Successful Resolution

Happiness is...

A successful resolution. I can't believe I made it, but I have a full year of happy recorded here. Just check out the Table of Contents!
2011 has been quite the year. I have been fortunate to visit most of Kentucky, Nashville, Houston, the North Shore, and even Jamaica.
I have finished a year of AmeriCorps VISTA in Saint Paul Schools and have transitioned into graduate school and my graduate assistantship. I have taken 12 graduate credits, and aced them all!
I must say, this was no easy transition---it included a new car, a new (crappy) apartment, and a whole new set of friends. Change is never easy... but I'm sure upcoming years will bring even more change.
I have cherished time with my family and seen my man off to his deployment.
I have accomplished goals and organized my life.
I have seen many friends unite in marriage and even more bring new members into their family.
I have a goddaughter!
I have made very little money, but plenty of memories.
I have loved, laughed, and cried enough for more than 365 days.
All in all, 2011 brought happiness in a variety of forms, and now I look forward to a new year with new beginnings! I don't even think I'll make a resolution this time around, though who knows---I may still post some happy in 2012...
Happy New Years everyone! Eat, drink, and be merry!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne!

Quotes Round-Up

Happiness is...

Quotes. Here are the best from this year, all about Happiness. There are countless others, just take a look around.

"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet."
-James Oppenheim

"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 

"Happiness is something that comes into our lives through doors we don't even remember leaving open."
-Rose Wilder Lane

"The happy think a lifetime short, but to the unhappy one night can be an eternity."
-Lucian

"Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others."
-Martin Luther King, Jr 

"Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
-Abraham Lincoln

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
-Frederick Koenig

"A happy life is one spent in learning, earning, and yearning."
-Lillian Gish

"Happiness is not a matter of events, it depends on the tides of the mind."
-Alice Meynel

Recap

Happiness is...

Recaps. At the end of the year we all spend some time planning our celebration to ring in the new year, thinking about our resolutions, and trying to make the most of it. Instead, I like to look back on the year we just had. What happened this year? Who died? What scandals hit the news? How was I impacted?

I can look through pictures and old journal entries. I can see one of the many "Best Of" youtube videos. Or I can talk to my friends and family. Whatever the activity, it's pretty cool to reminisce on how much has changed in the last 363 days or so. Here's to another good year! Bring it on 2012.

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.

Six weeks left

Happiness is...

Persistence.

Every year, we make lofty goals for January 1st. Exercise regularly. Journal. Travel. Identify one thing every day that makes me happy. This year, I was determined. I did not neglect my dreams, nor did I forget my little resolutions. Since the beginning of 2011 I have headed off on my own, started graduate school, lost ten pounds, visited old friends, and kept this blog going the whole time. Sure, I've had to make up lost days here and there. It hasn't always been creative or poignant. Some days, I spend more time trying to think of something happy than writing my post.

But I have kept at it. And six weeks from today, I will no longer be writing this. I will have moved on. It's not likely that next year's resolution will be bigger or better (365 days of happy was beyond grueling), but I will enter the new year knowing that, if I wanted it to be, it could. I have learned more about myself, have documented the simple ups and downs of my year, and have found the little things. With six weeks to go, I couldn't be happier.

Resolution, still on.

Happiness is...

Keeping up with resolutions. Am I perfect? Definitely not... but I am 9 months in and I haven't forgotten quite yet. At least, I don't forget all the time.

I'm not sure the impact this journey has had on me. At times I feel like the only thing it means for my day is a waste of 5 minutes while I sit down and pound the keyboard. However, it's gotten me thinking. And who knows who I've made smile or what small things I've come to cherish. For more projects see: 1000 Awesome Things, Happiness Project, Postsecret, 365 Things to Do in the Twin Cities... Mine may not be that colossal, but it certainly keeps me on track.

Aug. 31st

Happiness is...

Getting a phone call from a deployed boyfriend. It almost felt like he wasn't overseas!

