Finding Happiness is a Miracle

 "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

How do I make myself happy? First and foremost, I follow the kosher dietary laws of the Torah and Mishnah. And I have many other secrets too. Gratitude is the key to happiness. To be thankful for every little thing you have or that comes your way--to make lemonade out of lemons, to give gratitude to God for it all. What is in front of you? A beautiful white snow bank? Appreciate it for its pureness and coolness, and its sculptural formation. Yes, even in the freezing temps of winter, one can be thankful for something that God is showing us. A window? Reflections in the glass that show the colors of a prism? Be thankful for that window--it is a rainbow. Do you have clean hands and lotion? Be thankful for your soap and for the perfumed scent of your lotion. Smell it frequently. And be thankful every time your nose sniffs a delightful smell. Who are you thankful to? To God. To
Adonai. Be it man-made beauty or natural beauty--all of it is given to you through your eyes, ears, nose, and throat--your senses: which Adonai created within your body--the gratitude for your senses goes to Adonai. Brushing your teeth with a minty toothpaste--thank God for that. Breathe in some fresh air and relax and taste the mint after brushing your teeth. Do not take it all for granted--that is the sure fire way to depression. Give someone a gift, get some exercise, pet a dog, wear fashionable clothing, go to your synagogue or church. Throw a party. Attend a class or lecture. Sing a song. Bake a cake. Water a plant. Find employment for yourself or for a friend. One must marvel at everything, not with the aid of drugs or alcohol, but with gratitude towards God. What makes you happy? If your senses are stimulated with beauty,

good smells, nice tastes, the sound of beautiful music, or the actions of doing mitzvot for someone--good deeds--these things make one happy. Learning something new or teaching something to someone makes me happy. Reading something profound makes me happy. Getting an email from a friend makes me happy. My appreciation goes out to You, Adonai. Find something in everything you are exposed to, to make yourself happy. Truth, justice and peace makes me happy--I love being exposed to the goodness of it all. Be generous and give--it will bring you happiness. And this incredible amount of happiness is all under your control--it is a miracle to be so happy--so peaceful. Whatever you see that could be lemonade instead of lemons--go for it! Turn around the bad and create good. If in a crowd of unworthy people--one must strive to be the worthy one. Follow the 613 Commandments and it will make you happy. Be creative, look creatively for ways to find happiness. Strive for happiness--go get it!