Responsible for Happiness

"you are responsible for your own happiness."   I wrote that on the board in my class room today.
As my students walked in some of them looked at the board and laughed, others shook their heads.
I told them I thought it was really good news, now they didn't have to blame anyone else if they were
not happy.

There are times, grief, illness, disasters, when life throws a curve and it is just not a happy time.....but day to day living, ordinary days......I believe with all my heart we have to take responsibility for our
happiness......we have to choose to be happy.

When I was a moody teenager, my mom would look at me and tell me I could get mad, sad or glad.....the choice was mine.  Those words ring in my head pretty often......and most often I try to get glad.  I think my mom would laugh out loud if she knew I was quoting her tonight......and she would definitely say "I told you so."

As each group walked into the yoga room and looked at the board, after the nervous giggles and
remarks the looks on their faces showed my statement had an impact.  For many of them, taking responsibility of any kind is something new......to take responsibility for their own happiness seems
un-natural.  They have relied on drugs, alcohol, sex and other people  to make them happy, making themselves happy is like going to a foreign country, unable to speak the language, not understanding the culture.  Seven has always been my lucky number, I hope these seven words bring luck to all of them and all of you......."you are responsible for your own happiness."