Always Strive to be Better

This is the eighth in the list of 10 Commandments for Happiness – not chronologically by rank but numerically. Striving to be better involves improvement and change.

An anonymous author wrote, "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement". Another wrote, "The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself". We have already noted that happiness comes from giving or contributing to someone or something beyond oneself.

We are told that the human brain is capable of holding one thousand terabytes of data, roughly 100 times the capacity of the U.S. Library of Congress. Thus the human brain's capacity for learning more and improvement is almost beyond imagination.

Improvement also means growth, and moving beyond one's present station is a source of happiness. That is what C.R. Lawton meant in this quotation: "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow".

We can therefore summarize by saying, self-improvement, growth and change, all contribute to happiness and they are interconnected. A final quotation from Les Brown: "You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances unless you change".

Treat others the way you would like to be treated

You can hardly find happiness if you are not involved in others' happiness. Look at every faith tradition and you will discover that they all emphasize compassion. Compassion is a lot more than simply pity or feeling sorry for another person.

Essentially, compassion is feeling what the other person feels. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are..." (Romans 12:15-16).

There is a desire for compassion in every human being. Being compassionate with others leads them to be compassionate with us. Conversely, treating others with contempt prompts them to treat us with contempt.

Happiness is a two-way street: give it; you will receive it. Withhold it; you will be miserable. Essentially, that is what it means to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Next, we will look at the remaining 2 of the 10 Commandments for Happiness
　

The Road to the London Olympics

After the close of the impressive 2012 World Choir Games, the people of Cincinnati can now turn their full attention to the upcoming London Olympics which open on July 27, 2012.

For the first time, women in the U.S team outnumber men 269 to 261

One of the women, the prospective – or even, the projected – first ever U.S gold medalist in Judo, has roots in Cincinnati. Not only that; Kayla Harrison, a Middletown native, has a life story that is pure inspiration as an example of one who overcomes affliction to emerge out a star.

It is fair to say that, even before London, Kayla Harrison is role model and a teacher to many. In 2004, when she was only 13, she was sexually abused by her judo trainer, and a sexual relationship continued for three years. It is devastating at such a tender age – or even at any age – to be abused by a person in a position of trust.

Yet, she overcame all that. Lou Holtz is quoted to have said, "It is not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it". That is the first lesson we all learn.

The second lesson is how she bonded with positive people at Pedro's Judo Center in Massachusetts, and managed to keep pursuing her Judo dreams after her emotional ordeal. It a lesson everyone can learn.

A first gold medal in Judo for the U.S will be a well-deserved crown for Kayla Harrison for her endurance. Again, that is almost assured. However, even without it, she has this far taught many some useful lessons which will continue to be part of her legacy.

At only 22, Kayla Harrison is, and will continue to be a role model for many across the country and around the world.

　

　

　

Bible Study surrounded by nature is most inspiring

While Christ Church Cathedral served as a venue for the 2012 World Choir Games, which conclude today,the church's Men's Bible Study group had to find a venue for their Thursday morning study away from the library. The International FriendshipPark provided a perfect venue for the past two Thursdays.

Now the group is pulled between continuing their bible study in the park and going back to the cozy library.

They could hear – and even feel – the Ohio River flowing in the background. Ahead, the picturesque Mount Adams was in perfect view. Surrounded by trees and summer flowers, the sound of chirping morning birds is everywhere.  Every few minutes joggers go by, adding to the conscious awareness of the beauty of life in its fullest.

The park's display of flags from different nations adds to the awareness that all humans are connected to one another and with nature.
 
In meditation for this Sunday’s lectionary lessons from 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Eph. 1:3-14; and Mark 6:14-29, the group directed its reflection on the Collect for the day, which asks God to “receive the prayers of Your people who call upon You, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them”.

In the Gospel Reading, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded even though his conscious was against it. He succumbed to his ego, and the fleshly desire to appease his step-daughter after her sensual dance.

That is a good lesson in today’s world.

The bible study provides such an enriching and inspiring one hour a week that at the end of it, as one in the group remarked, “We have been here only 45 minutes but it feels like a whole day of so much fun”.

Yes, bible study is fun, even more so when surrounded by nature.

