Happiness

or

Living the Good Life

As I enjoyed the SEC Championship Football game last Saturday I saw with my own eyes the Happy Faces on the Florida Gators after they won the Game. They went into the Game ranked beneath their competition.

There are a lot of situations where people can be Happy or Sad, depending on their situation. So let us consider for a few moments what makes a happy individual.

This morning I read my local print media from cover to cover which is my normal routine. John Rosemond who writes a column on Good Parenting clearly stated what I personally lived and did not appreciate when I was a mere child. Mr. Rosemond stated that one step to raising a child who will be well-equipped to have a successful adult life. He stated: "Put your child into a meaningful role in your family; one that is defined in terms of responsibilities known as chores. By the time your child is 4 years old, he should be contributing significant time and effort on a daily basis to the maintenance of the household." While this concept may be considered rocket science to "modern child development gurus" it was well understood my adults of the generation that raised me.

I next read the article about three Bulldogs being named to the All-SEC first team in College Football. An interesting article to be sure. The most interesting aspect of this Associated Press article was the bit about Tim Tebow and what he stated after the Gators loss to Mississippi earlier this Football Season. In his post game comments he made it quite clear that the loss was his responsibility. He vowed that no one would play harder the rest of the way.

Well, we all know the end of that story. Tim Tebow took responsibility for his own actions and accomplished the goal of winning the SEC last Saturday by outplaying Alabama. Yes there was some regret and sorrow after the Mississippi loss but the motivation of the Gators after that event is clearly visible. Every Florida Gator had a Happy Face last Saturday. Most likely they are still smiling this week.

All of this stated to lead into the final segments of this Blog Post. For some time now I have observed that our Good Friends down by Dublin are experiencing growth and enjoying a "New Downtown Dublin." I see this in the print media and also the ads that these firms from Dublin are placing on our local "Electronic Media."

Yet we here in Macon and even Bibb County appear to be challenged when faced with what we must do to improve the lot in life of our Citizens. From my point of view we have far too many elected leaders who say the correct things and appear to do the right things to maintain what they consider peace in the family. These leaders act as if they must keep everyone happy at the expense of us all. Sometimes Leadership requires doing the unpopular things for the good of all peoples. Just at Tim Tebow vowed to work harder after the loss to Mississippi he is now able to wear a Happy Face. Was Tim very popular with his Team Mates at the time of this loss? I do not know, but you can be sure that they are all proud of what they, The Gators accomplished because of Tim's Leadership style.

Tim Tebow did not make excuses for the loss. He took responsibility and joined with his team mates to make an even better Football Team the Best in the SEC. Something that our elected leaders should be able to comprehend instead of making excuses. Just the other day I heard an interesting concept and definition of the word "excuse." An excuse is a lie to one's self as to why a certain event was not accomplished. We need to stop lying to ourselves and leap out and accomplish what may seem impossible. Then, and only then will be happy. We can then have appropriate self esteem and be happy with our individual accomplishments. If we are part of a team, the team will also be able to don a "Happy Face" when the goal is achieved.

Look into the eyes of a four, five or six year old when they have accomplished a task that they have been working on for some time. The path to the accomplishment may have been difficult, but the reward, the Happy Face, will have been well worth it.

I will never forget the closing comment of mature beyond his years, the young Tim Tebow, this past Sunday Morning during an ESPN Segment about the SEC Game of the previous evening. Young Tim stated something like: We are a Band of Brothers as he answered the question on why the Gators were able to accomplish the victory over Alabama. He closed the interview with a broad smile and the words: "God Bless."

Ladies and Gentlemen, That is What Happiness Is."