What Has Been The Happiest Moment of Your Life? Explain.
The ClubHouse: The Game - Play Room: General Discussions:
What Has Been The Happiest Moment of Your Life? Explain.
Zebulon | Friday, October 20, 2000 - 07:37 pm  <sounds like a good positive discussion> |
Luke | Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 12:49 pm  I will have to say that the happiest point in my life thusfar was Christmas day last year (1999). I was in a rental car--a new Renault Laguna--driving along the Mediterranean coast from Granada to Malaga, Spain. I was all by myself, and I had my sunglasses on, popped in a CD of Spanish Andaluz flamenco music that I had just purchased, and I had the sunroof open. It was Christmas, and the temperature on Spain's southern coast was about 78ºF under sunny skies. Why was this happy? Well, I guess because last year was probably the worst year I've ever had. The previous Christmas, I was still with an ex lover, and we fought all day on Christmas. I remember coming home from playing the piano after Christmas morning services and getting into an argument with him that lasted three hours, and resulted in me leaving the house for a few days. That abusive relationship lasted a few more months till we finally broke up. The second half of the year was a journey in finding myself again--reestablishing who I was as a person, rebuilding a lot of broken self-esteem, and rediscovering what it meant to have clear boundaries in a relationship. I also went through a dramatic carrer change in the middle of last year, and so there was a lot of soul-searching going on as well. I had actually saved up enough bonus points on a telephone calling card that I had been using since high school, and my bonus points earned me a free trip to Europe. I had never been to Europe before then, but neither had I ever travelled alone. I had always had the impression that in order to enjoy, I had to be with someone else. I went ahead and purchased the ticket anyway, and took off for Madrid a few days before Christmas for a two-week trip. Upon arriving, I rented a car, bought a map, and set out alone for Andalucía, Spain's southern region. I talked a bit about this trip in the Travel thread, but that Christmas day, after spending the night touring different churches around Granada, and stopping on top a hill to see the Alhambra lit up in Christmas lights... I felt like I was a new person. It was an affirmation to me--not that everything in my life was all fixed and hunkey-dorey--but that I had made the right decisions that year to get my life back on track. I had a new job that was paying me well, I was fulfilling one of my dreams of being able to travel to Europe, and most of all, I was enjoying myself. I was enjoying freedom--and enjoying my own company. I don't think there has ever been a happier moment in my life than that Christmas morning when I felt such a strong self-assurance while driving along that coastal highway in southern Spain. |
Vykin | Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 06:47 pm  Luke, nice story, I really enjoyed that. Okay here goes mine (of course it was the day my son was born, but I'm gonna pick another topic). Mine, as Luke's too was in regard to travel, last year when my best friend took me on the "dream of a lifetime" all expense paid cruise from italy - transatlantic. It was last year about this time, the Grand Princess, the lrgst cruiseship in the world, was approaching the Strait of Gibraltar. For some reason, that passing from the Meditteranean into the Atlantic thru the Strait held an underlying significance. I wasn't sure exactly what. However, the day was stormy and grey clouds, a freak storm had come down onto the waters. I was determined to capture going thru the Strait, from the outside of the ship. The straight is 2 miles wide (I think) and 12 miles long. I had a video cam and my camera, There it was the Rock of Gibraltar. At the moment the captain of the ship announced we were now entering the Atlantic Ocean. I physically shivered. My mind filled with strong, sad emotion. I couldn't figure it out. Yet, I felt this most incredible sense of "freedom", "joy", "happiness". I went back to my room and thought about it. Then my thoughts wandered to my family and friends back home. Then it hit me! Last year was the 100year anniversary of the immigration of my ancestors from a communist country full of persecution to Canada. This event was highly celebrated in the area I live. It was exactly 100 years previous that my ancestors had come through this way, through the Strait of Gibraltar, on their way to a new country to call their own, to freedom, to escape from heavy persecution, especially because they believed in God. It was at this point, when they crossed the strait onto the Atlantic Ocean, they truly felt they were free. 100 years ago, my ancestors, came through on an old ship, riddled with disease, no belongings, cramped, going into the unknown and hoping and praying they would have a good life for their future generations. 100 years later, there I was, on the most beautiful ship in the world, every amenity I could ask for, unlike my predecessors. Never thought I could experience such "materialistic heaven", (I would have to mortage myself into the next decade to pay for a trip like my friend paid for). It was then, that I fully understood the sacrifices my ancestors made. It was at that moment entering the Atlantic, that I felt fully grateful and understood what a difference a 100 years had made. It was then, I valued the importance of my heritage and my love for Canada, a country which helped so many persecuted groups in the 1800s and early 1900s to have a chance to a future. |
Vykin | Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 06:54 pm  I have a correction to make: my ancestors were escaping a church run tsazist regime. (don't know why I always say communist, perhaps because the country they fled became a communist country. |
Moondance | Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 07:11 pm  Vykin... I loved you story along with Luke's. I was at a loss for this topics because I have had so many great moments, it was hard to choose but your story did remind me of a time that I was proud to be me and of my ancestors. I was burned out on life and decided to take a road trip. I traveled from LA to where my Mom was living at the time... Cincinnati. I drove through Oklahoma and stopped by the Cherokee Nation. It was like I arrived "home." I stayed for a day and a half soaking up every ounce of the museum and talking to the people. I registered as a Native American and I could not be as proud as I was that day. It was a very important day for me. I am so blessed to have the lineage that I have. I am 'card carrying' proud Cherokee Indian |
Vykin | Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 07:34 pm  Wow moon, that is so great! In BC right now we are negotiating treaties (FINALLY) with the First Nations people, I have a number of good native friends. There are always such fascinating discussion to be had with Native People. (from this point on I will refer to the bands as First Nations, that is the term in Canada as your Native American). Isn't it funny Luke, Moon how all of a sudden something spiritual hits us, and the lessons we learn and the pride we discover. Luke must have been a great feeling driving the next morning down that coast, and the realization that you are in Europe for the first time. |
Moondance | Saturday, October 21, 2000 - 07:39 pm  It is a wonderful feeling of pride... thank you for reminding me ... I was reading your story and it hit me! I kind of like the term First Nations' better than Native American... I mean they were here before it was America! I do love those Spiritual moments! |
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