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!