Release what is not meant for you.
Release what has abandoned you.
Release what has attempted to destroy you, hold you captive, bring you down.
Ke Atlas
Of all the items on the list, though, there was one overarching theme.
When I grew up, most of all, I wanted to be happy.
And so I wrote that on the piece of paperhappy, a promise to my future self.
Years later, and more or less grown up, I think about that notecard often.
Its more abstract than we give it credit for.
And sometimes happiness is not really a thing at all, but a decision.
Ke Atlas
Deciding to live with a spirit of gratitude.
Accepting that you cannot change everything, but youcanadapt your attitude.
And letting yourself heal.
Happiness comes from finding peace with where you are.
Not because its exactly where you wanted to be.
Not because you have everything you could ever need.
Not because you are wealthy, or in love, or doing better than the person next to you.
Happiness comes for no reason at all, other than because you decide you want it there.
You decide to create it, to make it, to build it out of the circumstances around you.
So choose to be thankful in the challenges.
Release what is not meant for you.
Release what has abandoned you.
Release what has attempted to destroy you, hold you captive, bring you down.
Release the pain youve been holding in your chest.
Release the anxiety, the anger, the fear.
Release and make a conscious choicetoday and every dayto seek happiness and live with a grateful heart.
Because there you will heal, you will begin again, you will grow.
