The widespread low morale, lack of confidence, and purposelessness isn’t good for all our well-being. ~ sillyfrog
One-liner Wednesday 5/17/23 ~ It’s Not Really About You
Tag: happiness
SoCS- April 29, 2023 Being Happy
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “yes.” Find a word that starts with “yes” or use the word “yes” as is. Bonus points if you start your post with the word you choose. Enjoy!
I’m saying “yes” to my own happiness today. I have to say it out loud now and then.
Once in a while, the weight of the world gets to be too heavy. Isn’t that silly? I’m not in charge of the world.
I can’t even decide what to make for supper most days. LOL
The good news is that I feel happy 98% of the time anyway. As critical as I am about “goings on”, I’m still pausing to dance every day and especially in the Spring, I’m planting seeds (which are metaphors for hope) more than ever.
Prayer has become important to me. It’s a reminder that I cannot take credit or have I any responsibility for stuff beyond my control. I’m not fond of those who feel prayer is the only answer to everything or an excuse to not take an active part in life. But prayer is a way to rest in comfort and recharge. There’s no chance expressing gratitude is ever wasted.
I pray y’all have a happy day. It’s going to be okay.
https://lindaghill.com/2023/04/28/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-29-2023/
The Sunday Whirl 4/16/23- Redeeming Happiness
It’s said that everyone has skeletons in their closet, but Millicent’s closet was about to overflow. Her life of pathological lying had always been a block to her conscience calling for a relief from her hidden stream of suffering. She’d no sooner promise herself to change her ways than her want to be accepted by everyone would dare her not to listen to such ethereal voices.
And now, she was a lonely elderly woman wandering hopelessly with no one who’d listen to her. Her dreams of popularity had not ever born fruit and her days were growing fewer. Every lie she’d ever told while trying to ingratiate herself to people had backfired.
In a desperate last effort, all she could do was retrace as many steps as she could and confess her lifelong dishonesty.
One by one, she reached out for forgiveness to countless estranged friends. Many shut her down before she could start. But a handful of them, forgave her, and a few even returned to her offering a second chance of companionship. That loving power of grace and forgiveness nearly made her knees buckle as joyful redemption from her past came within her reach.
Simply 6-Minutes 4/4/23- One Special Bear
The challenge is to write a story using the prompt image below in only 6 minutes.
Emmet was not only the happiest bear in the whole world, but he was also a very special one. Ordinarily the special animals born in the wild don’t have much of a chance at happiness, but Emmet was lucky enough to have a supportive family and community.
From his appearance, they all realized early on that Emmet had the animal version of *Down’s Syndrome.
As he grew, everyone was patient and protective of him. What he gave back were endless smiles and giggles. Emmet loved making other bears happy through laughter and even though he wasn’t always sure what made him so funny, he didn’t really care.
Pictured above, Emmet plays hide-and seek.
Emmet was indeed a special bear.
* Down syndrome is unique to only human chromosomes, however, animals can have similar mental illnesses to what humans can have1. While it is not exactly the same disease as down syndrome, animals like tigers, dogs, monkeys, lions etc., can have similar visual and mental characteristics1. For example, white tigers2, mice2, cats2 and many other animals have been found to have similar genetic disorders.
https://christinebialczak.com/2023/04/04/simply-6-minutes-welcome-to-the-challenge-04-04-2023/
Looking for Joy and Finding Good
I was having an exchange with a blogger friend this morning when my cellphone went off. The song below is my current ringtone.
The topic of our conversation boiled down to an agreement that we are much more than our ‘political’ viewpoints. Let’s face it, somehow our enjoyment of everything has been damaged by media making all topics political.
I then looked up the clip from Sister Act:2 from which this joyful rendition came because it makes me happy.
Before me was Whoopi Goldberg, someone who is viciously political in ‘real life’…I looked past that.
Then I realized how long I’ve had ‘issues’ with the Catholic Church…I looked past that.
I further wondered if some people would be put off by any ‘religious’ theme… might they look past that?
What was before me was simply a heartwarming performance of a beautiful song by kids singing their hearts out in joy!
I love this clip. The song speaks to me. I didn’t need to entertain unpleasant aspects of what I could see. My heart is happy that I didn’t. I found the “beautiful” in it and the “beautiful” is getting harder to find.
Let’s all seek joy and goodness anywhere we can find it. Check our biases, complaints, and politics at the door and LOOK for it.
There’s a time and place for those things, of course, but without experiencing a BIG picture, now and then for balance, we’ll lose our humanity.
I’m willing to bet our media wants us to stay ‘lost’.
Please enjoy this clip with me. ❤
Six Word Saturday-Just Ignore It
Ignoring ignorance is the best approach.
https://travelwithintent.com/2022/10/29/is-that-a-fat-bottomed-sheep/
Life Advice: You have Superpower
In 1984, a wonderful TV series debuted. It was Punky Brewster and I enjoyed the message that it portrayed.
No matter what the troubles the main character faced, she remained hopeful, confident, and empowered to prevail by staying true to her own instincts.
Punky often met challenges with her “Punky Power” attitude.
I was happy that my young kids watched the show because that had been my life motto and hoped they would absorb the message.
We often hear “you cannot control others but you can control your reaction to them”.
This is one of the soundest bits of advice.
I witness people frequently frustrated and angered by the behavior of others. I adopted a reliable philosophy somewhere along my journey. I try extremely hard never to give others, especially strangers, the “power” to make me angry or bitter. I don’t believe everyone realizes that they have that power.
The first step in the development of one’s personal power for calm and self-preservation is to understand how differently individuals ‘see the world’.
Our personalities are, by far, our most diverse assets.
The second step, is to study people a bit and understand when you are not being understood. Don’t dwell once you know this.
Thirdly, the best realization is that you do not control anyone else and there may be a point when talking, complaining, and explaining, just won’t work. It’s okay and it doesn’t have a thing to do with anyone’s ‘goodness’.
From there, learning not to accept anyone’s critique of you as an ‘expert’ level guideline. You are not made up of the opinions of others! You define who you are and must live your ‘good’ life.
Humility and honesty are a must when you maintain a critique of yourself. It is an evolution that will lead to wisdom and contentment when you question yourself along the way. When how you behave feels wrong, you can work on it. Also, pay close attention to people who impress you and seem decent. You can learn much about their motivations and character strengths and use those things for improving yourself.
Finally, always remember NOBODY’S PERFECT so forgive yourself and others generously. Don’t forget to laugh at yourself. Everyone is a goober now and then. Every day starts anew. You’ve got this.
When all else fails, fall back on these powerful and wise childhood sayings and you’ll be fine:
YOU HAVE THE POWER!
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