Red Balloon of Happiness

Just when you think you know it all, some 17-month old child comes along and teaches you another valuable life lesson.

Little Lady lost her favorite ball. There are few things that bring this 17-month-old more joy than playing with her favorite ball. And, of course, we want our daughter to have all the happiness she can get.

So we headed out to the store to replace the missing ball. Little Lady enjoyed the outing, since there were so many exciting things to pull off shelves. And when we reached the ball aisle, she nearly jumped for joy. (OK, more like raced to the bin and started covering the floor with her joy, one bounce at a time.)

As we left the aisle, Little Lady was happy and smiling. She held her replacement ball in her hands as we walked up to the cash. While waiting to pay, Little Lady caught sight of a red balloon that had obviously been used for some promotion, but was now wandering aimlessly around the floor like a lost puppy.

If you think a ball can bring happiness, wait 'til you see the sparkle in the eye of a toddler who has just found her very own red balloon. Pure joy! Of course, she adopted the balloon immediately and clung to it all the way back to the car. Did she want to hold the ball? No way. She had a balloon!

I couldn't help but marvel at how she valued the free, fragile balloon more than the sturdy ball I for which had just paid good money. Is there a lesson we can learn for self-actualization? Here are the possible lessons that immediately occurred to me:

  • Why bother having a thick skin, if your daughter prefers thin skins?

  • If you drift aimlessly long enough, you might get adopted.

  • Money can't buy the most important things in life (happiness, joy, smiles, balloons, etc.)

  • Your child can see value where you cannot, so listen to what she says.

    I figure at least two of these are valuable lessons that can add happiness to a person's life. Little Lady teaches me self-actualization lessons daily now, and I am learning to listen with head and heart.

    How often do we value the wrong things? The things that cost the most? How hard to we work to earn all that extra income to buy things we simply do not need. Anyone reading this probably has more than she will ever need, and yet don't we all want more anyway?

    Suppose we chose to have less of the things money can buy, and instead chose to have more time? More time to spend with our family? More time to spend with ourselves? More time to just be? What if we are giving up the red balloon chasing after the ball?

    My wife and I made a big decision a few months ago. We gave up the condo in the city for a big ol' house in the country. Our red balloon was space to raise a family in a much less noisy and stressed-out environment. The ball we gave up was the "glamour" of city living and a fancy condo.

    Assuming we can make a living from my book, my ezine, my web site and whatever other work-from-home projects I take on, we get to keep the red balloon.

    I invite you to look carefully at your life. Ask what truly brings you meaning. Then ask yourself if you could have more of that if you spent less time and effort on activities that don't bring you meaning but just fill your time.

    Enjoy your red balloon.

    About The Author

    David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, speaker, author, and publisher of "Your Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html. Visit him at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com

    amabaie@phastnet.com

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    How To Make Your Own Happiness

    Happiness comes to a person when it is caused by... Read More

    Magickal Baths

    Taking a Magickal Bath doesn't have to be complicated. It... Read More

    King Solomons Mind

    "Don't you understand, everything in this life is meaningless," cautioned... Read More

    Why Laughter Is Good For You

    How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your HealthA merry... Read More

    10 Ideas to Jump Start Your Self-Confidence

    To begin feeling that first spark of self-confidence within you,... Read More

    The Most Beautiful Flowers

    The most beautiful flowers, in conjunction with their design and... Read More

    Happiness Versus Pleasure

    We are a pleasure seeking society. Most of us spend... Read More

    Choose To Integrate Body, Mind, & Soul

    Our bodies were made in such a way that everything... Read More

    Happiness Fleeting

    "You cannot capture happiness no matter how hard you may... Read More

    Looking In The Eyes Of Happiness

    From what you see around you in your daily lives,... Read More

    Design Psychology: How to Create Happy Homes Using Scents

    Our sense of smell elicits strong emotional reactions and trigger... Read More

    How To Focus On The Positive Qualities Of Your Relationship

    The quality of your life has a strong connection with... Read More

    Being Happy

    How can one be happy? Is it a tough question?... Read More

    Do You Love Yourelf?

    Learning to love yourself isn't easy - especially if you... Read More

    Choose To Be Happy

    What if I told you that you have the ability... Read More

    Health and Medical Advice on the Internet: Use it Wisely to Overcome Illness and Find More Happiness

    I've got a bit of a problem with depression and... Read More

    How to Be Happy!

    How would you like to have at least an extra... Read More

    10 Survival Strategies to Overcoming Adversity and Being Happy

    If one thing is for certain, each of us will... Read More

    SOLD! Again! Contrast Can Work FOR You

    Have you ever had an experience where everything you wanted... Read More

    Keeping You Confident!

    We can all be confident when we are sure of... Read More

    You are Where You are Because You Decided to be There

    The decisions we make everyday have a big impact on... Read More

    Growing Up Backwards

    It seems like I set out in this life to... Read More

    4 Steps to Use Fears as Friends: Don?t be a Thunder Dog!

    Imagine humungous, bulbous, billowing alto-cumulus clouds building higher and higher... Read More

    Happiness And Health Are The Two Most Important Things In Life

    The world is becoming obsessed with money and all things... Read More

    About Happiness and Fulfillment

    During a FULFILLMENT seminar, at the University of Arizona for... Read More

    Great Relationship Problem Solving Technique

    This is one of my all time favourite problem solving... Read More

    Divining Your Life Path Number

    The Life Path is determined by the sum that is... Read More

    Emotional Baggage

    We all have them. It has many faces. We carry... Read More

    A Shortcut to Happiness -- Vote with Live 8

    Did you see any of the Live 8 performances in... Read More

    Clearing a Path for Happiness

    In the United States, the pursuit of happiness is a... Read More

    May the Budgie of Happiness Sit on Your Head

    My grandmother, Mimi, was a great solitaire player. My family... Read More

    Shhhhh?

    Like enough of the noise awready! Geesh, people?No, I'm not... Read More

    There is a Cure for the Summertime Blues

    I have never lived anywhere else where when you walk... Read More