KukaKuka Let’s Talk Story: Don’t worry, be happy!

Community Contributed

Opinion by Rick Baptiste

Did you know that being happy is a choice?  Ipso facto, ergo, then why not do so?  I remember way back in the early 90s when I went to work at the Air Traffic Control Tower at Molokai Airport.  There were five flights of stairs that you walked up to get to the Tower Cab.   I made up my mind, from day one, to think of walking the five flights of stairs as a great form of exercise.  I know of others who have counted the stairs and made the trek and unhappy one. Same step, different perception, different outcome.

I’ve heard a story of a couple that moved to Molokai, from the east coast, and asked someone in town what to expect on our island. They were asked, “What was it like where you’re from?” “Well,” the husband answered, “We are from Boston and the people are not friendly there, lots of complaining and overall, the people seem to be in the survival mode.” “That’s interesting,” said the Molokai resident, “that’s just what you’ll find on our island.”  A little later in the week, this same resident stumbled upon another couple who just moved to our island with the same questions and again our local resident asked, “What’s it like where you’re from”? The wife replied, “We’re from New Jersey, and the people there are so very friendly and so we liked it a lot.” The Molokai resident replied, “That’s exactly how you’ll find the people here as well.”

You see through your eyes, but with your mind! What you perceive in your mind determines how you behave. When there is a fork in the road, choose the direction that will serve you as well as others and eventually what you see will be good!   As Wayne Dyer says, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”   Therefore, choose to be happy, every day and in every way. You don’t have to make huge adjustments but simply say and do things that are encouraging and will serve you as well as others. Remember, small steps will lead to bigger steps and a Blessed Molokai. “Don’t Stress, Jus Bless.”