Mystery Solved? Part 1

My quest for the meaning of happiness may have come to an abrupt end – in a good way.  Reading The Geography of Bliss, I have realized that everyone probably defines happiness a little differently.  Although two mothers might find a lot of happiness in their children, one may find additional happiness from reading while another finds joy in competing in triathlons.  There probably isn’t one canned answer for everyone when it comes to being happy.  Most of you have probably already figured this out but for me, it was a major “aha moment. “ 

These thoughts led me to think more about where I find happiness.  It makes sense that you should do what makes you happy as often as possible assuming what makes you happy isn’t mass murder or torturing rabbits.  I find happiness in 3 main areas:  my relationships, travel and scrapbooking. 

Let me hit the easy ones first.  Travelling is definitely a passion for me.  I know, I know stating the obvious since I am taking a financial hit, a potential career hit and worrying my mother half to death to traipse off to Europe and China for 3 months.  Not the most responsible thing I have done but it’s probably one of the most exciting things I have or will ever do.   I just can’t seem to squash this little travel bug that ails me and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, I will still want to travel more once my trip is over.  It’s not going to be a cure but just a long, lovely hit of travel goodness to sooth my massive craving for foreign sights and experiences.   I actually ran into a friend of my parent’s this weekend who recognized me by saying “you are the traveler, aren’t you?”  I replied with a very proud “YES!”  There are a few worse things to be I guess…=)

My obsession with scrapbooking is a hard one to explain.  Most scrapbookers are mothers or grandmothers and their main subjects are kids.  Somehow, I managed to get hooked on this hobby through you guessed it, a married, mother friend of mine while living in California.  The beauty I find in scrapbooking is that I get to relive my two other passions in life – my relationships and travelling.  If you were to look at my creations you would find not baby showers, first steps, and kid’s birthday parties.  Instead, my pages are filled with happy hours, wine tastings, tattoo sessions and trips.  Not your typical scrapbook!  Scrapbooking is about preserving memories and I just happen to have memories of good friends having fun and seeing new places. 

I will save my epiphany on relationships for the next post.  Tune in next time for the biggest revelation of all…