Zen and the Art of Happiness

So, I told my BFF that I had checked this book out from the library, and she promptly went out and bought me my very own copy, along with another book by the same author.

I wonder if I tell her that I love that green Camaro at the Chevy dealership, she'll promptly go out and buy me that, too.  Worth a try, right? 

Anyhow, I've already told you a little about this book in my last post - it's small, it's short, it's yellow.  Author Chris Prentiss's overall theme - "Everything that happens to me only happens so that I can be benefitted to the maximum amount possible." Short version - "This is for my benefit."

For the same theory, in a much larger book and with a few additional caveats, read Romans 8:28.

Let go of your past.  Admit that you can't change it and move on.  Don't worry about your future.  Live in the present.  If you want to be happy, then choose to be happy.  Don't wait for happiness to fall upon you, like some sort of friggin' gift.

That's pretty much the whole book. 

Snarkiness aside, I did actually enjoy this book.  I know we've all heard that "path of enlightenment" crapola a thousand times, but Prentiss cleverly avoids jargon abuse.  He refers repeatedly to "The Universe," which is his concept of a god.  Basically, if you follow any sort of faith, you mentally insert your god's name whenever you see the words "The Universe" and move on.  You won't be continually tripping over any other faith's terminology.   I'm glad I have my own personal copy speeding its way through the US postal system, because I'd like to spend some more time going through it.

The Universe and I have to go pick up my son now.  I swear I will write more later.  Until then - when you have time, go to the library and check out "Zen and the Art of Happiness."