Don’t Worry… Be Happy! 1 Of 2

It was sung by Bobby McFerin and the words go like this:

“Don't worry, be happy

In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy now”

“Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy”

“Ain't got no place to lay your head

Somebody came and took your bed

Don't worry, be happy

The landlord say your rent is late

He may have to litigate

Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy”

That song became very popular because it dealt with something we all like to think about, and that is HAPPINESS!

Have you noticed that people that are HAPPY generally have a lot of people hanging around them? That is because we all want to be happy, and I guess we think that if we hang out with someone that is genuinely happy, some of their happiness may rub off on us.

HAPPINESS HAS A CONTAGIOUS EFFECT. We can be around an old sour puss who is always griping and complaining about something, and we head for the medicine cabinet. But then we can meet some HAPPY person and the first thing you know we are happy also.

Illus: Speaking of contagious diseases, did you hear about the very contagious disease that seem to be spreading all over the place these days?

A lady that contracted this very contagious disease said, “I'm writing you to let you know that I have recently been

diagnosed with a serious condition called, ‘Sidetrack Syndrome,’ and there's absolutely no hope I will ever get over it.” “It is very contagious; here is how it affects me. See if you have these same symptoms.”

• “When I decide to do the laundry, I start down the hall and notice the newspaper on the table. Okay, I'm going to do the laundry, BUT FIRST I'm going to read the newspaper.”

• “After that, I notice the mail on the table. Okay, I'll just put the newspaper in the recycle stack...BUT FIRST, I'll look through that pile of mail and see if there are any bills to be paid.”

• “Now where's the checkbook? I have some bills to pay. Oops! There's the empty glass from yesterday on the coffee table. I'm going to look for that checkbook, BUT FIRST I need to put the glass in the sink.”

• “I head for the kitchen, look out the window, notice my poor flowers need a drink of water. I’ll put the glass in the sink, BUT FIRST those flowers definitely need some water.”

• “There's the remote for the TV on the kitchen counter. What's it doing here? I'll just put it away...BUT FIRST I need to water those plants.”

• “I head for door and step on the dog. The dog needs to be fed. Okay, I'll put that remote away and water the plants... BUT FIRST I need to feed the dog.”

• “At the end of day: Laundry is not done, Newspapers are still on the floor, glass is still in the sink, bills are unpaid, checkbook is still missing, and the dog ate the remote control. AND, when I try to figure out how come nothing got done all day, I'm baffled, because I KNOW I was BUSY ALL DAY!”

• “I realize this condition is serious...and I should get help. BUT FIRST I think I'll read all my email!”

It seems that many of us have caught this very contagious disease called, “Side Track Syndrome.” There is something else that is very contagious, and that is HAPPINESS!

We like to hang out with HAPPY PEOPLE because we all have been allotted only so many days here on earth, and we want them to be happy days.

Illus: Years ago, there was a very popular television program on television called, “Happy Days!” It was a very successful sitcom. It was about a middle class family called the Cunningham family in 1950’s.

People watched it because it was built around happiness, and everybody wants to be happy.

• Mr. Cunningham (Tom Bosley) ran the local hardware store.

• Mrs. Cunningham (Marion Ross), spent most of her time in the kitchen.

• Their son, Richie (Ron Howard), hung out at Arnold's Drive-In with his pals Ralph and Potsie, trying to be as cool as the coolest greaser in town, the Fonz (Henry Winkler).

• Richie's sister, Joanie (Erin Moran), tagged along whenever she wasn't at her friend Jenny Piccolo's house.

This program started in 1971 and ran until 1984, ten and a half years.

WHY WAS THIS PROGRAM SUCH A SUCCESS? Because it was built on HAPPINESS. This very popular television program never would have survived a month if it was about SADNESS and MISERY!