Happy

Today I want to give credit where credit is due.  I have been following http://www.marcandangel.com/ for a while now and today's post was very poignant for me to read.  It's all about how happy people stay happy.  Below is the short list:

1.    Choose to be the best YOU can be.

2.    Choose to be around the right people.

3.    Choose to focus on what you have, not on what you haven't.

4.    Choose a good attitude.

5.    Choose to smile more often.

6.    Choose to take care of your body.

7.    Choose honesty.

8.    Choose to help others when you're able.

9.    Choose to let go when you know you should.

10.  Choose to embrace the next step in your life.

I need to start following # 6&7 much more closely.  I think they are the keys to me becoming better.  The last time I lived life following all 10 of these rules was late 2004-early 2005, prior to working hurricane Katrina.  I was slimming down, following a routine, and surrounding myself with great people.  I still have those people but I have changed.  I need to go back to the "old me." 

I've been wracking my brain all day to remember what made life so much better back then.  I know it wasn't the stress or the job, that's the same, give or take some system changes.  It wasn't the people, as they are all still prominent figures in my life.  It's been me.  I suffered post traumatic stress disorder after working down there and being involved in a horrible car crash.  I finally have the last of my litgation from the accident next month and I'm hoping that puts closure on a horrible part of my life.  I'm also hoping it helps me heal.  I incurred a hefty amount of debt during that time, trying to buy myself happy.  I was in counseling at that time too.  Nothing has seemed to work and now I've made some huge lifestyle changes to try and rectify my bad decisions.  Here's to hoping the rest of my 2012 gets better.

My new motto is "When you break the rules of integrity you invite serious complications into your life."  I wish i had read this years ago, although it may not have changed my mind.  Now it has and I will continue to follow "the rules" and lead my life with purpose.