Happiness is a form of courage – George Holbrook Jackson
As I sit here sobbing over another loss I’m about to experience, I am attempting to compose myself and make myself happy. Yes, I have made a conscious choice to give something up, and I know that it is the right thing to do, but it doesn’t make it any easier. My sense of loss comes from the relationships that will change with this decision. People, who I didn’t always realize brought laughter and love into my life. People I looked forward to seeing on a regular basis. People who have stood by me at a particularly low phase of my life.
It is these people who motivate me to be happy today and every day. Many of them have suffered much bigger losses than I have. They’ve had many more struggles in life. Life hasn’t been as kind to them as it has to me. They don’t have the options I have. And yet, they are happy. They are my heroes.
Happiness Is A Form Of Courage
You reach out to others
With a warm smile of cheer
Your laughter rings loud
Your teasing brings giggles…
Your hard work
The long hours you travel
And how much you struggle
To bring security to your own
These things you hide
Behind those smiles.
Happiness is a mantle
Of courage you wear
And it moves me
Beyond measure
And fills me with awe
I salute you, my heroes
And only pray
That your lives
Become easier
Day by day.

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Hugs to you Corinne.. Happiness is indeed a mantle gifted by God that we all wear in the face of adversity every day!
Hugs, Corinne. Being happy has a lot to do with courage. You are right. I hope you get the strength to be happy and deal with the loss. My prayers for you.
Oh Corinne… Lots of love and hugs to you. I admire how you write these thought provoking posts, derived from your experience and expressed in a way that most readers would be able to relate. Maybe even find comfort in your words. May you be surrounded by all these wonderful people. Take care.
This is so true! It takes courage to be happy. It is so easy sometimes to allow yourself to wallow in sadness and self pity. But getting up and finding a reason to smile everyday, it really really requires courage!
I’m sorry to hear that loss is coming your way. Thank you for spinning it into gold here with your words of hope and appreciation for the people who love and support you.
Hope things are better Corinne and this poem expresses the indomitable spirit to conquer everything.
Oh dear that doesnt sound too good and I wish you a big warm hug and loads of love to give you the strength to rndure these tough times.
I echo your sentiments about people being brave enough to smile through their tears and also focus on others than themselves in their trying times.
This too shall pass Corinne – hugs
Hugs to you, Corinne. Hang on in there and know that there is great comfort in the knowledge that this too shall pass! Yes, it must be very tough and I’m glad you decided to share your pain with us. May you start feeling better very soon.
True! A lot is hidden behind those smiles… loved the poem! Hugs & love!
So very sorry for your loss Corinne. Happiness does take courage – it is only too easy to fall into a sadness trip and enjoy being there. Only the strong can put their troubles behind and manage to smile. An empowering thought.
Oh…. Much needed words and love dear Corinne. Your words soothed me like anything since we were also in a big loss. Thanks for being there for us with your loving words.
Sending you some good vibes and comfort from where I am.
“Happiness is a form of courage”—never wiser words, Corinne. For many, the idea of ‘happiness’ seems to embody being carefree, a certain nonchalance perhaps, a serendipitous happening that falls at our feet, purely by chance, like a ripe mango from an overladen tree. And maybe there is a certain kind of happiness like that: something gifted, something unearned. But there’s another kind, too. The kind that lives on regardless of circumstances, that fights its way through outright hostile conditions, to blossom and paint a tiny corner of the world with the color of hope. There is no greater courage than that, for me.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. May you know strength, and love, and may the light of peace illuminate your heart and your way always.
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter