Bloom: The Secret to Happiness in 2014

A very close friend of ours, Patricia, recently passed along a note that contained her secret to living a happy and fulfilled life. I should start by telling you a few things about Patricia before sharing her secret. I met Patricia a couple of years ago while living in Kenya and working as COO for Bridge International Academies based in Nairobi, Kenya. Patricia was my housekeeper, cook and all around caretaker. She taught me Kiswahili, cooked, cleaned and managed my home life. In a land where it is easy to be taken advantage of, I always trusted Patricia with my cash to disburse and spend as needed. She would readily advise me of when someone was trying to take advantage of me, and where I could best help those truly in need. She lived in a very small room — along with all of the other help — by the stables on the compound, which for those of you that have watched the classic movie “Out of Africa,” was on Karen Blixen’s beautiful estate. In a land of such rugged beauty, ever-present violence, and extreme wealth and poverty, Patricia was a beacon of light to the world around her. She always had a huge smile and a good word for me at the end of what were often very long, difficult days. She raised three beautiful and talented children on her own, and supported countless others. One particular woman she helped care and provide for had been set on fire by her ex-husband when she threatened to leave him due to his drunken and violent ways. Out of her meager means, she still provided for others. Days off are for Patricia. She usually works from pre-dawn to late into the night, seven days a week. Still, she find time to send her love and thanks, and as in the words below, to encourage us. I apologize of the misspelling, but did not want to translate or alter her words any more than I needed to: “In life sweet song can't go undance, sunny day can't pass without noticed, a beautiful flower can't grow unadmired, sweet smell can't unrealzed and a good person like u can't stay a day without being missed by me coz i appriciate every gift u send also our friendship”. Whenever you think times are hard, a task is too difficult and the future is dark, I suggest reading these words. Look outside of yourself and see the world around you with all of the beauty and opportunity it possesses. [caption id="attachment_12703" align="aligncenter" width="331" caption="David Bloom in Nairobi, Kenya"][/caption]