Your happiness is your responsibility and no one else’s. There are people who we are happy for and things we are happy to have, but ultimately, you are the guard of this delicate emotion. Yes, there are times where sadness and other feelings come up, but we also should appreciate the joy of being happy. The worse thing you can do is let it go or let someone else determine your happiness for you.
Everyone has the right to their own type of happiness, even if you don’t get it. Remember “Weeping Wanda” on the 70’s show “Good Times”? Wanda always went to a funeral to cry, even if she didn’t know who died. That was her thing. You could count on Weeping Wanda to carry the funeral through to the end with a good wail. In a strange way, that was her happiness because that’s what she liked to do – cry at funerals. She didn’t let anybody take that away from her. Some may say, “Why is she always crying?” Well, we’re all different and that may have been her happy place. Strange, but it worked for her.
Some people just like to burst your bubble. As soon as they hear good news, they want to put a damper on it. I’ve been around that person and it’s no fun. I had to shorten my time around them because it was too much negativity and I’m not trying to hear that in every conversation.
- “I got a promotion today at work!” “Look at how long it took for you to get it…”
- “My sister had her baby!” “It don’t look nothing like the father…”
- “Did you hear? Rosa beat her cancer!” “It might come back…”
Yes, it’s just too much. That’s why it’s important to choose your happiness. Being around someone who steals the joy out of everything is not happiness. The best thing you can do is limit your time around them, or not be around them at all. You’ve been friends with them since the second grade, I know, but as you get older, you’ll realize how draining it is. You can’t make them happy, they have to find their own happiness and it’s not your responsibility, it’s theirs.
Also, there are people who are angry most of the time and they want you to be angry with them. If you’re not angry with them, they began to question you. I don’t want to be tight and stressed all day along with them. Yes, I’ll give you the respect of listening and understanding where you are coming from, but at some point, you have to move on. Even if you weren’t there when the situation occurred, they want you to be just as mad when they tell you the story. You don’t have to give in. Choose your happiness. Don’t let anyone try to turn your day sour just because they are having a bad day. Keep your peace. Drink your water. Everyone is responsible for their own happiness.
It’s good that we do nice things for each other. Trying to make someone’s day is an awesome thing to do. If someone else is venting to you about their situation, be a listening ear – just don’t let it ruin your vibe. Life is too short to fix other people and their bad emotional habits. As said many times before, you are responsible for your own happiness. This goes for everyone. Be happy. It is your choice.