Cremeans was a MHS Math Department teacher for 15 years before he was diagnosed with Stage Four Lymphoma Cancer in the fall of 2010. Though his in-class lectures most often focused on mathematics as any other teacher would give attention to his subject, Cremeans’s course material included educating students on how to be happy and how to lead successful lives.

The book is available for $20 in the MHS school store. Be Happy:  Life Lessons from Dad is a collection of 31 messages that act as a how-to guide in becoming a more content and successful person. Cremeans is remembered as the teacher who often misspelled words on the board, always laughing at his simple mistakes. As a geometry and algebra teacher, Cremeans naturally had a mathematical mind and it may seem ironic to many that he published a book. Nevertheless, the book is nearly flawless both grammatically and organizationally and the author’s passion for developing happiness is distinguished and inspiring.  Though it is written in plain diction, Cremeans’s profound messages about happiness show his immeasurable wisdom and his voice prominently seeps through each page. The book is dedicated to Cremeans’s children, whom he wrote are “the three best things that ever happened to me,” hence the title: Be Happy:  Life Lessons from Dad.

Upon getting sick, Cremeans wished to teach his happiness messages on a larger scale; consequentially, he performed “Be Happy,” onMay 11, 2011. Hundreds of MHS students and staff and other community members crowded the Center for the Performing Arts to watch Cremeans as he explained methods to becoming happy through a PowerPoint Presentation, similar to the lectures he conducted in the classroom. Cremeans believed that teaching the youth how to become happier was the most important lesson he could give; he had dreams to take the “Be Happy” movement on the road, inspiring thousands of teens to become better-off individuals. Unfortunately, Cremeans’s time was cut short as he lost the battle with cancer onAug. 9, 2011.

Though the loss of Cremeans is devastating to many of his students, co-workers, family members, and dear friends, the publication of his book pays tribute to his memory. Cremeans’s parents made sure that his book would go to print to help continue his dream of teaching as many people to be happy as possible. The teacher began drafting a book about the way in which people can become happy long before he was diagnosed with cancer. Former MHS student Marissa McGill was largely moved by Cremeans’s lessons and was the first to suggest that he publish a motivational work.

Cremeans thanks McGill for giving him that initial push in the Acknowledgements: “Marissa McGill took amazing notes. As she finished her class with me, she handed me a copy of those notes and asked me to write a book. She was my inspiration.”

Cremeans was not always so content with his life and his achievements, as he encourages all to be. The book begins with Cremeans recounting his twenties, a time in which “there was something missing”: happiness.

“I wish I knew what I know now,” Cremeans wrote.

In the first chapter, “Message 1: Hello, Are You There?” he addresses his former self, instructing him to become happier.

“Your happiness is in your hands,” Cremeans states. “Happiness is a lifestyle, and my messages are here for you to ponder.”

“Message 3: You are Ruled by Committee” explains that experiences and information is stored in the human mind through metaphorical “committee members” which affect the choices one makes in his daily life. Cremeans states that negative committee members can blur one’s “life lens,” causing stress, fear, sadness or other pessimistic feelings that prevent happiness. For example, the public speaking committee member may remember a time in which one was laughed at for making a mistake during a speech. This committee member could cause a person to fear speaking in public for life!

“You are ruled by committee,” Cremeans wrote. “Your past experience help decide your present day response.”

Cremeans urges us to ignore these negative committee members. He believed in the power of positive thinking. Changing the way we think is the first step to gaining happiness. Cremeans promoted the extinguishment of fear—he wanted people to believe that they could achieve anything, despite past experiences that prevented them from doing so.

 “To get what you want from life, you must know what you want and have faith that you can have it” Cremeans states in “Message 12: Imagineering Your Dreams.”

In this chapter, Cremeans beckons his readers to identify their passions and goals—actually designating areas in the book to write these things down!—and then gain faith that they can achieve these dreams. He thought of accomplishments as keys to happiness and self-contentedness. Cremeans stresses the importance of choosing goals to seek and following through with them

Cremeans dedicated his book to his children whom he wrote are “the three best things that ever happened to me.”

“Most people blow this off thinking they already have an idea of whom or what they want to become,” he states. “If you decide to skip doing these exercises your future self will be very unhappy with you!”

In “Message 14: Stress is Waiting to Be Happy,” Cremeans illuminates that you should never wait to be happy when you can be happy right now. Many people think that once stressors disappear, they will become happier. Oftentimes, students may say, “When I graduate, I will be happy,” or “Once I am done with this difficult class, I will be happy.”  Cremeans explains that these thoughts come from stressful situations, but these stressors should not affect happiness.

“When stress comes your way you can choose to let it go, and not dwell on a bad situation,” Cremeans wrote.

Cremeans begs his readers to remember in times of stress that “this unpleasant moment will soon be gone!” Then, one should look for as many humorous things about the unfavorable circumstance as possible. After all, laughter is a natural stress-reliever.

“Message 26: If You Want It, Give It Away” states that to become happy, it is necessary to give happiness away. Cremeans explains that one can exert happiness onto others through a friendly smile, compliments, laughter, or genuine affection.

“When you give happy thoughts,” Cremeans wrote, “you will get happy thoughts in return.”

Cremeans expresses that one must live his life to the fullest, grasping each moment for what its worth. “Message 30: Don’t Blink” states that each person is only given one life on Earth; thus, each day should be cherished. Cremeans stresses that one should do something he is afraid to everyday, one shouldn’t wait to be happy, one should control his thoughts so that every day is happy.

 Regrettably, Cremeans did not have the time to seek everything he wanted to in life; nevertheless, he took advantage of each opportunity in front of him and he had enormous gratitude for everyday he was given.

“Wake up everyday grateful to be alive,” Cremeans wrote. “Enjoy every minute. Don’t blink, because it goes so fast!”

For those who were moved by Cremeans’s way of life, Be Happy: Life Lessons from Dad will act as a constant reminder to find happiness no matter the current circumstances. Cremeans tells his readers to never forget his messages. He wrote that one must read his messages repeatedly at different points in life to assure that happiness becomes a habit.

 For those who are unfamiliar with Cremeans’s inspiring beliefs, the book is an essential buy. Be Happy: Life Lessons from Dad allows Cremeans’s influence to continue on after his death. Everyone can learn from the Cremeans’s theories about happiness. The opportunity to learn how to be more content with your life is available to you: read into it!