It truly is the multi-million dollar question in life… How do you define happiness and what does happiness mean to you?
It is a question that I wonder and ponder the answer to daily. It’s something that I have given even more thought to of late… Life is a precious gift and time is a precious gift, we are all aware of that, but how should we best spend our time in this precious life to be the happiest and healthiest version of ourselves? I have always been one to follow my heart and for most of my life, it’s served me well. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that you simply can’t control all aspects of your life. Life can be uncertain and nothing is guaranteed. Some of us look at life as the glass half full, and others as the glass half empty. Which one are you? I in all honesty have been both throughout my life. The other day I watched a video which was one that my husband sent to me and I cannot stop thinking about it. It’s stuck with me. It talks about the glass that you hold in life can fluctuate and it’s weight can vary, as can your emotions. For some people, there might be years and years of emotions and things that have happened to people, which they carry with them in their heart and mind each day. Others, have the ability to let go and move on. After all, we don’t want to dwell on the past and things that you can’t change but in the same breath, the past makes you who you are in the present.
In the year of 2021, as we are still in the midst of a global pandemic that you only see every 100 years, I sit here typing as our kids are sound asleep and my heart is open. It’s open for what the rest of my life has in store for my journey and our journey as a family. The past few years have not been easy, I have been through quite a lot of adversity with health and my career, as well as other aspects of life, but I am still standing and I am still showing up each and every day to be the best version of myself and I will continue to do that, on the good days and the bad days. I encourage you to do the same. As we scroll through social media and see everyone’s highlight reels, remember, it’s only a fraction of their lives that you are seeing. We are all experiencing life and it’s ups and downs and everyone’s journey is different. Sure, some people appear to have it ëasier”‘ than others but it’s important to remember that you should be staying in your own lane. You should be measuring your own success with you as your worst critic and also and most importantly, your biggest supporter. No one else. There will be people who judge you and have their opinion of you, but deep down, it’s only your opinion and view of yourself that matters most. As the next few weeks will see me enjoy the last part of being 36, I am going to embrace even more the little moments in each day. To remember to be present, to be kind, to be gracious. To be me, authentically and unapologetically me… for so long now, I have worried about my appearance, (with having gained a lot of weight), and my insecurities (and let’s face it, we all have them), but if I was to pass away tomorrow, I would want to be happy in the moment… We never ever know what’s around the corner and if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to cherish our lives, (the good, the bad and the ugly), to share the joy in the little moments and above all, to make the most of the one life you get. After all, this is not a dress rehearsal, this is, öur lives””, you lives… It’s important to remember that. It really is. No one can make you choose happiness. You have to choose it and live and breath it. Every, Single, Day. xoxo
- Written by Rachael Tickner xo Editor in Chief, Gracefully Magazine, June, 30th, 2021, the end of the financial year. xoxo
