Tag: Happiness

Happiness, Life lessons, Self care

Hobbies

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The importance of fun for fun’s sake

If anyone should read this, it’s me. I’ve always been a “work first, play later” type of person but I don’t recommend it. You need to fill yourself up each day with something you enjoy or things get old fast.

Having a hobby, or several, is a way to fill your day with a little bit of sunshine. Finding the time for it can be a challenge but if you make it priority, you’ll make it happen.

Ways to put fun time into your day:

  • Wake up a bit earlier and fit 15 minutes of your hobby in the morning – birdwatching, anyone?
  • Take a real lunch break and spend half of it doing something you enjoy
  • End your work day with a treat: your favorite thing to do
  • After dinner, sprint over to your workspace – or wherever you play – to get some hobby time in

Letting the work go

Depending on your age, you may or may not believe me, but life is short. Be sure you spend your days wisely. Have fun!

Image courtesy of EpicTop10.com.

Happiness, Life lessons, Self care

Creating the best you

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Being creative can bring so much joy to your world. Spending a few minutes nurturing your right brain can help focus your mind and calm your brain and body.

Doing something fun and creative also fills you up to be your best self for others. So take time today to:

  • write
  • take photos
  • cook
  • draw
  • paint
  • sew
  • build a model car
  • make a gift
  • revive an old artifact
  • create a new tradition
  • play an instrument
  • decorate
  • and more!

Whatever makes sense for you – enjoy and have fun!

P.S. It’s right around the corner – Happy April Fool’s Day!

Photo courtesy of Hammad Khan.

Happiness, Life lessons

Love your neighbor

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As we settle into 2022, I think back to what’s happened in the last few years. Democrats vs. republicans, black vs. white, rich vs. poor, male vs. female, heterosexual vs. LGBTQ, attacks on houses of prayer, school shootings, and the list goes on.

It has been a sobering, sad time of loss.

I hope that we have learned something from these moments: we all have different backgrounds and preferences that lead us to be who we are today. But that doesn’t mean we should be on opposite sides, it just means that we should see that the differences are what make us interesting.

Photo courtesy of Demietrich Baker.

Happiness, Life lessons, Self care

A benevolent world

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There are 2 ways to see the world around you:

  • Good with nice people who want the best for you
  • Difficult with mean people who want to make you miserable, cheat, or treat you poorly

As we start our day, I really believe that the way we expect it to unfold has a direct effect on how it does. “It’s gonna be a great day!” is a much better way to begin than “Ugh. Another day of work and misery.” Granted, few of us are at either extreme but it might be worth a try changing how you view the world around you. And if we all did, what a lovely place it could be.

Happy almost Valentine’s Day!

Image courtesy of Sue Thompson.

Happiness, Self care

Exercise – and pull yourself outta that funk

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When I was young, I was not an athlete. I had no coordination and couldn’t catch a ball to save my life. So I never understood why gym class was a required course. What was I “learning”?

Fast forward to today and I get it. Exercise is the key to managing stress and staying in shape. And those two things make life better, help you live longer, and keep your spirits up. Between the jump in endorphins and your reflection in the mirror, there really is no negative.

I’m still not an athlete (please don’t throw balls at me because they’ll most likely hit me in the head) but I love my daily walks and yoga – they keep me sane. So try something – volleyball, golf, swimming, rock climbing, whatever – and if that doesn’t rock your boat, try something else until you find what does. Pretty soon, you’ll be looking forward to it.

You may not get an “A” in gym class anymore but you’ll get an “A” in living. And that’s a grade worth sharing.

Happiness

Acceptance

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I made 2 New Year’s resolutions this year: gratitude and acceptance.

My thinking is that flowing with the river is much easier than fighting against it. No, I don’t mean laying down and getting run over. I mean being okay with where life takes you.

When I think back, I recall where I “planned” to be at age 30 and I was not even close. But, I was happy. So it’s important as you live your life, to recognize that some things are simply not in your control. You will make decisions that lead you down different paths. Or you will avoid decisions which will lead you to a different place. The point is, it’s all okay. We’re granted a finite amount of time here. Try not to sweat the small stuff – because in the end – it’s the fun we had that counts.

