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Where is your Happy Place

Since I retired, I often find myself involved in a conversation about retirement. Those conversations often lead to another topic, finding a purpose in life. Most people feel they need to find their purpose before they can retire. Some struggle with that and I wonder if their decision would be easier if they asked themselves, "where am I the happiest?".   

I have several friends that say, "I'm in my happy place when I am in my garden or flower bed". They lose all track of time as they are transformed into a place of serenity. They are lost in their own world as they nurture their flowers and plants. I think this is probably the same for farmers. They can't wait to get going on the land in the spring. I think their happy place is in the tractor bringing the soil alive.  

I recently asked a friend where she was the happiest. She said she is the happiest when she is doing volunteer work and helping others. I have to admit I am the same. It is not just the volunteering; it is the preparation for the experience of volunteering. It takes you out of your own world and puts you in another one, one that you know you will be helping others. Another friend shared that she volunteers for her church to make food hampers for women that have nothing and are starting out on their own. She makes sure they have enough food for two days. When she was sharing with me, she got a soft look in her eyes, and a nice smile. I could tell this brought her such joy to help those women at such a difficult time in their lives.  

I have a few activities that I call my "happy place". The first is when I am watching, in, or on the water. Depending on the day, another happy place for me is in the kitchen. When I take on the corner cupboard and decide to bake. Look out!!! I am like a dog, put me in a vehicle and drive me around. I love road trips, and they are always a happy place for me. It is hard to describe what being in your happy place feels like. For me it is a wonderful feeling of calmness that comes from deep within. My head becomes clearer and solutions come to me.  

One thing I know for sure is, my happy place will never be in the garden or flowerbed, it will never be cleaning, nor walking. I am not one to curl up with a good book. My list of "not a happy place for me" seems to be getting longer as I age. I do garden, clean, walk and read, but it seems more like a job than a place of happiness. 

I hope each of you can identify where you are the happiest and where your happy place is. It may help you find your purpose in life. It makes me ask, "why are some people always happy when they have nothing good in their lives to make them happy?". Because they are making being happy as their purpose in life. Or they may visit their happy places often. 


  

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