We can all agree that we deserve happiness, correct? What if I told you that your happiness depended on you? To a certain extent, some people would be able to agree with me. One thing I've found that causes most of my unhappiness is holding onto the past. We have all had a time or two (or multiple) that allowed our past to grab hold of our collar and shake us around until we get sick. It sneaks up on you when you're having a good day, and places a black bag of sadness and regret over your head, destroying the rest of your day or week. Such a mean little thing, isn't it? Now, I'm not meaning to make this all gloom and doom, so I apologize if I stirred up some emotions in some of you.

You can fulfill your happiness by letting go. You may be tested and tried and tried again, but I'm telling you, you have to learn to forgive. Forgive yourself, forgive your neighbor, forgive your friends, your enemies... That's the only way to move forward and on to better things. Holding on to your past can quite literally eat you away. It can cause stress, anxiety, depression; so, why would anyone want that?

It's not that easy, I know. Life is a learning experience, however, you only have one shot at it, and you have the full capability to make it the best it can be. I firmly believe in that. You don't have to live a fabulous, materialistic life to have a good one. Just have a good heart. People may try to take advantage of that... no, I take that back. People will try to take advantage of that. However, practicing forgiveness each day will allow things to slide off like butter, and there will be no more grudges held for you to look back at.

Have a talk with yourself, a serious talk. If you want to be happy, you must learn forgiveness, as cruel and scary as the world is. Now, I'm not saying to be naive and let your guard down for all to know. I'm saying the best way you can treat yourself in life is to learn and understand that every person doesn't have a heart of gold and people will hurt you. Maybe even continuously, and that's the real sucky part, but then that's when you drop them like hotcakes.

Trust me, I am preaching to the choir right now. I am writing this while also reading it and taking my own advice as I type. All I want is to be happy in life, and I know that's what the rest of the world wants, as well. My personal belief is that the very first step to true happiness is to forgive yourself and those who have hurt you. Once you are able to do that, everything else will fall into place.