Bird Droppings July 20, 2025
Is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

Over a few days, storms passed through quickly, very definitive fronts flying by, and all ending with rainbows. On several occasions, twin rainbows. On the other hand, my sunrises have been off numerous clouds block the sun and offer just an orange or pink band briefly as the sun enters our reality. But still, all in all, it has been a good week. On a side note a few months back, my wife decided on the spur of the moment that we needed a quick road trip, and we ended up in Rabun Gap. We stopped at Billingsly Nursery, which is a favorite stop. Sitting in the valley, or Gap Mountains are on both sides. It was a beautiful day and a great time.

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln

Perhaps, in the scheme of things, there are people who are inherently grouchy or, in Lincoln’s view, simply want to be grouchy. Sitting here pondering this morning, I can recall bumping into many people like this. They are inherently grouchy. Perhaps we should label these folks and simply walk away. As I look deeper into the simple words above, we all can be happier. As I think about Lincoln’s thought, it is just wanting to be that way.

“Whatever happiness is in the world has arisen from a wish for the welfare of others; whatever misery there is has arisen from indulging selfishness.” Buddhist Proverb

I had not thought of happiness previously as simply as this idea. Happiness is oriented around others, and therefore unhappiness is more self-oriented. Lately, a series of commercials have had the focus of the ad is cows in various situations of being happy, as the ads portray; happy cows make California cheese or some such thing. One commercial is a cow that escapes from Wisconsin, and the other cows are watching. One asks the other how long she has been gone, and it has been several days, and the cow is only a few feet past the fence. Maybe happy cows can’t make Limburger cheese?

“True happiness arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one’s self, and in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.” Joseph Addison

“Happiness is a sort of action.” Aristotle

Happiness seems to be different for different people; for some, it is in doing for others, for others it is friendship. As I read this morning, I agree with Aristotle that it is a word of action.

“The really happy man never laughs — seldom—though he may smile. He does not need to laugh, for laughter, like weeping, is a relief of mental tension — and the happy are not overstrung.” Prof. F. A. P. Aveling

“Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response.” Mildred Barthal

As I think of students, and occasionally some shift from happy to sad, I try and make a point of asking them if everything is ok. I can think of one student I don’t even know her name who always looks unhappy, never smiles, and is often alone, and perhaps it is in the aloneness is the unhappiness is. When I am out in large shopping venues, which I try and avoid, a mall or such, many times I will simply observe people while my wife does whatever women do at malls. That isn’t a sexist statement, but I still am trying to figure out what malls are for other than observation projects for doctoral dissertations. I know there are various stores with goods that run the gamut of humankind, perhaps it is a social gathering place to meet other people.

“When one is happy, there is no time to be fatigued; being happy engrosses the whole attention.” Edward Frederic Benson

“The world’s literature and folklore are full of stories that point out how futile it can be to seek happiness. Rather, happiness is a blessing that comes to you as you go along; a treasure that you incidentally find.” Louis Binstock

It is difficult to explain a way of seeking happiness. Perhaps we cannot truly seek happiness. I recall several months back, even in today’s modern age, a rainbow was blazing in the sky and people were parked as close to the end as possible, looking for the end and who knows, a pot of gold. Thinking about happiness, I ponder what makes me happy. It could be as simple as laughing in the hallway with students and fellow teachers. Back in the day, my Para pro and I would stand at my door, deliberately talking to students. Often, quiet students and many times alone, we would try and single them out. One day, we might ask if they were lost or looking for a room. We are not good ones for directions; we have been known to give wrong directions around school, but we try and laugh with students. We would try and make passing by our door more than just like everyone else’s. We ask about their weekend, or who won last night’s softball game or basketball game. We are actively involved, and you know what, unintentionally we come back in after the bell, and we are happy, usually laughing pretty good, at least smiling ourselves.

“It is the paradox of life that the way to miss pleasure is to seek it first. The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.” Hugo Black

“The truth is that all of us attain the greatest success and happiness possible in this life whenever we use our native capacities to their greatest extent.” Smiley Blanton

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world. It is having someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” Allan K. Chalmers

If only all were so simple and yet maybe life is this simple and as we move through what we do and what we hope for, and just seem to grow proportionately. Our needs and wants tend to fluctuate around being wanted and our understanding of that. What would it take for me to be happy and content today may be different than forty years ago, and forty years from now, more different again if I am still around.

“Happiness comes more from loving than being loved; and often when our affection seems wounded, it is only our vanity bleeding. To love, and to be hurt often, and to love again — this is the brave and happy life.” J. E. Buckrose

“When you have once seen the glow of happiness on the face of a beloved person, you know that a man can have no vocation but to awaken that light on the faces surrounding him; and you are torn by the thought of the unhappiness and night you cast, by the mere fact of living, in the hearts you encounter.” Albert Camus

I remember years ago watching the infectious smiles and happiness in a small church in Macon, Georgia, The Church of the Exceptional. The church was founded in 1971 the idea of being a place where mentally and physically impaired children and adults could worship together. Many times parents would leave children at home and or not go to church. I recall one fellow, Mike Porch, who would greet everyone as they came in the door. He had a smile from ear to ear and would shake your hand like there was no tomorrow, and welcome you to his church. Mike had never been to public school; he had Down syndrome, which in 1971 meant you would never do well in school. He was at that time a student and employee of the Macon Association for Retarded Citizens workshop.

Mike has passed away since that day, but that smile and joy were infectious, and many people were cheered up by Mike as he greeted people joining him for church services.

“Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is that they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.” Dale Carnegie

“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.” Hugh Downs

I was thinking that I was a creature of routine, but after a long weekend, it is hard to get sorted out and back on track. I am still getting sorted out from being off from school a few weeks ago. What is funny our dog is out of sync too. After having my son move home, sleeping on his bed, and I sleeping late, she is a bit mixed up. Mine, however, is not as much routine as missing contact with students and with people. Interacting is where ideas and thinking permeate. When someone thinks differently, pulling away is not the answer; it is immersing in and offering the differences. Who knows what doors may open or windows close?

“There are two ways of being happy: We must either diminish our wants or augment our means — either may do — the result is the same, and it is for each man to decide for himself and to do that which happens to be easier.” Benjamin Franklin

As I close for the day, leave it to Ben Franklin to have the solution, but for today and please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your heart namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

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