Achieving Happiness
– By Josh Warburton –
Who’s ready for this month’s “Unsolicited Advice From Josh” column? Anyone? Anyone? OK, great. Here we go. Often, I feel like that’s largely what this is. My own personal bullhorn or soapbox. I don’t intend it that way. Many months I’ll write about the awesome events included in this month’s issue (and there are some really awesome Fall events in this edition for sure), but often I use it as an opportunity to share my ideas. So, if you enjoy unsolicited advice as much as I do, please read on.
I don’t think of myself as an expert in a lot of things. I don’t have a degree. I do have 10,000+ hours in a few things including playing guitar, eating, and sleeping. I’m actually quite the expert in those last two and they are two of my favorite activities. But one other activity I believe I’ve reached a Master’s level at is being happy. I’ve definitely passed 10,000 hours of happiness, certainly many times over by now. So, when I give advice about how to be happy, I do feel it’s based on decades of experience. I remember a customer 20+ years ago asking me why I was so happy all the time. I remember replying then similarly to how I’d answer it now.
“Because it’s my choice to be happy.” No one else can experience that for you and no one else should have any impact on how you experience the world.
So that’s what my advice is based on this time. And you’re about to hear something a publisher or media person will rarely say. Turn off the news. Not completely. We are in the middle of another wave of a global pandemic that has taken the lives of millions of people and impacted the lives of everyone else. So don’t misunderstand me. Consume news, but ideally, as little as possible, that’s not actionable. Or at the very least be discerning when you watch the news and try to ask yourself on a regular basis “is this relevant to me, insofar as can I take any action on it at all?”
In the case of Covid, the answer is yes. Even though it is a global pandemic you can very much adjust your behavior based on the conditions on the ground where you are and where you’re planning to go. I just went to an outdoor music festival and had a great time… and yes, I also took precautions related to COVID. And although there is no 100% guarantee you might not still contract the virus; we all know now the things we can do to slow the spread. Are they fun? Mostly no. Are we all sick of them? Absolutely. Am I less likely to get and spread it because I am vaccinated? For sure. But that’s not an excuse to otherwise ignore the facts on the ground. Just in the last month, nearly the whole country moved into “High” Community Transmission Level. And it sucks! But you get to choose what you do with this info. And again, I’m not saying bury your head in the sand, I’m just saying to remember, life is good. And is to be lived! I’ll also add the old adages of “better to err on the side of caution” and “better safe than sorry” as we navigate another difficult time. Be kind and remember, we are all in this together.
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