happy friday!

November 2, 2012

if you read my post below, then you will realize {along with me} how appropriate that in the happiness project, Novembers chapter is titled, keep a contented heart {regardless of how messy your life feels!}. after spending most of the year focusing on actions, now focus on attitude. gretchen’s focus:

* laugh out loud – did you know a small child typically laughs more than four hundred times a day, and an adult – seventeen times. do you hit seventeen?

* use good manners.

* give positive reviews – giving positive reviews requires humility.

* find an area of refuge.

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happy friday!

October 12, 2012

a belated happy friday post for september and october!

this past january, when i started the happy friday post series, i had already read the happiness project. since January, for ten months now – when it is time to write this post – i quickly review the chapter for that month, and then begin writing the post to share my thoughts with you. what i like best about this process is that i am always reminded and/or re-inspired by what gretchen has to say – and instantly i am re-committed to many of my goals.

i think this is an important life lesson. we, ourselves, are responsible for keeping our minds focused on what we want to achieve.

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happy friday

August 25, 2012

{a little late.}

i took a spontaneous break from blogging. why? it was an accumulation of mild post-moving depression, and we had a 26 year old niece in a fatal car crash in Reno, Nevada – she left behind a beautiful three year old daughter and family searching to fill the void of her departure from this life. it occurred to me during all of this that the sun was shining and we were on the last month of summer vacation. at this moment, i decided to squeeze every bit of goodness out of what summer had left to offer. and i walked away from my computer.

and during this break, i totally skipped my first-friday-of-the-month ‘happy friday!’

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happy friday!

July 6, 2012

so, another month has gone by in Gretchen’s happiness project. i’m finding myself not able to keep up with the many ideas being presented. back in january and february it was easier to focus on a half-dozen ideas. now i’m lost in a sea of goals! i think i’ve gone to bed at 3am for the past month. {fail}… i have not been serious about play {fail}… i’m picking fights with husband constantly {fail}… obtaining happiness with effort is tough, not to be too hard on myself, i do believe that i’ve been doing some things right. i’ve managed to finish a few big projects this year {yay!}, and i continue to make new friends {yay!},

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happy friday!

June 1, 2012

well, let’s see… is anyone shocked that it’s june 1st today??? it’s already time for “the happiness project” friday! i’ll admit, i’m a little thrilled that the first day of the month is a friday, what a great way to start a month – with a weekend! we are almost half-way through 2012 my friends. are you happy with your year? are there things you would change? now is the time.

In June, Gretchen Rubin discusses friendship. what a perfect time of the year to make time for friends – summer! Gretchen starts the chapter with this, everyone from contemporary scientists to ancient philosophers agree that having strong social bonds is probably the most meaningful contributor to happiness.

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happy friday!

May 4, 2012

{new to see jane blog?  catch-up on happy friday’s here.}

friends, it’s may! we are almost half-way through the happiness project for 2012! for this month, Gretchen Rubin focuses on “Be More Serious About Play.” Leisure. what better month than may to focus on play? enjoy springtime! i’m keeping this short this month after my word-y past couple of months.

one of my favorite paragraphs from this chapter says,

Studies show that in a phenomenon called “emotional contagion,” we unconsciously catch emotions from other people — whether good moods or bad ones. Taking the time to be silly means that we’re infecting one another with good cheer,

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