Having already written 52 articles throughout 2020, I made a decision to do a bonus 53rd article in the hope that it may help us all think differently about ourselves and how we react to situations outside our control, how we take control of our own lives and how we can enter 2021 in the right frame of mind.
I was given a book for Christmas called “The Happiest Man on Earth – it is the story of an Auschwitz survivor who this year celebrated his 100th birthday – Eddie Jaku. Because he survived, Eddie made a vow to smile every day. It somehow puts in perspective what we are currently going through, doesn’t it?
Happiness is a state of mind and a choice we make every minute of every day. We can choose to wake up in a happy positive mood, or a negative sad mood. How we react will affect what happens to us and how we react to any situation. Nobody or nothing can make us happy – we have to decide to be happy. How we are will also rub off on other people. We all like being around people who make us feel good and who have a smile on their faces. A happy smiling face is very contagious, so if we spread anything contagious in 2021, let it be a happy smiling face. Let us make the choice to help others feel good about themselves.
We only need a few of us to start spreading the “Smile Virus”, for others to pick up the mantle and continue to spread it to others. After the year we have all had in 2020, we all need to start 2021 happy, and – no matter what life throws at us – remain in this mindset throughout the year. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer. We just have to keep believing.
No material possession should be responsible for making us happy. Being alive and well and being around our friends and families is what should make us happy. Being able to give someone a hug, a kiss or shaking someones hand is what should make us happy. This is what we have all missed in 2020, and if we have learned anything this year, it is how much we have all missed human contact. We are social beings, and it is this that gives us something to look forward to in life.
So let us all make a choice for 2021. Be happy every day – not just for us but for everyone we come in contact with. Treat everyone with respect. As the quote says, happiness will not come to us, it comes from us. We need to have people feeling better about themselves for us having come into their lives.
Wishing everyone every success in 2021
This article was first published on LinkedIn by Richard Knight on 27/12/2020