Survival Survey: Where is your happy place?

image by Jessica Tam

When I was in labor with my daughter, I’ll never forget my husband urging me, at an intense moment of pain and before the epidural kicked in, to think about my happy place.  He actually stuck a picture of our dog in front of my face!

Much later, after the doctor reattached my husband’s head to the rest of his body, I laughed about it, but at that moment I could have killed him.  My HAPPY place??  Right now you want me to think about my HAPPY place??

I don’t know about you, but my perspective of life is affected by news stories, movies like “The Book of Eli”, and books like One Second After, and I need a happy place.  These apocalyptic books and movies are all useful in reminding us of the reasons we are preparing, but they can also skew our view of life.

Well, SurvivalMoms, it’s important that each of us have a happy place, now more than ever.  Something that we can focus on when we’re nearly overcome with worry, panic, or fear.

My own happy place is my kids.  I make a point to spend long moments watching my son.  He was born with a smile on his face and can’t stay angry or upset for more than just two or three minutes.  My heart always feels lighter when I spend time with him and let his natural cheerfulness invade my own emotions.  My daughter’s beautiful features convey everything she feels, and I love watching the changing emotions on her face.  Those two are my happy place, and they help me stay balanced and keep life in perspective.

I also stay rooted to the good things in life through my faith in God and His promises.  I’ve been through a lot in my many decades of life, and I have always known I can rely on Him for guidance, comfort, and peace.

What is your happy place?  What helps you maintain a balanced outlook on life?  In a moment of sheer terror for your family’s future, or your own, what do you focus on?

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.