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Day Ten

10/20/2019

 
Today I believe it is time to go out and go for a walk. I believe that you should walk or do some sort of exercise daily. It just seems after you have reset yourself with a day of nothingness, you need to get out and say hello to nature.  I find that going for a walk is quite therapeutic; but mostly I like sauntering, taking my time and noticing everything around me. 

Where I live there are beautiful trails that have lots of wildlife.  Whether it is a walk along a riverside or a stroll by the ocean, I am truly blessed at the options that are presented to me. And if I please, I could just go to the wildlife park that is down the road.  My Love and I keep each other in good company.  We never are at a loss for good conversation.  I have to keep the pace though, as my medical condition slows me to a turtle's pace.  Life is not meant to be lived in the fast lane.  We are only on this planet for a limited amount of time, so slowing down, enjoying nature and talking with loved ones is definitely a great happy builder.

Here is some advice which I got years ago from someone I think quite highly.  When you listen to your body and it is telling you to move, your body wants to move.  When I have a lot of anxiety, stress or am just having a highly emotional day, my body screams at me to go out and walk.  It actually yells at me to run, but I am unable to do that right now, maybe sometime in the future, who knows.  Listen to your body.  Your muscle memory acts like medicine for your body, it remembers what you have done in the past to alleviate pain.

So gently lift of that veil of doubt, and get up and move.  Take whatever you need.  A walker, a cane a friend or just you and enjoy today. 

As Elle Woods put it in Legally Blonde....
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Day Nine

10/19/2019

 
Today is a day that you should give yourself a break  In a previous post I wrote about having yourself a "Day of Nothingness."   It is being able to reset, relax and unwind.  You need time to tune out the world and try to think about nothing at all.  Is it meditative? Absolutely.  It is nice to put the world on the shelf and 'check-out' for a little while.  You could spend the entire day in you PJ's eating ice cream right out of the container, as long as you have stopped all from coming in and disturbing your perfectly good day of doing nothing, you're good.

When I reset, I find that my mind is clearer, my attitude shifts and my general outlook on life improves substantially.   There is SO much noise that we are bombarded with on a daily basis it is not surprising that people are becoming overwhelmed and face many mental health crisis's throughout their lives.  My days of nothingness are usually comprised with a hot beverage, a book and more than likely some form of a video game.  I find these things relaxing, but not sleep inducing.  Spend some time today breathing and being.  There is nothing in the world that needs you right now.  When your day is over, deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.  Just take time to do nothing.  Schedule yourself 'out of office', 'on break', or 'one day strike'.  Just disconnect.

It is the best way to reconnect is to disconnect.  

You need to take care of your own well being before  you can be the best you for your loved ones.

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​“I confess that sometimes I tell people that I am busy just so that I don’t have to go out and see them.  It

is not that I do not like them. It is more that I want time to be alone, and sometimes I feel like some

people are like fine wine; I can enjoy their company once in awhile, but too much will make me drunk

and stupid.  Nobody needs to be around me when I am not at my peak.  I am either cranky, or just

bored.  When I am bored, well, to be honest, I hear nothing that anyone says to me.  I am not purposely

​ignoring them. I am just, well, me.” ~jach~

Day Eight

10/18/2019

 
Today on day eight let's think about laughing.  I mean full on, belly busting, knee slapping, laughter.  A good laugh is always something that will put even the crankiest person in an instant(although they may resist) good mood.  They might even get mad at you for making them laugh because they were so mad that in order for them to make their point, their ire needed to be felt.  But alas, you showed them love by making them laugh.  Instinctively you knew that all their anger would rot away their perfectly good soul and now, unbeknownst to you, you saved them.

I enjoy watching comics.  Whether it is on T.V. or going to a show and see them; when a good comic gets me laughing I instantly feel lighter.  Sometimes a comic will say something risque and it will offend some, but not all.  I think that comedy like that is necessary.  Conversations brought up in comedy has a nice little jumping off point.  Getting down and dirty right away may not get things done, but add a touch of humor, and the mood swings.

When My Love and I were dating years ago he almost killed me by making me laugh so hard I started choking.  It was still funny and I laughed at the fact that I started choking; although he felt pretty bad.  Would you like to know what he did?  I am not sure if I can articulate how he sung the song, but I will try.  If you can imagine a very slow long drawn out country song with twang and how it would be sung(again with twang), now change that song into "Two Steps Behind" by Def Leppard.  It was too funny.  We still laugh at the memory.

