Happy

There is a song that has taken the nation by storm. It has ranked number one on the music charts for record-breaking weeks. That song is Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” This is a feel-good song in which anyone can listen. I first heard this song when one of my clients raved about it, telling me about the 24 Hours of Happy link. As a matter of fact, I have heard this song in several settings since. I was at a Toastmasters meeting and one of the speakers started playing this song at the beginning of her speech. She had us stand on our feet and “move a little something.” I went to a church and in the middle of the service; the pastor told the band to play the “Happy Song.” Immediately people in the audience jumped up on their feet and started dancing. I went to a Fourth of July event and one of the artists ended his set with this song. He brought dancers on the stage doing synchronized motions. But, even if he did not have anyone on stage, he had people from as far as the eye could see, scattered across the lawn with big smiles on their faces and swaying in their hips. I must admit, I was one of those in the number. My nephew saw me dancing and he told me I should stop. And he stood there just looking while many other people began to put their back in motion. Ignoring him, I kept on dancing and had a good time.

In every one of the context there were those that got into it and there were those that, for whatever reason stood as by-standers. You can choose to stand in the crowd worrying about what other people will say or think about you. Or you can dance like no one is watching. Happiness is a choice. The second verse to the song says,

Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold it back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don’t waste your time

That is the voice of someone who has made up in his mind to be happy, even in the face of adversity. No matter what is happening, it will not detour how he feels. Pharrell goes on to say, “Can’t nothing bring me down.” He has decided to rise above whatever obstacles come his way.

Where do you stand today? What is your proclamation? Are you going to stand bound while everyone else is dancing around free? Are you going to let your challenges obscure your view and weigh you down? Will you let go and choose to be happy?

It turns out; happiness knows no racial, political, socio-economic or any other barriers. It is available to all. If you need to, go to 24hoursofhappy.com and go to town until you feel better. If you are anything like me, you might have to play it a few dozen times before it sinks from your head to your spirit. Do what you need to do.

Now, I must warn you, there will be those like my nephew who are not as free as you are that might try to discourage you. They might ask you, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so happy?” They may tell you that you need to stop or that you are being annoying. But, then again, Pharrell does start off by telling us, “It might seem crazy what I am about to say.” So expect resistance. You could try to explain it to them, but why bother? Don’t even waste your time and energy. Just be happy!
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