During some parts of my life when depression was firmly rooted, I had to start over and build a new garden. It was a lot of hard work. Gardening is a big commitment and so is happiness in my experience.
When did I become so unsatisfied with life? At a younger age, I beamed with joy and optimism. Love was in my every step. People were a source of pleasure and joy.
Now, I frown a lot and have the wrinkles to show for it. My steps feel heavy from the extra pounds added. People have become a never ending source of annoyance and frustration.
When did I swing from optimist to pessimist?
Is it my age? Am I a grouchy old woman?
Is it my new role as Mom? Wait, am I turning into MY Mom? (I love you Mom. Just using creative liberty.) Has my spirit been finally broken by this cold cruel world? Am I defeated?
Just keep planting seeds of happiness in my garden and weeding out all the things and people who make me unhappy.
All the things I listed above could very well be a bunch of bullshit I can hopefully use to fertilize my garden.