QOTD–Are You Happy?

Yowza!

That’s the question of the ages.

If I’d been asked this question just two and half years ago, I would have probably answered “No”.

I’ve spent the last couple of years doing some soul searching and I’ve been able to redefine what’s really important to me.

I can now say I’m happy in my life.

Are there things that I still want to change? Sure there are but those things aren’t controlling me like they used to.

I recently read a book by Dan Harris called 10% Happier. It was basically about his early news career and dealing with the stresses that come with network TV news. He turned to drugs until he had a mental breakdown on live TV. After that he searched for something more meaningful and less dangerous to deal with the stress. He started to meditate and began to feel a relief from his stresses. Co-workers and friends began to ask him questions about the changes they could see in him and if meditating made him happy. His reply was that it made him 10% happier. That way, they wouldn’t think he had become a fanatic about meditation or religion. People didn’t ridicule or debate him about it since he was not toting it as a “cure-all” for what ails you.

Not sure where I was going with that other than to say that 10% happier seems like a pretty good goal to strive for.

 

 

While writing this I was listening to " Against the Grain" from "Count Me In" by "Rebelution"

Lent 2015

Wednesday, February 18th through Thursday, April 2nd

As I’ve said in the past, not Catholic, don’t attend Christian services, kind of agnostic, but feel there is some larger power than us.

I recently saw the movie “Wish I Was Here’ written, directed, and starring Zach Braff.

There was a scene where he talks to a Rabbi about God and the Rabbi’s explanation is about a close as you can get to how I picture God.

God is what ever you need him to be.

Wish I Was Here–God As Infinity

As a kid, I had trouble visualizing an endless universe so I imagined we were in a glass jar sitting on a bookshelf in the house of some “higher” being. Maybe some science fair project. If you could travel far enough, you would eventually run into the glass.

As an adult, I have trouble believing in a vengeful God. One who is waiting to strike me down or turn his back on me whenever I’ve committed that one sin too many.

Let me clarify that this was not the teachings of my parents, they did a wonderful job of explaining things to me and by being an example in how they lived.

It was the teachings of the church I attended as a child that terrified me. I never really thought I would become an adult because God was going to destroy the world before I ever became a teenager.

I prefer to see God in nature, the blooming flowers, freshly fallen snow, rain on a hot summer day, and that infinite night sky full of stars.

I’m not sure how all this relates to Lent but I just needed to get that out.

For Lent, I’ve decided to give up soft drinks. Nothing but water, tea, and coffee for me. Ok, and maybe a beer or two.

I’ve also decided to add something for Lent as well. I am committing to at least one physical activity a day. Something besides walking since I average a couple of miles a day on my job. I‘m thinking some sort of exercise. Pushup, sit ups, going to the gym, etc.

It will do me good to drink less soda and maybe establish a habit of working out on a regular basis.

What are your plans for Lent?

 

 

While writing this I was listening to " You Are In Love" from "Paste Valentine's Day Sampler" by "Shannon Whitworth"

 

Watching you leave
Out the black back door
I know you are sick
I felt that before.
Driving away
No words to never say
What you want me to know
What you want me to say
You are in love with me
You are in love with me
One thing I believe
You are in love with me
Truth can untie me
The locks won't let go
Your skin is all around me
But I'll never get old
If you are here at the end
Or the next life begins
It's eternal bliss
Tragedies never can begin
You are in love with me
You are in love with me
One thing I believe
You are in love with me
This is when my heart drops
Like the ticking of a clock
In the silence of the night
No, you will never ever stop
You are in love with me
You are in love with me
One thing I believe
You are in love with me
You are in love with me
You are in love with me
One thing I believe
You are in love with me
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/shannon-whitworth/you-are-in-love-lyrics/#G2m6gM7e7yVE6ic7.99

QOTD–What Is making You Mad?

Mad?

As in crazy. Insane. Angry.

The problem with these questions is some of them have double meanings.

That’s starting to get annoying.

Really, if I had to answer this question 2 years ago, I would have had to answer everything. Whether it be financial or work related, the smallest things were enough to make my angry and act childish.

Today, not so much. I’ve spent a lot of time the last few years reflecting, reading, and learning how to be calmer and happier.

Like the question the other day about change, I have been able to create new habits that make me stop and think instead of reacting. Sure those old habits are still there and if  I’m tired I start to feel the old frustrations resurface. I’ve learned to reroute those frustrations by distracting myself with something that makes me happy such as picking up a book or turning on some music or blogging.

The key is to realize that some people or situations are not going to change so you need to change how you react to them.

