I remember years ago feeling like I should start collecting something. Somehow I thought it would add to my character or complete me in some way. After much thought I decided to collect elephants (not real ones-although that would be an impressive collection to show-off to family and friends) because I find them to be admirable creatures and I didn't know anyone who collected them. The collection never took off. Collections require time, money, and space. I struggle with being consistent, I worry about frivolous spending, (which doesn't always keep me from engaging in it), and I am always trying to de-clutter my life. After the elephants failed to add up I thought about collecting cash but those collections never last long it seems so I decided to collect books. It is hard for me to imagine having too many books. My book collection isn't as vast as I would like it to be but it is gradually growing.
Sometimes I think I only collect dust but that isn't impressive especially since 99.9 % of my collection is just the common household variety. I'll leave you wondering about the other 1/10th. It is fun to ponder how far the dust might have traveled before arriving at my house and what exactly is the shelf-life of dust? Now there is a good reason for not dusting---I am conducting an experiment!
People collect rocks, stamps, coins, dead insects, garbage, taxes, etc. Perhaps I could collect happiness. (I can picture eye-rolling and gagging at this point but stick with me) I have often enjoyed consciously collecting smiles. I remember one day when I was in college I decided to be happy and to smile at people all day. Many people smiled back and I had a very good day. I think we too often look outside of ourselves for things to make us happy. We buy stuff, we collect things, we go places, we take medication...We all know how good a smile can make us feel or how something relatively simple can make us happy. I believe the act of being positive or happy can create physical chemical reactions and changes in our body---with only good side effects.
A collection of happiness would create its own space, wouldn't have to be insured or dusted, and you wouldn't have to travel very far to find it. If everyone collected happiness there wouldn't be a shortage but an increase of happiness to collect. Am I always such a persistant Pollyanna or obstinate optimist? No. Just ask my husband who puts up with my worrying and my depression diving. (kind of like dumpster diving without finding treasure) But I am a tenacious hanger-on to hope. Hope has led me to some of the best moments in my life. It has rescued me and cheered me on. Hope keeps great company in faith and charity. If we must hope for a better world we need to take up a collection of happiness for ourselves...that sounds selfish but can we really have other people take up a collection of happiness for us
Get started on those collections. Perhaps you can spot something right now from your window that you can add to your collection.
This afternoon I was driving to our dentist office to pick up an x-ray to take with us when my daughter has her wisdom teeth out. So I was thinking about tooth extraction and it was cold and snowing when it is supposed to be Spring and I saw a young man dressed up in a Statue of Liberty costume(advertising for Liberty Tax)dancing with wild abandon on the side of the street. To top it off, I realized a song called 'Smile' by Uncle Cracker was playing on the radio--a song that includes the line,"You make me dance like a fool..." It was one of those fun, quirky moments when the stars align in the form of a smiley face. I think I will add it to my happiness collection.
ReplyDeleteHow perfect is that? (Your comment, I mean.) When I was very young I actually knew a lady who collected statues of elephants. She was my best friend's mother. She always seemed sort of exotic to me, perhaps because she came from Vermont, and in California at that time she was the only Easterner we knew. She was Different. I think I have finished collecting Different People, but maybe not.
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