Own Happiness
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I believe we have the power to create
our own happiness.
I believe the real magic in the world
is done by humans.
I believe normal life is extraordinary.
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I was sitting in my car at a stoplight
intersection listening to the radio.
I was, I guess, lost in the moment,
thinking how happy I was to be inside
my warm car.
It was cold and windy outside,
and I thought,
"Life is good."
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Now, this was a long light.
As I waited, I noticed two people huddled
together at the bus stop.
To my eyes, they looked uncomfortable;
they looked cold and they looked soggy.
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The couple seemed to be doing
their best to keep warm.
They were huddled together,
and I thought to myself,
"Oh, those poor people
in that punishing wind."
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But then I saw their faces.
Yes, they were laughing.
They looked to be sharing a good joke,
and suddenly, instead of pitying them,
I envied them. I thought,
"Huh, what's so funny?"
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They didn't notice the wind.
They weren't worried
about their clothes.
They weren't looking at my car
thinking, "I wish I had that."
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You know when a single moment
feels like an hour?
Well, in that moment, I realized
I had assumed this couple needed
my pity, but they didn't.
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I assumed things were all bad
for them, but they weren't.
And I understood we all have
the power to make moments
of happiness happen.
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I believe this is something
all of us can do:
Try to be happy within the context
of the life we are actually living.
Happiness is not a situation
to be longed for or a convergence
of lucky happenstance.
Through the power of our own minds,
we can help ourselves.
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