 

 

While writing this I was listening to " Slide" from "Whatever: The '90s Pop and Culture Box Disc 7" by "The Goo Goo Dolls"

 

Could you whisper in my ear
The things you wanna feel
I'd give you anythin'
To feel it comin'
Do you wake up on your own
And wonder where you are?
You live with all your faults
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Yeah, I'm gonna let it slide
Don't you love the life you killed?
The priest is on the phone
Your father hit the wall
Your ma disowned you
Don't supposed I'll ever know
What it means to be a man
It's somethin' I can't change
I'll live around it
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Ooh, slide
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married Or run away?
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah, slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(yeah slide)
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(Oh, oh slide)
Yeah, slide between the sheets of all them beds you never knew
(Yeah slide)
Why don't you slide into my room
Just slide into my room
Oh, we'll run away, run away, run away

2014 In Review

This is that post I write every year to see how I did on last year’s resolutions and goals. It’s also the post I write every year that I realize that the year has flown by and I didn’t meet half my goals.

Last year I resolved to read more, write more and learn more.

I met my annual goal to read 50 books and I also read a lot more magazines and listened to more podcasts this past year than I have before.

I always want to write more but even though I actually doubled the amount of my blog post this year it just doesn’t feel like I accomplished this goal to its fullest.

As for learning…I didn’t take any official classes online or otherwise but most of my reading this year has been on being mindful, happy, healthy, and accountable. I feel I actually did learn something and have been able to apply that to my outlook on life.

In the past I have always gone into the myriad of ways that I failed and then beat myself up over it. But not this year.

I tried, I won some, I lost some, I came out at the end of the year happier and healthier so that’s a win in my book.

Happy New Year and may your 2015 be the beginning of the best times of your life.  

 

 

 

While writing this I was listening to " Happiness" from "Timekeeper" by "Lucy Schwartz"

 

Happiness,
Happiness is here
Unexpected she whispers in your ear
Like a child,
Like a child,
You are new again
In the fields, fields you grew up knowing
In the fields, watch the flowers the flowers blowing
Like a child,
Like a child,
You are home again
And you're so beautiful
Tiny spark, held between your hands
What was lost, is lighted up again
Like a man,
Like a man,
You are hungry again
Tender heart, you have stopped your sighing
Tender heart, you have quit your lying
Like a woman,
Like a woman,
You are honest again
And you're so beautiful
You're so beautiful

Christmas is hard…

 

No, this is not another angry rant about not being able to give or get everything I want at Christmas.

Been there, done that, felt stupid, moved on.

Sure, money’s still tight and I’m not going to be able to get my wife everything I feel she deserves, but come on, she deserves literally everything.

She’s the glue that keeps my life together and she has put up with me for the last 30+ years. 

This post is more about dealing with those emotional up and down feelings I get every year around this time. Both good and bad. (And yes, I’m aware I’m not alone.)

I haven’t seen my brothers in at least a year. I have nieces and nephews that I haven’t seen in a much longer time. They have kids and grandkids that I haven’t even met yet. Aunts, uncles, cousins (some of which I haven’t seen in decades), and long time friends, I miss them all.

Time just flies, doesn’t it?

And don’t even get me started on the ones that are no longer alive. I miss them the most even though they are right here with me in my memories and dreams.

Yeah, I know this sounds like I’m in a pretty down mood but I’m not.

This year I feel more at peace and more excited about the holidays and the coming new year than I have in a long time.

This past year I have focused on making more positive changes in my attitude and outlook on life. I’m beginning to learn to be more mindful and live in the present instead of fretting so much about the past or future. I’m letting the small meaningless stresses go and refocusing on what is most important to me. Family, friends, health and happiness.

One common theme in most things I have read this year is that you should declare your intentions/hopes/goals, then imagine yourself accomplishing them and visualize how that feels. Sort of like if you build it they will come, but instead it’s if you visualize it things will happen.

So with that in mind, I’m declaring next year will be better and happier. (Ooh, that almost sounded like the Radiohead song “Fitter Happier”).

There has also been a multitude of friends, family and co-workers with positive attitudes and outlooks that have helped me and probably not even known it. I’ve paid attention to your Facebook posts, blogs and conversations and it has helped me recognize ways to handle situations in a more positive manner.

Thank you all.

So with all this in mind….

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

 

 

While writing this I was listening to " "Light Those Candles Bright" - Holiday Song" from "Now Hear This! - The Winners of the 12th Independent Music Awards” by "Amanda Duncan"