August Happiness Challenge – Day 23

My 2025 Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: I took the high road. I know my friend Elaine cares about me. She has shown it often and in many ways. That said, she can be heedless of my feelings. I think some of it is cultural. She grew up in a very old school Chinese-American household and outward displays of emotion and self-expression are just not her way. I don't think she recognizes my sensitivity.

 

Today she sent me a long email about the progress of her renovation project. She's obviously excited. I admit it: I was tempted to be dismissive, as she recently was over something important to me. But I wasn't.

 

Because here's the thing: I'm sure her slight wasn't intentional. Mine would be. She may have been callous, but I would have been vindictive. That's not who I want to be. That's not the friend she deserves.

 

I guess I'm happy that, at this old age, I'm growing up. 

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Photo by Ayşegül Baykal on Unsplash