Remember

photo © 2006 Derek Jones | more info (via: Wylio)Take a moment and pause today to remember happy times. Remember times with smiles and laughter, which only joy brings. For each of us played a part in Erica's life, from the day she was born, the first time she rode a bike, softball games, graduation, the birth of her daughters, many happy memories were left for us. Remember her smile and her blue eyes when they shined. Remember the words of advice she gave you to guide you in your life. Erica may not be with us but happy memories remain. She lives on forever if only in our mind, because we will remember.

Quote: Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~From the television show The Wonder Years

Happiness

photo © 2006 Irina Iordachescu | more info (via: Wylio)
Erica's last facebook post stated "I'm the happiest I've ever been, now I just want to get some sleep."

In my professional life I've taught a class on Ethics.  Some people believe our purpose in life is to find true happiness.  Again, I find some irony in the fact that Erica posted such comment the night before she passed away.  Is our destiny simply to find true happiness?  Should I find it comforting that Erica had found happiness?

My Mom would always tell us "You can't look for others to make you happy, you have to find the happiness within yourself."  Yet, the majority of people seek outside things or stuff to make them happy.  I believe it starts with our own heart.  Is your heart truely open to happiness?  We can't find what we're not prepared to receive.  So, prepare your heart for happiness.

Quote:  Happiness is the only good.  The place to be happy is here.  The time to be happy is now.  The way to be happy is to help make others so.  ~Robert G. Ingersoll