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From the Editor
 Let’s see . . . Where was I? . . . Oh, yes, I was telling you about my winter ‘happiness’ project to de-clutter and reorganize my home/office. I’m ‘happy’ to say I’m officially clutter-free!
In the process of tackling the task, the past few months turned out to be somewhat insightful for me, acknowledging the fact that much of my life has been spent yearning for a sense of order and searching for peace. For years I believed whoever it was that said “our outer order of things contributes to our inner peace,” and I woefully failed at any attempt to achieve peace this way. Neither did it come by way of the “Flylady” and her 15 minute, power-cleaning program that I tried so hard to follow. My pursuit of happiness was to have my life in a reasonable order and to be able to fit it into a neat and tidy box. As impulse turned to obsession, I recall alphabetizing my spices, and over-labeling my file folders into sub-categories, and hopelessly arranging my junk drawer! Being hyper-organized, I learned, is counter-productive to achieving happiness.
Somewhere deep inside one of my closets this winter, a peace came over me, effortlessly I might add, having nothing to do with any of the executive decisions I made as to what stays or what goes. Photographs, keepsakes, books, clothes, pens, socks and shoes are the things we accumulate. They do not have the power to make me happy, and no matter what order they are in, cannot control how I feel, nor define who I am. I’ve found that happiness consists in the serenity that can only come when I’m fulfilling my God-given purpose in life.
So, what started out as an overwhelming and dreaded undertaking, soon turned out to pleasantly shorten the days of three long, winter months. Whereas some people try to ‘gain the whole world and wind up losing themselves in the process,’ (Matt.16:26), I was determined to gain peace & happiness by losing my stuff. Greek philosopher, Epictetus, pointed this out by saying, in essence, that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. So when the town-wide yard sale arrives this May, I will be more than happy to unpack the garage full of my ex-stuff. (Early birds welcome!)
(Of course, much like a kid at Christmastime, a part of me still eagerly anticipates a little therapeutic “spring shopping” at all my favorite island stores. I’m all for doing my part to keep the economy going while still holding on to life’s simplicities.)
My genuine desire is for every aspect of my business and personal life to be in harmony with God. I know that part of His ultimate purpose for me at this time of my life involves a special assignment. And that is doing my best to publish another season of Sun by-theseas! As I write this spring issue letter, there is a winter weekend snowstorm outside. I am warm and at peace inside my ‘new less-is-more décor’ home, melting in the happiness of listening to my son play his piano, content with all that I have been given me in my life, especially such an awesome job as the artist/editor/publisher of the Five Mile Beach Sun! My fortune cookie said, “Remember. . .A happy life is just in front of you.” May you each find your fortune happily waiting for you by the sea.
Happy Spring!
Publisher, editor, and artist
The SUN by-the–sea, , WILDWOOD, NJ
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