what is happy?

I've been reading through some of my old posts this week and the same theme keeps popping out at me - the very same idea that was in fact one of the original premises for this blog - reflections on what is really important in life (wow lofty goal!).

In November 2011 I wrote a post about blessings (http://mighty-acorns.blogspot.co.nz/2011/08/count-your-blessings.html) and in December 2012 I wrote one about goals and dreams and the way we share them with other people - and I dared to share a list of some of the things I want to achieve in the next couple of years.

Yesterday, in a conversation with a friend, I jokingly remarked that life seemed chaotic - and for the last month it has...it has felt like everything I have touched has broken - my spa pool, my house alarm system, my car, my health (bent rather than broken), you name it, I've had a bill for it.

The friend responded ''a simple and fun life, that's what I want''.  And I agreed. After all that's what we all aspire to isn't it?  Although fun and simple may not necessarily go together all the time - depending on your taste for excitement - I think overall, most people want to be able to see a relatively well mapped out future with not too many distractions or nasty surprises, and as little drama in their lives as possible. And I think the majority of people want to find that (somewhat elusive) balance between doing things that make a difference to the lives of others (because I think that's part of human nature), and spending time doing things that make us happy as individuals.

It was timely, that conversation, having read those other posts earlier in the week. I'd like to think that actually, my life is pretty untroublesome - and yep pretty fun.  Maybe not in a ''fly to Paris at a moments notice'' kind of way (although if I had a date to work to....) but certainly for me in terms of thinking about life in general, it's probably, by most peoples standards, fairly straightforward.  I work, enough to pay the bills and have a little extra, I have great friends that I do simple, fun things with, I have some cool hobbies (thank God the baby sitting issue is finally sorted) and my family, by most peoples standards, is reasonably normal;).  In fact, most of the dramas that butt up against my life, are those of other peoples. (note to self: its not personal;)).  In the past couple of years in particular I have been the envy of many of my friends, experiencing things that they can only wish for.

Absolutely there are things I would like to change, things I'd like to do more of (or less of...or differently....) but on a day to day basis, things are pretty uncomplicated. I'm certainly not afraid of complication, nor of challenges or obstacles. and that's largely due to one of my core beliefs:  that whilst goals are important - make that vital - for moving forward in life, the most necessary thing of all, is to find a way to be happy in the now. Counting blessings. Delighting in what is real and good. Treasuring people over possessions. Simple pleasures of food, sunshine, conversation, music, friendship. Loving and being loved. Taking risks with caution. Dreaming big dreams and daring to share them. Sometimes it even mean shaking off the stupid rules that ''society'' places on us and following our hearts.  Believing that even though that crap stuff happens, dramas play out, and plans go awry, that its just part of life, and by hanging on to those core beliefs, everything will work out in the end. (Sometimes, being idealistic rather than realistic can make all the difference!)

What is happy? My definition: all of the above.