To Be Happy is a Choice

Ethan lived with a chronic disability and was often met with restrictions when he wanted to enjoy time with others. People felt sorry for him, always stating how they felt things should be for him, though Ethan believed he was the luckiest person alive.

Ethan didn’t attend parties like his siblings, always staying close to family for support, and he recognized the care that surrounded him. When he couldn’t join with others, he recognized the joy around him and was grateful to be alive.

One day, his young nephew asked, “Uncle? How do you remain happy, even though you hardly join in the fun others have? How do you deal with the restrictions of your life?”

Ethan calmly replied, “One day you’ll learn to recognize what you have. I’m lucky I must take life slowly. You have to be able to slow down enough to switch your focus away from all the ways things could be better, to know how good they already are. To be happy is a choice.”

Inspired by “You have to be able to slow down enough to switch your focus away from all the ways things could be better, to know how good they already are.”-Katherine Ellison