When it comes to having a happy family, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. Instead do what works for your family.
All too often, when it comes to creating a happy family, people forget the warning, “don’t try to keep up with the Joneses.” They flutter from activity to activity and place to place looking for some new thing, some different thing to make the family happy. People who are financially challenged will try to do big grand things in order to find happiness. It is hard for them to do this because money spent on creating happy memories may take money needed for life’s necessities. Wealthy people may try to do “things money can’t buy.” This is not a requisite for happiness and is contrary to the idea that money is meant to be used and enjoyed.
Each family has a thing that they do that makes everyone happy. There is no universal, one size fits all fix for making families happy. This is an area where it is okay to be unique. It is okay to be special, to be weird. Not everyone is going to like gangster gospel rap music like my family. At the same time, not everyone is going to like sitting around playing video games like my friend’s family. Those people, all four of them, will sit around and play video games for hours and be happy, purely and simply happy. I don’t get it. The good thing is that I do not have to get it. It makes them happy and they should continue to do it.
Problems arise happens when people think that instead of sticking with their tried and true happiness makers they have to do what everyone else does. If movie night with popcorn at home does it for your family, do that. Do not try to copy your neighbors who find their happiness dining at expensive restaurants. If traveling to wild and exciting places does it for your family, don’t be upset that your friends are happiest walking around the neighborhood.
[Tweet “Tolstoy had it wrong, each happy family is happy in a different way.”]
Happiness is a treasure. It is a precious gift that some people spend a lifetime trying to achieve. Do not think little of the things that make your family happy. Do not take lightly the small things that bring smiles to the eyes of those you love. Those little things, are in fact, the great things. They are things you should count among your most precious possessions. The things that make your family happy are treasures and should be treated as such.
So, the question for you this serene day is, what makes your family happy?
1 2
I am always telling my son that! I tell him it’s important to focus on the good, not on the bad….sometimes he sounds like an old man, complaining, complaining 🙂
It is so important to keep your family focused and happy. We do very similar things.
There really is no one-size-fits all. I think you instinctively know what’s right for your family and you should go with it.
Yes! Memories of the good times and past victories help us to make it through new trials and tribulations.
Thank you! I am glad I am able to give you something that makes you think.
Stuff comes and goes, but the memories last forever and are portable!
It is great that enjoying each other’s company works so well for your family. It is something you can manage when you do have the time together.
I lvoe your motivational posts – they always give me pause for thought.
I make sure I take lots of pictures with and of my family because every picture has a good story to go with it. And every moment matters even if its just eating dinner together! We love doing a lot together but we all have our moments and different hobbies we like to do ourselves. Either way good or bad times, love and happiness always conquer and survive through the bad times.
Remembering the good times is always important. When doing so, the bad doesn’t seem quite as bad anymore.
This is so important. Not every family enjoys the same things, but more important than all the “stuff” and material items is the memories that you make. Well said!
I like the idea of figuring out what our family really enjoys doing together. Although, we really would be pretty easy. Honestly, any quality time together…all of us, including my husband who works 80+ a week would be precious time! Our 3 kiddos miss him a lot, so when we get him, we really enjoy that time whether it’s watching a movie, walking the dog, or actually going somewhere special.
So true! Every family has different activities that make them happy, and they should just enjoy them!
Yes, memories can help you feel better even when you are away from family for some reason.
We enjoy board games also. I liked them as a child and enjoyed sharing that experience with my children. During the games, the children are off guard and we have snuck a lot of life lessons into games of Spelmanopoly.
Great tips and I totally agree, what makes one family happy doesn’t necessarily work for another. Growing up, my family loved to play board games together, but so many of my friends thought that was ridiculous.
Making good long-lasting memories with your family can really get you through troubling times. Memories have helped me get over being homesick.
It;s important to remember the good times, thanks for the reminder! And looks like the circus is definitely a happy one for you guys!
I also work hard to create memories with the kids. It isn’t just about coming up with things to do – it is about making them meaningful and memorable.
Very interesting post and well written – I would be the type to sing and dance and still do, but my hubby watches and has fun with that – occasionally he will do a funny dance and that’s so cool. With my son growing up – we would go on walks and watch movies – and have great talks. Yep – every family is somewhat different and somewhat the same.
I work hard to make memories with my kids. I want them to have great childhood memories.