My Happy Place

Free will is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Our lives teach us what makes us both happy and sad. Hopefully, we remember our happy place.

One of my happiest childhood memories was from a small park in England. It had a basic swingset and slide in the center, nothing fancy. An open grassy area to run around and play ball with an exceptionally large old tree at one end. That tree was our jungle gym and shade from the summer heat. When the grass was too long to play ball, we would lay back under the tree and point out shapes in the moving clouds.

On the other end of the park, there was a small cement bunker called a pillbox. Leftover from the last world war. It was the perfect play fort for squirt guns, tag, or capture the flag. Our pantomime of war was imagined from shows like Gomer Pyle and Hogan's Heroes. The only scary thing I saw was a huge dead rat in the tall grass.

A memory that contains both elements of happiness and death.

I could imagine the horrors of war or monster rats. What good would that do? My happy place is not perfect, neither are random thoughts. All thoughts are allowed, but I choose to focus on what brings me true happiness and peace. Even today when drifting to my mental happy place, I still go to this park. Laying under the tree, looking at the clouds, listening to the wind blow through the long green grass.

We always have a choice on what we focus on. Where do you live in your head?

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

What I have got from my childhood aren't toys, but memories. And happy memories are better than any toy.