The return of happiness

Honestly, I don't really think happiness ever left. I just think I forgot to look for it. I guess with the slow demise of my marriage, not being well for a while, my daughter's impending spinal fusion operation and a few other things, I've been (once again) in survival mode; putting-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other mode and just going through the motions; being neither depressed nor happy....just doing life.

However, happiness has returned to Life At Another Level in the form of all my offspring being back home again under the one roof. Sarah returned home from Uni last Friday. She is home again for the Christmas break and will return to Uni sometime in February. I am excited about having her home again. Last weekend was filled with a lot of talking and laughing. Oh my goodness how we laughed. At one point I was rolling around on the floor with an aching belly I was laughing so much. Add to that the dog becoming very curious and excited and getting in my face and almost suffocating me...well.....you had to be there.

Things seem to be looking up. I'm almost scared to trust it though. Is that silly? Maybe it's just past experience, but I can tend to get almost suspicious when too many good things start happening and maybe I even look for someone to come along and pull the rug out from under my feet. Why is that? Maybe this time I just need to ride this wave for all it's worth and just be happy in the moment. Right here. Right now. Things are good right now. Maybe I should just make that enough,

"So Leisa, what's happening that's so great?"

I'm glad you asked.

1. Sarah is home.
2. We have found the most fabulous chiropractor. This is a BIG thing. After years and years of the false belief that people with bone dysplasia (or a dwarfing condition) should avoid chiropractors like the plague we have discovered that it's not all "bone cracking" and contorting the body into uncomfortable pretzel-like shapes, but is gentle and brings about a sense of wellbeing and relief from stress.
3. My son Tim has an interview for some work experience down at our local Coles Supermarket. This is happening right at this very minute. There is a chance that this will lead to paid employment but even if it doesn't at least it will give him a foot in the door, some experience and a reference for his resume.
4. Tim is also going for his Learners Permit on Friday. Another great step towards his independence.
5. I have a job interview on Friday at a new childcare centre opening up in my local area. I'm feeling kind of confident about this as it's a centre being set up by my church. I submitted my resume to the director this morning (she has never met me) and within 2 minutes of driving down the road she called me and asked me if I could come in for an interview on Friday. I am hoping beyond hope that I'm selected as I am really passionate about Early Childhood (I'm trained) and I am desperate to work in my local area rather than commute into the city for an hour every day.
6. My parents are back home after eight months of being on the road. All is well with the world again.

So! They are the good things happening right now. Please God! Just let it all keep happening. We need a break. We really do. Just a little break. Huh?

In any case, I'm choosing to look for happiness. I'm not looking for happiness as my goal. I choose happiness, despite uncertainty, despite worry, despite everything. It's a choice and I choose it. I'm not going to deny the stresses because they are there. I'm not going to pretend things are all hunky dory when they're not, but I am going to look for the calm, peaceful bits in the storm so that the storm isn't so hard to weather.