Choosing Happiness

Sometimes, there's lots of stuff going on. Lots and lots of stuff.

This has been the week of meetings and appointments. I've met with more people, heard more explanations, read more explanations and basically listened to people talk and talk and TALK. (It's all good - it's actually THREE DIFFERENT situations, but it'll all work out and I'm fine and everyone else is fine - but, man, has there been a lot of talking and talking. And I'm CERTAIN you don't want to hear me blather on and on about nonsense, and being a teeny bit cranky about some of this stuff and so - I'll. just.stop.now...

So, let's list some things that make us happy. Leave me a comment and I'll pick someone randomly - or the best comment - and I'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card. (Psst - FTC and Ad regs - I am buying the gift card myself. Probably taking the funds out of grocery money. Definitely not anything that a company paid me to do - just something I want to do - to kind of spread the happiness around.)

* Punching the heavy bag. Repeatedly. Over and Over. Until I can't breath and can't speak and can't think and I just DO.

* My new necklace from Lisa Leonard - I was given a necklace for speaking at Blissdom. It says "Bliss" and I wear it every chance I have. I ordered a new one and can't wait for it to get here!

* Watching how much fun Emma has using the voice recorder section on her iPod.She and Riley make up scripts and stories and laugh so, so much that it makes me laugh. (And I might pee a little. I can't lie.)

* Singing along with the music on my iPod while I'm in the car alone.I drive so much, taking kids from one location to another - and I LOVE to sing, so that travel time is at least somewhat enjoyable. Yesterday, I was singing along at a stop light (and dancing, I cannot lie) and another driver pulled up next to me and stared. Instead of being self conscious and sliding down in my seat, I waved, smiled and kept dancing.

* My new camera lens. I bought a Macro lens and I have almost zero idea how to use it - but I'm going to learn.

* The sun has been out every day this week and it's been close to 50. I went running twice and it feels awesome to stretch my legs  - I can't run as far as I'd like, but I'm slowly getting there.

* The one year anniversary of tearing my calf muscle AND having a (small but very noticeable) nervous breakdown passing without incident.

* The willingness of people to work with me and my kids

*How awesome you guys are when you leave great comments for me!

What can you add? Grow this list and spread it around.

This idea came from a much better blog - but I loved it and wanted to feel better. My troubles in NO WAY compare to hers.

Comments

[Tina]

Happiness for me is spending the morning doing yoga and loving every moment!

[KG]

*Not having to find swim trunks for PE tomorrow
*Not having to make lunches for school tomorrow
*Having all my kids home tomorrow
*My husband actually OPENING the Girl Scout Cookies for me & handing me a plate KNOWING full well I should be concentrating on the pounds & pounds of post-baby weight I have to lose
*Knowing that as bad as I have it
IT COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE!!

Hang in there Carmen!

[Marjie]

Mocha mint creamer in my coffee every morning!

[Ally B]

Stocking my Kindle with a bunch of classic novels for zero dollars! (Seriously, I love the great books you can get on there for nothing!) (Also, I'm glad to see all of your happy things...)

[Annika]

Watching Sam ride his new bike.

Grace laughing.

FRIDAY.

[Kait]

Happiness is:

- the sun shining and melting the snow
- my two year old (who is VERY two!) spontaneously telling me "I love you Mama!"
- my three year old wanting to hold my hand all the time
- snuggling on the bed as a family reading Dr Seuss books and giggling before bed
- family dinners
- letting go of my worry about where we'll be living in the future and enjoying the house we're in right now
- knowing the it's the weekend and that I get to be with my husband all day tomorrow
- seeing my daughter's names on the baptism list for Sunday
- realizing it's okay that I don't want a career or a job outside of the home, it's okay that I'm content with my husband supporting us and it's okay that what I want to do with my life is be a wife and mother. It's okay to fully support women's rights to be anything they want to be and it's okay to realize that what I want to be is Mama.

[Nicole]

-Getting a random text from Hubby during the day asking how my day is going.

-Watching my son crack himself up by trying to roll over in my lap. (He tries to roll over and just starts laughing. It's hilarious!)

