I’ve been saying for years that I am the happiest I have ever been, and I feel like it just keeps getting better. I’ve come to realize that is isn’t just my life circumstances, but the wisdom I have gained from all the “life” I’ve been through.

So here is the wisdom my “old” 31-year-old self has to offer.

“Happiness is a choice.” I’ve been telling that to myself for years. Most of that time, I was not happy. I thought all I had to do was choose to be happy and I would. I thought maybe I was bad at it and needed to be stronger. Now I’ve learned that “Happiness comes from choices.” As humans we have the freedom and control over our choices. As Americans, we are blessed to live somewhere relatively safe and stable. When I stopped making choices to make others happy thinking I “had no choice” and started making choices to better my own life and my daughter’s, my happiness began to grow uncontrollably. Here was the world before me, and I could make anything of my life I wanted to! I can choose to feel good by taking care of my body. I can choose to travel, even if I must go alone.  I can choose to be in relationships that are good for me. I can choose not to settle for anything less. Life is what you make it, and even though sometimes things are out of my control, I can revel in the choices I do have. The big things don’t seem so big when you are at peace with your life.

Here is to an amazing 2018!

Liz