From the Shores of the Ottawa River

Happiness is relative, and fleeting, but necessary for our body’s emotional and spiritual well-being no matter who we are and where we come from.  The important thing to remember is that pure happiness lives within each of us. We need to cultivate and nurture happiness. 

I grew up in a home with no electricity or plumbing. by all accounts we were happy. Now, we have in our home a Japanese toto toilet, heated seat, every time I use it, I am reminded how far I’ve come. And that makes me happy. I have loss five of my brothers and one sister  in 4 years, that makes me sad. Happiness is relative.  Pun intended.  

Happiness has different meanings for people.

Thinking on this subject, I am struck by a memory of a workshop I facilitated for Indigenous women of the Americas in the Peruvian jungle. One evening, sitting by the fire, the women were talking about their communities and how difficult it was for them to make it to the workshop. They spoke about the hardships they are faced  through laughter and beaming as they spoke about their children. Earlier that day, I teased that I should wear a t-shirt that said, “I’d Rather be a tourist” because clearly the facilities in the jungle are not the Hilton. Sitting among the women I felt ashamed for having said that, even in jest because it might of sounded like I didn’t appreciate their effort in preparing  our accommodations which I did, the lovely Indigenous food by the fire was outstanding but the company was truly a learning exchange of cultures. Thinking back it was a happy experience.

12 commandments  I learned to becoming happier, from people in developing countries whose concerns don’t have to include the basics of survival. This  Peruvian example comes from one of the women at the workshop I attended.

American / Peruvian
1. Be yourself / 1. Be strong
2. Let it go. / 2. Be thankful with what you have
3. Act the way I want to feel. / 3. Accept that you can’t put yourself first
4. Do it now. / 4. Recognize your opportunities
5. Be polite and be fair. / 5. Be respectful but strong
6. Enjoy the process. / 6. Live in the moment / let each moment follow
7. Spend. / 7. Treasure what you have
8. Identify the problem. / 8. Identify the solutions
9. Lighten up. / 9. Laugh, and laugh some more
10. Do what ought to be done. / 10. Do what can be done
11. No calculation. / 11. Appraise risk12. There is only love. / 12. There is only you within a community.