Blogger

Happiness is...

The modern technology of blogger. For the second time this year, I have been able to write a few days ahead of time so life didn't have to take a time out to blog. This resolution has been important to me, and it has certainly taught me a lot. But it will not interrupt life.

And maybe that's happiness in its purist form.

Life lessons

Happiness is...

Learning important life lessons without significant consequences. They say it's best to learn from mistakes, but I disagree, slightly. We could all benefit if we learned from near-misses. You end up much more grateful that things worked themselves out and won't take it for granted! Example: try almost losing something, or misplacing it entirely for a few hours... when you rediscover it, not only will it be that much more valuable, but you'll be that much more careful with it. Lesson learned. Thank you, last night.

Pinot Grigio

Happiness is...

Pinot. Wash that spaghetti down with a glass of white wine, and your dinner will suddenly feel classy and wonderful. Sometimes, the cheaper the better. Studies have shown that even wine connoisseurs cannot taste the difference between a $7 bottle of wine and a $40 one anyway.

What's in a label anyway?

Objective: enjoy some adult pleasures. Indulge in fancy cheeses. Listen to Tchaikovsky. Drink some pinot grigio with dinner. And relax into your role as somebody special, important, and refined.

It's getting there...

Happiness is...

Maintenance! They came... at least we know we're not left in this apartment to rot. Fixed the fan today, linoleum tomorrow, and oven and carpet hopefully next week. Progress, it feels so good!

A home is not a home...

Happiness is...

Knowing that, no matter what your environment is, you can change it. Hate work? You can always go home after it. For me, it's the opposite. Home won't be home for another few weeks of heavy work, but I love everything else about life. And that's a good feeling. Take it in stride, have a little perspective, and know that this too shall pass.

Yup, that's all I've got for ya. Nothing too deep or wonderful, but a simple revelation that I will be holding on to while this is my reality.

In short...

Sorry I'm behind, but I can tell you one thing: Happiness would not exist if I didn't have the amazing family and friends that I do. Simple enough. You must get it.

This too shall pass.

Happiness is...

The weight off your shoulders. Decision: made. Car: bought. Debt: still accruing. But for the time being, I can rest easy knowing that I have a replacement for poor Antonio that will get me going to grad school.

It's not always easy, but it's always going. Things come and go, with the ebb and flow of life. And, really, life goes on. I am seriously satisfied too. A good find with perfect timing from a dealership with real integrity. Thanks for all the prayers!

Still hoping and praying.

Happiness is...

When you tell someone your issues and they literally stop what they're doing and pray... right there, right then. Sometimes we get so caught up agonizing or sympathizing that we forget to just stop and send out some words of encouragement, to put it back in God's hands.

I need a reminder to trust in God, especially right now. Only he can make things work. Right now it may seem like things just aren't, but that's what faith is all about.

p.s. for any of you on the interwebs who actually read this blog, someone ran into me and totaled my car on Friday. You can feel free to gift me one at any moment. Or send out a little prayer on your end, I need them all!

Trying to find the bright side

Happiness is...

Laughing after a long cry. It makes the cry seem so much better and the laugh so much happier. Live life with a little perspective and keep pushing through.

So many things to be happy about.

Happiness is...

A million things. Friday marked six months of this blog, six months of finding the little things in life that make me happy. Six months of reminding myself what I'm grateful for. AND today marks fifteen months with Dave... all these months and I still am forgetting things. This weekend has been happy. Here's a glimpse:

Happiness is air conditioning. After a heat index of 111 at school, 250 kids, 6 hours, and no air, it was one of the things I was most looking forward to Friday afternoon. Heck, my car doesn't even have A/C. So when I arrived home it was truly glorious, and I appreciated it tenfold.

Happiness is 3D glasses, and popcorn with real butter. Get lost in the scene and Get full on buttery goodness. It's a good idea, and especially on those days of 111 heat index. ;)

Happiness is sugar free lattes...

Happiness is Bananagrams. Happiness is beginner's luck. Happiness is a nice afternoon with enough games to keep you busy. Happiness is enjoying summer without hours of television. Happiness is NOT goodbyes, but I'm ready.

