Intell story - Is it possible to find happiness in today's world? - See Part 2

I got many compliments about this article!

So I'm off to a great start in 2016. Hope you are, too!

Is is possible to find happiness in today's world?

By Ruth Deming | Posted: Monday, January 4, 2016 12:15 am 
 
Speaking about his latest film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” J.J. Abrams writes he had to do something incredibly bold in his film.

With the success of the movie, he is one happy man.

How can we, with all that’s going on in the world, find happiness in the new year?

Take risks. Who wants to live a safe, uneventful life? My 89-year-old friend Freda Samuels meets new people — she loves young folks — and invites them over for lunch. She and her husband, Bernie, rustle up an unforgettable meal.

Healthy eating. You’ve heard it before. Less meat, more fish. Plenty of fruits and vegetables. See Mary Ann Moylan, nutritionist at the Willow Grove Giant supermarket. She’ll walk you around the store and introduce you to healthy foods guaranteed to satisfy your palate.

Save money. C’mon. You don’t really need everything you see at the mall. Ever hear of a savings account? Learn to gaze as lovingly at the dollars in your bank account as you do at a new handbag.

Exercise. Make it a habit. Join a gym if you wish, but walking around the block is free. Scott Sherman has a basement gym where he lifts weights and rides a stationary bike to the music of Led Zeppelin.

Stargazing. Walk outside in the dark of night. Look at the wonder of the heavens. See how the moon sheds a subtle light on your yard. It is humbling to feel we are not the center of the universe. And in looking above, we may feel a sense of God’s love.

Make new friends. A new neighbor walked by my house. Shirley Sanders told me immediately she has early-onset Alzheimer’s. Her husband, Tom, helps her every day take an experimental drug to see if it slows the course of her inherited disease. Their religion is a great comfort to them.

Have faith. No matter what your religion — Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, secular humanist — let it guide you to make important decisions. We all need meaning in our lives. Without it, we meander like a starfish stranded on the shore. Take a vacation from your hectic life. Sit in a chair in the living room and ask yourself, “Am I living the kind of life I want?”

Change your life. “The Archaic Torso of Apollo” is a famous poem by Rilke. The poet imagines the beauty of the Greek god Apollo, who, in the poem, stares at the viewer with tremendous intensity. Then the poet stuns us with the last line: You must change your life.

And why not? Our minds are as flexible as we wish them to be. Whether you change on your own or with the help of a professional is up to you. We’re only here for a little while, so let’s live to the hilt.

Compliment people. “Hey, Bob! Lovely Christmas lights!”

Art. Art enhances our lives. It lets us see life’s big picture from visionaries who think differently than we do. Visit the James Michener Museum in Doylestown or the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Ever been to the Kimmel Center? Ballets and plays are performed every day of the year. Splurge and take the family there. It’s something your kids will remember their entire lives.

Join a book club. Every library has one. You’ll make new friends as well as read great literature, such as Jane Austen’s “Emma,” that will get you thinking.

Helping others. It’s true what they say: By helping others, we help ourselves. Volunteer opportunities abound. View VolunteerMatch.org. If you have an elderly loved one, visit them in their assisted-living facility so they don’t feel abandoned. And bring the kids. Children need to learn the stages of life. Older people get a kick out of seeing kids.

Family and friends. Jeane Hunter was estranged from her brother for years. A friend sent her an email: “Forgiveness is giving up your demand that life should have turned out differently.” That did it. She called her brother and wished him “happy holidays.” Who knows where that simple greeting might lead?

Our neighbors. One out of four individuals has a mental illness. Instead of thinking they are different from you and me, take a second look. New Directions, the support group I founded in 1986, has individuals who are attorneys, research scientists and business owners. We’re in good company. Ever heard of Abraham Lincoln or Mike Wallace? Their hidden struggles made the world a better place.

Shirley and Tom Sanders came to visit. Scott and I went to their house a few minutes away to see Tom's amazing train set. The boys were talking a long time. Shirley and I spoke about other things. Their year and a half grandson, Peter, loves the train set.

 Photo of Parker Games. At Dan's last night we were playing games. Grace is very good. We were naming companies who make board games such as Mattel and.... lo.... Parker Brothers.

Looks like Hasbro bought em out. 

Tom was intensely interested in Scott's train set.  Below is an orchid I gave Shirley.

For some reason, Blogger won't let me type any further down. So hie on down to Part 2.