Do you ever find yourself playing the "I'll be happy when..." game? You know the one. It usually starts with something like, "I’ll be happy when I get married." You find your dream partner, tie the knot, and BAM! Happily ever after, right? Except… then you think, "Well, life will be perfect after we have a baby." Then you have a baby (or two), and somehow, it’s still not perfect. SHOCKING!
So, what do we do? We keep moving the happiness finish line! "I’ll be happier when the kids are older," you tell yourself while managing the tantrums and chaos. Then the kids hit their teenage years, and suddenly, you’re daydreaming about how much easier life will be when they’ve moved out. Oh, and then there’s the car situation. Life will feel complete when you finally upgrade to that sleek ride that you’ve been eyeing for months. Or maybe happiness is waiting for you on a beach somewhere after retirement when you can sip margaritas at noon without feeling judged.
But here’s the big plot twist: happiness isn’t waiting for you at the end of some mythical journey. The challenges, frustrations, and unexpected messes are all part of the ride. Happiness isn’t hiding in the future, waiting for you to get it all together. It’s already here, mixed up in the crazy whirlwind of life. You just have to decide to grab it.
The Truth Bomb
Here’s a nugget of wisdom: if you aren’t happy now, chances are you won’t magically be happy later. Life will always throw challenges at you. And when you finally get through those challenges, guess what? More will come. It’s like playing a video game where the boss fight just keeps levelling up, except instead of a sword, you’ve got a laundry basket and a to-do list that never ends.
Alfred D. Souza hit the nail on the head when he said: ""For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."
Life doesn’t start after your partner finally picks up their socks, or when you lose ten pounds, or after your next vacation. These so-called obstacles are life. It’s messy, unpredictable, and wonderful all at the same time.
Famous Words to Live By
In case you’re still waiting for a sign, here’s one from the queen of sass herself, Lucille Ball: “It’s a helluva start, being able to recognise 
what makes you happy.”
That’s it! Recognise it. Happiness isn’t something you have to hunt down like a rare Pokémon. It’s not a game on your Smart Phone, it’s right in front of you, sometimes hiding in the most ridiculous places—like in the quiet moments with a cup of chai (my favourite) or the sound of your kids laughing (even if it’s right after they made a huge mess) or the 40lb pup who thinks she is a lapdog. Samosa, I love and will always have you sit in my lap – maybe an hour or so, then I can’t move from my legs going to sleep.
The Endless Waiting Game
Let’s talk about that never-ending list of "I’ll be happy when..." moments we all cling to like life’s about to dramatically change the minute we check something off.
"I’ll be happy when I lose 10 pounds."
Spoiler: If you’re unhappy at your current size, you’ll still find a way to be unhappy at your goal weight. Happiness doesn’t weigh in.
"I’ll be happy when the kids are finally out of the house!"
Look, I get it. Raising teenagers? Not for the faint of heart. But remember, you might miss their teenage snark when they’ve flown the coop and all you have left is a silent, eerily clean house. I miss mine. I miss the laughter, the sarcasm, the attitude, I miss it all. Nik is over once or twice a week for dinner and a quick chat before he has to kill something in a video game. Shani is too far away for weekly visits, so I make the most of dinners and lunches when I do visit him.
"I’ll be happy when I retire."
You’ve probably seen that meme about how when you’re a kid, you want to grow up, and when you’re an adult, you want to be a kid again. Retirement’s no different. If you’re counting the days to clock out for good, you’re missing all the days in between.
Permission to Be Happy NOW
So, what if you stopped waiting? What if instead of pushing happiness into the future, you decided that today—this very moment—was good enough to be happy? What if the next time your brain tried to convince you that you’d be happier "when" or "if," you gave it a little sassy side-eye and said, “Nope, I’m good right now, thanks!”
Here’s the deal: happiness isn’t something you arrive at once you’ve jumped through enough hoops. It’s not a finish line, a milestone, or a reward for putting up with all of life’s BS. Happiness is the road itself. It’s the pit stops along the way, the detours, and even the flat tires that make you appreciate the moments when everything just works.
Sure, your life isn’t perfect—whose is? Those social media posts are taken at the right times so you feel inadequate but in reality everyone's life is chaotic! But that doesn’t mean you can’t find joy in the perfectly imperfect moments. That’s where the magic happens.
Stop Waiting for the Big Things
It’s time to stop waiting for the big milestones to decide you’re worthy of happiness. Stop putting your joy on hold for a future that may or may not look the way you imagine. Be happy now. Not after you lose 10 pounds, not after you get the promotion, not after the next weekend or vacation.
Now is your time.
So go ahead, WORK like you don’t need the MONEY.
LOVE like you’ve never been HURT (yes, really!) starting with YOU!
And for heaven's sake, DANCE like NOBODY'S WATCHING —even if you’re in your living room and your only audience is the dog. Samosa thinks it’s a game and joins in with her jumping!
Because guess what? Nobody is keeping score on how well you achieve the perfect life, but you’ll sure regret all the moments you missed by waiting for the "right time" to enjoy it.
Wrap-Up
Here’s the challenge: Find joy in the journey. Quit waiting for the perfect circumstances to give yourself permission to live fully. Happiness isn’t just waiting for you at the end of the tunnel—it’s here, right now, with you, in the middle of all the chaos.
So, treasure every moment. Laugh a little louder, dance a little crazier, and hug the people you love a little tighter. Time doesn’t wait, and neither should your happiness.
As I’ve said many times before Happiness is not a Destination, it’s a Journey!
Now go out there and LIVE like you MEAN it. Because HAPPINESS isn’t a DESTINATION —it’s the WAY!
PS: I’ve written so many blogs on finding happiness – too many to list here, so make sure you read them because we ALL forget that everything starts with YOU!
