The Song of Life

To be happy, you must know how to be happy. To know how to be happy, you must know what it is to be happy and realize that you may never have been happy in your life, or that it may have been a fleeting, elusive experience.

One word captures the true nature of happiness: harmony. It's the peace and tranquility that come from concord in our relations with others, with the earth, and with ourselves. It's what we feel when the song of life rings clear and true.

Alcohol distorts that harmony. Its song is a discordant clash of whining, grasping urgencies that tie us in knots and leave us desperate and isolated.

Poet Maya Angelou, despite her difficult early life, does not use alcohol, from all I can tell.  She said, "Love life, engage in it, and give it all you've got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it."

If you feel your life is out of tune, first stop drinking, then listen for the music all around you. Share in the song of life with a clear head and an open heart. Know what it is to be happy and don't settle for less.