Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness. – Oliver Wendel Holmes
The key has turned in the lock, the gates are open, and I am stepping into happiness. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
What does that mean?
This is another romantic quote which I believe can also be applied to other situations in our lives. As we have discussed before, the word “love” has a very wide range of meanings.
Yes, I believe that the love of a person qualifies for this quote, but not just romantic love. Those of you who are parents can probably remember a time, however brief, when your love of your children brought you to the gates of happiness.
Love of an ideal or a concept also qualifies, at least in my opinion. Love of freedom or justice can also bring you to the gates of happiness. And I believe that love of your fellow man can do so as well.
But, as always, you have to do a little work as well. Love gets you to the gates of happiness, but you must choose to go in, and then take action.
Why is stepping forward important?
Many people seem to spend an inordinate amount of time standing in front of the wide-open gates of happiness, but hesitate to enter. I imagine you know some people like that. And at times, I have been that person myself.
Standing on the outside, peeking in, between the bars of the gate can become a bit of a habit. Other times, we get so used to not being able to get in, that when we the gate opens, we don’t really know how to react.
But when opportunity knocks, we have to be ready to go. We must be prepared to step forward and avail ourselves of whatever opportunity has presented to us.
Regardless of what the opportunity might be, if we decline to step forward nothing will come of it, and opportunity will turn away from us. The quote says that love opens the gate to happiness, but we must be willing to step forward.
Where can I apply this in my life?
I hope you noticed that the quote does not say that love will magically cause happiness. Love simply provides happiness the opportunity to present itself to you. There have been plenty of TV shows and movies which include a grumpy old man, one who has the love of friends or family. Yet for some reason, he won’t step forward and through the gates of happiness.
Most of us do the same thing from time to time. It might be out of fear of the unknown, or comfort with present position or condition. It might not occur to us that we could, or should, take that step forward. Or we might feel unworthy of such happiness. It happens.
Awareness of opportunity helps, as does a bit of self-esteem. But above all else, action is required. In the taking of the step forward, we allow the feelings of happiness and pleasure in our bodies, in our mind, and in our spirit to flow through us.
As I was writing this, Kool & the Gang song “Summer Madness” came on. It’s a song I truly love, and the gates of happiness opened. I stopped writing and stepped forward, through the gates, and into the world of listening happiness. I liked the next song, and again stepped forward.
The question now becomes “What do you love?” For the purposes of the quote, the answer should be fairly easy, and the list fairly long. That question is followed by asking ow often you actually go through the opened gates, and what do you find when you get there? Again, it should be fairly easy.
This is where the real work begins.When are you reluctant to step forward and through the gate? Under what circumstances? Why do you believe in that answer? What do you have to believe about yourself or about life in general which supports that behavior?
Take a little time and consider those questions. Pick any of the things you love and run through the questions posed in the preceding paragraphs. Why? So that you might better understand yourself. That is useful, especially if you can find an easier way to go through the gates of happiness.
From: Twitter, @Quotes_on_Love
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/o/oliverwend143021.html
Photo by jamieanne’s photostream
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