[kelly smith]

sometimes happy is just being...you. Hope all is working out and no matter what it is you have the strenght to get through

[Rox]

To me, happiness right now -- amidst way too much unhappiness in life outside my own home -- is found in knowing that I can control my own actions and reactions to others, but that I can never change them. It's an odd thing to be happy about, but the peace that comes with knowing that I'm in charge of me -- and no one else is, and, therefore, they can't bring me down -- is very comforting right now. I'm in my happy place, all "karma-balanced" ... it's lovely. Sending some your way! : )

[Laura H]

Hmmm, happiness is so many small things that I can't really label. Two that come to mind are the weekend mornings, when my hubby wakes up with the kids and feeds them, then wakes me with a cup of coffee with JUST THE RIGHT amount of vanilla creamer. And my heart purrs when my 8 year old girl reads to my 3 year old son, and when hubby and I are curled up on the couch, after a busy day, enjoying a t.v. show together and the kids laying on the floor doing a puzzle or coloring happily together. Those are the moments I freeze in my mind, because I know one day I will take those memories out, and mentally fondle them, and that they will fill my heart again.

[Kelli]

After 8 years of speech therapy 3 times a week my verbal my son is done! He is 10 and he is so proud that store clerks etc can understand him now it was lots of work for him and us but it was so wonderful to hear that he has passed so much and improved so much that it is just no longer needed. Woohoo

[Amy]

Today my happiness came from seeing my hanging baskets in the kitchen filled with colorful fruits and vegetables.

[MB Squared]

My daughter, four year ago today we adopted her!

[Beth]

Happiness for me this week was completing week 5 of the couch to 5k training. I felt like a gold metal Olympian when I was done and may have actually yelled and pumped my fists at our very crowded rec center! I don't care anymore, I'm over 40 and it doesn't matter what other think (another thing to be happy about!)

[kyooty]

Happiness is reading your blog, hearing your happy, and smiling at the thoughts of you waving at other drivers as you dance your red light away.

Happiness is new neighbours, I'm getting to know a few new people here. :)

[des]

. . hearing my oldest child' voice when he is able to call me from Singapore . . .

[mm]

In honor of the Olympics, it makes me happy and proud when Canada wins a medal!

When one of my kids sends me a text during the day to tell me some good news- like a good test mark or sometimes even a joke.

It makes me happy when my husband calls me during the day for no apparent reason.

A snow day.

And, how to phrase this, I read other blogs, real tear jerker blogs, and I have to say- they really give a person perspective on their own life. Even when I am having what I consider to be the worst day possible, I have no problems at all. My family is healthy, I have been married over 20 years, I have a house, we both are working, and I have three great kids. Nothing like reading the troubles of somebody else to make me snap back to planet earth sometimes and be grateful and happy for what I have. And I hope I have not been too cheesy- lol.

[amie]

Sunshine, snow melting, a weekend with nothing to do nowhere to be. Going back to the gym for first time in 2 yrs. I forgot how good it felt to sweat & be strong & how it cleared my head of clutter. My kids sweet sleeping faces. GNO with all my funny friends.Handsome hubby doing the laundry- he looks really hot by the washer & dryer :)

[Debby Pucci]

Actually a clean house makes me happy but only because my 28 year old daughter came over and cleaned it, not me! Yes, I do pay for a clean house so if your looking for some extra money come on over.

[Patty M.]

Happiness is:

-meeting up with a friend from high school for the first time in 20 years and finding we connect in a wonderful way
-going to work every morning to a job that I think was made just for me
-hanging out with my partner and doing whacky things
-getting the phone call for children who need a home and being able to say yes
-listening to the cat purr in the middle of the night
-knowing that I have some of the best friends in the world
-reading a new post on Mom to the Screaming Masses

[Patty M.]

I forgot two important things that make me happy:

-a new book that I cannot wait to read
-finding new music that speaks to my soul

[Sabz]

Happiness is:
- Watching -another- episode of Sesame Street with my 2-year old while the new baby naps... wouldn't trade it for anything.
- Talking to my best friend who lives overseas and it feels like we're back in 8th grade. :)
- Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato
- Walking on the beach
- Sushi
- Trip to Chicago Botanic Garden in summer when everything is in full bloom.

[Marjie]

Happiness is a $5.00 gift card to Starbucks!
Sorry-I couldn't resist!

[Mrs.Mayhem]

Happiness is cuddling with my daughter in a patch of sun and reading a funny book to her.

[Marsha]

My daughter started softball practice this week and the other moms were really nice and the coach was fantastic. I am very excited about this opportunity to have some fun.