I took a walk to the parlor <br />And ordered an ice cream cone <br />Smiled at the man at the counter <br />He knew he wasn't alone <br /> <br />I laughed with the man pumping my gas <br />And asked about his day <br />Let him know in my heart I cared <br />As he took my money away <br /> <br />I was out in difficult traffic <br />And road rage suggested a fight <br />I waved and smiled at the offender <br />And thought that he could be right <br /> <br />What does it cost to help my neighbor <br />To clean up his leaf strewn lawn? <br />Things in life happen quickly <br />Tomorrow he could be gone <br /> <br />Why keep ducking the honey-do's? <br />The toughest chores of all <br />I remember all that she's done for me <br />Those honey-do's seem quite small <br /> <br />With reasonable effort I changed my life <br />From glum to happy days <br />A tweak or two in my attitude <br />I no longer searched for praise <br /> <br />Find the secret of a happy life <br />Is not riches or sexy things <br />It's giving away your love <br />And the wonder that it brings<br /><br />Ray Andrews<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-to-be-happy/