So now here your chance to find a good movie that will make you laugh, or go to a comedy show or watch a comedy show on Netflix(I think there is two million on there, last time I checked) and GET YOUR LAUGH ON!
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Day Seven

10/17/2019

 
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We all have experienced a time when you eat something and the flavours, smells, and tastes bring back memories.  These memories could be from childhood; a trip with friends; a family gathering or many other countless events which have food.  I love the flavours of food.  I love tasting new things and experiencing the depth of culinary magic.

Today, I made banana bread.  I had a bunch of old bananas and it was about time.  I don't mind banana bread but I have no memories attached  to it.  It is a utility loaf, but it still is delicious. 

When I think about food memories I remember years ago I was at a restaurant where I ordered a cauliflower and thyme soup.  It was amazing.  I still remember how it tasted.  I have attempted to replicate the soup with no success.  The beauty of that soup is that I had it on my first anniversary, during our anniversary dinner.  Thinking about it brings back so many memories.   Another anniversary, My Love and I went to East Side Mario's in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and we ordered all of the desserts off the menu.  It was fun.  

There were other times where I ordered food just to try and to my amazement I would either really enjoy the meal or my brain would think of ways to make the meal better(either by adding or subtracting some ingredient).  I know My Love loves it when I get creative.  One time(it was my first time making soup)while I was making soup, I did not know how big the noodles would get, so I added 1 Cup.  This was a mistake.  I was so embarrassed, instead of soup, I made a gumbo.  My Love, loved it!  Such a trooper.   

Perhaps, today make a dish that makes you happy or sparks a memory.  Experiment with flavours.  

​A happy tummy!  :) 

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Day Six

10/16/2019

 
Day six is all about doing something that you love.  Whatever it may be?  I think that we neglect ourselves everyday by depriving our souls from things that we love.  If you do something that you love everyday; it is just one little piece of happiness that is provided by you.

Some people are lucky and what they love is what they do as a career; like being a nurse and helping people.  I think that having that joy to wake up to everyday knowing that you are doing something that you love and being paid to do it it quite amazing, but is rare.  People try to live up to the expression "If you do something that you love, you'll never work a day in your life.", which is fine, but you are still working.  I think that for me work and play need to be separate.

I have an artistic heart which sometimes makes me extremely flaky.  That is fine, it is a part of who I am, an artist.  Whether it is singing, painting, writing or crafting, there is so much joy in all of these things for me.  Being creative is my joy.  Bringing joy to others is my joy.  And it is something that I love.  I relish in making someone smile or being able to make them feel safe and calm.  

So think about something that you do that makes you happy.  Now think about something else.  When you have a little list of little things, remember to do this little happys everyday.  Take a moment and be good to yourself.  When you are good to yourself, your joy will be infectious.  People around you will feel the positive energy coming from you and you will notice how better your days become.
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Just a FYI to demonstrate how little the happys can be, I start with a hot cup of coffee everyday.  I love a good hot cup of coffee everyday.  This is one of the reasons that My Love chose a perfect song for us to start our lives as a married couple.  I am posting the song below. 

Anniversary Song
 
Cowboy Junkies


Have you ever seen a sight as beautiful
as that of the rain-soaked purple
of the white birch in spring?

Have you ever felt more fresh or wonderful
than on a warm fall night
under a Mackerel sky,
the smell of grapes on the wind?

Well I have known all these things
and the joys that they can bring
And I'll share them all for a cup of coffee
and to wear your ring

Have you ever had the pleasure of watching
a quiet winter's snow slowly gathering
like simple moments adding up?

Have you ever satisfied a gut feeling
to follow a dry dirt road that's beckoning you
to the heart of a shimmering summer's day?

Well I have known all these things
and the joys that they can bring
And I'll share them all for a cup of coffee
and to wear your ring

And I don't know how I survived those days
before I held your hand
Well I never thought that I would be the one
to admit that the moon and the sun
shine so much more brighter when
seen through two pairs of eyes than
when seen through just one

Have you ever seen a sight as beautiful
as a face in a crowd of people
that lights up just for you?

Have you ever felt more fresh or wonderful
as when you wake
by the side of that boy or girl
who has pledged their love to you?

