The World is a Mirror, Part 8

A is for ATTITUDE
B is for BREAK PATTERNS
C is for CONSISTENCY
D is for DISCIPLINE
E is for EVOLUTION
F is for FRIENDLINESS
G is for GOOD WITH NAMES
H is for HAPPINESS

A long time ago I saw a bumper sticker that read “HAPPINESS IS SKIING.”

I liked it. I liked how specific it was. And later that day it dawned on me: happiness can be whatever you want it to be. And, nobody can take that away from you – that’s what’s so great about it.

So, at the risk of addressing a vague and difficult topic usually handled by people like The Dali Lama, here goes…

For me, Happiness is Nametags. Has been for a long time. And while I’m not trying to boil down my happiness to only one source, nametags are definitely a biggie.

Like the smile from a bored, tired cashier’s face who says, “Hey Scott!”

Like the childlike curiosity which engages complete strangers to interrupt their patterns, break the silence and ask me a question.

Like the relief I sense when someone who otherwise would’ve forgotten my name still said hello.

Like the jokes I’ve heard 10,000 times that make me, the joker, and the other people on the airplane grin, i.e., “Scott, do you have a memory problem?”

I could go on.

The point is: it’s been 2,119 days. Not a single one has gone by during which I wasn’t happy, at least for a little while. And sure, I’ve received a heck of a lot of criticism – even hate mail! – for wearing a nametag 24-7. People accuse me of being weird or crazy. That I just want attention. That I’m just trying to stand out and be different.

Whatever. Let the haters say what they want. My nametag isn’t for me; it’s for other people. To make them friendlier. To make them happier. I’ve merely become happier in the process because the world is a mirror.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS: I’ve discovered something that makes me happy. And nobody can take that away from me.

Because for me, Happiness is Nametags. They make me happy because they make other people happy. (With the exception of those brave, anonymous juveniles who send me hate mail.)

So I guess that’s the key:

1. Figure out how you would complete to following sentence: “To me, happiness is ______________.”
2. Make sure the answer doesn’t hurt anybody, including yourself.
3. Guard it with your life.
4. Commence happiness.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
What is happiness to you?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
Ask at least 5 people you work with the same question.

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That Guy with the Nametag

Are you That Guy?
Find out in Scott’s latest book at www.hellomynameisscott.com