I've just got a pile of my old books back from my parents' house.
Books by Enid Blyton, Toni Morrison and a Neighbours annual show my eclectic taste.
I've started to read The Enchanted Wood to my three kids each night, because I adored the adventures of The Magic Faraway Tree.
My eldest then picked up another of Enid Blyton's books, The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage. We read a chapter together and then I watched as he snuggled up in bed, reading some more to himself.
After five minutes he announced 'I know who did it.'
I looked at him and he gave me a smile. He said 'I skipped to the last chapter to find out.'
Image: Author's Own
I laughed.
It's exactly what I used to do. I couldn't wait to find out who dunnit, so I always read the last chapter as soon as I could, then the rest of the book, safe in the knowledge that I knew the ending.
But life isn't like that.
And I think that's why so many of us base our happiness on the 'if only' and 'what ifs.' It's like we're rushing through each day, desperate to get to the end of wherever we feel we're meant to be, so we can find out what's going to happen.
We need the security and the knowledge that it's all going to be OK.
What I've learned through my ups and downs of life, is that we don't really get to know that it's going to be OK. All we can do in each moment is trust that it will be.
I know it's a cliche, but happiness comes from enjoying each moment of life.
It's not a destination.
Don't get me wrong, it takes practise to enjoy each moment. Some moments make you want to hide under the covers and stay there.
But every moment that comes your way is important. You can learn from the bad times and use them to clarify what you want from life. The experiences and feelings that you enjoy.
The good times are there to soak up and savour. You don't need to rush through them. Take time to enjoy them, because it's the memories of the great moments that can help you through the difficult times. They also give you something to hope for.
So, I have to admit that I was wrong as a child.
If we were meant to know the ending of a book straight away, it would be a very short book, with nothing in the middle to enjoy.
The excitement and the constant guessing as to what could happen, is what carries you through to the end.
Life is like that too.
Think of it as a fun journey that's going to take you to a fabulous ending. Each chapter is full of twists, turns and cliffhangers, but each one is fun and exciting.
Your job is to snuggle up and enjoy every page.
If you'd like more of my positive take on life, follow me on Facebook. You can also buy The Happy Teenager: Fun Book, The Happy Woman: Fun Book and The Happy Child: Fun Book on Amazon.