When I was 22 in NYC, I lived in a crummy apartment located in a shady neighborhood. It was a 5-floor walk up and hot as hell during the summer. My roommate would bring home boys every night. I was interning full-time at a modeling agency and also working full-time at a restaurant to pay the bills. That might sounds horrible to some but I loved every minute of it. I was happy and always had the biggest smile on my face.
There was also a time when I lived in the Bay Area, had a ridiculously easy job that paid well, lived near my family, ate fancy dinners, traveled the world, could have anything I wanted, but at the same time I had a hard time getting out of bed and felt unfulfilled. I was miserable.
True happiness is not circumstantial. It never is.
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Life has taught me that if you know how to do these two things, you will ALWAYS be happy!
1. Be grateful.
Do you feel that you have abundance in your life? Because if you don’t, then you aren’t truly grateful. Being grateful isn’t just saying or knowing that you should be. I can easily say, “I know there are hungry people in other parts of the world,” but if I don’t really appreciate the food I’m about to eat, it’s not going to make any difference. Not one bit. So whenever I remember to, I literally thank my food. I look at my brussel sprouts and thank the little guys. Then I laugh and eat them.
What are you truly grateful for? Feel it. Be it. 
2. Love Yourself.
Love Yourself. Such a powerful statement. They say that you can only be lonely if you don’t like the person you’re with. We are always our own worst enemy. What do you love about YOU? Can you accept yourself the way you are? Choose to be proud. If you know how to love yourself, you’ll stop looking for other things to feel whole and complete. Not only will you feel fulfilled, but other people will know how to love you too!
Things are always more simple than they seem. Isn’t that great?! Yay life!!
It really IS that simple! Totally love this! I’m learning to love and accept ME, to just BE. ME. Yay for the spirit and for the love of Life!
Really beautiful words. So many people can relate I’m sure. Well done.
I couldn’t agree more! Love this post, Cc… Love YOU! Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom
TRUTH!!! You are amaaaazing Christine, Thanks for being YOU!!!xoxo
It is so true that true happiness has to come from loving who you are first. You can’t love other people unless you love yourself first, to love other people you have to share part of yourself. If you aren’t content, happy and fulfilled to start of with, no body would want to be with you. It is so important to be you, to do things that make you feel proud, satisfied and alive. Work on things that you feel has valued and make you a better person.