More Happy Week Musings

I have really enjoyed the posts this week from others and I've also enjoyed the challenge of blogging each day, and keeping it all very positive!

Something happened earlier in the week that blindsided me and would seriously affect not only me, but lots of other people that I care about. I instantly went into flight or fight mode and thought about the actions I would need to take immediately and considered the worst case scenario. About an hour later, I went to lunch. I got into my car and turned on the radio which was set to Oprah radio on XM. The wonderfully gravelly voice of Maya Angelou came on right at that moment. She said that it is always best to stay in the moment. If you think ahead and worry about what is going to happen tomorrow, chances are it might not even happen and you waste your energy on things you can't control. She reminded listeners to Stay in the Moment. That was definitely an "aha" moment for me. I have not heard that spot replayed again, so I think the timing was just for me, to get me back in the moment. And while I am not 100% convinced that the threat that bothered me is gone, I am not quite as concerned about it.

The quote below is especially good because it reminds us that you have to have some rain with the sunshine and a little sadness to really appreciate the happy times. So true!

"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness."

- Carl Jung

Finally, I leave you with a clever retro video on happiness.

Watch tomorrow for my final post on Happiness Week - My Top 10 List! :)

Happy Week - RAKS & Surprises!

I love surprises in the mail and I also love surprising my friends and family with handmade gifts. Creativity is such a wonderful gift we can share with others!

Last month I was collecting funds from our team members that are participating in a local craft fair in September. I received a check from Kelly Graves of WhimsyBeading. Included in the envelope with her check and business cards, was this lovely beaded wish bag. I about fell over from excitement! I was familiar with the wish bags from their etsy site but I had not seen one in person and certainly not one with a fleur de lis in my theme colors! I have shown this off to everyone as it's so unique.


I recently participated in a Pay it Forward type project on Facebook. We simply posted that we would make something during the year for the first five people that signed up. They in turn, would agree to do the same for others, to pay it forward. After doing this, Elayne with ChezChani surprised me with this lovely resin pendant of my logo! How cool is that?? I have it on a purple ribbon and wear it with pride. Elayne's logo is a sunflower and she created one for herself to wear at shows. What a great way to promote your brand!


Our etsy team leader, Libby Goldsmith of Maylees Garden knows I am a big lover of floral scents, especially lilac. She was able to get some lilac oil for me and turn it into a roll-on perfume oil. It's wonderful! Not only because I love the scent, but because she surprised me with it.


So use your creative talent to create a special something for a special someone. Or make little mini art items and leave them at public places for people to find. Stick them in library books, leave them at a bus stop, a nursing home, or in a hospital waiting room. You never know how your creative spirit might lift some one's mood and change their day!

Spread the word about Happy Week and keep the happy spirit alive! For other musings about Happy Week, visit CuriousGirl-Lisa. Her blog has a listing of everyone participating this week!

Happy Week - Day 3 - Sarcastic Wednesday

Here is your chuckle for the day - this being day 3 of Happy Week.

You gotta love Hoops and Yoyo. They really crack me up.

Happy Week - Day 2 - Humor

To get your daily dose of humor, sign up for a daily email with great LOL catz pictures and captions at icanhascheezburger. You'll be glad you did.

(For those that love goggies, you will want to visit icanhasahotdog).

The kitties are funnier though.

Happy Week - Day 1 - Inspiration

A fellow blogger, curiousgirl-lisa came up with a cool theme for us to blog about this week. The topic is Happiness.

I think for the most part, happiness is a state of mind. The power of positive thinking is critical. I find that reading quotes helps me keep my focus. I keep ones that I like in a folder and reach for it when I need motivation or to get back on track. One of the best that I can think of (from memory) is the saying that people are only as happy as they make up their mind to be. How true! Each day is what you make it.

Here is a quote from The Dalai Lama -

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy."

One must keep working hard to remain positive. Sometimes its easier to fall into negativity, especially when those around us are that way. It does take work to stay optimistic in a negative environment.

One of my favorite motivators is Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, also known as SARK. If you have not seen her work, you must check it out. I love all the color and artistic elements tied with themes of happiness, creativity, and living a "juicy" life! See if the library has some of her books or sign up for her newsletter on the web. Here is a link to her fan page on Facebook.

Smiles everyone, smiles!