We Need Each Other

It’s amazing how much we miss people when they are “away”. Still we go on with our day and persevere. We are definitely a species that needs and feeds off of each other. Today this is especially evident in my life. I really get such joy from the people around me in the everyday experiences that we all share.

Today “away” means many things to me. I was away working today and missed sharing in the splish-splashy pool with my family. My parents are away on a dream vacation and I miss their supportive, smiling ways. My dear friends are away on summer vacations and I long for their great conversation. My husband will be away on business leaving me without my curly-haired Irishman. And a friend has gone away to heaven to live a new life with God.

All of these people are part of what makes me tick. And it is in their absence that I realize how special and important they are to me. I have opened up my heart and my life and let them in and I am so grateful. These people make every day better. My family and friends are important and I hope that they all know that they are harvesting happiness in my life. I am truly blessed!

Happy Birthday!

It’s really NOT just another day! It’s your birthday! This is a special day for you and the rest of the world for it is the day you graced us with your presence!  The people around you, and in fact, the entire world are blessed to have you in it. 

You are making quite an impact on so many lives and you have since the day you were born. When you were a baby your smile filled so many people with joy.  Those people affected others with happiness that originated with you. And so it began, the slow impact of your birth on the world.  That one little giggle-snort you blurted out resonated to an infinite number of people.

And today, while you most likely aren’t making funny, uncontrollable noises anymore, your actions affect people all around you even those that you have yet to meet.  That one good deed, a passing smile, a note of gratitude, a surprise in your child’s lunchbox.  And so it continues each and every day. Your precious life has a great impact on millions of others and how they live each moment.  Bad news spreads like wildfire but good deeds change lives and beget more good deeds.

So rejoice in your birthday. Celebrate you and be happy.  Pass along your laughter, good thoughts, and optimism.  You are making a difference in the world even if you can’t feel it. Your life has directly and indirectly made someone else’s day wonderful. 

Happy Birthday To You! I’m so glad you were born. Thank you for spreading  joy and happiness throughout the world in the little and big things that you do.  Go out and make someone’s day happy…again!

Sleep or lack of it!

Sleep is one of those precious commodities I treasure as I get older. I’m constantly busy and never get enough. I do worry about it from time to time but more than that I worry about not getting everything done. So it gets sacraficed and I’m OK with that. You just do what you have to in order to sustain your family, profession, and sanity. 

Staying awake is a challenge on some nights but mostly I welcome the quiet household that allows me time to do whatever it is I need to do.  Of course I don’t recommend it on a regular basis because a good nights sleep is so important to our physical and mental health.  And somehow things always look better the next day.

So while I haven’t had enough sleep for who knows how long, I know it too shall pass. For now, I am happy knowing I do everthing I can each day.  I work on my new business (a little), I work in my “real” job, I play with my son, talk to friends, enjoy family time, and eat good food (albeit too much). I am blessed and that is more than anyone can ask for!  So while you have an ounce of energy in your body, make someone else’s day happy by just doing one small thing. Whatever it is will be worth so much to the recipient.  And you won’t feel so bad yourself!

Enjoy every moment of your day because even the difficult times make us appreciate what we have so much more.

Thank You!

Let’s just get right to the point.  How fortunate are we to live in a country where men and women FRELY give their lives for our freedom?  They are not forced into it (at least today they aren’t). These people know how important living in the USA is and how blessed we all truly are to walk down the street, have a public conversation, or attend church without being dragged off by our government or a fellow citizen. 

This is a gift people. We have been given one of the greatest gifts on earth to have people lay down their lives for us.  And we don’t even know them personally.  We get caught up in our own small endeavors and don’t give it a second thought.  I hope that today we can truly harvest happiness by thinking of these men and women. Praying for their souls and their families. And by thanking the servicemen and women currently out there risking their lives.

Thank you to all of the military personnel who have made my day and my life  happy by protecting my way of life in this beautiful country of ours, the United States of America. God Bless You and God Bless America!

Happiness in the News? Not so much!

I am all about good news but it’s hard to find it these days in the media.  The media drives our choices, feelings, habits, and general actions on a day to day basis. Everything from voting to buying a vehicle is somehow derived from the information we receive from internet, television and print.  We make “educated” decisions from our own research which we find in these same venues.  I’m not saying we should retreat into a hole or perform our own studies but we need to be concious of where the information is coming from and the viewpoint of that particular medium.

