JIM “PAPPY” MOORE: The Key to Happiness

I relate to folks in my age group, which collectively I refer to with the generic term Senior Citizens. As Seniors, we have lived through much. Have we learned anything? I have learned that patience is indeed a virtue and the person who gets the most out of having it is You and Me. The key to happiness is not getting in a hurry.

When we are younger, we have many irons in the fire. Get up, get ready, eat a bite for breakfast, drink a quick cup of coffee, tend to children, get out the door, drive to work, work all day, come home, be mom or dad, take kids places, be coaches, go to games, come home, eat dinner, watch TV for a bit, go to bed. Do it all again tomorrow.

It is hectic. We are always busy, working for the weekend. Then the weekend has plenty of things to do, including catch up on sleep if you can.

After retirement is a time to slow down, smell the roses, avoid getting in a hurry, and enjoy the time off you now have. Some have to be caregivers for others, and that is a real impediment to relaxation. I cannot say that my column today is about those folks. They have a hard, hard row to hoe. Nothing is harder than being a senior citizen taking care of another senior citizen. For those who do, you are a Saint!

But for those not encumbered, most of our tension in life is self-imposed. We get upset if things don’t go our way. We let life’s little difficulties ruin our day, and perhaps the day of those around us. This is where not getting in a hurry kicks in.

I drive a hundred miles or more to see friends and relatives. I expect the flow of traffic will be good, that the days and times I have chosen hold the best chance of being agreeable. I am optimistic because that is my nature. But sometimes you drive over the ridge and traffic is backed up. Some idiot has rear-ended another driver because they are an unsafe driver, or some other reason. Now we all have to wait. Maybe 10 minutes. Maybe half an hour or longer. You can’t change it. You have to suffer through it. I use my radio to get news, talk shows, or music. I use my CDs of Angie Garner singing gospel songs to soothe me, to act as a prayer for me as I listen to them. I recommend you use whatever works for you, but do something that calms you down.

I like to think “well it was going to take me two hours, and now it’s going to take me two and a half hours, and since I left an hour earlier, I have time to spare.” Leaving early and not getting in a hurry are the keys to a tranquil life. If you are late everywhere you go, that’s on YOU. Not the traffic. Not the idiot who ran into the other idiot. You own it. Bad planning = bad results.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to grumbling about those idiots who can’t seem to drive without making wrecks that cause pain for all of us. But there’s a difference between a few minutes of grumbling under your breath when you’re alone and letting the whole thing eat your soul. Let. It. Go.

When you’re stopped, find things to be happy about. The people you’re going to see soon. The things you will do with them. The meals you may have with them. “Always look on the bright side of life,” the song lyricist told us. True words!

The only person who can lock you up in anger or disappointment is YOU. It is up to you to not put you in that cage. Sing a song. Say a pray. Be thankful of things you have. Don’t let a 30 minute delay ruin your day.

You are in control of your life, even when bad things happen.