Sunday Inspiration: Finding Happiness

Finding happiness“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness — it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brene Brown

Lately I’ve found these words to be so true. As we travel from our home in Chautauqua, New York, to our home in Sarasota, Florida, we’re visiting all four of our children conveniently live along the way.

So far we’ve landed in Cleveland to see a son, daughter, their spouses — and never to be forgotten–our four grandchildren. Then we stopped in Charlottesville to see another son and daughter-in-law, and today we drive to Asheville to visit the final son and his girlfriend.

Being with family is so special, sharing memories, listening to their joys and sorrows and hopes and dreams, having meals together, appreciating the beauty of nature, laughing at our stories, and sometimes shedding tears. It’s these simple moments of connection that seem to be the key to happiness in my life and I imagine in your, whether it’s family or your closest and oldest friends.

I am so thankful for this deep well of joy and for this precious life we all share. And I’m always thankful when you share what makes your own life precious.

10 Comments

  1. Nita Voleski on October 1, 2017 at 9:32 am

    Your post hit home today. I think sometimes we don’t realize we’re happy til we look around us and see everything we have to be grateful for. Always the happiest time for me is when the whole family is together.
    I’m glad you’re getting to see all of yours. Have a wonderful Sunday.

  2. Martha O'Quinn on October 1, 2017 at 11:55 am

    Emilie, I haven’t stopped smiling for a while now. I have 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters. Our oldest granddaughter has the two little ones. Her younger sister is expecting her first baby the first week in March. Our baby granddaughter is career Navy and is getting married toward the end of Oct. Her brother, our one and only grandson, just proposed to his “main squeeze” and she accepted. No date for that one yet. Proposal, wedding, baby – traditional progression, right? Except ours is with three different grandchildren! What joys and what blessings. Enjoy your visit to Asheville. We were at 45 degrees this morning.

    • Emilie Richards on October 1, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      Very special times, Martha. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Nancy Lepri on October 1, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Life is good!!!!

  4. Linda Snider on October 1, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    Thank you for sharing. Yes life is good,so much better when shared with family and friends. My family is spread out in different states. We have an annual reunion with kids and grandkids most are adults now where we share memories and make new ones.

    • Emilie Richards on October 1, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      I love the idea of an annual reunion. I bet you look forward to this every year.

  5. Donalene Poduska on October 1, 2017 at 10:08 pm

    So glad that you were in the Cleveland area to see some of your family — seems as if you might have been here during our record-setting heat wave for Sept.! I agree with you about how much family can mean so much to us. We are fortunate to have had our 9 grandchildren within 45-minute drive. Now one is in Hoboken, NJ; another, a student at Pitt, but now an intern for prosthetics company in Warsaw, IN; one at U. of Toledo; and one at Ohio State U. Memories are great for keeping our dear ones close to us. Glad that you got to see all of your family — and created more memories.

  6. Laurie I on October 3, 2017 at 6:49 pm

    The older I get, the more I appreciate the simpler things in life. Spending time with family and friends, sharing a great meal and companionship, is such a blessing.

  7. Treva Bakken on October 10, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    I enjoyed The Swallows Nest and hope you’re finishing another great novel.

    • Emilie Richards on October 10, 2017 at 8:43 pm

      I’m so glad you did, and yes, I’m hard at work. I love what I do and I love when readers enjoy my books.

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