Six months and six to go. Have a happy afternoon!

On happiness

"The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy; I mean that if you are happy you will be good."

Bertrand Russell

Photography

Happiness is...

Photography.
Photography has a special way of capturing cherished moments.
Photography has a special manner of bringing a smile.
Photography has a special place in my heart. Period.

It just keeps getting easier too, affordable and customizable and digital. Make it your best, and take home the memories. I know it's a priority for me.

Friday the 13th

Happiness is...

Getting through Friday the 13th (mostly) safe.

It wasn't my fault. The universe decided to shit on me all afternoon. In fact, I still wasn't even allowed to post my happiness. It's like it was meant to be---a little misery. However, now it's Saturday (yes, I'm catching up Saturday night when I realize Blogger has stopped being a fail) and things are getting better.

Friday the 13th. It usually happens 1-3 times a year, so watch yourselves!

Sky

Happiness is...

The changing colors of the sky. Even if they mean a damn tornado watch.

Welcome home summer 2011, I've been waiting for you.

Clean inbox

Happiness is...

A cleaned out inbox. It may be a strenuous process, especially for someone as sentimental as myself (but what if, one day, I want to look back at that forward about leprechauns?) but the end product is just... so... beautiful.

The serenity of an empty page. Of having all the inbox emails in one browser view. In organizing the subfolders and decluttering contacts. Every now and then, sanity needs the world to clean up their email. We clean up so many other areas of our life (well, at least a few). So why do we let our junk mail build up anyway?

History

Happiness is...

Reflecting on the historical events in our lifetime.

Last night, Osama Bin Laden was finally brought down in what can easily be deemed the most grueling game of cat and mouse ever. After nearly a decade, the mastermind behind our momentous terrorist attacks has been found and killed. Yes, many lives were brought to justice. No, this is not necessarily the most celebratory moment of 2011. In fact, there aren't many moments to celebrate. Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. Protests racked all over the Middle East. The death of actress Elizabeth Taylor. The Royal Wedding with William and Kate (okay, maybe that deserves a little celebration).

Still, life goes on. Substantial events will continue to occur, and I will continue to live through them. I am not devoting my happiness to the slaughter of a terrorist today, but instead to the moment. Cherish them, for soon they'll be only scribbled in the books. Literally. Here's to a day that will go down in history.

Birds chirp

Happiness is...

The first morning you wake up to birds chirping, and realize that spring is actually here. The sound of birds in the early morning... just try to beat that wonderful little thing of life.

A Child's Smile

Happiness is...

A child's smile.

Yesterday while I was tutoring she was giggling, even. When I asked her what was so funny she replied that she simply loved reading. This was a great moment, astounding really... just a few months ago I had to fight with her to get her to continue to the next page. And now, when she reads the words right she claps her hand. Making a difference, and man does it feel good.

Today a student approached my desk and just hovered. I asked her what she needed and she said, "Nothing... you're just my favorite." I would never have known.

It's the simple moments. Really.

Rain

Happiness is...

The smell of fresh rain. It's the crisp, wet, sweet scent as a glorious prelude to a quiet afternoon.

There are a lot of things that perk up my nose. The smell of a new rain is one of them. The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies is another. The smell of a cheap paper towel is also up there. Call me crazy, but I'm going to continue letting these kinds of things make me smile. :)

Again!

Happiness is...

Springing forward. Well, in all reality, daylight savings time is not exactly what makes me happy. It doesn't bring joy to my life to suddenly lose an hour of sleep. Really, happiness is sunrises, again.

Spring is coming. That's so swell, I can't wait for the snow to melt and the warmth to come. It also means the day gets longer: the sun rises earlier and sets later. But just when I thought I was gonna miss the sunrise the rest of the season, daylight savings time was upon us. Now, the sun is magically rising an hour later all over again and I can experience those ambient colors on my way into work.

The commute seems shorter, the morning brighter. Welcome back, sunrise I missed you.