Utah, You Have One Chance To Be Happy…And It’s Right Now

I saw a meme the other day, and I had to stop and think because it hit a little too close to home. It shows a person sitting on a bench talking to a (presumably) wise old owl, and the person is asking “why is happiness so elusive?” To which to owl replies:

Because you look for it in the future instead of the present

Sadly, that man in the bench fits me to a T. I so often think that if I can “just get through” whatever is currently causing my dis-satisfaction, it will all be better in the future. Or, even though not mentioned in the meme, I will think back to the past and the “good old days” (whatever they were) and believe that everything was total joy and bliss (even though I have many pleasant memories it was not all peaches and cream).

No, that meme taught me a lesson that is harshly learned for a day dreamer like myself. There is only one time and one place where I can choose to be happy, and that place is right here and the time is right now.

Happiness, as elusive as it sometimes seems, is ultimately a choice we make in the present moment. The only place where we hold any power is the here and now, making the present the only time we can truly choose to be happy.

Dwelling on the past often traps us in regret or nostalgia. We may replay old mistakes or wish for days gone by, but these reflections cannot alter what has already occurred. Similarly, focusing excessively on the future often leads to anxiety, as we try to anticipate and control what has not yet unfolded. Neither past nor future offers the immediacy needed to act, feel, or decide.

Happiness requires mindfulness. To be happy, we must notice and appreciate what is happening in the current moment—a kind smile, a call from an old friend, or the sound of laughter. These small joys are easily overlooked when our minds are elsewhere. Choosing happiness in the present doesn’t mean ignoring hardships but rather shifting our focus to gratitude and perspective.

Moreover, waiting for happiness to arrive in the future—“I’ll be happy when I get that job” or “I’ll be happy when I lose ten pounds”—only delays the possibility of contentment. This mindset creates a moving goalpost, as we’re always chasing the next condition for happiness.

By choosing to find happiness now, we free ourselves from these traps. We recognize that while we cannot control everything, we can control how we respond. In the end, happiness is not a destination; it’s a way of being, accessible only in this fleeting, precious moment called the present.

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I've not made any New Years Resolutions, as my success rate is not all that good, as many are finding out a also not resolving at the start of a new year. But I hope I can make a conscious effort to adjust my thinking to the point that be the end of 2025 when someone asks me where my happy place is I can respond “right here and right now.”