Hide & Seek with Happiness

You know, when I got the Happiness Blog Award, I was in a rush that day and didn't really put the time it deserved into listing 10 things that make me happy.  NOT that the ten things I listed didn't/don't make me happy; they all do.  But I want to put more into that, now.  I want to talk about attitude, and happiness.  About choosing, consciously or not, whether to live a happy life (with whatever life gives you), or choosing (consciously or not) to struggle daily for something that always seems right out of one's grasp.  Because truly, it IS a choice.  Whether you consider it the old 'glass have full or half empty', the euphemism is true.  We choose our state of mind.  I'll take it a step further:  NOT choosing a state of mind is the same as choosing one.  Granted, due to biochemicals or simply shitty luck, some people seem to be pre-destined to have a crappy attitude/outlook, while others seem to be wearing rose-colored glasses no matter what.  But everyone, EVERYONE has a choice.  If you truly believe you don't have a choice, then get thyself post-haste to a doctor and see about being medically treated.  But for most of us, it's a combination of life events (big and small), and attitude.  You can be happy, and even on crappy days, make the best of bad situations, or....you can be unhappy and bitch and moan about everything, even the good stuff.  Sure, sometimes we get swallowed up in events and our attitude can morph away from what it normally is.  At those times, I think we need to find a safe, quiet place as soon as humanly possible, go within, work a few things out, calm ourselves (in non-food ways), and get a little closer back to center so that we can enjoy life a little better.  THAT, my friends, is why our list of ten things that make us happy IS so important.  We ought to all take the time to really do this little exercise, and then print and clip our list and keep it close in times of emotional need, as a mini 'basket list' of things to aim to do As.Soon.As.Possible.  For that reason, I suggest listing things that are doable, and doable in a short time frame.  So that we can grab one of them and do them when we most emotionally need it to work our way back towards the center, emotionally.

So, without further ado, here is my revised list of Ten Things That Make Me Happy:

1.  a catnap.  Preferrably with a nice afghan tucked around me.  With or without a dog (or two) cuddled up against me.

2.  Swinging.  I LOVE TO SWING.  Get myself to a park, grab an empty swing, and just swing.  Feel the cool or warm breeze in my hair, get high enough to lean back, close my eyes, and LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

3.  Sit near enough to the ocean, shaded (because I'm lily white LOL), and close my eyes occasionally to better appreciate the calming nature of the sound of ocean waves.  The view is always wonderful, but the sound....oh how the sound draws me in and brings a sense of peace and belonging to me.  Like truly nothing else.  That's why our 'white noise' air machine by the bed is always set to "waves."

4.  Light a nicely scented (Yankee) candle, put on some soft playing "smooth jazz", and curl up with a good book.  A fiction book.  Non-fiction won't do.  Preferrably out in the shade of my patio, on our uber comfortable wicker and cushioned patio furniture.  (remind me to post a picture some day of it.  I chose it, instead of a trip to Italy, once.  Because I knew, over time, I'd get much more gratification from it than a brief trip to Italy.)

5.  A good, warm cup of decaf Seattle's Best, with 1 Equal packet and a dollop of sugar-free Hazelnut Coffemate creamer.

6.  TV.  I love TV.  I have so many favorites, and even when none of them are on, I can turn to HGTV and have a blast.  Sometimes for hours on end.

7.  Read your blogs.  I'm always warmed, and often times motivated, by you, my friends.  :)

8.  Dance.  Nine months later, countless thousands of hours logged doing it for exercise, and I still LOVE.TO.DANCE.

9.  Enjoy breaking "bread" with my girlfriends, my husband, or my family.  I have finally realized it really DOESN'T matter WHAT we are eating.  What matters is enjoying quality time together.  Laughing, and just enjoying our time together.

10.  Finding artistic ways to entertain myself.  I love photography, I love creating custom silk flower arrangements....but as I write this, I realize I need to discover a new means.  But I want it to be something that allows me to create something that someone can use; me or someone I care about.  Knitting or crochet are first to come to my mind, but I don't think so.  I'm actually, for the first time, thinking about jewelry making.  I think I need to research that.  I don't mind an initial outlay of money, but I don't want to spend a huge sum.  Perhaps jewelry making won't be it.  But now, as of this moment, I am in the hunt.   I love doing web design/graphics, but the artistic abilities to actually draw, did not get passed down to me from my maternal side (which actually boasts two artists-for-money aunts.)  But I need to spend some time, going within my heart, and then researching, my options.  I need this.

See?  Create your own list of things you can do, easily and cheaply, and nothing that will hurt your health....to bring yourself within, bring joy to your life, bring you back to center.  Your own Zen list, if you will.

Have a great day, and stay true to your goals!