Legislation has been enacted by the Tennessee legislature designating the month of June as “Celebration of Life Month,” July as “Celebration of Liberty Month” and August as “Pursuit of Happiness Month.”
For lots of school children, I’m not sure August will be made happy by returning to school in pursuit of education. There is a certain irony there, for there are some parents who will undoubtedly look with joy at the month of August as their children return to school.

Such is the case of a friend of mine. She ate dinner with that woman I married and me last evening. During the course of the meal my friend told us that that her son would enter college as a freshman this August. She said it would feel like the end of a 17-year sentence. She said she looked forward to being able to clean the house, knowing that it would actually stay clean for a while. I told my friend she would miss her son when he actually left, but the expression on her face belied that “truth.”
What does it take to make you happy, Dear Reader?

That answer is different for every person. On June 9 of this year, I attended a meeting in Columbia, Tennessee. The keynote speaker, Robert Jackson, was an upbeat, inspiring man. He sent each participant an email thanking us for the opportunity to share with us. He provided a reminder of the major points of his presentation that will perhaps help guide us in ways we can successfully pursue happiness not just this month, but throughout the rest of our lives:

Protect your peace at all costs.
You can’t do anything about what has already been done.
Stop finding your point of reference in past pain.
If it keeps happening to you, you haven’t learned the lesson yet.
Bring the right energy to everything you do.

Most meaningful and interesting to me was Mr. Jackson’s definition of joy: “Joy is the happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” Joy is internal, happiness is external. Joy is a state of mind, not as subject to change, while happiness ebbs and flows based on outward circumstances.

If you need some concrete ways to pursue happiness, consider these:
Lincoln is quoted as saying of the Bible, “Take all that you can of this book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man.”

“… one of the happiest babies…”
“…her joy was found in his smallest successes and happinesses.”
Like babies, a new stuffed animal is fresh and clean, full of the promise of happiness to those very children as they grow.
Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening
Let the young people in your life know how vital they are to the future and how interested you are in their success and happiness.
“…As were happily received though not overly praised…”
“…I happily ate them during afternoon snack…”
“…I watched (happily) from afar…”
“…happily taking my shower…”
It seems Papaw and his second wife were happily married (believe it or not, to each other!).
The happiness conveyed in the melodies produce joy, making more heaven of this earth.
The years at [______] were most likely the happiest of my life.
“…happiest people she knew in relation to work…”
“… I did happily find toilet tissue, at a reasonable price…”
“…happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.”
Teaching makes “Bs” life happier; she enjoys it.
“…comfort and happiness in retirement…”

I happily passed my time enjoying that wonderful piece of porch furniture.
The story ends happily with Nathan finding the love and acceptance he craved.

In so many cases, happiness is like the cliché of the horse being led by the nose with a carrot on a stick. The horse keeps plodding on, but never gets any closer to the carrot he pursues. Even when achieved, it seems the greatest and happiest moments of our lives are tinged with a bit of sadness at the realization that they can’t last forever.

One of Pastor Oliver Wolfenbarger’s favorite verses was Psalms 30:5 (KJV), which makes a comforting promise to God’s people:
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” As he used to preach, “There’s a brighter day!”

How amazing it is when people can be happy even in their misery. This proves that personal happiness is a choice that is dependent upon ourselves. While it is not the prerogative of the rest of the world to make us happy, let’s strive to not let others rob us of our joy.

Answer to Question of the Week # 70:
What did the plate say to the refrigerator? (Answer: Keep your cool—dinner’s on me!)

Question of the Week # 71:
Where do bad rainbows go? (See next week’s article in historicunioncounty.com for the answer.)

While you are glad to see some people coming, you are probably happier to see some of them leave. (Unfortunately, the latter kind usually stay longest!)

From the Email World:
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them.”
– Thomas Jefferson