You Don’t Need Anyone’s Permission To Be Happy
So stop waiting for it.
During 2020 and 2021, we all had to adapt to unforeseen circumstances that not only inconvenienced us on a day-to-day basis but also significantly destroyed lives and families permanently.
We had to find new ways to entertain ourselves and we also had to find new ways to cope with how our lives and communities changed due to a virus that spread rapidly throughout the world.
At first, when the schools and businesses shut down, it felt like it would only be for a few weeks — maybe a month at the most.
But it wasn’t just for a week or a month. It went on for almost 2 years and it is still very much the reality of daily life in many places.
It’s been scary. It’s been stressful. It’s been unbelievably frustrating.
For everyone.
The distance learning hurdles with school for my own kids almost drove me mad in the beginning. It went on for so long that many parents like myself simply reached a numb stage of reluctant acceptance and hopelessness regarding schooling and ways to keep our kids socially engaged.
Trying to remain a calm person and parent in front of my children felt utterly impossible at times.
The ever-changing safety guidelines and non-stop barrage of bad news hurdled by conspiracy theories and media coverage were and are still incredibly depressing.
The stories of others going through immense pain due to losing family members are undoubtedly heartbreaking, to say the least. However, after many long months of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty — I’ve decided that I’m not waiting around to be happy anymore.
And by ‘happy’ — I mean feeling content with the life that exists in front of me right now — just the way it is.
No more waiting for the next breaking or developing story to determine how my mood will shift. No more waiting ‘until things get better’ or planning for ‘someday soon’.
Someday soon is NOW.
The pandemic changed how I view everything to do with personal happiness and lifestyle choices — and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
It is possible to create happiness for ourselves and learn to adapt to change without inciting divisiveness with the people around us.
I may not agree with every news report, every safety measure, or every opinion about the virus and/or vaccines. However, I do know that life must go on — as it is now — not necessarily how it used to be or how we wish it could be.
I have learned throughout this last year that I don’t need anyone’s permission to be happy again. Not even the people closest to me in my life.
Enough waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ or when everything is ‘normal’ again.
I have learned that we can decide to be happy even when we aren’t in control of everything. It is entirely possible to navigate life as we know it now while giving ourselves permission to be happy — even in circumstances that may not be ideal.
We need to decide to let go of our vision of what we thought the ideal life is supposed to look like and refocus on finding gratitude in what is actually happening now.
Embracing happiness in the current moment — to me — means more kindness to myself and to others despite the daily frustrations. It means understanding that not everyone has the same coping mechanisms when they feel afraid or threatened by a crisis caused by events they cannot control.
It means realizing that life is happening right now and it’s moving along at a steady pace whether we like the circumstances or not. It means knowing that you still have the power to cultivate your own kind of happiness — in your own individual way.
It means re-thinking your idea of what happiness actually is.
Is your idea of happiness based on how you prioritize money, relationships, friendships, entertainment, health, or family? What does happiness mean to you and how long are you going to wait before you realize that you can cultivate it on your own right now — even in some small way?
You don’t need anyone’s permission to be happy — you just need to give that permission to yourself.
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