A snapshot of my life right now

I am completely free to do just whatsoever I like.

That's the rub.

I am 72 years old. My Social Security pension, along with a modest food stamps benefit, covers all my material needs. I have a very nice Section 8 dwelling, located half a mile from the church where I've belonged for 40 years. I have a really good landlord.

Except for my strong commitment to my church, I have no commitments and no obligations. My time is completely free. There is no practical obstacle to my doing just whatsoever I like.

OK, so, for example, it's financially impossible to take a cruise. But I don't want to take a cruise. Anything I can't afford, I don't want. I've been that way all my life.

It is true that I am in very poor health. I take that in stride.

Some of this may sound crazy, and it feels crazy, which is why I haven't told this story till now, and haven't yet made the life changes in question. And I may have said some things like this before.

So, the suitable goal right now is to become just as happy as I can possibly be.

This involves:

• What I think about

• What I pay attention to

• How I speak

I need to think exclusively about things I like, things that do or will please me.

I need to mentally sidestep any thought or situation that may displease me, or that I may disapprove of. That includes such things as the trash in the alleys and all the scandals one reads of in the news. I must be sure that every time I go to social media or my news feed, I am looking for things that will please me, and not looking for scandals.

I need to keep my attention on things I can do something about, namely situations within this apartment and this neighborhood, and my interactions with others in person from day to day. In contrast, for example, I cannot do anything about Donald Trump's latest foray into vainglory.

Some may ask whether seeking to maximize and optimize my own happiness is not a wholly selfish effort, ignoring my duty to be of service to others. It turns out that the best I can do for myself IS the best I can do for others also.

Light in a dark place

There is significant blight in this neighborhood, significant crime. When I joined my current congregation in 1980, I saw these as manifestations of what I would have called sin; and I joined this congregation in large part because of its commitment to be light in a dark place, to show forth the practical advantages of following Jesus.

Related: Chaos overwhelms the poor

Above all else, it pleases me to love others.

If I fill my apartment with happiness, joy and hope, that will radiate into the homes near me, up and down the street, and on the street in my interactions with others. My words and actions will be prone to inspire happiness, joy and hope in them also. And that' the best I can do.