You can’t run a marathon

Life is like a marathon to the extent that you need to constantly train yourself to deal with obstacles presented to you along the way. Life, just like a marathon, is filled with its share of hills and turns – doubts and concerns  – exhaustion and mental anguish.  Learning how to deal with those obstacles will determine how well you run the race of life.  And, just as in a marathon, a few brave, dedicated, and focused people persevere successfully and happily to the end.  Along the way they will become a shinning example for other to follow in getting the most out of their life.

However, the difference between a marathon and life is that life is not about finishing first.  Life is about enjoying the journey, learning from all those you travel with, and equipping yourself with enough grace, dignity, compassion, and love to help others along the way.

I’m personally not in a big hurry to get to the end of the race of life.  While I’m confident a greater destiny lies ahead for us all, the experience of living life is too exhilarating for me at this moment in time.  Therefore, I treat every day as a gift to be cherished. I open it with the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning and can’t wait to see what I get, how it will unfold, and what I can share with others.

To meet life’s opportunities head on, you must continually train and prepare your mind on how to perceive and process future challenges and obstacles differently than you do today.  You must be willing to confront the challenges, process them to the best of your ability and learn to move on.  With the right attitude and outlook you will learn from your life experiences and be a better person for it.  Don’t dodge the challenges, meet them head on.  Learn from the results and become an example of triumph for others.

Life is really great…..go after it with gusto……..and enjoy the ride!

Rick Hagler / PHD  Pretty Happy Dude

In my book “It’ll Be OK!” – A Guide to Being Happy and Achieving Inner Peace - I note….“Choose to be happy always.  Happiness is good for the soul and the souls of others.” My idea of happiness is simply making an effort to see the good in everything….the glass half full analogy.  While this proves to be difficult at times, I don’t see any other option for me.

Happiness, like anger, is a choice.  We can choose to be happy and look for the best in the worst of situations OR, we can play the “poor pitiful me” game and always be the one that “stuff” happens to -  the “why me” person.

In this day and time everyone could easily choose that path of “why me” and not be thought any less of for it.  As we are all challenged financially, ethically, and morally every day.  However, isn’t it better to choose to make the best of those tough or difficult situations, to try to learn something positive from the experience instead of just the negative.  If not just for you, but for your family and friends.  They may not have the where with-all, or the strength, or the support to choose happiness.  That’s where you come in.  That’s why you have to be their pillar of strength, their Rock of Gibraltar, their cornerstone…

What keeps you happy and optimistic, or, what challenges you and gives you difficulties in achieving happiness?  Feel free to share you thoughts on your keys to happiness, or how you have overcome personal “happiness” challenges.  It’s always good to learn about what others have been through, or are going through, it’s helps us know we’re not alone!

Care to share?  Please do………………….

Rick Hagler / PHD – Pretty Happy Dude!

It’s important to know what you want from life, what you want to achieve, and how you want to be perceived as a person.  Plan, think and dream so when your opportunity arises, you’ll be prepared, regardless of your life’s passion.

NEVER SELL YOURSELF SHORT!

Greatness doesn’t always define being successful.

However, “Being” a great person always defines success.