I found this in my Word documents.. I saved it (back in August 1999), with the title "inspiration". I have no idea who wrote it, but I can say that I did not. If anybody knows who did, please tell me so I can credit them. In any case, it is full of wisdom, and so worth reading no matter who you are.




"We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a
baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and
we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have
teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that
stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or
her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we're able to go on a nice vacation,
when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now,
then when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to
admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite
quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to
me that life was about to begin--real life. But there was always some obstacle
in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business,
time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it
dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped
me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you
shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and
remember that time waits for no one.

Stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you
lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your
kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get
married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning,
until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until
spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare,
until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a
drink, until you've sobered up, until you doe.... to decide that there is no
better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Thought for the day: Work like you
don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one is
looking."