When I judge myself
by other people's standards
I feel like a loser
and become unhappy.

When I free myself
from other people's standards
and focus on discovering
how to be joyful and happy
in the present-moment
in my everyday life
then I become
more joyful
more happy.

The challenge of living
is to search for opportunities
in my current situation
for joy and happiness.

The challenge of living
is to search for opportunities
to improve my current situation
to increase my joy and happiness.

Warm sunlight on my face,
warm sunlight on my arms and feet;
my body feels warm all over
but cooling in the summer breeze;
I am enjoying the experience
of being alive.

As I walk along the sand
with the bottom of my feet
I feel
the bumps in the sand
I feel
the fine coarse sand
on my skin
squishing in-between my toes,
I am enjoying the experience
of being alive.

As I wade across the water
I feel
the cool waves wash my feet,
I am enjoying the experience
of being alive.

Walking my favourite beach
I feel
the warm-but-cooling summer breeze through my hair,
I am enjoying the experience
of being alive.

There comes a time at night
when I am too tired to pretend
to be what others want me to be
and can be only myself;
late night is a time
when it is easier to discover
who I am.

I prepare for the worst
so that when it comes
I have wisdom
about what do do
to survive
and decrease my suffering
and increase my joy and happiness.

As I gaze at a cherished photographs
of my youthful travels,
I review the experiences
I enjoyed while they were happening
and now reviewing and savouring
the details of the experiences
I enjoy the experiences again.

The full moon
looks pretty
in the night sky
backgrounded by stars.