e3 Coaching
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Coaching
  • Services
  • Dental Coaching
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Coaching
  • Services
  • Dental Coaching
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

BLOG

WHAT IS A HAPPINESS ACCOUNT?

12/12/2011

1 Comment

 
Have you ever heard of a “Happiness Account?” It’s the kind email subject that gets forwarded on and on like an old worn out chain letter. One that you may easily delete because you feel it’s not worth your time, however, this one has an interesting and relevant twist. Upon attempting to de-clutter some old files I came across this story about an old man and his happiness account. I am glad I made the good choice to read it rather than sending it to trash. I’d like to share it with you and perhaps you’d like to pass this along to someone who might need a gentle reminder to focus on what is really important.

Subject: Happiness account

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn’t' have anything to do with it,' he replied.

'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.’

'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or I can choose to get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.’

‘Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.’

Old age is really like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

If you follow the old man’s advise you would be wise to deposit a lot of happiness in your bank account. So, how is your Happiness Account? Is it full of fond recollections of your life experiences or are you emotionally bankrupt? I’d like to think we all need to make more deposits into our own, so that when we need to make withdrawals in the future, there will be a bounty for you to enjoy.

“Happiness is not ready made, it comes from your own actions.” – Dalai

Lama

I invite your comments.

1 Comment

    Archives

    September 2014
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009

    Categories

    All
    Acceptance
    Accountability
    Aging Wellness
    Attitude
    Becoming A Giving Person
    Being In The Moment
    Being Present
    Coulda Shoulda Woulda
    Dealing With Changes
    Dealing With Energy Vampires
    Empathy For Others
    Happiness
    Happiness & Fulfillment
    Intuition
    Laws Of Attraction
    Learning To Ask For Help From Others
    Money & Happiness
    New Year's Challenges
    Perception & Perspective
    Readiness To Make Changes
    Ready To Make Changes By Planning
    Self Control & Intuition
    Selfishness
    Wabi Sabi - Coping With Imperfections
    Work Ethics

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.