give us our gifts. Small acts of kindness go a long way, and good energy is contagious. Goodness spreads happiness. In the chapter "Envy: That Guy goes Past Yet Again," the Dalai Lama says, "When humanity is happy, we will be happy. When humanity is peaceful, our own lives are peaceful. Just like if your family is happy, you are better off" (qtd. in Abrams 142). This quote rings true in my day-to-day life. When I am peaceful with myself, my husband, and my children, everyone tends to follow. When all is well in our home, we carry it out into the world and have the ability to pass it on. Life can be messy. We experience things that are hard to overcome. When it is all said and done, we can always find blessings and beauty in our struggles. When I lost Adelyn, I thought, why me, why us? The tremendous loss taught me how fragile life is and that I have so much love to give. Kyrah came and lived with us after our loss. She finally felt completely part of our family, and I was able to provide her with a mother's love, and she gave me the chance to become her mother after my loss; it was love that we both desperately needed at that point in our lives. Eliana's birth was so beautiful, and I had so much more gratitude because I had seen the horrible alternative to a healthy birth. The Book of Joy shares the meaning of dukkha and sukha. Dukkha is said to be the bumpy ride and sukha the peaceful path (Abrams 87). Life as a mother can be rough, but it's those challenges that make me appreciate all the goodness that arises. All the challenges I have faced as a mother have made
all the good times more special. I have learned that struggle is inevitable, but counting your blessings is a choice. There is so much joy to experience, and blessings are everywhere. It is the struggle and hardship that help us fully appreciate all the blessings and joy in our lives.
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Works Cited Abrams, Douglas. et el. The Book of Joy: Lasting happiness in a Changing World. Penguin Random House LLC, 2016.
