Tag Archives: happiness

Start Here

Image by cottonbro studios Thought for the Week I believe in the power of words to change people’s lives. Jesus’ words, more than anyone else’s, have changed the way I think, speak and live. For example, after referring to the … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 31 Comments

What’s Your Happiness Baseline?

Thought for the Week Have you ever noticed how your happiness baseline—that bundle of things you consider essential for satisfaction—is constantly shifting? That’s because it’s based on what you’re currently used to, and what you’re currently used to is, well, just … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 24 Comments

Preparing to Give Thanks

“Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~Epicurus “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ~Alphonse Karr “Piglet noticed that even though he had a … Continue reading

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

Not What I Expected

Thought for the Week It was an unseasonably warm autumn. Not what I expected. But, hey, it gave me a chance to install a bird bath, something my wife had wanted for a long time. And, being a bird-whisperer, she … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Scheduling Happiness

Thought for the Week It was 1987 and, thanks to the tremendous growth of the mutual fund into which I’d wisely poured our money, we were taking our first real vacation together. It was autumn, and so we’d opted for … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

On Being Free

Thought for the Week You can never be free in the future. You can only be free in the present. But take heart— it’s always the present. ~MT~

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Are We Happy Yet?

“I can’t wait until I’m financially able to afford who I really am.” ~Unknown “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Movies, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

How My Life of Happy Materialism Came to an End

Photo by Brandon Green (unsplash.com) When I was a young man, I began searching for the meaning of life. Along the way, I wrote a travel journal, a mix of prose and poetry, and labelled it Fool’s Odyssey. London was so … Continue reading

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir, Poetry, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

A Safe and Cozy Place

A year ago this month, our sense of safety plummeted. Until then, “Be safe” was reserved for anxious mothers sending off their children. But amidst a worldwide pandemic, it became the new “Have a good day,” the new “I care.” … Continue reading

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

The Real Thing

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise!” ~Romans 1:25 Don’t just talk about what’s Real. Show it. Be it.

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments