I cannot be happy in the past or future.
That’s like trying to be “here” by being “over there.” It’s impossible. I’m not “over there” and never will be. Wherever I go, I’m always “here.”
When I am dwelling on a painful past or anticipating a painful future, I am having a nightmare in the present. I am innocently living outside of reality. Reality is right here, right now. And I’m missing it.
Anytime I think I can put off my happiness now to be happy later, I am out of reality.
Anytime I think I am not happy now because of something that happened before, I am out of reality.
Anytime I think I am not happy now because something is going to happen, I am out of reality.
NOW is the only reality.
Happiness now is the only happiness there will ever be.
If I want to be happy, I can only be happy now.
I recall the past because recalling makes me happy - now.
I prepare for the future because preparing makes me happy - now.
If it does not, then I can shift my attention to now.
And discover that I am truly happy.