Spread Happiness

Monday February 17, 2014

Today would of been my mother's birthday.  Every year on this day I think about her, I say an extra prayer hoping she will have a peaceful birthday.  I decided a couple of days ago that on this day in memory of her I would pay it forward, do something kind for someone and just spread happiness.

The alarm going off this morning startled me, mostly because it was 3:30 am, and I have not been up at this time of the morning since my medical leave 2 months ago, but also because I've been thinking about what I could do to share happiness today.

On my way to work it was a little chilly outside so I stopped at Starbucks to get a caramel apple cider, when I pulled up to the drive up window, the girl said in her perky 4 am voice "here's your caramel apple cider, oh and it's free for you" I asked why it was free, again perky as can be she says "oh, the person in the car in front of you wanted to pay for your drink" by this time I have a puzzled look on my face.... she said "you know, like pay it forward?" Wait, what? I wanted to spread happiness today, how, why did someone beat me to it? The natural thing would of been for me to pay for the people in the car behind me, but being so shocked at the mere kindness of a stranger I said thank you and drove off.  "Why didn't I pay for those people?" was my thought all the way to work, however it did make me smile and renew my faith in the world,  maybe all is not lost, there is some happiness to spread.

When I got to work there were 800+ people on hold because of all the winter storms in the East.  I heard grumblings of co-workers who were tired from working mandatory 12 hour overtime hours. I said to myself "no matter what happens on the phones today, I will not allow anyone to crush my dreams of a happy day."  Every phone call for the next 4 hours were people stranded, trying to get home, get to a meeting, make it to a wedding or funeral.  I tried my hardest to put myself in their shoes, despite their desperate cries for someone (USAirways) to take responsibility for the weather.

On my way home from work, I listened to happy music, joyful sounds of music bring back memories of my mom.  I'm trying really hard not to break out in tears, I so wish my mother had known me as a woman.  I'm smiling thinking of her finally happy now--why do so many people walk around mad, angry and resentful, it takes so much energy and requires so much wasted time.  Today I choose to be happy--

 I can't prove in any way that laughter really is the best medicine, but I have seen many examples of people in my life who have had great results in doing this regularly.  It's been a very long time since I've had a good belly laugh--I think it's about time for me to tap back into that.

I went to Paradise Bakery, bought 2 dozen cookies, went to a place where I know some people would be needing a lift today -- the chemo lab -- I would of loved a good cookie when I was sitting in that chair watching the red dragon drain into my body.  This brought much happiness for me today, I loved seeing a frown turn to a smile--

Today, I worked on not worrying about the past or the future, but just being in the moment, today I made strides towards  living free, living happy.

Happy Birthday mom.