Our happiness depends on us, on our way of responding to events, not on other people

In my journal, on this date, 12 January 2019, it was 27° Fahrenheit, and light snow. I forgot this painting, “White Out,” sold on that date. All those years until today, I thought I misplaced it!

I keep a journal because I tend to forget things and experiences. “Important stuff.” Some years ago, as I was reviewing some journal entries I made during the first couple of years, I noticed a pattern in my state of being.

It was embarrassing. I thought to myself, “Please stop your whining, complaining!” I was making myself and anyone around me miserable. Even without uttering a word, while hiding under my happy face mask! I was clinging to a lot of stuff.

Thich Nhat Hanh admonished, “Letting go doesn't mean we let go of everything. We don't let go of reality. But we do let go of our wrong perceptions about reality.”

I needed to let go and adjust how I see. It was a choice. I either adapt or drown. So I chose to change how I chose to perceive my personal universe or reality and dove deeper into meditation, mindfulness, and gratitude. But it wasn’t a quick change. It was a slow and bumpy evolutionary change that is always evolving.

Every moment and every day I am learning to change my perception and perspective to return to my center. I call this adaptive spiritual and mental evolution, because nothing stays the same. It is always flowing.

“Our happiness depends on us, on our way of responding to events, not on other people. Our suffering also depends on us. Knowing this, we no longer blame or complain; we are determined to begin anew with ourselves. Because another opportunity is presenting itself.
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— Thich Nhat Hanh. “In Love and Trust.”

Nowadays, despite the apparent madness that may be around me, I am peacefully afloat in my boat. My state of being is no longer dictated by what’s outside, but what’s within. And what’s within is the loving Light that formed all matter in the universe and all sentient and non-sentient beings, and other seen and unseen stuff.

It is not always a smooth ride. Sometimes my boat has come close to sinking. Shit happens. That’s life. We love and we learn. We become wiser and stronger than our former selves. Jeff Olson beautifully said, “The things we experience here and the truths we take to heart from those experiences are all that really matter. They are the wisdom we get to keep.”

You are not alone. You are much more powerful than you dare to believe.

Namaste. The universe in me recognizes the universe in you. For better or for worse, we are one; we are all connected.