The Happy Gene

I am sitting here tonight reading a new book that I purchased this past week and came across an interesting cartoon. It was a picture of what looked to be an unhappy man sitting in the examination chair at his doctor’s office. The doctor was looking at him with his clip board in hand. The caption read "The tests show you have an over active grumpy gene". I had to laugh out loud. It is just the opposite of something one of my daughters said a number of years ago. I can't remember now the entire conversation that we had back then. I just remember we were looking at or talking about someone who didn’t look very happy at the time. That’s when my daughter said without hesitation, “They don't have the Schulte Happy Gene”! I have never forgotten that comment. I don’t know if all happiness is in our genes, but I am sure some of it is. I just look at my three daughters and see very happy girls. They have all had their tough times but always seem to come out smiling. Which reminds me, how often have you seen someone looking kind of sad and not having the best day? A lot of times a warm smile and some kind words will totally change their outlook. So, it works both ways. The day is what you make it, AND what you make it for others. Either way it’s a win- win. When you make someone’s day great, your own will be even better!

Steve
p.s. The title of the book is, Happy for No Reason by Marci Shimoff.