Over the last two years I've learned a lot about true happiness ... which I believe is better called joy. Joy is deeper and far more sustaining than momentary happiness. Joy comes from hope and assurance of a plan far greater than my understanding. And it allows me to continue on, even in the midst of pain and unsureness, knowing that I have will eventually have eternal happiness and joy.
I often have to remind myself of this ... I have to look for the joy in my everyday.
That being said, I can't argue that a little self-gratification can't bring momentary or everyday bits of happiness. One of my everyday moments is checking the mail ... which can have a lot of happy or can send me into a downward spiral of unhappiness ... let's focus on the happy.
Magazines ... are there any other magazine junkies out there? These are just a sampling of my monthly favorites ... no I don't subscribe to all of them, but I should ... they usually make there way into my home (oh, and this might just be blog-iversary prize hint number one).
Another happy through the mail is my new best friend, Netflix. Have you all tried them? And if so, do you love them as much as I do? I have to tell you I *love* watching movies and Netflix makes it so easy ... no running to the movie store on Friday night only to find they're out of what you were really wanting to see.
Now what is better than even Netflix is going to the movies ... this is the best for me. I don't know why, but the whole experience does something for the movie. Saturday I saw Premonition with Julie & Jessica. Wow ... an on the edge, sweating in your seat, tummy grumbling from anxiety, makes you cry, but then gives you a tiny smile through the tears kind of movie.
I'll continue the self-gratifications tomorrow ...
But for tonight I wanted to end with the idea of the "fidelity to a worthy purpose." My purpose is serving my Maker exactly where He has put me ... which is first as a wife and second as a mother, that is my daily purpose and when I remember my loyalty is first to Him and second to those around me ... well lets just say it changes the perspective when I'm feeling less than loyal.
It's so easy to grumble and gripe about all that we deal with ... in my world I could go into self pity about all the cleaning I do, the laundry, cleaning up puddles of pee around the toilet, loading and unloading the dishwasher, picking up, cooking ... and on and on. But you know what pops in my mind when I start feeling sorry for myself? What if it all got taken away ... my purpose ... I'd have a clean house, very little laundry, no picking up after anyone but me ... and I would have lost all of my happiness. So chin up ...
How's that for a post? Sometimes it all just comes pouring out ... and this one has been building for awhile. Happy Tuesday!
Now what is better than even Netflix is going to the movies ... this is the best for me. I don't know why, but the whole experience does something for the movie. Saturday I saw Premonition with Julie & Jessica. Wow ... an on the edge, sweating in your seat, tummy grumbling from anxiety, makes you cry, but then gives you a tiny smile through the tears kind of movie.
I'll continue the self-gratifications tomorrow ...
But for tonight I wanted to end with the idea of the "fidelity to a worthy purpose." My purpose is serving my Maker exactly where He has put me ... which is first as a wife and second as a mother, that is my daily purpose and when I remember my loyalty is first to Him and second to those around me ... well lets just say it changes the perspective when I'm feeling less than loyal.
It's so easy to grumble and gripe about all that we deal with ... in my world I could go into self pity about all the cleaning I do, the laundry, cleaning up puddles of pee around the toilet, loading and unloading the dishwasher, picking up, cooking ... and on and on. But you know what pops in my mind when I start feeling sorry for myself? What if it all got taken away ... my purpose ... I'd have a clean house, very little laundry, no picking up after anyone but me ... and I would have lost all of my happiness. So chin up ...
How's that for a post? Sometimes it all just comes pouring out ... and this one has been building for awhile. Happy Tuesday!
8 comments:
Are you kidding me? Folks, if the description she is giving truly represents a movie she saw recently, then it wasn't Premonition. We (my wife and a couple of friends) saw this travesty of a motion picture while waiting out a storm in Disneyland and I have this to say about it: it was a waste of time and money.
A real snore here folks. Slow to start, slow to end, and with a cheesy transcendentalism finish. I never once was on the edge of my seat, except for when I was ready to get up and leave halfway through. Only the hurricane winds outside kept me lodged next to my wife. Bullock was decent, but the script was so horrid that nobody had a chance. We laughed once, and then couldn't remember the scene once the movie ended as the ever-loving life force had been sucked from us.
Don't bother paying $9 for this one. I wouldn't even Netflix it.
Want more proof? Check out the reviews at Yahoo. C- and below from the major papers.
I think that you would have possibly given any movie a high rating for the sheer fact that you hadn't been to a movie theater in so long! ;)
That whole post about happiness and joy and you had to rain on my parade by giving your own movie rating?
Maybe we didn't see the same movie? The one I saw didn't have a transcendentalism finish but rather brought up some poignant questions about faith and what the lack there of can open us up to ... the importance of working on relationships and the smile at the end ... the miracle that is possible in every day. Call that cheesy, but it's not out of the the realm of possibility by any account.
And as for Yahoo reviews ... I can sum it up by saying it gave Little Miss Sunshine a B+ ... which is still one of the most disheartening movies I've ever seen.
So, there you have it ... it's all subjective, which is why on my blog I get to give my opinion ;)
Thank you for the uplifting post! I have really been working on "complianing" lately, and it's important to remember that those little things mean so much when you consider the alternative :)
What a great, uplifting post! Thanks for the encouragement.
Great post Andrea! Getting the mail is a small highlight in my day too. Although these days the kids do it. When Mike is home for whatever reason and happens to get the mail I get a little sad for a second. Silly I know, but true nonetheless. And yes I love magazines & we are great devotees to Netflix as well. What a genius idea that was!
As for the movie, I really wanted to see it but heard from a friend it wasn't good. Your review gave me a little hope but then reading the scathing comment about it, I'm unsure again. Another reason to be thankful for Netflix!
Well, as a person who saw the movie with Andrea, I have to say, I guess it depends on what you are used to...it wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, but it was suspenseful & mysterious to the end. I guess if having no sex scenes, habitual swearing or raunchy humor makes it boring, then bring it on!! You go Andrea!!!
It was actually nice not to have all the rude bits in a movie. But compared to the trailer (which both my wife and I thought looked very interesting), the movie moved at a snails pace.
The transcendental finish (spoiler here folks) was that life goes on, blah, blah, blah, yes, it's his baby. The story had so many plot holes I don't even know where to begin.
Andrea, you are so right and thank God that we have the privilege to serve our families and at the same time glorify our God!
Thanks for the reminder!
And of course, I am a magazine junkie! Ahhh! I just bought that Blueprint as a matter of fact! :o)
Take heart if you have a sub., you are saving a ton of money!! LOL
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