A friend posted the following Helen Keller quote on Facebook yesterday and I really like it, so I wanted to post it here.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

Since my life has been full of transitions these past few years, I think this is a thought I need to keep in the front of my  mind.

This is not just for the big things, though.  This is also something to remember for all those little things that come up in life. When the pouring rain spoils the camping trip; when the restaurant is sold out of your favorite dish; when overtime means dinner on your own, to name a few.  How often do we look at these closed doors of happiness and miss an opportunity for unplanned/unexpected happiness?   I can think of too many instances where I have done this.

Happily, I can also think of times where I didn’t miss the open door.  A few years ago it seemed to rain every time we went camping.  We spent lots of time being disappointed, but then we got out the board gam es. We spent far more time gaming than we do on typical trips and had more fun together than we had had in a long time. Next time you face a disappointment, try not to focus on the closed door and look for the open door.  You might find something even better!