A theory of relativity

I'm not talking about Einsteins kind-this is my own theory. 

Sometimes I wake up thinking about the list of 'problems' I need to deal with.  Generally it's about money or at the very least requires money to fix.  Sometimes, this list keeps me awake at night.  In combination with other stresses, I find myself extra sensitive to anything and everything. 

But in the midst of all the panic to get things done before I leave and my growing list of 'problems', I've had some time to kick back and relax. In support of my sister's newly invigorated musical pursuits, I've met someone who I think is the happiest man in the world.  I couldn't help but ask what his secret was, but I didn't get much of an answer.  He explained to me only one thing-that his net value was $2200.  This made him smile and laugh a lot.  He's not happy because he doesn't have problems, he's happy because there's no reason to be anything else.  Additionally, he seems well supported by an excellent dose of Karma.  I guess when you're happy the universe bounces your goodness back to you

It shouldn't matter where you  are, what you're doing, or who you're with.  At any given point, we all have everything we've ever needed to be happy.  It's a choice to be happy.  It's a choice to take any experience and be thankful for it.  Now, I'm not saying that's its in any way possible to avoid the stress that life can bring, I'm just saying that stress of problems is all relative.  At my job for example, people come in and believe that Christmas is ruined because we don't carry a hooded Denali jacket.  I see this and think, 'man, I wish my biggest problem was not getting the exact jacket I want'.  And then of course I walk by a homeless man on my way to my car, whose biggest problem is staying warm and finding food to eat. 

Maybe problems are just waiting for solutions.  Maybe gratitude is right next to happiness.  Maybe you actually do get what you give.

It's all relative.