Chasing Down The Muse: Choose to be happy in Laguna during the summer

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness.”

—The Dalai Lama

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The flow of life and its seasons bring stumbling blocks to happiness. Still, as humans, we seem to continue seeking happiness.

Happiness often requires only making that choice. For many here in Laguna, summer can make it tough.

All of our summer art festivals have now begun. Summer music festivities as well. With the advent of the festivals and beach season to boot, traffic congestion is even worse than usual here in Laguna.

Talk about a stumbling block to happiness. How can you confront this problem and seek some ways to avoid it?

Trams, trolleys and buses are one way.

Transportation services throughout town have really started moving along. With the addition of the summer shuttles, you may ride along in airy comfort and often see things along the way you might miss while driving yourself. As a special bonus, watch for an announcement by the Visitors’ Bureau for something that will make the service even better.

Another great mode of transport is walking. With the beautiful summer days and nights we have, we should all take advantage of this easy mode as well. Talk about happy. The many sights and sounds of a good walk along shoreline or canyon cannot be beat.

If you do walk, don’t forget the sunscreen. Sunburns can make us unhappy. Begin to carry some SPF with you everywhere as the sun has stepped up in intensity. If you forget, application of some aloe vera or steeping yourself in tea for the tannic acid might help.

I’ve now attended all three of our summer festivals, and can attest to the fact that there are at least these three great venues to go to for relaxation, fun, entertainment, learning, art purchases and more. Talk about opportunities for happiness.

Choose to think happy and let troubles work themselves out along with those traffic snarls you’re avoiding.

I’ll be looking for you. Drop by and visit me in Booth #132 at the Sawdust and say, “Hi!”

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer, teacher and Director of the Sawdust Studio Art Classes…happy and always fascinated by the myriad mysteries of life. She can be reached at cherril@cherrildoty.com or by phone at (714) 745-9973.