Day 44 - Are You Happy With Your Life?

Taking a break today from talking about food, fat and frustration.
Instead I'm going to dig a little deeper with the question of the day - Are you happy with your life? 
I was laying with my 14 year old daughter last night and she was asking me some pretty tough questions.  Now I have to tell you, I had had one of the most emotional and disappointing days of my life (although she didn't know that) so it was an interesting conversation to end my day.  The questions went like this:  "What if I don't live long enough to do everything I want to do?  Why do we have to work most of our lives when there are so many things to do, who came up with that?  Have you (me) done everything you want to do in your life? and the BIG one ~ Are you happy with your life?"  Wow, where has she come from to have the depth and emotion she feels about her life?  I thought most teenagers thought about boys and never looked up from their phones. 
So I spent most of the night thinking about those questions ~ especially the one "Are you happy with your life?" My response to her was that I am.  I have 4 wonderful daughters, 3 grandchildren (which will increase to 5 by the end of the summer) and I still have both of my parents.  I have a job I don't dread and people I respect and enjoy working with.  I have friends.  I have a roof over my head and food to put on my table.  That seems like a pretty good life.  BUT am I happy with my life?  I'm not sure I ever put much thought into it.  Am I doing what I dreamed of doing ~ no.  Have I accomplished everything I thought I would have by now ~ no.  Am I who I want to be ~ no.  So am I happy with my life - oddly enough I am.  So I have to ask myself if I'm settling and sometimes I think I am.  I should have bigger and better goals & then push myelf to achieve them.  I should send people I love birthday cards.  I should learn patience.  If I did all those things I wonder if that would make me happier?   Hmmm...
Ahhh to be 14 and have your whole life ahead of you to create and be whatever it is you want to be.  I know they say you're never too old to do and be whatever it is you want to be but I do know for a fact that making that happen becomes more and more difficult the older you get.  You have commitments and obligations.  You have a mortgage & car payment.  You have other people that depend on you.  Becoming who you thought you would be becomes harder and harder the older you get.  So my hopes and dreams for my girls are to seize the day, make a plan, work hard and most of all ~ Be happy with your life!!  In the meantime I'm going to put some more thought into her thought provoking questions.  Amazing how if I slow down long enough to listen my kids are constantly teaching me things I would never learn in my crazy, hectic world.  Thanks Girls!!!