“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”  Dr. Suess

This is a quote is one I think we have all heard growing up. Probably even more in our adult lives. Its something that sounds so simple but is actually rather difficult sometimes. How can one go from one extreme emotion to another? Is it possible to find good in ever bad situation? We often times think of this quote when looking back on a loved ones life after they have passed in hopes of feeling better.  Saying things like “well they are in a better place now” or “they are not longer in pain.” Do statements like these actually help us?  What if instead of the loss of a loved one it’s something like your car battery dies and you missed going to a very important interview? To me, I do not see any reason to smile. Simply getting the interview would not make me happy. This leads me to my next point. Could this quote be a test on if one has truly accomplished happiness? To me if a person can find a way to turn the most miserable situation into a happy one then they are truly happy. I know for me there would be times while I was in the Army where we would be in the field 2-3 weeks.  This means no running water, no plumbing, and most importantly no water (unless we were granted time to run a generator). The first few times I did this I was far from happy but the more we would do it the more it would grow on me. I recall sitting out one night waiting on a ride back to camp after a 16 hour day wearing full gear( pants, ling sleeves, and 40+ pounds of gear) in the 110 degree sun. There wasn’t much to be happy about, but then I laid back and saw the stars. I’m from the country so I have seen many pretty skies but this one was different. I felt as if I could see every single star. This made me happier then I had ever been.  For a long time after I could look back at that night and be happy and turn almost anything around because I know if I could find happiness then, then i can find it anywhere.