A Happy Place

"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever." – Walt Disney

For as long as I can remember, Disneyland has been known as the “happiest place on earth”. My favorite Fantasyland ride embraces all three aspects of Mr. Disney’s quote. If you have not had the pleasure, the experience begins by taking a leisurely boat ride through a dark tunnel where one visits the colorful regions of the world. Delightful, frolicking, animatronic dolls are dressed in their country’s traditional costumes singing in their own language, “It’s a Small World After All". The joyful music is heard through the duration of the ride mixed with wild bird and animal sounds of the jungle, yodeling in the Alps, the castanets of Spain, and the steel guitar sounds of Hawaii. It’s truly a happy place where one can feel a sense of global peace and unity, and for at least the duration of the ride, freedom from the cares of the world.

Contrary to the pseudo world of social media, life is hard! We are often met with challenges and at times, suffer great tragedies. We seem to be able to overcome them for the most part, but as we know, even our day to day struggles drag us down and our health suffers.

Although we often fall short of doing our best, most of us know how to take better care of our bodies and minds. Physical and mental health is a great concern and answers, tips, and tricks bombard us daily. Finding what works best for us is our challenge, for no two individuals are alike. The same is true with our spiritual health.

Years ago I was struggling with a medical condition. Unable to find answers from my primary care doctor, I made an appointment with a holistic physician. At the conclusion of my exam, he made the following statement: “Your spiritual well-being is suffering.”

Admittedly, his words hit me hard! Although this was not a part of my life that I had been even thinking about at this time, the truthfulness of that assessment was powerful. This is not the place for me to share my journey, but it was just what I needed to put me on the path to seeking out what I was apparently lacking that was affecting my overall health.

I believe that most of us feel the need for spirituality in our lives. I recognize however, that this has a different meaning for each of us. For most perhaps, it’s belonging to a religion, attending a weekly service, visiting a synagogue, mosque or temple. Fellowshipping with others of the same faith who share our values, can uplift and feed our spirits and strengthen us, especially during difficult times. For others, it may be as simple as yoga, meditation, or tai chi, spending time walking through a misty forest, hiking to the top of a mountain peak to take in the silence, fishing in solitude while listening to the rushing stream bouncing off the rocks, or simply watching the sunset on the beach while enjoying the smell of fresh ocean air, may be all we need to feed and rejuvenate our spirit.

It is important for each of us to search within ourselves to discover what it means to nurture our spirits and reinforce our spiritual well-being. In doing so, you may discover that there is indeed a happy place for you, where you can leave behind even if for a moment, the cares of the world, rejuvenate your soul, feel joy and peace, and contemplate all and any concerns or questions you have in your life. Freeing us up from our challenges, often helps us to think more clearly, make better decisions, and proceed with a stronger conviction and a greater desire to do the right thing.

Using your wisdom and all that has brought you to this point in your life, can help you discover your own personal happy place where laughter can be timeless, imagination has no limits, and dreams can be forever.