Happiness Lies in the Moments
“Doing all we can do with what we are given."
During an interview that aired this morning on CBS Sunday Morning, Denzel Washington shared his thoughts on the death of Chadwick Boseman. “He did all he could do with what he was given,” he said.
This week’s caring question asked about our happiness. I think Washington’s response offers a helpful perspective on happiness during our caregiving experience.
We treasure our happy moments as they arrive because we feel the sad ones so deeply. We do all we can with our happy moments as they arrive, appreciating what we are given.
We may be tempted, though, to dismiss these happy moments. We can think happiness during a difficult time disrespects the seriousness of our situation.
Our happy moments are just what we need to manage the most serious of life’s situations.
If we share these happy moments with our caree, we give ourselves two happy moments — one for today and a second for another day because we’ve created a joyful memory. These remembrances will be just the compassionate gifts we need when we wonder if we did enough. We did enough with all that we were given.