Happy Week - Top 10 Happy Things

I wanted to get my final "Happy Week" post in yesterday, but I was pretty busy with a birthday party for my mom. Better late than never I suppose!

Here is my Top 10 List of things that make me happy:

1. My husband - finding him in my late 30's was the best thing that's happened to me! I am glad to have found him and can't imagine my life without him.

2. Family & Friends - what would we do without them? They love us unconditionally and are always there when we need them. I am also blessed with new friendships made with the Bluegrass etsy team.

3. Art & Creativity - art brings joy to my life and being creative is truly a gift we share to make others happy! Taking photos reminds me of happy moments in life.

4. My art room/studio - for years I worked on my dining room table and had my buffet filled with rubber stamps and papers instead dishes. It was not the best situation and it was visible when you walked in the front door of my old house. I always, always, wanted a room of my very own. When I remarried, and gave up my old house, my husband made this a reality for me in our new home. I am thankful for this each and every day. It's a wonderful place for me to retreat to, lose myself and listen to music really loud.

5. Nature - I met my husband online and the reason I was drawn to his profile was that he mentioned hiking. We enjoy being on the trail as day hikers. Our favorite places so far have been Mt. Rainier and the Smokey Mountains. We were engaged on a trail in the Smokies.

6. Music - I love music! My version of hell is a car without a radio. I sing in the car often, although my family will tell you not very well. Music has a way of instantly lifting my spirits. I just heard about a study researchers did with terminally ill patients. They took vitals before and then played relaxing music, then took vitals again. Not surprisingly, the patients' heart rates were decreased from the relaxing music. Great feel good music like James Brown or Al Green is a favorite of mine. If you like them too, check out Black Joe Williams' song Sugarfoot. It's new but it sounds very James Brown retro. It's at itunes. Check it out and I dare you to sit still listening to it!

7. Pets - there is something to be said about the unconditional love you get from pets. I can't imagine a day without our two kitties. They bring us so much joy. When our cats show affection, the worries of the day just melt way. They are another thing I can't live without.


8. Chocolate - all problems fade for me when chocolate is consumed. You have to keep consuming it though, which becomes a problem. Use sparingly.

9. Bubble baths - although I rarely get to indulge, it is a wonderful feeling to use all the hot water in the house for a long hot soak in a bubble bath. A glass of wine is also handy, along with a good book. Curious kitties playing with bubbles on the edge of tub is optional.

10. Sunshine - The feeling of the sun warming my face is like no other.

11. Autumn - yes, I was only supposed to list 10 but I could not leave off my favorite season. I love pumpkins, candy corn, spiced cider, mulled wine, falling leaves, Halloween and fall color!

So what things make YOU happy?

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 - 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!