Wise Old Man

Life always has its ups and downs. Some are harder than the other, some seem harder because they are longer, and some are just annoying. I have had all of the above in my life, but who hasn't really? I find myself in a new light today. I feel like today was the start of letting go. Letting go of my past, letting go of my imperfections, letting go of what other people think of me. I find I am more fully myself each and every day. I have some how come out of all the pain, suffering, and tears with hope. Hope that I am good enough. I am no where near perfect but I try. I am only human after all. I have been on a quest for happiness for a long time now and I have been learning on the way. One of the greatest things I have learned so far was from a very wise old man. 
I was at work just going about my day when I was hit with the wise words I hope to share with you. I had helped many customers and when this old man walked in I thought nothing of it. I helped him find what he was looking for and sent him on his way. As he was about to walk out the door I leave him with the words I leave everyone who walks in and out of my store. "Have a good day."
You see, these are ordinary words and they are used every single day and I thought nothing of their value or how it would change my life. Once those words rolled off my tongue the old man said one sentence and it immediately hit me like a wall of bricks or like a palm to my forehead. The old man became wise because after I had told him to "Have a good day," he turned and said "I will try my best to do so." He then smiled as if he knew he had just given this 20 year old girl in search of happiness the secret she needed to attain her goal. I have not see the wise old man since but his words have stuck with me like gorilla glue. 
How are we supposed to be happy if we don't try our best each and every day to do so? It is nearly impossible. We must learn to find at least one happy thing each day in order to continually be happy. Even if it is just a laugh or a smile, it is happiness. 
I was having a horrible day after I had been presented with the words of the wise old man, and I decided I better put that frustration to good use and go running. I was running around the green belt here in Idaho Falls and I came upon a father and son who were playing catch. It was an ordinary scene except for the fact that the ball was imaginary. The young boy laughed with joy as his father told him to "go long" as the imaginary ball went flying through the air. That scene was simple. It wasn't extraordinary. But it made me smile and that was an instant mood changer. I was trying my best to change the horrible day into a useful one and I found what I was looking for.
Each day I make sure to laugh or smile at least once. It is not very hard with a dorky family like mine, but knowing I can count on them to make me laugh is a piece of happiness of itself. I am thankful I was graced with the knowledge of that wise old man. I do not even recall his name or what he bought from me, but those simple words will stick with me for the rest of my life. I hope that you will take those words and ponder them and see for yourself how it can change your life. It surely has changed mine and I wouldn't go back and un-meet this wise old man.