“I do not take a single newspaper nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.” – Thomas Jefferson
For many, including myself, the search for happiness is elusive. Of late I have been drawn to identify influences in my “retirement” life that adversely affect my state of happiness and I’m wondering if others lives are disrupted by my disruptors. Take a look.
1. I come home from whatever it is my wife and I are doing and turn on fox news. It doesn’t take long for me to start saying things to the television that I wouldn’t repeat here. I also review periodically the “mainstream” media as a way to find “balance” in the news. Again my blood pressure starts to rise when I see the spin, spin, spin. solution #1 Follow Thomas Jefferson’s advice.
2. I have a see food diet. I see food – I eat it. I look at myself in a suit and I think, I don’t look too bad, then I look at myself in the mirror when I step out of the shower and I think, you have no discipline. Solution #2: Stop the late night snacks.
3. I worry about the future. Will we ever be rid of our dysfunctional government? Will my investments be safe? Will my children and grandchildren be obedient and happy? Solution #3: Play more golf. Go fishing more often. Act on things I can control and stop thinking about things I cannot control. Hike more often. Read positive messages every day.
