Where is my happiness and how do I get it back?

I find myself in an unfamiliar place these days. I can't find my happiness. I'm so focused on the negative  and what's gone wrong that I lose sight of what I have.  I've stopped looking at what's gone right.

Let's face it, my life isn't perfect. It's not even close but you know what? It's pretty darn good. I have so much to be thankful for that sometimes it's overwhemling while other times it takes way to much energy to thankful. To be happy. To be grateful. To be positive. It's really easy to get into the negative instead of counting my blessings. I'll spare you the list of the things that I'm thankful for because they are what you think, very normal. Very predictable. So I'll go with some unconventional things that I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for all the tough situations I've been because they've made me who I am today. I'm thankful for my past and although there are some parts that I'd love to erase, truth is that the past made me who I am today - good and bad. It's shaken me to my core, made me thankful for all that has gone right and wrong. It's shown me that my past doesn't define me. It doesn't. I'm trying to remember to use it as a stepping stone, as hokey as that sounds. I'm thankful for grace and forgiveness. Man are those big ones. I keep telling myself to let things go because God doesn't remind me daily of the mistakes I've made - He simply has let it go too. Sometimes forgetting is hard but most of the time, it's not. I can't change the past, I can only shape the future so why waste that energy trying to change something that isn't changeable. Forgiveness. Oh, forgiveness - you tricky little act and word. I'm learning every day to let go of the apology I might never get. I'm learning too that I might not get to apologize to someone either and while I wish I could, sometimes that isn't part of the plan. I am trying to remember that sometimes how people treat you is indicative of how they see themselves and we are all facing our own issues so be kind when someone isn't kind to you. Man is that a hard one for someone like me.

Every day is another day so why hold on to yesterday? Breathe. Let it go. Be thankful. Be present. And make today better than yesterday. The day before.

As Pharrel suggests - just be "Happy". It comes in many shapes and forms. Try to embrace it.