When I moved to Nebraska and looked at the map I was quick to notice that Colorado and all it’s grandeur is the next door neighbor, thus this weekend I took advantage of a short 11 hour drive and went hiking with two friends near Aspen. While in the mountains I felt at home, peaceful, happy and about 12,000 feet closer to God. Closing my eyes on a sleepy Monday, I can almost be transported right back to that same valley we camped (and froze) out in. So what is keeping me (or anybody else from that matter) from always finding this happiness everyday?
Aspen Colorado Winter 2008 (as photographed by Jay)
To go along with that question I first beg the question, is happiness a state of place or of mind? The beach and a Margarita help to put a smile on most people’s faces, as does a child’s laugh, or time with your family and loved ones. This clearly demonstrates that happiness is not JUST state of place if at all, so I would suggest that happiness is more of a state of mind. Meaning we have direct control in one way or another in our ‘pursuit of happiness.’
So when I’m in the mountains, why is it so easy to be happy? I reflect back to another time when I was in a near perfect state of mind, which was in Brazil with Dr. John Cherry on out first mission trip. Looking at our surrounding, we were in an area strangled by poverty, undrinkable water, malaria toting mosquitoes and heat. Yet were both extremely happy and have vowed since to always seek a life of service.
The trend with both feelings and a key to happiness can be summed up with a great quote from the Dalai Lama, who seems to always have simple answers for life. And I quote:
The 14th Dalai Lama
“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.” Tenzin Gyatzo, the 14th Dalai Lama.
Be at peace with yourself and what it is you love to do. All else will follow. Even in the winter times when there is so little sunlight, endure, because the beautiful thing about the night is that it shows you the light of the stars.
Tags: Journey, Service, Solidarity
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