​Well I have known all these things
and the joys that they can bring
And now every morning there's a cup of coffee
and I wear your ring.

Songwriter: Michael Timmins

Day Five

10/15/2019

 
On day five, I think about being grateful.  To actually feel gratitude towards the great things or blessings that are in your life or were in your life.  It is something that I think that a lot of people skip by this part because it is easier to give life to the negative things that have happened to you​ than be thankful or even grateful towards the positive.

One thing I am known for, and it has followed me around since I was small, is to always see or find a positive in bad situations.  Somehow when you do this, find the positive, it makes the 'problems' seem not as urgent.  Giving power to negative or bad situations by encouraging the negativity to continue gives it life.  When this negative life is born it causes chaos and assumptions which will hurt more people in the end.  It is easy to feed the beast of negativity.  It takes courage to stand up to it and say 'okay, this is not a great situation, but lets be happy that, first of all we know about it, second of all, we now can work up some strategies to find a solution.' 

One of my favourite sayings of the present day is "You've got this!"  It is such an empowering statement.  It encourages people to do things that they feel they have to do.  It is a pat on the back.  I love it!

I don't know if you have ever seen the movie 'White Christmas', but there is a song in this movie call 'Count My Blessings', sung beautifully by Bing Crosby.   The lyrics are quite poetic and sweet.  It is a song of being grateful and going to sleep being just that, grateful.

Count My Blessings

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep


And I fall asleep counting my blessings


When my bankroll is getting small


I think of when I had none at all


And I fall asleep counting my blessings


I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads


And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds


So if you're worried and you can't sleep


Count your blessings instead of sheep


And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings


I could name a thousand things that I am thankful for everyday.  I think that this is one great way of keeping balanced and happy.  It has been a long road, and I wouldn't change one little step.  I don't have any regrets, I only have a few missed opportunities, that weren't really missed.  You see you can look back and rearrange your life to perfection with all of the 'what ifs', but by changing and rearranging your past life you would change who you are at this moment.  So let the past be the past, and keep it as a blessing;  look where you are now, a little older and a lot more wiser.  Use you negative memories and admire them.  Remember you made it through them, you are no longer there, those are just memories.  Be amazed at who you are now.  Be happy with all you have done.  Be present in your days.  You will find your road to happiness.
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Day Four

10/14/2019

 
Today on day four, I am going to focus on realignment.  This is something that I believe is a necessity for finding true happiness.  When you think about it; it truly makes sense. 

Let's use an example of something that you might relate to regarding  'things that need to be realigned.'  When your automobile is 'out of alignment', your vehicle will veer to either the left or right, which will damage your car if it is not addressed.  You tires will wear out faster; there might be a sound that is unfamiliar; overall your car needs help.  You take it to a auto shop and they realign your car.  Now you are able to drive straight and everything seems to be working together, with the goal of taking you to your destination.  This is a vehicle, an object, so how about working on yourself and giving yourself as much care as you do it.

I never knew true happiness until I aligned my beliefs with my actions.  I didn't realize how compromised my spirit was when it was being pulled in many directions.  The problem was I was causing the rift by not seriously and adult-like looking at my life and figuring out what makes me TRULY happy and what does not.   Why would you do things that are counter-intuitive to your own well being? We do things everyday that are not aligned with our own well-being.

An example of this is my choice to be a vegetarian.  I know and have known how much I love animals, I always have.  I have always felt a connection with them.  It didn't matter how big or small, the connection has been there since I was a little girl.  By eating meat, I somehow was ignoring this part of me, who I am.  I was essentially ignoring a part of me that was unhappy with injuring and killing animals for the sake of food, when there are other options.  Animals to me are sentient beings, and like you and I, feel something.  I would make comments to my spouse about how it is crazy that any meat would be called humane because you have to kill them for the meat.  It makes sense that the meat industry calls cow meat 'beef' and pig meat 'pork' because who wants their meals to have faces.   This is my choice and I haven't regretted it since becoming a vegetarian.  I actually feel better knowing that I am not contributing to something that does not align with my beliefs.

I am not telling people to become vegetarian, I am asking you to think about what you truly believe and follow that path.  Align your beliefs with your life.  If you are a part of a group that doesn't make you feel good; that it is only something that you do out of habit or something out of tradition; think about why you are a part of it?  Think 'what about it makes you happy and does it have the same values that you have?'  If it does, great, now figure out what is not working for you.