Never Take Anything too Seriously

Number 6 of Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness is about being able to be relaxed – not letting things weigh heavily on your spirit. Recently I saw a paraphrase of Micah 6:8b on a T-shirt which read: “Be kind, don't take yourself seriously, but take God seriously”.

Rigidity is a source of misery, there is no doubt about it.

To ridicule the religious and monks in his book The Praise of Folly (1509) Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote: “It is amusing to see how they do everything by rule, almost mathematically. Any slip is sacrilege; each shoe string must have so many knots and must be of certain color...making an extraordinary stir if a habit is belted incorrectly or if its color is a shade too dark...”

First, this is not in reference to the religious and monks only. Secondly, it may sound like the life of a perfectionist, but, examine your attitude and how you work or think of others' habits. If you can't laugh at yourself you are probably not going to be happy either.

There is truth in the maxim: “Laughter is the best medicine”.

Work Towards Something Meaningful

This is number 5 on our discussion of Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness – number 6 on his list – but again the numbering is purely arbitrary.

What is meaningful is that which is bigger than the individual's propensity. It does not have to be a grand endeavor, but directed outside of oneself. There is, for example, a volunteer at City Gospel Mission, who, for years has shown up, at 6:30 in the morning to serve breakfast to the poor and homeless. He stands at the door to the dining hall and high fives every guest with a broad smile and a greeting: “God be in your day!”. The effect is contagious as the guests cheer up in response.

Nothing grand but warming hearts.

Happiness comes from being positive about oneself and extending that to others; aiming to influence others to have a positive outlook about themselves and life in general. Bear in mind that human beings are spiritually connected. How you feel about yourself impacts those around you in their feelings about themselves.

Be a positive influence; you will find happiness in it.

The Monkey Trial still goes on

Back in 1994 the O.J. Simpson trial was dubbed “the trial of the century”. I suspect it was because the Monkey Trial that began on July 10, 1925 had been forgotten by popular media and television was unknown in 1925. Undoubtedly, the Monkey Trial was “one of the most famous trials in U.S history”

The issues that prompted the trial are still entrenched in the faith community and growing stronger. The main issue was, of course, the literal interpretation of the Bible; a point that was not addressed during the trial because Judge John Raulston himself espoused literal interpretation.

When, in 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in another case citing the First Amendment, well, literal interpretation remains beyond the scope of judicial jurisdiction.

A Nova Program on PBS has been featuring new images of space and the universe – new in the sense that they were unknown or undiscovered in biblical times. To fathom what space telescopes like Hubble reveal calls for faith in itself.

The question I am raising is this: Would the creation narratives in Genesis still be as they are, if they were written today? With new stars being born (or created) and old ones dying and the discovery of galaxies that dwarf the earth “as center of the universe”, isn't creation still in progress?

Share your comments and suggestions.

Live Without Regrets

This is number one on Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness. It is another way of saying give up all hope of a better past. Regrets stem from mistakes or lost opportunities in the past; guilt for actions or inaction in the past; thoughts of "what could have been".

Perhaps, nothing will rob one of happiness more than living in the past.
Learn from mistakes, build on the present and look forward to the future. The present matters far more than the past; it is what you have. This compliments the last commandment we discussed: Enjoy all the little things, appreciate and be grateful for what you have regardless of what you had had or could have had.

Happiness is found in the present, not in the past.

Have a positive attitude about the present. Yes, we all may have some sweet memories of years gone buy, just don't let them take away the joy of the present. Experience from the past – good and bad – can only help us make better judgment today, but we cannot relive them.

Make a decision today to choose the present over the past.

Enjoy All the Little Things

This is listed at number seven on Brad's 10 Commandments of Happiness.

It is easy to be caught up in preoccupation with what we do not have, and be oblivious to what we already have. A spirit of appreciation is a powerful force for happiness.

Life is a wonderful gift; it has meaning and a purpose. Waking up in the morning is a gift. So is food on the table – not how much but enough for sustenance. Having a friend or someone who cares, family and, simply, people around – these are blessings to be accepted and appreciated.

In our materialistic society, the significance of abundance is exaggerated and the simple blessings of life overshadowed. Longing for what could have been takes away the joy of the present. As Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) noted, "We are always getting ready to live, but never living".

Happiness is in living in the present.