Tuesday, September 16, 2008


A Wee Bit Of Happiness

All throughout my life I have occasionally experienced a feeling I could only describe as a rush of unexpected happiness. Driving down the road, walking Edward, or just drifting along a crowded street, devoid of thought, it comes over me like a sea breeze, and I suddenly feel ...happy. I used to analyze it. What specifically am I happy about? Why did this feeling show itself at this particular moment? Did I do, or think, something to conjure it? No more. Now I just close my eyes, take a breath, and drink it in. I have learned to accept it as a gift. A blessing. Perhaps a brush of an angel’s wing. Or God’s own gaze turned my way.

The colors of September always entice me into my poetry books and I recognized a bit of this happy feeling I have attempted to describe here within the verses of this picturesque poem by Raymond Carver.

Happiness

So early it's still almost dark out.
I'm near the window with coffee,
and the usual early morning stuff
that passes for thought.

When I see the boy and his friend
walking up the road
to deliver the newspaper.

They wear caps and sweaters,
and one boy has a bag over his shoulder.
They are so happy
they aren't saying anything, these boys.

I think if they could, they would take
each other's arm.
It's early in the morning,
and they are doing this thing together.

They come on, slowly.
The sky is taking on light,
though the moon still hangs pale over the water.

Such beauty that for a minute
death and ambition, even love,
doesn't enter into this.

Happiness. It comes on
unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really,
any early morning talk about it.


39 comments:

  1. If we saw Happiness coming, do you think we'd appreciate it as much?

    This was lovely.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your happiness today, and sharing a poem that reading made me so happy!

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  3. Pamela, I also experience rushes of happiness for no apparent reason as you describe! They wash over me and lift my day. I feel like a child on summer holidays, yet it's just an ordinary day. It's great to finally meet someone else who experiences natural highs like this! Perhaps it's the influence of our 'often-happy-for-no-reason' canine companions? :-o)
    ~Kalianne

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  4. It sounds like what Eckhart Tolle describes as being 'fully present'. Being completely in the moment does tend to bliss. :-)

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  5. I really enjoyed this post and have experienced the feeling you are talking about several times. I am getting into the habit of taking long walks again and sometimes when I am out walking around the lake near my house I feel this rush of happiness come over me for no apparent reason. It's like the world seems just right at that moment!

    Gillian

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  6. Pamela, you hit the nail on the head, that rush of happiness is mainly givn to us in a meditative state, when drinking in nature or just leaving our mind in idle mode. It is a manifestatin of the presence of your guardian angel. The best thing we can do is to say thank you and enjoy.

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  7. I think I like the quiet happiness rather than the side-splitting teary-eyed laughter. Both are the absolute best, but there's a sense of being in a state of grace sometimes when it's very quiet and unexpected.Humbling too. A beautiful post as always Pamela.

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  8. Those of us who live in the countryside are so lucky. I too experience sudden surges of contentment for no apparent reason other than that everywhere is so beautiful

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  9. This is so lovely...That euphoric feeling is so grand... I feel overcome with happiness when hearing my children's laughter. It gives me so much joy that I feel my heart will explode. Kalianne's comment about our canine companions being full of happiness is spot on....

    Love the artwork, too:-)...

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  10. What a beautiful, beautiful poem. Made me want to cry it's so wonderfully poignant. To me ... especially it seems. I can go from very happy to bleak and back in a blink it seems ...your description of your sudden rushes of happiness ... so perfect.

    Thank you Pamela and also for all your daily words of cheer and encouragement. I so look forward to you & Edward stopping by each day.

    Miss D and I both send much love to you, to Edward and of course to Miss Apple xo, S.

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  11. I've felt that way often, too, Pamela and I think a lot of it comes from having a happy childhood. It doesn't emanate from material goods but rather having experiences where pure joy was the end result. Running, nature, friends, the taste of something delicious, being loved unconditionally ... I think if a childs early experiences are joyful they will carry that joy all through their lives.

    Beautiful poem!

    PS: Thank you for the "welcome back"!

