Ever Happy

In my ideal happily ever after, I would get married to my soulmate, have children, and live in a big, beautiful house near the mountains. I would have a good job with good coworkers, and I would spend my days enjoying my work and helping people. I would be closer to God than ever, and miracles would be common. I would make a positive impact on every person I meet. And when I’d done enough, I would be whisked away to a joyous eternity in heaven.

Of course, that’s not actually all going to happen just the way I wish it would. The only part I can count on is heaven. I have confidence in my faith, which means I know how my story ends; I know my happily ever after. Everything that happens until then is a mystery, and I doubt it will be easy. For me, a happy life means having joy in both the highs and the lows. It means working for your purpose with all your might, even when it’s hard. It means finding contentment while rich or poor. It means loving God and people with your whole heart. It means overcoming fear with hope. It means not just thinking and dreaming but acting. It means persevering in the face of adversity.

The phrase “happily ever after” makes it sound like this distant dream state in which everything is fine. But I say that happily ever after can be in the here and now, and that it’s a choice rather than a circumstance. It’s not something that’s physically attainable in this world because this world isn’t perfect. Instead, it’s a mindset. Sure, when all is said and done and I leave this body behind, I’ll get a real, glorious, happy ever afterlife. Until then, though, it will be enough to choose to live this life ever happy, no matter what.