Happiness

After observing the human condition for seventy-some years I'm going to climb on the soapbox and proclaim my take on happiness. This post will depart from my usual update on travel or local (or far away) flowers, so if you're not in the mood to listen to my take on happiness, better click off now and save some heartburn.

"The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness."
---Eric Hoffer

Over the course of my life I've been fortunate to have lived in several parts of our country and many other countries and observed people with different customs. I've also been privileged to have been born in the late 30's and experienced first hand the American cultural transition from small family farms and viable small towns to agribusiness and large urban areas.

"Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be." ---Abraham Lincoln

From the time when, as a child we lived on a farm until I was in high school, my family had little money and by today's standards would have been classified as living in poverty. Yet there were many times during those years when I enjoyed a kind of happiness denied to most of today's children. I didn't have money but didn't need it to play in nature and enjoy family and other non-electronic social interactions in lieu of watching TV or playing electronic games on a computer or other personal device.

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
---J. R R. Tokien

For many years I've watched people striving for and sometimes achieving happiness, short lived as it may have been. I've heard the common complaint, "If only I had (write in your own desired end here) I'd be happy." I've watched people gain that goal, be happy, but like a child with a new toy, soon throw that happiness away to pursue a new object of happiness.

"You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy." ---Eric Hoffer

People have been trying to define happiness since at least the days of the Greek philosophers.  I can't speak for others but for me happiness is often found, not by seeking it out but in unexpected places while doing other things.

"They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for." ---Tom Bodett

I have come to think there may be seven things that make a person happy:

• Living unselfishly
• Accepting life as it is
• Finding the good
• Seeing the hidden
• Knowing good people
• Having a compatible mate
• Acknowledging a higher power

There may be other things that contribute to happiness but note that "a hoard of gold" is not on my list.

"A fool dreams of wealth, a wise man of happiness." ---Turkish proverb

Never underestimate the power of a dog to bring a smile to your lips, a lilt to your step and peace to your mind. Many's the time I've been stressed or over busy when my little dog, Kuro, would come begging for a walk. Sometime during those walks, it would occur to me that the stress was gone, the brain fog lifted, and I was enjoying a pleasant interlude with a modicum of happiness.

"Happiness is a warm puppy." ---Charles M. Schultz

Kuro wearing his boots ready to search for happiness during a walk in rainy weather. He doesn't much like the boots but he'll do whatever it takes to go for a walk. There are lots of puddles near our temporary house so Ikuko
 suggested he be able to leave the mud at the door.

"Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length." ---Robert Frost

Moving Redux---Recharging

Moving is wearisome business. Especially for an old man like me, toting those boxes and lifting those bales is tiring but the midnight worries are even worse.  In the condo, is the painter going to be done in time for the carpet man to do his thing before the movers arrive with our furniture and household goods? In the old house, Patching walls where pictures hung, getting the last of the furniture and such out and coordinating the cleaning team give plenty of grist for midnight thought.

In a protected corner we saw the last of this year's roses.

This morning was beautiful with the bright sun peeking through departing storm clouds so Kuro and I decided to take an early walk, commune with Mother Earth and recharge our (my) batteries.

Kuro doesn't need his batteries recharged. The  mere sight of his leash in my hand has him dancing a jig and waiting impatiently to get out the door.

The early morning rain was still on the grass. Kuro got soaked
from mid-belly down and my feet got wet.

Here in Seattle, it's just a little early for good fall colors but we found a few reds, yellows and golds.

We came across hydrangeas in shades from blue to bronzed purple. I've read about how soil acidity affects the colors of the hydrangea but I wonder if the sun exposure might also make a difference in blossom color.

It's almost Halloween. This little guy will make a perfect Jack O'Lantern

In a secluded area we came across a small tree in the cedar family that had an emerald jacket.

Watching moss grow is restful and brings peace to the soul.

The old timers say Mountain Ash and snow berries foretell the severity of the coming winter. We didn't happen upon any Mountain Ash but I wonder if these snow berries are harbingers of cold and misery in our part of the country?

In a nearby park there is a big old poplar that serves as a message board for local dogs.

Old man poplar attracts passing dogs. He seems to say, "Come smell the latest news."

We had a refreshing and invigorating walk but it was time to head back home. As I opened the garage door a single leaf blew in to rest on the concrete floor. It seemed to be soaking up a last measure of sunlight before it was placed in the compost bin to complete life's cycle and nourish life anew next spring.