Happiness Is A Choice - What Brings You Joy?

All the books say that happiness is a choice. Every day we are faced with something that could put us in a bad mood that could easily steal our joy. How do we avoid these irritable moods and feelings when they pop their evil heads into our minds. Life can be so incredibly hard and sometimes you want to smack the person that tells you its all perception when you just dropped a dozen eggs on the floor and you have to clean up the mess. I dont have the answer for every day, and everyone and all situations. I do know it is worth a shot to be joyful because we dont know if there will be a tomorrow so we better make today count for something. Here are some of the things that bring me happiness and joy during the stressful days. I usually do at least one every day sometimes more. Feel free to write me some of yours as well. We all can use ideas to find happiness.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

The taste of my first sip of coffee to begin my day

The quiet of early morning when it is just me, my dog and my book

A morning that begins with a great workout which then gives me boundless energy

Watching someone who truly enjoyed a meal I prepared and asked for seconds

All summer fruits, (peaches, plums, cherries, watermelon, strawberries)

An occasional sweet (cheesecake, anything chocolate)

The arrival of 3PM
This was the time my special little boy would arrive home from school when he was little
This was the time Mom and I called faithfully each day even if we spoke five times before
This was the time Aunt Hilda and I when she was alive enjoyed a cup of coffee and a chat together
This is the time now that we joined homes that Mom and I have our coffee and chat....

Watching my 91 year old Mother whose eyesight is so poor still crochet and make beautiful afgans for nursing homes of all places

The memory of watching Aunt Hilda teach my son Sean how to make the Easter stuffing and having him now teach it to me

The thank you I extend to people who meet me at parties or gatherings and tell me they loved my last blog when you think no one has read it

Being silly and acting childlike every now and again (go squirt that reddi whip can at someone!)

Making people laugh and smile

Listening to music through headphones and my ipod

Putting on a nice cheerful outfit and great hair days

My journal

Any moment I can escape and be alone with Kevin. It could be a coffeeshop, a crowded mall, a rare weekend get away or just watching television in the living room

Telling someone who has been kind or has touched my life in some way how much I appreciate them

Thanking people for kind words if I somehow touched their life

Receiving a handwritten note or card from my son

Lending a helping hand to families when they are in a bind

Being around and communicating with friendly and caring people

Loving what I do and having people to love and do things for

Looking in the mirror and seeing this great lady who every day reminds herself she is doing the right thing and is great at it!!

It doesnt have to be expensive, you dont have to go far to get it.....Little things.....my life...JOY!!!

Even When You Dont Feel Like It - Do It Anyway

There are days I wake up and say I just dont feel like working out - do it anyway
There are days I say I just dont feel like eating healthy-do it anyway
There are days I say I have no ambition and dont feel like getting dressed - do it anyway
There are days I say Im so overwhelmed and dont feel like doing anything - do it anyway
There are days I begin to question and dont feel like praying - do it anyway
There are days I dont feel like going out of the house - do it anyway
There are days I dont feel like talking to anyone - do it anyway
Three are days I feel like Im unappreciated and am just doing all this for nothing - do it anyway
There are days I dont feel like being cheerful or laughing - do it anyway
There are days I dont want to be disciplined and want to shop unecessarily - do it anyway
There are days I dont want to be cooperative and forgiving - do it anyway
There are days I dont want to be helpful and nice - do it anyway


Doing it makes a big difference. Positive actions each day makes a big difference. We all feel sad sometimes and just want to have a victim pity party but it is much healthier instead to try and find a healthy outlet. It is so easy feeling resentment when you are a caregiver. We are constantly taking important things away from ourselves in order to fulfill everyone elses needs. We are constantly sacrificing and we sometimes just want to throw in the towel...Dont!! We cannot be too busy to care about our feelings and our health and our lives. Doing the wrong thing has consequences also....Keep on keeping on...Keep on running your race....Take everyone elses dreams and successes and what they are or are not doing out of the equation right now. Focu each day on getting up and do it and DO IT the best way you can!!.
Its going to hurt sometimes, its going to be hard sometimes, its going to be painful sometimes, its not going to be fun sometimes, do it anyway. You will be glad you did!!

The Changes Of Life

Unfortunately life changes....things change that cannot be helped. Now that Im a little over 50 Im realizing just how true this is. My body in itself is going through many changes which can be emotional...that along with seeing your Mother age and slowing up a little more each day can be emotional as well. We caregivers give others so much love every day and sometimes it does get lonely. We sometimes need to feel loved as well. I refuse to let this get me down however. I intend to fight every day to embrace all the changes that are presented to me. I am going to fight and give laughter to Mom as much as I can.I am going to fight to keep working out, eating right. This stage of life is where I believe you must take extra care of health. I dont want to be anemic or lack calcium. My cholesterol is already high which I feel is due to these changes also. I am going to fight to keep on keeping on. These changes represent the second half of my life. The first half is over. This is my second shot at finding some enjoyment despite what life has presented me with. I am going to fight to spend time with Kevin and once in a while get out and do fun things. It is my right to do these things. I am a good daughter, I am a good person. I have no problems facing the challenges of all the changes in life. I am going to fight to find things to smile and be happy about. Im going to fight bad temptations. Im going to keep fighting because I want the second half to be the best years of my life. I can have it all. I just have to set my mind to it and not allow emotions take over me. Join me...everyone join me in this fight. once today is done it is gone. we will not get it back. I want my journal entry for each day to be inspirational so those reading them once Im gone will see it is worth the fight...I can do this...we all can!!

My Talents/Or Lack Of

The other day I was working on a needlepoint project...(Im not very good at needlepointing AT ALL!) and I was getting so frustrated. I said, my goodness...why cant I be talented? Something as simple as using a piece of string on a needle should not be this hard. I thought about this and realize I say that a lot. why Cant I Be Talented? I walk into peoples homes sometimes who are so good at decorating and I say boy I wish I could be like that!!. People have a knack for things..I would have the same vase with the big red flower on a table and it would look ridiculous!!. I say it when I admire peoples outfits...some people wear large jewelry and I think man, what a talent. I would wear that necklace and look like an idiot. The non Donna talent list was going on and on. I finally said maybe you need to focus on the things you do well. Maybe its time that you may consider people are admiring you. My first thought was to laugh at this ridiculous thought. But hey, I do make people laugh...even if at times they are laughing at me not with me..im creating happiness...I am very funny!!...I have a huge heart...I am incredibly giving and loving .....I like to write..Im not certain Im great at it but I think the fact I can open my heart and express feeling is a talent. I hope in the words that I can be inspiring another person. I cook good as long as I have a recipe..but hey, thats a talent...there are lots of people that cant follow directions. Wow!!...I guess I am talented afterall. Goodhousekeeping, you wont be knocking at my door any time soon nor will Vogue I suppose...but thats ok....I have a radio face anyway lol lol lol
keep smiling, keep laughing...god gives us the talents he feels we need for the job he sent us to do!!...