Are you happy? Why not? What hell is happiness anyway?

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections. --Unknown

The Journal of Joe Peacock had a recent post that made me think....and think....and think. I thought it was inspiring enough that I wanted to share it here and encourage everyone to read it. (Hat tip to Average Jane for the link - this is not a site I read. Also, hat tip for Google Reader and the ability to share items.)

The post features a really goofy picture of a really goofy looking guy who took his cat to a professional photographer with him. But? The goofy guy just really looks freakin' happy. And Joe Peacock writes a nice post about it:

I hope that among the horrible crap that 2008 (and other years) has brought you that you can find at least one thing in your life that you can just grab and hold and smile about every time you think of it. I hope that you find joy in moments, if not in life as a whole. And if you aren't there - if everything's miserable and you can't find small victories each day, please do try to find one. Maybe your cat. Maybe pick up a pencil and doodle something that will make you giggle. Maybe write a blog entry on the net about the silliest thing you've ever seen.

Maybe this picture of Walter and his cat.

Who knows. I just hope you find joy where you can. And when you find it, I hope you hold on to it. Cherish it in your heart and keep it deep within you, like a coal which warms you from deep within. Never let that ember burn out. Always stoke it and give it plenty of air to breathe. Hold on to your joy. Never let it go, because there are plenty of forces in this world which would be glad to take it from you.

Definitely read the entire post, I thought it was worth the time.

At the same time reading that post, I was receiving an email from Goofy Girl with an incredibly thoughtful quote from Stephan Hoeller:

A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl.

I spent much of 2008 being unhappy for some reason or another. Some of which was out of control, some of which was very much in my control.

I am not one for New Year's Resolutions, but I am totally up for Life Resolutions. I am going to try harder to get off of my lazy butt and to quit complaining. That is all.

I suspect it will be enough.