“Getting together  
as a family is a  
great way to  
reinforce bonds  
that have existed  
for generations.”

Today was “family day” at the pool. Kathy and I thoroughly enjoyed having all three of our boys, along with all five grandkids with us for an afternoon of swimming and snacks. Steve’s wife, Morgan, was able to join us, too. After four hours at the pool, I think we will all sleep well tonight.

American journalist Christopher Morley once wrote, “Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.” I have been blessed with an overabundance of happy moments in my life, and even now, I continue to experience them. Certainly, there have been challenging times in the lives of us all, but that’s to be expected. The secret to overall happiness is to focus on the blessings, rather than the hardships.

Happiness isn’t something we randomly find. It’s something we create. As President Abraham Lincoln once said, “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

There are two tasks I try to accomplish every day before I get out of bed: (1) to be grateful the many gifts with which I’ve been blessed, and (2) to make a conscious decision to be happy each day. Some days are easier than others, but whether my day turns out to be good or bad depends mostly on my own attitude and outlook on life, rather than the myriad things I experience throughout the day. 

As author Roy T. Bennett pointed out, “Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”

“Spending time with family  
is not a task,  
it’s a gift.”