You Can Be Happy...if you try.

You have seen them in the stores, sitting in church, possibly at local meetings. Chances are very good, if you venture into social media pages, and comment boards, you have read their thoughts. Angry, bitter people looking to complain, blame, and otherwise spout off about the failings of anything and anyone, but themselves. Those people who flock in droves to the negative, anything perceived bad, it doesn't matter what that may be so long as it gives them a chance to put all their woes of the world on to someone else. Drama is also abundant on talk, and reality shows. It is by no accident that you see it in the news as well, be it local, or national it is there, and it is constant. The media has become a place to get half truths, and tidbits meant to inflame, and raise your blood pressure. It helps to make you feel that your are right to be offended, and that you should then spread that message of unhappiness to everyone you know, and many that you don't, to get them to feel the same way that you do. You have a duty!

For the media it's about the ratings, and ratings are money, but what does it do for you? How does it affect your attitude of life, and what if you decided, as one person, you would choose to spread a different message? What if you decided that you would no longer take part in hate, and bitterness, and instead choose to spread a message of happiness, and hope? What if you decided decided to always "take the high road", and not involve yourself in these news flashes that usually have very little baring in your daily life, except to upset it, and set a tone of "us against them". "Divide and conquer" seems to be in now. People who wish to make money in life, and social media have figured out that there is gold in the divide and conquer theory, and it creates a crowd of people who find it very hard to resist, and they in turn bring others in to that crowd, but at the end of the day, how do you think they feel. Most of us have been there, so we know the answer to that question. The next question is "Why"?

What if we, as one person, choose instead to get up tomorrow and express a new attitude to the world? Happy thoughts can be spread too! Our attitudes become our life, and influence who will be around us to enhance those thoughts. That can either be very scary, or very uplifting, depending on which you pick, because it is a conscience choice. Your words become your life.

So what now? If we do decide not to play into the "everything would be fine if it weren't for them" game. Where do we go from there? Personally I think it is in those words that we utter, online or in real life. What we choose to say, and who we choose to act is what will define our lives, and create a feeling of happiness, or bitterness. It is probably best to follow no one who tells you what your opinion should be, but figure it out for yourself, and do that in a way that benefits you, and those around you. Life is not about things that you do, or do not have, but how you feel, and how you affect others who come into contact with you. Do you brighten their day? Do you make them feel better about themselves?

It would be good to wake up every day and remind yourself of the rules of Karma: it means action, work or deed; it also refers to the principle of causality where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual (you). Good intent and good deed contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering. I always try my best to be mindful of Karma, and I want you to be as well. Of course, you don't have to take my word for this, but what would it hurt to try it out for a day, then another day??? Who knows, maybe it could lead you on a road to true happiness, and contentment. It couldn't hurt.

Remember what we all thought of life in "simpler times", and how we wish it could be that way again? Reality is whatever you make it.