People Who Make Us Happy

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Be grateful for those who make us happy.
Marcel Proust

by Skip Cohen

​My process for writing on Sunday mornings is almost always the same. I wake up about 6:30, and before Sheila wakes up, I'll stay in bed and start thinking about a topic for Sunday Morning Reflections. The challenge lately is fighting the urge to rant over everything each of us is dealing with daily.

But this morning I started out looking for a great quote, and when I read the one above, it gave me a good way to turn my wanna-be rant into something more positive. Think about this for just a second -- It's our friends who make us happy and prevent us from being crushed to death by the outside world. It's the people who make us laugh and remind us of how special life truly is, even through the storms.

This is a short post this morning, dedicated to laughter. But I'm not talking about chuckles, I'm talking about those big, deep laughs that are so intense you start to tear up in the process. It's those laughs that become aerobic, pushing your heart to keep up with the pace that often takes your breath away.

Author Lou Mitchell, along with the quote above, went on to write:

Marcel Proust reminds us to appreciate the people who bring joy and positivity into our lives.  These individuals often go unnoticed as we navigate our daily routine, yet their presence and actions significantly impact our well-being and happiness. Taking the time to express gratitude for their contributions not only strengthens our relationships but also enriches our own sense of fulfillment and connection...Reflect on the people who make you happy. How often do you express your gratitude for their presence in your life?

So, my post this morning is one of gratitude for all the friends who have made me happy in the past, present, and future. It's thanks in part to you that I wake up smiling and maintain an almost childlike wonder about what each new day will bring.

My list is too long to share here, but you know who you are. And since aging can never be slowed down, I know there are people and events I've forgotten—but that doesn't change everyone's contribution. We're an industry of artists who watch each other's backs. In turn, new memories are always being made, built on a foundation of laughter and, here and there, completely poor taste! LOL

So, wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with joy and time spent with those who help you smile—even on days when joy seems out of reach. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've been writing about for over ten years, and channel that rant-energy into something uplifting for the day!

Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

Note: The collage of pics above is the best I could do on short notice, but it's just a small percentage of the laughs in our lives!