June Happiness

Hello. and welcome.  As promised, I have my monthly happiness worksheet.   It is a bit late.  and unfortunately all I can say, is that, I have not been 'happy' or able to focus on anything 'good' for a few weeks.  But, I am happy to say (sorry for the pun) that I am making happiness a priority, again.  Hopefully this time, with a bit more gumption.  {smile}

As a few of you know, life has given me a new 'test', and I plan on winning!  So with that being said, let's get on with this monthly happiness challenge!

As you can see, my monthly happiness challenge, did not start at the beginning of the month.  But, please don't let that stop you.  These are tasks, that if done one day at a time, will bring a ray of sunshine into your life, and hopefully that will cause you to smile, to bask in the glow, to exhale some negativity, and to regain some sense of balance/order in your life.  Or simply give you respite from gloom.  

I have some repeating tasks from previous weeks/months, only to illustrate that some of these things/items are not simply one and done.  But rather a repeating venture to keep you on track.  

For instance, working on a personal goal.  That goal is for you to decide.  Me, it ranges from running, to getting a menu planned on time, to continue to be a team player at work.  

Looking at your retirement goals/strategies, will help keep you on track for that next chapter in your life.  Making sure you are doing today, what needs to be done, so you can enjoy your future with less stress, will keep you on track of your happiness.  

Organizing a space, de-clutters your world today.  And that in turn brings peace, and joy.  Selecting/creating a card for someone who may need it, or you may need to do it, will bring joy to two people - you and the recipient.  Now, how sweet is that?  

I believe that family is important, so that is why I have a task that includes your family.  But, if you can't visit your parents, what about a sibling, or an aunt, or a cousin?  Keeping in touch with your family will keep you grounded, and nurturing your 'roots'.  And we all need a strong foundation, for which enables us to 'stand'.  

Looking at your finances, is difficult.  But keeping track of your money is a priority in life.  Make it a challenge!  See where you can cut back, and use that 'saved' money for something special, or simply add it to your retirement fund.  

I am working on getting back into my craft room, but for now, it is baby steps.  Life gives us challenges, and we need to find our strengths to stand at the plate, and swing for the fence!  We need to listen to our own voice, to give ourselves permission to do what we need to get done.  I hope you all are well, and making the most of this life.  I am still struggling, but I will conquer my obstacles/doubts.  It's a slow process for me, but one I will win!  Take care of yourselves, and thank you for all your kind words, and support!

April Happiness

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  I have gotten my April Happiness goals written.  And I want to share them with you {smile}.   For those of you, who don't know me personally, I am over 50.  And a fair amount of my mental attention is focused on budget, savings, retirement, and increasing my own personal quality of life.  That is how this monthly happiness challenge has started.  I wanted something more concrete to work on weekly/monthly, to increase my happiness, or at least give me a happiness focus.   Because let's face it, life gets busy, and hectic, and sometimes I (we) can loose focus on 'our' own big picture.  So I wanted something to help me stay on track to happiness.   I don't want to simply live, but to enjoy life.  And we all have financial barriers that we all must face.  

I print these little happiness goals/task charts, and put them in my planner for each month.  That way they are at my finger tips, and I look at them daily.  To be honest, some 'challenge' activities are done our of order.  So, please use this as a guideline, and not a to do list.  Change the ones that don't 'work' for you.  Make it something you can do.  If you don't donate blood, donate your time - read to a child, help a neighbor, or chaperone at your child's class, etc.   I also made my 'work' challenge (bring a treat to a meeting) very generic.  Your 'meeting' could be T-ball practice, or a sewing circle, or an afternoon lunch with friends, it is pretty open to interpretation.  That's the point.  Make it work for your life.   I also wanted to include opportunities to work on personal goals/tasks.  We all have them! Cleaning out the closets, organizing work/hobby space, getting a budget written down on paper, signing up for a retirement plan, etc.    Taking steps to getting us (me and you) to our own finish lines, feels good.  We feel accomplished, successful, and our stress about 'those' things decreases, allowing us to accept happiness.  I want and need more happiness in my life.  I don't want to live with negativity anymore.  I also start each week, writing down what I am Thankful for, from the previous week.  This allows me to reflect, and start a week with gratitude in my heart, and in turn allowing joy a place to reside.  {smile}  Have a great day, week, and a happier month!

February Happiness

Hello.  I wanted to write a quick post.  I am still working on my 'happiness' challenge for myself, as one of my new year's resolutions.  In today's world, it is extremely easy to get mad, upset, and stay negative.  Well, I don't want to spend anymore time, energy, or health being negative.  So, I am looking for ways to remind myself to be happy! To stay positive.  To be grateful.  To count my blessings.  

I also started a planner, this year, to help me stay organized.  And Sundays are the start of each week in my planner, so on Sundays I write 3 things that I am thankful/grateful for, from the previous week.  I figure, why not start the week, acknowleging my blessings. {smile}

So, to keep me on track for the week, I give myself a challenge each week, to pass along the happiness, and stay focused.

  

And here is my February Happiness challenge:

Some of these require work, effort, and consciousness.  But, I think that is part of it.  We have to actively be happy, to stay happy.  To make an effort to change  the way we see our lives, our world, our neighbors, and our friends.  To actively choose to be happy, to smile, to find the good.  So, the last week of each month, I will create my own happiness challenge.  You are welcome to join, to participate, to create your own, to just be happy! 

Have a great day!  And help make our world a little happier! {smile}  Me, I'll be smiling, crafting, baking, sewing, and challenging myself to happiness!

New Year 2015

Happy New Year

I am always inspired and re-charged to start a new year.  It's an opportunity to change something.  I don't know about you, but I tend to make several new year resolutions and usually around march they have been pushed aside, and not kept up with.  But this year will be different.  No, I promise.  I am changing the way I look at my resolutions, and hopefully this changes the way I think.

For starters, Helen and the wonderful group over @ Holstee have a different way of starting your year.  Don't simply look back on it: relishing the good times/memories, and fretting over your regrets.  

But, rather learn from the past year.  Take a good hard look at your year.  What inspired you? What lessons have you learned?  What regrets do you have?  How can you change your path?  What can you learn from these experiences?

So, I am changing the way I think.  Hopefully this will change the way I act.  

One of my top resolutions is to stop spending.  To use what I have.  Repurpose, and reuse.  This will help my wallet/bank account, and help the environment.  So, both me and mother earth benefit.  

My other resolution is to do what makes me happy!  I don't mean rob a bank, or steal a car, or some other non productive, irrational behavior.  I'm also not referring to the 1980's motto.  But rather paint, draw, bake, craft, . . . . create.  Spend time with those who matter in my life.  Spend time doing hobbies.  Because these simple acts do bring ME joy.

And finally, take care of myself.  In the whole meaning!  Eating better, trying to get more than 4/5 hours of sleep a night.  drinking less coffee.  And exercising.  I know that it will lower my blood pressure, reduce my stress, make me 'happy', and help change my focus.  This resolution: exercising, is the hardest for me.  Not that I don't think I'm important, but basically 'I don't have time'. So, I have enlisted the help from my friends.  We are all training for a marathon.  I purchase my running shoes tomorrow.  I am downloading an app on my phone today.  

All of us have limits, have obligations, have 'things'  that hold us back.  So, use this day, to help break out, and break free of these limits and live the life you dream of!  Holstee has a great inspirational manifesto.  I have purchased the poster.  Last year.  And this year, it will be framed and hung on a wall, to 'inspire' me everyday!

I wish you all a great year.  And the strength to change what you want/need to change!

So, I ask the question: do you make new year resolutions?