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  12. Lovely poem I haven't heard of the author.

    I love early Autumn. It's a time when I give up on having hot days in the sun and appreciate the cooler days of beautiful colours. It's the chance to wear snuggly clothes that I haven't worn for months, again. It's a time of new beginnings a new school year and planting of flower bulbs. It's the time of year which makes me happy in the way you eloquently described.

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  13. How lovely. I know what you mean about those happiness rushes. I try to catch them and paint them out :)
    Thank you for your sweet b'day wishes
    X

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  14. Autumn's golden light makes me catch my breath. Thank you for sharing your cheer with us today.

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  15. I loved reading this post, you have done it again and put what I feel into words for me. The poem is beautiful and it was interesting to read all the other posts and how everyone else describes the same thing.

    ps I have done post with you in mind!

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  16. Pamela, it is good to share your happiness. The poem is just right. I've been feeling waves of joy too. I just love this time of year.

    As for night owl hours, I miss them since I've had kids. I get up early now, but I'm still not a morning person. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and admire the moon and write notes.

    A lot of people blog to whine; it's so nice to come here and find good cheer.

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  17. Pamela - Happiness now the world could do with a lot more of it! I was a happy happy fellow out chasing rainbows yesterday! Thanks for the reminder.

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  18. From the comments it seems that sometimes the rush of happiness is connected with being out walking, feeling part of our environment and being comfortable in it - it isn't something tangible and it can happen even on the dullest days in the most ordinary place. Again a wonderful post - thankyou for sharing your gift for words with us.

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  19. Thanks so much for coming to my blog! Isn't the black box thingy amazing? Caroline has an addictive blog, and now I'm discovering many more to read when really I should be writing. And I love the green on your background. Just about to use something similar in my sitting room :-)
    Sam xx

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  20. Hi there...thanks for visiting my blog! I will take a read of yours now ;-)

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  21. Thanks so much for telling me about The Times, Pamela! Would you mind sending me the link? Haven't had the chance to have a look . . .

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  22. Happiness is contagious. I feel really good now, after reading your post. Thank you for that.

    Melissa

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  23. Hello Pamela, thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment on the lambs I have knitted. I love the pictures you have put on your blog, and the Happiness poem was splendid. It's been nice to meet you.
    Rosie
    PS. Rufus and Millie say hello to Edward.

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  24. I know exactly what you mean. Lovely post!

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  25. oh - happiness, glad that the package arrived!
    You made my day with your kind comments in the midst of several deadlines.

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  26. I've had those little rushes of happiness, too, but mostly when I was a child, and then later when I began to explore my life in depth. Now, I don't seem to feel those amazing bursts of joy ike before. Everything is more even. I guess I still feel really quite happy, but not in brusts anymore. Hmmm...

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  27. Lovely post. I know exactly what you mean. I get this too now and again - mostly when I am out walking in the countryside and the sun is shining. The best thing is it is free. It's true what they say: money can't buy happiness!

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  28. Hi! Tell Edward Wilma is a doggie, a lady doggie. If he checks my blog he will see the latest post links d=over to Wilma's own blog! She hopes he will stop by and say Hello!

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  29. Beautiful days when blue skies have fluffy white clouds in them make me unexpectedly happy.

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  30. I get those lovely washes of unexpected happy feelings too. Is it cosmic synchronisity? Who knows. I like the angel wing brush, very much.

    At times like that, all is well with the world...

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  31. What a beautiful poem. You have such a lovely blog - it's always so inspiring!

    thanks so much for your comments! the emails really pulled me through. Glad I'm back!!!!

    thanks again!
    Joni

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  32. I love September too. The light, the sky and the colours. we had our hot blue Symi holiday but it was lovely to return to cool golden light...the first sun in England for a very long time.

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  33. I love this. Thanks so much for posting it. I think of Carver as gloomier, but this one is a treat.

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  34. I actually understand what you mean. I sometimes feel this way, too! I've always looked on it as a gift.

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  35. Beautiful post. Can you tell me who the artist is?

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!