Jose’ Harris Quote

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“There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.” Jose’ N. Harris, MI VIDA: A Story of Faith, Hope and Love

I thought I would go back to my roots with this blog and talk about the above quote which is a recent favorite of mine, but one that I also struggle with.

I agree with the perspective that as one ages, and hopefully matures, you actively decide to cut thru all of the noise in life and those who create it. You make a conscious decision to move away from those who create & thrive on the drama, and instead focus on and surround yourself with people who are at peace with themselves and the world around them. And by doing so, you find contentment not only with time spent with them, but within yourself, as you are much more able to focus on what is truly important to you, whether it be finding or increasing your inner peace, better health & fitness, quality time spent with family & friends, prayer, strengthening your relationship with God, or just reliving fond memories of all the people who have come & gone in your life, leaving their indelible print & influence on your being.

For to truly be happy with yourself and others, you really do have to forget the bad and focus on the good. It does no one any good to harbor ill will or let resentments foster. In fact, it has been my experience that it hurts the person who is carrying these negative feelings more so than the person or persons that they’re directed toward. And lets be honest, who in life is not guilty of at one time or another of hurting another person. Certainly not me, I am as guilty as they come. The key is to recognize that you are just as guilty, if not more so at times, as the person that you resent. So, I try to atone for my actions that have caused hurt and pain to others, learn from them, and move forward.

Here’s where I struggle with Jose’ Harris’ above quote – if we only surround ourselves with people who make us laugh, and walk away from all the drama, and more importantly, those who create it, what does that say about us? Not everyone has a happy go lucky life, not most people I know anyway. And if we only surround ourself with positive people who bring us light, laughter & happiness, then does that make us shallow? For what kind of friend or family member would I be if I walk away just when they need me the most?

So for me, it’s important to realize when a person may be going thru a rough time in their life and may need a shoulder to lean on, perhaps even cry on. And to be honest, I think the deciding criteria for me as to whether to continue to have this person in my life is whether or not they add value to life in general. It may not have to be our particular relationship at the time, but I have to see that they are a good person who is capable of and does bring peace, joy and happiness to others on occasion.

As a friend, and as a family member who takes an active role in family relationships, I think it’s important not to be too quick to cut and run. But when & if the time comes to make that decision, then I feel it has to be made decisively, and only after you have truly tried your best to help this person overcome their need to create drama and to focus on the positive.

So yes, “Life is too short to be anything but happy”, but it shouldn’t be done by casting aside those that may not bring you happiness in the moment. And yes, laughing is one of the best medicines ever, and I can honestly say that I have so many family & friends that surround and fill my life with laughter that I truly consider myself a rich man. But I love them not only for what they do for me, but for who they are and what they add to the fabric of life in general, and the world as a whole. And I pray every night for those people who create the drama, and particulary for those who don’t treat me right, that God will help them to find inner peace, comfort and strength. For it is my belief that they create the drama because they are lonely, isolated and unhappy, and are unable find their way out of such darkness.

I have fallen down more times than I can count, and sometimes I fall in a hole so dark that I’m not sure if I’ll ever find my way out, but with the help God and all of the good people He has placed in my life, I always have. So I hope as I choose to walk away from all of the drama, and those who create it, that I remember to offer a helping hand to all those who want it, but more importantly, to all those who need it, and in doing so, giving them the courage to move forward as well.

In the words of one of my wife’s favorite songs – “Don’t worry, be happy!”

Thank you for reading.

Author: commonmanthoughts57

Living a common life with my exceptionally uncommon wife, who was the girl next door, and is the love of my life. View all posts by commonmanthoughts57