Saturday, July 26, 2014

New Location, Same Me!

I've made the decision to switch from Blogger to Wordpress! My new web address is meetthequote.wordpress.com

If you are looking for new post be sure to direct your attention there! 

100 Days to Happiness: A Lifestyle

     Although my posts seemed to have disappeared, have no fear! My life didn't become less joyful, it's been quite the opposite. I learned more about true happiness, friendship, distance, and living altogether. This past month has really allowed me to, dare I say, grow up. Through trials of the heart and challenges of the flesh I was still able to find happiness, because the reality of it is that happiness is a choice, happiness is a lifestyle. 

       
"Happiness is not in our circumstance, but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are."
- John B. Sheerin
    At the beginning of the month I had the pleasure of traveling to Missouri with friends for four days. I was already expecting the experience to be encouraging but I hadn't yet made the conscious decision to enjoy myself. Before our 15 hour long journey had even begun my heart ,which started out as an excited flame was already cooling to just embers. Nothing was going the way that I'd hoped. Every part of me wanted to pout and be a grouch. (My natural response since I can remember.) The plan I had in my head wasn't happening so obviously our lives were completely over. Not even slightly the case. Once our few hiccups subsided I realized just how much energy it takes to be unhappy when there are so many things to be happy about.
“Someone just tell me
That it’s ok now
What are you worrying about
Got my dreams, got my life, got my love
Got my friends, got the sunshine above
Why am I making this hard on myself
When there’s so many beautiful reasons I have to be happy”
   
    I am such a huge fan of this song by Natasha Bedingfield. She hits it right on the head! Throughout the song she lists all the everyday complications of an everyday life. Rent and crazy landlords. Minimum wage and getting laid off. However real those struggles may be, and no matter how justifiable they may make anger seem, the number of reasons to remain happy are so much greater!
   In our lesson Sunday morning, we heard about anger and its crippling properties on the soul. We have plenty of reasons to become angry, but what good is that? Anger destroys. Specifically, anger destroys happiness.
 "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?'... 'sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you but must rule over it."
- Genesis 4:6-7
  When things go awry or tragedy strikes, sin is knocking at your door. Anger lets that sin in and it takes over in the form of rage. Like opening any door, the choice is yours. If you are the person who is easily angered, shut the door. As it has been said, you are what you take in. 
"Any day I'll go bad thinking bad

Everyone is against me and the world wants to fight me

Preparing to battle an enemy unseen

During my stressing I’m blinded to the lessons 

That could be a blessing if Id be confessing that the enemy
I’m trying to beat is hiding inside of me"
  Though our circumstances weren't all sunshine and lollipops, the three of us were happy on our trip. We allowed our minds to become happiness. Through that we met a lot of great people and were able to just enjoy each others company. 

I'm also doing this on my Instagram. (I've actually been able to keep up with that) Here is proof that I'm having a happy summer! Also feel free to follow me @emary_alicea to keep up with all the awesomeness that is my life!