Photo courtesy of Mathias Erhart.

Happiness, Life lessons, Self care

What gifts do you have?

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We all have those negative voices in our head that can bring us down. “Why did I do that?” “What am I doing and does it even matter?” “Why does life have to be so hard sometimes?”

These are the days that we have to remember all of the gifts we have. There’s nothing like gratitude to help us see just how fortunate we are and how precious life can be. From having a place to live to hearing a bird singing in a tree, the list can be long. Some things I can think of are spending time with family and friends, being able to go for a nice walk in the park, and living in one of the best states in the country (I never get tired of sunshine and mountains).

Today, as you’re taking a shower, getting ready for the day, or grabbing your cup of coffee or tea, think about the gifts that you have. And remember, you are unique and special – you are a gift to others too.

Photo courtesy of Asenat29.

Happiness, Parenting

How do you like your stories?

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It’s been a long time since I’ve written a blog. I could blame it on COVID but it’s probably just that I ran out of things to say.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’m back – and this time with some stories. I’ve always loved books and some recent encouragement that my voice brings solace propelled me to record some podcasts. These are stories found on Project Gutenberg (Gutenberg.org) – a site with over 60K free eBooks with a focus on older works that are no longer under U.S. copyright. These are children’s stories but they are not limited to children.

For example, my latest addition is “Alice in Wonderland,” written by Lewis Carroll. Though it’s identified as a children’s book, the imagery and adventures that Alice experiences appeals to all ages. So, I invite you, your kids, your parents, and your friends, to check it out and let me know what you think. I’m happy to take requests too – I’ve already received one for “Mark Twain” so that may be up next.

I must thank my sons, Nick and Tony Capra, for their unfailing guidance and support throughout this process. Without their ongoing assistance, advice, and technical mastery, this would never have happened. A special thanks to Kateri Kramer too, for her signature artwork that exemplifies the love and hope I hope these stories bring.

Each week, I’ll add a chapter to the roster. But there are already a few for you to start with – so happy reading – and listening – to you. I hope you enjoy your story today…

Community involvement, Happiness

Kindness Today and Every Day

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Random Acts of Kindness

 

Picture a body of water in which a rock has been thrown. As it drops, one ring, two rings, and many more rings surround it. This is how goodness spreads. Good thoughts, good deeds, good feelings towards others are what our nation needs most now – not just those who look or think like us, but everyone.

I believe that what we focus on is empowered and grows. With all that’s happened lately, there is sadness, helplessness, and anger in the air. Instead of focusing on what separates us, we should turn our energies to what connects us – we are all one race – the human race. So it makes sense to focus on the good that is happening around us, as well as the good that we can bring about. Random Acts of Kindness promotes looking out for each other and paying it forward. Their website suggests crocheting baby items and donating them to a hospital, sponsoring a child from another country, adding a compliment to the next email you write, and more.

A Good Example

In the 1994 movie, “Only You,” Marisa Tomei and Bonnie Hunt run out of gas in Italy while driving in circles searching for their destination. They grab a bottle of wine and begin walking to find help, finally giving up, drinking while contemplating their screwed up lives. Meanwhile, bypassing nuns kindly fill the tank, leave a note on the windshield, and drive away smiling. When the friends discover their good fortune, they’re filled with appreciation. How lovely would it be to generate that kind of happiness every day?

Uplifting Stories 

Here are some stories to help get you in the mood:

A Few Last Words

As Rabbi Harold Kushner once said, “We all have the power to give away love, to love other people. And if we do so, we change the kind of person we are, and we change the kind of world we live in.”

Photo courtesy of Heath Brandon

Happiness, Life lessons

Three Keys to Happiness

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Happiness

Three Keys to Happiness

Something occurred to me this week that may have already occurred to you. I’ve been studying the pursuit of happiness for many years but sometimes I need to be knocked in the head before I listen.

I’ve learned that there are three keys to being happy: