It's Okay To Be Happy

Very recently, I experienced one of life's greatest and most rewarding moments. Far beyond the mundanities of childbirth, spiritual enlightenment, and finding one's identity in the world, it was mind-blowing - nay, life-changing. I am a completely different person because of it. What happened, you ask?

I met George R. R. Martin. 

Allow me to repeat that: George R. motherhugging R. Martin. 

Okay, so I suppose it wasn't that momentous. But it was pretty awesome. I was really excited about it, and had been days before leading up to it. I was actually described as "giddy" by friends that were with me, but let's not forget that that is simply a subjective opinion. There is no proof whether that is true or not - as far as I'm aware.

Whilst I'm probably not the world's biggest GRRM fan, I was super happy. And this leads me onto one of my resolutions from this year: 

I need to allow myself to be happy more. 

You know what they never teach you in school? To sum up growing up, it's basically learning that life is full of crap. Bad things happen. They just do. But having said that, sometimes, so do good things.

However, I don't precisely mean the momentous occasions like those I mentioned at the start of this post, because it's easy to be overwhelmed with joy by such big things. I'm talking about the small gifts that life offers you every now and then. 

The times when your jam comes on the radio. 

The spare bits of bubblewrap that you get to pop. 

Freebies.

I don't think I'm a particularly lucky person so to speak (I have to yet to win any prize draw I've ever entered), but I like to think that I allow myself to enjoy these little bits of happiness when I come across them. 

A fantastic video of a corgi diving. (This one gets me every single time.)

Free posters from the cinema. 

The genius that is the Ham Horn app. 

When I finally get 'round to changing my bedsheets and it has that super clean smell.

Sunshine.

I know many people advocate creating and actively finding these instances of happiness, but I think even before that, the first step is accepting the natural ones that just come by happenstance. It is just too easy to let the random curve balls ruin your day and bring you down. So when the good ones come along, I like to think that I let myself fully enjoy them, no matter how fleeting they may be.

And this is all coming from a guy who doesn't think himself too positive a person. Quite honestly, things probably could be a lot better than they currently are in my life right now. But I don't think that that fact should hinder my ability to accept some of the better parts of my day. Queuing up to get GRRM's autograph could have just been another way to spend the afternoon. But instead, I consciously decided to let this make me happy. In fact, there was a young little girl also in queue that day, and to pass the time, she had a bubble gun. And there she was, squirting bubbles all over the street, and laughing hysterically as she popped these tiny, soapy pockets of air. I always hear people saying how much they wish they could be as happy as children are. And I think it's absolutely possible, when you allow yourself to be. As a matter of fact, I realise a lot of people think me 'childish'. But you know what? I don't think that's such a bad trait, within context. Sure, bubbles aren't as breathtaking as they used to be, but there is certainly more than just bubbles to be happy about when you open your eyes.

Like seeing George R.R. Martin's glorious and magnificent beard in person.