I read this quote on facebook the other day.  It really stayed with me and so I decided to share these wise words on my blog, although I am unsure who first wrote it.  While I believe it is important to hold onto hope for tomorrow, this quote reminded me not to forget to enjoy each day for what it has to offer in the moment. 

“We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.  Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough, and we’ll be more content when they are.  After that, we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with.  We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.  We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our partner gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice holiday, when we retire.

The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now.  If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges.  It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.  A quote from Alfred D. Souza… He said, “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid.  Then life would begin.  At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness.  Happiness is the way.  So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it all the more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time…and remember that time waits for no one.  So, stop waiting until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until winter, until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink…there is no better time than right now to be happy…Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

-Author Unknown

This Beautiful Mess
By Krista Longeway

Beginning with the dawn of a new day
Each day is perfect in its own sweet way
Each day the sun rises in orange and red
Each day the gulls call from high overhead

Each day the waves crash upon the seashore
Each day there is a wide world to explore
Each day birds sing sweetly up in the tree
Each day sun sets slowly beyond the sea

Each day there are people that I will meet
Each day places I go and food I eat
Each day there are decisions to be made
Each day there are still debts that must be paid

Each day there is so much I’ve yet to do
And still each day I know that it is true
I will experience both joy and strife
In this beautiful mess I call my life