Happy Gilmore was a movie that still sticks in many of our minds.  Not just because it was funny, but because of how Happy managed his anger issues.  He came from a fairly violent sport, hockey, to make a go at golf by entering a tournament to save his grandmother’s home.

          The non-professional way of doing things irritated all the pro golfers.  His ‘blue collar’ style broke through the walls of glass and proved to help him win.  The one thing he did to help calm his anger was go to his, ‘happy place’.   That place he focused his mind on instead of the anger in front of him.  That place where he could find peace and an escape from the nervousness that was going to cause him to lose.  Of course, his happy place was comical, but the point had some truth to it.

          I’m not one to throw my golf clubs over the fence or punch out Bob Barker type of people, but, like everyone else, I have to deal with anger and the stresses of life.  I’m also not one to follow the latest ‘self-help’ book or video, but there is something to the idea of clearing our minds of all the noise and focusing on the good and peaceful.

          We’re not only what we eat, but what we think.  Pastor Hutch of the Methodist church in the town I grew up in used to say, ‘The birds will always fly over. Just don’t let them nest’.  Good advice.  We’re never going to stop those thoughts from going through our heads completely (especially when driving on the highway around here).  It’s what we do with them that matters.

          I was walking downtown the other morning when I shot this photo today and it just reminded me of that ‘happy place’ one might think of when trying to relax.  Sitting outside in the morning, having a cup of coffee while the sun rises, and the birds sing, is a ‘happy place’ for sure. 

          Ironically, on the way there, I was walking by a home that’s been under construction for a long time.  One of the neighbors, a very senior guy who never seems to be happy, was walking his dog in front of that home and I heard him blurt out loud, ‘I HATE THOSE F…ING PEOPLE!!!’ (speaking of the contractors who are messy and taking forever to finish).  I quickly went the other direction not wanting him to yell at me either!! 

My neighbor needed his happy place at that moment!  It sure wasn’t walking by that unfinished house every day making him more and more angry. 

So, today, where’s your ‘happy place’?  I know where mine are.  One of them, is wherever my eye sees something of beauty through my camera viewfinder.  Catching that moment brings a sense of peace and joy I can’t explain.  Another is sitting with the Mrs. with a cup of coffee outside just relaxing.  Doesn’t get much better than that!

Wishing you a ‘happy weekend’ my friends!

Brad