These same avenues continue to report negative news and information every chance they get. Tonight I saw a story on the news that made me sick to my stomach. I won’t repeat it as I don’t want to ruin your day.  My point is that we need to seek the good in the world because it is not presented to us nearly enough. I know there are wonderful things going on in the world every moment. People are helping each other and fighting for what is good and right in our world. Friends and strangers are standing up for each other.  Soldiers I don’t know are fighting for ME and giving their lives for my happiness.  People with barely a penny to their names are donating time and money to help others.  Research is being done to combat disease all from donations from the general public.  It’s amazing if you look around what good you can find in the world. 

Yes, there are many people down and out, but it creates an opportunity for all of us to help our fellow Americans.  Jump into action!  Let’s change our world for the better and create so many good stories that the news will be forced to talk about at least one great thing that happened in the world every day!  So, how can you make someone’s day happy today?  Enjoy every moment of every day and make yourself happy too!!!

Every New Day

The Sun is up in the morning because people need some joy!

My 3-year old son said this to me a few months ago and it rings true, doesn’t it? At first light on a new day I feel hopeful that I’ll accomplish great things even if it’s only a few loads of laundry.  From my perspective, a new day is a fresh start to just about everything.  Haven’t you experienced that bad day on the job the day before and the next morning it seems less stressful?  Sleep is definitely key in the process but a new morning just seems to deliver hope even on a cloudy day.

I have this life that requires my full attention for family and work 24/7. I hardly get a moment to relax but I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything.  I experience all of the daily stresses that most people have with health, finances, professional life, and family.  Sometimes it’s overwhelming. But step back at the end of the day and really think about all of the tasks you accomplished. I do and I feel like superwoman!  They aren’t necessarily the ones I set out to do today but it’s amazing what I can get done in 24 hours. So if I wake up and truly take in what the day has waiting for me, I can get through it all and smile about it! 

The biggest thing I’ve learned over the years is that each crisis can be taken apart and tackled a little at a time. Once the initial shock is over, breaking it up in pieces makes it a lot easier to handle. I later realized I was letting a storm brew in my mind and my crisis was getting bigger just because of the way I was looking at it.

So when the sun comes up in the morning, focus on the great day ahead. You have a full 24 hours to make a change in your life be it big or small.   A new day just creates a clean slate and a feeling of potential.  The best way to rejoice in the day is to make someone else’s day happy!

Extraordinary in the Ordinary

There was a phenomenon in my kitchen today. No, nothing as grandiose as creating a gourmet meal.  While I secretly hope I’ll deliver that to my family some day, there was something much more mundane that occurred yet I found such happiness in that moment!   I found Tupperware lids that matched the bottom part of the container. It seems so silly but there are lots of little things such as this that I find so refreshing.  If I can find matching tops and bottoms in a bottomless drawer then anything is possible!

We all make choices in our lives as to how we view each moment.  With so many difficult hurdles that life puts in front of us, finding the extraordinary in the ordinary is a way to keep us going and moving in a positive direction.  There are events that take our breath away but there are also every day occurrences that, if noticed, will bring a smile to your face.  One of my favorites is a new flower that is just a tiny bud at the bottom of the pot. I can’t help but smile knowing that little green ball will someday be a beautiful yellow Gerbera.  And in the midst of such an awful day, look up to see a perfectly blue, cloudless sky.  And what about the hope and desire that springs in you when you see that perfect red sports car go by.  

Take those little moments and build on them to create the type of day you want to have.  You control how great your day is!  Go out of your way today and make someone’s day happy.

Put Hope In Every Moment

2010 is an interesting year as all of us watch the developing economic story around the world. Lives are changing dramatically because of it, however let us not lose site of the suffering that has gone on for years in many places and continues today. The people of Haiti and the Gulf Coast are at the forefront in most peoples minds. But in our country today there are many with hardships right in front of us.   And certainly you may be experiencing difficult times as well.  We all know someone that has been impacted personally by the downturn in our economy. It has affected all walks of life.

But as a country we are not down and out.  We must be hopeful and lean on each other to begin anew. The United States of America was founded by people hoping for a better life and we continue that tradition today. The American Dream is still out there for all of us. This economic setback gives us all new perspective and from it new business ideas are emerging each day.  We are changing the way we teach our children. Our daily choices are changing.

Consider this a new beginning in some aspect of your life.  Live the dream you have held inside and try something new in your life. Look for the positive in every moment and in every face you encounter. Help each other to be successful.  Go out of your way to make someone’s day happy.