HAPPY IS...
Happiness is swaddling yourself in the cloak of your own skin, whatever gender, colour or class, and just feeling comfortably, assuredly, completely at peace within it. - Melanie Schwapp
How I Achieved Happiness – My childhood was quite a nomadic one – born in Kingston, moved to Britain at the age of 5, returned to Jamaica at the age of 7, moved to Montego Bay at the age of 9, moved back to Kingston at 15, South Carolina at 17….. Needless to say, I was often pulled from deep friendships and, as an only girl, sometimes suffered moments of loneliness. However, the great thing was, in those times of being alone or even discriminated against (I was exposed to a lot of racism in both Britain and South Carolina), I learned to entertain myself with art and craft, reading, writing and gardening. I got to the stage where I really enjoyed my own company and I learned to appreciate the gifts of creativity that I’d been given. I also learned to shut out the negative views of the world. I’m not going to lie and say that the discriminations didn’t hurt, but through it all, I gained a voice. I actually learned to speak up to defend my rights as a black woman, and when I saw that my voice actually had an effect, I learned to value my strength. In this way, I grew comfortable in my skin, and I was able to see that the negatives in life are sometimes just catalysts that propel us toward our greatest achievements.
Dealing With Sadness – I have been blessed with a large family – cousins, aunts, uncles and brothers. I have also been blessed with amazing friendships - my three best friends from the time I was 9 years old are still my best friends today. I even got my own little nook of friendship in my husband and three children. We laugh a lot, and the great memories we create sometimes help to overpower the negative things that life throws at us. The beauty is that there is always a shoulder to cry on, and always trustworthy opinions to rely on. I have a deep faith, having seen over and over again how much the Lord answers my prayers. I never feel abandoned or alone, and in times of sadness, I surround myself with this warmth and spiritual rejuvenation to propel me through.
Advice on How to Achieve Happiness – I think that once we embrace that life is not just about the ups, but definitely the downs as well, we cannot be completely crushed when we are going through our trials. There is more enjoyment of sweet having tasted the sour. If most of us look back at our struggles, we can see where the negative things have probably redirected our paths to where we are happy, or made us stronger and wiser to cope with future challenges. We must never be too proud or afraid to admit that we need help to cope with a situation. Reach out for support and guidance when we need it. If we embrace the knowledge that each mishap is a stepping stone upward and not downward, and trust in God that He will give us the wisdom on how to use these steps, then sadness can become a phase we learn to overcome, rather than a debilitating emotion. True joy and happiness come when we can embrace that balance in life.