Yes, there IS an August 31st. Oops. Here's my update: I went to the mall, registered for baby stuff with a friend (which was VERY happy), ate a burrito, and hung out with people half the night. Did I get the homework done that I needed to? Not exactly. But it was every bit as therapeutic as I needed my evening to be. C'est la vie.

Quick reflection

"But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a person and life they lead."

Albert Camus



Last night I started unpacking at last. Today I finished my first readings. Tonight I get to talk to my man again. If I'm lucky, tomorrow will be the start of my life settling down at last. This IS what it'll be the next two years. It's not everything I pictured, but it could be a heck of a lot worse. Bring on the rain.

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!

Resolution

Happiness is...

Getting back to my resolution. This is my Thursday's post, finally added Saturday night. Sorry folks.

Joy

Happiness is...

joy
/dʒɔɪ/ [joi]

–noun

1.the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.
2.a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.
3.the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.
4.a state of happiness or felicity.

I encourage you today to start your own happiness project. Take joy in the little things. Make a point to be grateful. And see where it takes you.

Catching Up... Sorry folks!

Well, needless to say my project hit a road block. I must apologize to whoever out there in cyberspace that actually reads this, but I am back! I will not be straying again.... hopefully. Allow me to make up for lost time.

Happiness is...

Crossing language barriers. On Wednesday night I volunteered at a local food shelf where a majority of the incoming visitors were hispanic---not only was I able to direct them, I did it in their native tongue. I felt so blessed, and I think they did too! Being able to accommodate like that is why I wanted to speak Spanish. America does not have an official language yet, after all.

I get upset when people complain about them not speaking "American", because I was there, teaching an evening ELL class, to people who were coming four nights a week AFTER their full time jobs. People who were working diligently to learn a second language for the good of their children, their community, and their lifestyle. People who went through the motions of a beginning English class for years before advancing to the next step of their learning. People who completely altered my perspectives on immigrants---SO THERE.

I have a heart for these people. And my heart bleeds Spanish :)

Happiness is...

BOGO coupons. Dave's words: "can I bo and you go?" Makes my day. Things like that make me happy. As a matter of fact, all coupons make me happy. Free stuff! It's like I'm back in college.

Happiness is...

Townie bars that give free popcorn. Quick trips to Joanns to get a project for the weekend. Putting in a movie to drown out the noise of the wind whistling past the barren land. Taco stands on at the corner of the bar and the jail. Spending an evening catching up about the absolutely nothing that is happening in life. Visiting good friends in a not-so-good town, but having plenty of laughs about it all, and happy to be together again.

Happiness is Austin for the weekend.

Happiness is...

SPAM Museum! Yes, that't the only thing worth visiting around here. But boy is it fun! ;) Pictures of timelines, of spam cans, of mascots, of trivia and games. Spam tattoos.

And now, happiness is watching them try to cook with Spam. Wish me luck!

Happiness is...

Catching up on things. I hope you're still following. Thank you, and good day.

Day 50

Happiness is...

This daily affirmation of the things in life to be grateful for.

"Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have."

This is the entire reason I do what I do. It's been 50 days since I started the project, and it only gets better. There is something special about putting in the time to acknowledge every small thing that makes me happy. It multiplies, and I am exponentially happier. Everybody has a reason for the things they are passionate about... I have many reasons to love my life, to be passionate about a vast array of fulfilling things. And I am.

Happiness is this.

January 8. So far, so good.

Happiness is...

Sticking to new years resolutions. The challenge was 365 days, enough happy to tide me over. It's going well so far, and I am still stoked about the whole thing. Who knows if there are people aside from myself benefiting from the whole thing, but it's worth a shot.

I just wish we could say the same for all the new gym-goers. Give up on losing weight, we all know things will settle down in a month or so.

Hold me to it! Happiness is contagious.

Resolution---Status: Alive and Well.

Happiness is...

Walking out the door with new dinosaur silly bands :)

Happy 2011 :)

Happiness is...

Counting down to New Years and realizing you are surrounded by loved ones.

Should old acquaintance be forgot---I once thought about spending New Years Eve at Times Square, but there is nothing better than a warm night on the dance floor, drink in your hand, noisemaker in your lips.

Happy New Years :)