I used to think true happiness was only available to those who deserved it, and I was not included on that short list. This was because I experienced trauma when I was very young, and my internal default setting got switched to survivor mode.

As the years went by, every subconscious thought, action, and decision was coloured by those experiences which affected every aspect of my life. Later, during a particularly tumultuous period, I reached a breaking point that eventually placed me on a path of healing and self-discovery. As I peeled back the layers of pain and suffering, I learned something very important.

Happiness is not an endowment; happiness is a choice we get to make every day.

Life is not always sunshine and rainbows; sometimes it feels more like skunks and acid rain. Stuff happens, we make mistakes, we fail at times, and we get hurt. But even on our worst days, if we look hard enough, we can always find something for which to be grateful.