Originally my emotion for H was going to be Hate but looking back on the emotions I have done so far I have decided they are all such negative emotions it is time we had one that is a bit happier. Yes, you’ve guessed it Happy is replacing Hate which is simply a waste of time emotion that I can’t say that I have experienced often if ever in my life. I have found that most people have a positive trait or a reason I can rationalise out and then understand why they maybe aren’t particularly nice people. So on to happy.
Happy is where I would say I am most of the time – now. It has not always been this way and having been down I greatly appreciate and enjoy not being there. I am most often contented, cheerful, satisfied, carefree, untroubled, delighted, buoyant, radiant, sunny, and very, very blessed. I have a childlike view of the world, meaning that I have my eyes open and receptive to the wonders to be found in nature and in the simple things in life.
To have those around you in the same state is the icing on the cake. In March my husband told me that all he wanted for his birthday was a dog. This dog was not to make him happy although the extra company for him would be welcome now that I was at uni most days, but to make our older german shepherd dog happy. To give him doggy company that we knew he enjoyed from our trips to the park. So three days ago along came Bundy, who is an eight and a half year old rescued cocker spaniel dog with a huge personality. Zac is happy although not yet playing with him, Roger is happy , Bundy is happy to have a home where he gets away with being on the lounge (much against my better judgement) and I’m happy seeing everyone so happy.
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
But unlike Henry Miller who wrote in his book Big Sur and the Oranges of Heironymus Bosch that at the “moment in his life when he felt so good, so thoroughly attuned, that he has been on the point of exclaiming: “Ah now is the time to die!” What is it lurks here in the very heart of euphoria? The thought that it will not, can not last? The sense of an ultimate.”
At this point, the point of ultimate happiness, I don’t wish to die. I know it will not last but I know that I can climb out of any valley into which I tumble and those downward troughs just serve to make me appreciate the heights that much more.
© irene waters 2014
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
What a beautiful post Irene. This really grabbed me because your ‘happiness’ exudes from your writing. I wondered if you got your dog and now I know, and how darling is this little one? Just adorable!
The Henry Miller quote is powerful and describes perfectly that moment when everything comes together to bring a perfect happiness such as we embrace it with all our being, knowing that it won’t last.
Yet, as you say, when we are in the dark valleys we appreciate the beauty and blessed relief that being back on top of the mountain always brings so much more.
So glad you are happy my friend, you deserve it 🙂
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Thanks Sherri, Everything else is such a wasted emotion – but as we both know it is so easy and sometimes very dificult not to waste time. Circumstances don’t always make it possible but its jolly good and to be savoured whilst you’re there.
The little dog is such a joy. I have never had a little dog before and the love just oozes from him.
Cheers and happy days my friend
Irene 🙂
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You are so right Irene.
How delightful to have such a loving, adorable little dog.
So happy for you my friend 🙂
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Thanks Sherri. He is a bundle of joy. Cheers Irene
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🙂 Hugs
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A very nice piece, and like the word from the letter prompt – it made me happy 🙂
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I’m glad it made you happy. It’s a nice place to be. Cheers Irene
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What a gorgeous picture1 i just recommended a book on happiness on another blog, and maybe you will like it, too. It’s called Stumbling on Happiness by a friend of mine, Dan Gilbert. He’s a psychologist at Harvard, but don’t hold that against him! He’s witty and intuitive with a huge following
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Thanks Noelle, I’ll check it out. I know some academics that I just love to read. Those that I don’t I wonder if its because they don’t know what they are trying to say so make it impossible to understand or follow. Illusionists. Cheers Irene
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Awww, this is probably the happiest post I’ve read today. And the pics … so beautiful, Irene. Glad you switched emotions and wrote H for Happy!!!
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Thanks Silvia. Yes it was time to be happy. Cheers Irene
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A truly lovely post, Irene ! – Zac has certainly made it, and it was marvellous of you two to choose a middle-aged dog to resuce. Most go for the cuties, of course …
I LOVE ALL the photos ! – but I have two questions:
(1) How come them three dawgs is all looking at that woman as if she is about to produce a leg of lamb from her handbag ?
(2) Where, oh where, is that glorious view ?
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Hi M-R, Thank you for your kind comments. You are right the woman is about to produce a leg of lamb in the shape of tiny bits of dog treats. Zac with his pancreatic problems doesn’t normally get treats and he now recognises that people with bags in the park often have offerings that he salivates over. Some unsuspecting people get a bit of a fright now as Zac bounds over to them, walking beside them staring at them the whole way when all they have is a fold-up umbrella bag flapping beside them.
The glorious view is of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) taken from around Montreux.
Cheers Irene
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Happiness would not be what it is without dogs and books. Thanks for confirming that. :>) Great post.
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Thanks Bob.
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