Your Bank Account of happiness

[evecyanide]

I got this in the e-mail. Simple rules to be happy. :) Eve

Your Bank Account of happiness - Father Marshall Fernandez

A 92-year-old, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind. He moved to a nursing home today after his wife of 70 years passed away.

After waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied.

"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.

Old age is like a bank account - withdraw what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

Live for the day and tomorow will take care of itself.

[mon]

This man has led a beautiful and happy life, albeit the recent passing of his wife of 70 years and is partially blind. I am so touched by these lines,
" It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do."

He is right. The decision to be happy is right here in our hands. For me, being a truly happy person is to be thankful for all that God has blessed us with..our good health, our families, our friends, our jobs, our country, our forum perhaps? and..so much more.

..and to be a really happy person, we should not have grudges and hatred in our hearts..and rather, have a bad memory. Forgive and forget..really really really forget.

Thanks Eve Eve. :)

[evecyanide]

..and to be a really happy person, we should not have grudges and hatred in our hearts..and rather, have a bad memory. Forgive and forget..really really really forget.

Mon. You are so right on this.

You know, before my mum was diagnosed with cancer, my life was literally full of hatred and grudges. I was an angry person inside. I hated so many people and were not willing to forgive them. But when the unexpected happened to my mum, I was crushed. A christian friend of mine advised me to release myself from any form of anger and hatred, and to forgive and forget. She says all these unhealthy feelings inside of me will eventually eat me up and make me sick. I wanted things to be well for my mum, so I started on my journey of forgiveness. I called on friends whom I was angry with. I e-mailed people whom I hated and asked for their forgiveness, irregardless of who's fault it was.

It all paid well. My mum went thru chemo and she was cleared of any cancer in her body. I got my life back. I'm a much, much happier person now. I have a beautiful life. :)

[kwchang]

Thanks Eve for the story. I had read that some time ago and am glad it is posted here too.

I find it amazing how people hold on to their grudges. How I wish for people to drop all their heavy shackles.