That smooth drive you feel after aligning your car is that same kind of feeling that you feel when you align your beliefs with your actions.  You become you true self, and you present your true self.  You love greater, you feel deeper and the world seems to shine a little brighter.  You release all of the constraints that you placed on yourself years ago.  Being your true self makes being a happy person so easy.

Re-alignment is not easy. It is introspective and sometimes can be quite eye opening.  But I promise it is necessary to find your true happiness.  :) 
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Day Three

10/13/2019

 
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I thought I might challenge you to something that is sometimes not an easy thing to do. 

Today, on day three, I want you to think about you.  The only true way to be happy is to recognize happy in yourself.  You are an amazing being.  Don't believe me?  Well let's just think about all the things that had to happen in order for you to be right here, right now.

In order for the complexity of it all to be examined; I will use my being here as an example.  Let's go back. My great-grandparents are the best place to start.  My great-grandfather was sent over to Nova Scotia with two of his siblings, while his older siblings stayed in England.  He was married before he met my great-grandmother; and his first wife died after giving birth to their son.  His son died shortly there after. Although tragic, if this event never happened; I would not be here.  My great-grandfather would not have married my great-grandmother, and without their marriage my grandfather would never have existed.  My grandfather would never have met my grandmother, which would mean that my mother would not have been born.  This is just one example of all of the little intricate things that have to happen for us to exist.  It is all by chance that we are here, so look at it negatively or choose to look at it as a blessing. 

This is just a small example of how many small pieces have to fall into place for events to happen or not happen.  I am just grateful for all the good and the bad things that have happened to get me to this point.  Life's little mystery.  ;) 

So focus on you! Love yourself! It is not a selfish move, it is a necessary one.  You can not be your best you unless you love everything about you.  You are important to your own well being.  Being compassionate towards yourself will help you move through the world with confidence.  You know you better than anyone else; so being good to yourself is a priority.  

So do something for yourself today, anything you wish.  Just take some 'me' time. Me, I am going to have a nice hot cup of blueberry tea, and relax tonight with the love of my life.  


“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

― Aristotle

Day Two

10/12/2019

 
What to do on day two?  How about thinking of someone that you love?  It could be anyone.  And while you are thinking about that person, out loud(or in your head) list five reasons why you love that person.  You could do this fast or slow, but I would recommend you do it at the pace that you are comfortable.  Perhaps you will take your time taking a full day thinking about reasons you love that person.

Love is a very deep and personal emotion.  I never really understood love until I found someone who I love wholly, completely. You see, like a lot of people, I have trust issues.  LARGE trust issues.  It is okay though. I know I have them and because I acknowledge this, I am able to navigate my life around them.  Trust issues rarely get in the way now.  In order to love someone wholly, completely you need to trust that you are putting your heart in the right place.

Everyone should feel love and feel loved.  Everyone should wake up with the joy of knowing that no matter what happens during that day, when it is all finished, someone you know loves you, unconditionally.  All you flaws, all your foibles, all your sadness, and all your joys, someone loves them all.  When you think about love, a wave of calm should come over you with a titch of giddy.  

The joy of love; the happiness it brings.  


(This is a link to one of my favourite songs)
​
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1mIgKOdOyA


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Here is one of the world's greatest writers.  You may have heard of him before.

William Shakespeare

Sonnet XVIII

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;

Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

Day One

10/11/2019

 
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Today is day one of thirty days of happy.  It is something that is near and dear to my heart.  It is hard to be happy and joy-filled with all of the chaos going on around the world right now.  If you turn on the T.V.  you understand just a little of the craziness that we wake up to everyday.  So how do I start?

Well, with one tiny step.  This one.  I am writing again.  This is my joy.  I love the freedom to express and share my life and stories with you.  It sometimes becomes difficult to appreciate the joys in our lives because we allow to much of the world to engulf our beings.  So  my suggestion for step one, day one, is to start.  Think about what in your life makes you happy.  What around you gives you peace?  How can you reconnect with that feeling?  Write it down.  Swallow it up and drink it in. 

You are now starting your thirty days of Happy.  :) 

"....I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

And now, here is one of the best, in my opinion, carpe diem poems written by The Great American Poet. I attached a link to his Wiki page, just click on his name.


The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost


Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;


Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.


I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference
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