Rabbi Shmuley said It Too!!

Wow. I'm convicted. In my previous post, I mentioned that I felt that my happiness is a decision. I need to stop saying that I'll be happy when this child is less clingy, or that child is past the terrible twos. I just need to choose to be happy and not let their moods spoil my day. Well, I was watching Oprah later this afternoon and a man named Rabbi Shmuley was on. He was helping troubled families. First of all, watching these families made me realize how much our family has. We all get along really well. We respect each other. We genuinely like each other. But anyway, he was talking to a grieving mother of two who lost her husband 6 years ago and still has not let go. She basically wallows in it. He said:

"We can't control when death visits us, when tragedy visits us—but we can control whether or not we invite it in to remain as a permanent fixture in our homes."He says that Carolyn, in order to overcome her grief, must learn that happiness is a choice. "We're all waiting for something to happen outside to bring us happiness. If I win the lottery, you know, I'll be happy, or that big promotion I'm waiting for. … We all think that in life there's action and reaction. There isn't—there's action, choice, reaction."

I felt like he was just reiterating what I was saying in my last post, but it's not about death. I honestly can't control how my toddlers will behave for the day, but I can control whether I'm going to pitch the tent and camp in self pity or refuse to let it affect me so much. Happiness IS a choice!! I can't WAIT for my kids to get older in order for me to happy...I might just find something else to complain about. I really need accept where I am now and be happy NOW.

We'll be leaving for a camping trip this Wednesday. I won't be back til Sunday. Where we are going, there are a lot of rocks (it's a spring fed river). Ben should be very happy. I'll let you know how it goes....