When they added The Greatest Showman to Disney + recently, I had no real intention of watching it—been there, done that, fantastic and everything but done. Then, the winds changed or something, and I was in the mood to watch it. But can I say that watching The Showman pull his life apart in search of something better was hard work? I was screaming at the screen at some points, sighing and rolling my eyes at others. Ouch.
What can I say? It’s hard to watch someone go through that process of achieving something then it falling apart around them as they self-destruct. Perhaps it is because recently I’ve gotten present to what matters to me and what makes my life enjoyable; love, family, fun in our daily lives. When did those things become not enough to define a successful life? When did the things that make us happy take a back seat to the ‘bigger’ things?
I think that we mistake the next goal, level or ‘thing’ as THE ONE that will make us happy. When, if we took the time to look around, we have everything we need and plenty of what we want; happiness being one. But how do you find joy in the life you have now? Whether, like The Showman, you have everything you have ever dreamed of or are simply on the path? That’s the secret, I think, the key to being content.
For me, finding ways to remind myself of where I’ve come from is important. Not in a way that drags your past with you, but celebrates it and sets it aside. Our history should never rule over our present or our future if things are working as they should. Give it all the love and gratitude it needs, forgiveness too if that’s how it looks for you, and move forward. Not a person reacting to or from anything, just who you are right now.
Then to really, truly be happy with what I have in life, I think of all the wonderful things I have; the people who surround me, the roof over my head, food in my stomach and money in the bank. If any of those things are missing for you now, trust they exist and are available to you. Let gratitude show up in your life for every little thing; look people in the eye, smile at strangers, open your door to those who need a seat at the table. Celebrate the gifts you’ve received and every you have right now, and suddenly, what is still to come, it doesn’t seem that far away or impossible.
And yes, to some of you this may seem overly simplistic or even superficial; a silly girl with her inane ramblings about a Disney movie. If that’s you, consider that being happy with your life isn’t what you actually came here for. Maybe you came to mock my optimism and dare I say it, faith. But, scoff if you will, laugh if you must because, for those of us willing to look around us, even now in the craziest of times, we know there is a lot to love about the life we are living.
Learning that lesson, to see the good in what you have, will protect us. Not from bad things happening from illness, disaster or the worse of what life has to offer. It will protect us from ourselves and our very human ability to survive rather than thrive. Because surviving this life, hanging in through endless workdays and proving ourselves to childhood voices in our head are distractions from the good stuff; from family, love, laughter, happiness and good times.
If you want to be happy now, right now, forget living up to what ‘they’ said you could or couldn’t be. Stop trying to beat out someone for the best piece of the pie or even the last bit. Don’t buy things you don’t need or barely even want to impress people who are too busy doing the same thing to look at you. Instead, ask yourself what matters to you. What is important to you. What are the things that make you happy? They won’t be things, by the way, follow the feeling.
You may just find that you have everything you could need right now. Maybe an awful lot of the things you want too. And if you don’t, friend, I know the one person who can change that for you. The good news you do too. It’s you (and for me, it’s me). Go for it, what have you got to lose.
Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.
Amen to this. It is something I have dealing with my partner. Her view is that the grass is always greener somewhere else and the temporary glee you get when something is new.
I tend to believe that the grass is always greener wherever I am standing. I would rather pay for experiences than things. I think that is the trouble with a lot of people, they want things. To be honest when I die, I don’t want my family to be cussing me out because I have a lot of crap and they have to go through it. Hopefully, in that spilt-second as I am passing I am able to look back at the experiences and people in my life.
Thanks for sharing this.
You’re welcome, Pat. Thanks for your support as always. 🙂
It’s hard to be wth someone who is looking outwards for more or new. I think though, that with time and patience, that you can show them how to be satisfied and content. I’m sure through your example on living life, will be just what she needs to feel at home where she is.
Thanks for today’s words of wisdom, Melissa. I always come away from your posts with focus, clarity, can do-ness and wisdom.
SSG xxx
I appreciate that, thank you. That’s the best piece fo feedback I’ve had in a long time. x
Love your attitude and message! We need some more of that these days don’t we?
I think we do! Thanks, Debbie. x
Yes, this is so true. Sometimes we forget to be grateful for what we already have in the present. Loved this post! x
Di from Max The Unicorn
Thanks, Di. I know I’m guilty of that, I thought we could all use a gentle reminder. x
Yes, yes and yes. With that movie his wife knew (the wife always knows) he’d gone too far, but… Seriously though there will always be someone with more of what you think you want. Always. As long as you worry more about what they have/do/whatever you can’t feel grateful for what you do have. In my humble opinion anyway. Now, I’ll get off my soapbox.
Right? I kept saying to Kel (who was trying to work on the kitchen table) that over and over. SEE HOW SHE SEES? See how she always knew? SEEEEEEE!? I think the world has a lot to answer for when it comes to establishing our expectations of what we need to be happy. It’s never what we first think it is, right? You want money? But what you really want is time or freedom. You want a partner, but maybe what you really need is connection in all your relationships. You know? In the end I think it’s up to us, as you say, to find what matters to us, find that and be grateful to have found it.
Great to see you here again and blogging about this. Such an important and sometimes overlooked topic!!
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek and next week the optional prompt is 35/51 Share Your Snaps #7 31.8.2020 and I hope to see you there too. Denyse.
Thank you, Denyse! Me too. It’s been wonderful to write again especially about things that matter to me. 🙂