Happiness is a verb... @NNP_W_Light

Happiness is being content with what you have, living in freedom and liberty, having a good family life and good friends. -- Divyanka Tripathi 

Happiness.

Many people in this world see happiness as a noun, something to take hold of. I see it differently.

Happiness is a verb. 

For the past week, I have been overwhelmed with work and home tasks. This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving and all week long, I have been going, going, going. There's so much to do and not enough hours in the day to get everything done. My inbox is overflowing with potential clients as well as my VIP clients. I've taken on a few freelance editing clients. That's just the business side of my life. On the personal side, I've been getting in all the food, making sure we have enough chairs, decorating, cleaning, organizing, baking, cooking. Somewhere in the midst of all that, I get to collapse in the evening and snuggle with my husband. 

Why am I doing this?

Don't get me wrong, it's stressful juggling my business, my marketing job and my personal life in addition to getting ready to host the family for Canadian Thanksgiving. No time for procrastinating and at the end of the day, I'm utterly exhausted. Just before I drift off to sleep, I whisper to myself...

I love my life.

When you take your eyes off what you have and let happiness move throughout your life, you will love your life too! Happiness is a verb, not a noun.

MRS N

What defines you? by @NNP_W_Light

Your wealth or status doesn’t make you. Your kindness and character does. – Venkat Desireddy

What defines you?

Your career?

Your family?

Your wealth?

Your home?

Your car?

Your friends?

For many people, wealth and status defines who they are. It's all about making a lot of money and getting into the "right" neighborhoods. Society is obsessed with wealth and status.

I learned a valuable lesson when I was a freshman in college. I came from a divorced family and money was always tight. I got a scholarship to one of the best colleges in Minnesota and I was surrounded by people who didn't have to worry about money. I was judgmental at first because they had what I wanted.

Then I met Angela (name has bee changed to protect the innocent). She and I had a lot in common. We both loved reading books and listening to music. She was what I called a "free spirit" and we became fast friends.

One weekend, her mother and father came to visit the dorm. I was introduced to them as her best friend. Her mother disliked me immediately. I wasn't from the "right" home and later Angela told me her mother forbade her from speaking to me again.

Did her mother's warning work?

No! We stayed friends for a long time, over 10 years.

When I asked Angela why she didn't listen to her mother she replied:

"I'm not them, I'm not defined by money and status. I make up my own mind whether someone is worth being friends with."

I've learned two things from this life lesson:

1- Never judge others. You never know what they are going through and at the end of the day, they are just like you. Sure, they may have more/less money than you or live in a different neighborhood but they bleed and hurt just like you.

2- Wealth and status doesn't have to define who you are. Your character and kindness illustrates to the world who you are.

Again, I ask, what defines you? What makes you special and unique?

Angela, wherever you are, thank you for not listening to your mother! Your friendship got me through a lot of bad times and vice versa. I'm so grateful our paths crossed when they did.

MRS N

Are you content? by @NNP_W_Light

A contented heart is a calm sea in the midst of all storms.

Are you content?

In this day and age, it goes against our nature to be content with what we have and who we are. We must have the latest fashion, houses, cars, careers... the list goes on and on.

I just read the latest trend in houses: two kitchens. One is for show and the other one is for use. I shake my head because I bet the homeowners do not have contentment.

A contented heart is a calm sea in the midst of all storms.

I am content because I have everything I could possibly want:

A roof over my head

Food to eat

A man I love

A career I'm proud of

Friends and family I love

If something happened and I lost it all (home, food, career, friends, family), I would be content living under a bridge with MR N. I'm a simple woman and my soul is filled contentment.

When life throws you a curveball, does your soul become your lifeboat and you float along until the storm passes? Or do you drown in the storm?

Fill your soul with contentment and surround yourself with what really matters. Everything else is just fluff anyway.

MRS N