We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit that life is about to begin - real life. There always seems to be an obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time to be served, a debt to be paid, then life would begin. The reality is these obstacles are our life and accepting this reality allows us to see there is no way to happiness; happiness is the way.

So treasure every moment, for time waits for no one. Stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday, until you car or home is paid off, until winter, spring, summer or fall, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's looking.
Submitted by
Anonymous

I love nothing more
The circle,
What I'm most proud of
Try to take it,
I'll fight to the death.
I live for it,
I'd die for it.
The golden circle I wear on my hand,
A love so deep.
The circle reminds me of love, of life, to live.
A perfect Circle, a perfect world.
Be honest, be true, be you.
Live life to it's fullest and share your love and life with that perfect someone. Tell your wife or husband you love them every day; don't take things for granted. My wife is my sunrise and my beautiful sunset. I love you, Amber.
Don't miss the light - share your feeling.
Submitted by
David

My mother passed away almost 5 years ago, just a year after I decided that perhaps I had potential as a writer. She was my greatest supporter and understood what writing meant to me. The first poem I had published (in fact, the first thing I ever had published) was entitled MY MOTHER. About 6 months before her death, I had a short story accepted and published also. When the check and copy came in the mail you would have thought it had her byline on it. She was so thrilled and happy for me. She was not only my mom and best friend, but she was my editor and writing companion.

It has been really hard for me to get back into my writing since her death because it was something that we did together. But since I've become involved on the Internet I have met some wonderful writers and poets who have helped me get started back on my writing. I know my mom would be proud to know that I have started back to pursuing my dream. Each morning on my way to work I look out my windshield and watch the sunrise. I see her face and hear her voice as if she were sitting right next to me. My mom is still the sunshine in my life.
Submitted by
The Dreamer
seko@surfsouth.com

I'd like to tell you about how I met my best friend. She was an exchange student from Thailand last year, and she looked pretty lost on the first day of school. She looked awkward, and later admitted that it was because she felt so different than everyone around her. I introduced myself, and we became friends. She added a lot of excitement to my life, as well as my friends. She's back in Thailand now, but she'll be moving to Canada next year and I can't wait!!! If you ever get the chance to meet someone who's a little different, got for it!
Submitted by
Laurie Peters
lpete@hotmail.com

I had a TERRIBLE day! The worst kind of day in the world - one where everything goes wrong and absolutely nothing goes right. To make a bad day worse, my neighbor needed me to watch her kids for a few hours (which turned into several hours). So, with a house full of kids I proceeded to try to clean, cook, and maintain some sanity. At the end of the day after dinner, dishes, baths, books, water, etc., I finally got my five year old into bed. LATE! As she looked up at me with sleepy eyes smiling, she told me this was the "BEST DAY OF HER ENTIRE LIFE"! She had five friends over and had hotdogs (her favorite) for dinner (the roast burned). As she continued to tell me all about HER day, I had to smile for it had suddenly become one of my favorite days also. Forgotten were the lost car keys, the taxi ride home from the grocery store, the bills in the mail, the burnt roast... To see such a beautiful smile and hear her talk about her joy, IT WAS A GREAT DAY!
Submitted by
Holly White
hwhite@inetdirect.net