A friend of mine has a saying that happiness is not having what you want, it is wanting what you have.  Many of us think in terms of…stuff.   While having material things can and does make life easier (assuming you could afford those things when you purchased them), the real secret to happiness is around us all the time.  For example it could be a quiet moment with someone special or catching a glimpse of a beautiful sunset.  We often take for granted the endearing moments like when our toddler breaks several dozen eggs in the kitchen floor and laughs hysterically as each one smashes.

In fact, many of the things that irritate us in day to day life become the moments we hold on to when a loved one has left this world.  Sometimes we never get a chance to say the things we really mean.  Sometimes we hold grudges until it is too late to let them go.  And sometimes we just overlook the obvious.

I was fortunate that life showed me the real value of family and true friends.  I hope that those reading this post will also take a moment, smell the roses, hug a loved one and simply…want what you have.