Thursday, April 14, 2011
My happy thoughts
I decided today that I wanted to make a list of all the things I find myself doing to stay happy. Hopefully someone else will find this helpful: 1. smile, smile, smile - Smile at strangers, smile to yourself. Just smile and meant it. 2. Help others - So much can be learned from simply asking to help: general knowledge, experience, patience, etc. 3. Be curious about the world - stop and pick the flower you think is pretty, strike up conversation with a stranger while waiting in line. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. 4. Don't worry about things you have no control over - this is my life motto. So much anxiety can be avoided by asking yourself, "Is there anything I can personally do, myself, that will change this?" If the answer is no, stop dwelling. 5. Stand up for the things that are most important to you - Nobody likes that one person that seems to want to argue about everything. It's crucial to stand up for yourself, but remember to choose your battles. 6. Love youself - my other life motto (if you can have two): You have to love yourself before you can expect anyone else to. If you don't think you're awesome and the best thing since sliced bread, why would anyone else? 7. Take a walk - being in nature is vital to my happiness, and I don't think its just me. Humans have a special bond with the Earth. It was given to sustain us. Spend time with it and love it. 8. Be nice to someone even when you don't feel like it - I feel like I do this a lot, but it could be because my job is in customer service so I have to be nice... But I have noticed, even when not at work, bad moods melt away the second someone sincerely appreciates what you've done for them. 9. Truly, sincerely, forgive people - We have all been hurt, and I'm sure everyone is thinking of one specific time that they were hurt the most. But forgiving someone, shows that you love and care about them more than a mistake they made. And it also brings you closer because together, you have overcome something. 10. Read for pleasure - unless you don't like to read. 11. Laugh at yourself - Sometimes I have more fun when I'm alone then surrounded by lots of people. It's refreshing to act a fool and not care :) 12. Show compassion and empathy - I have come to find that the smallest things mean the most in times of need. You never know when "Do you need someone to talk to?" is exactly what someone has been waiting to hear for so long. 13. Daydream - some of my greatest ideas and visions have been results of daydreams. You've got to get out of your head sometimes. 14. Make and effort to love everything until given a reason not to - The more you love, the more love you will receive. Judging people gives you nothing but loneliness and envy. 15. Dance and sing - Even if you don't think you're good, do it. See #11 These are all the ones I came up with for today. Maybe this will become a continuous entry as I think of more. But yea, that's how I stay happy :)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Lost
"Sometimes getting lost is the only way to really find yourself."
When I first read this quote, I just stared at it for a few minutes and really let it sink in. As I thought about it, memories from my life flashed before me and transformed these words into the truest statement I have read. Being lost (I mean emotionally and mentally) isn’t always a bad thing. We have all felt lost because we were hurt, forgot about, angry, or whatever the case may be. But I’m beginning to learn that how you act when these situations arise is an indicator of your true character, and how you mishandle these situations can only help you grow.
When a romantic relationship went sour, I was “lost” in a lot of the same emotions everyone feels after a break up. But instead of stewing in my loneliness, I took a step back and did some self reflection. I realized I didn’t like who I was, so no matter what my boyfriend did, it wasn’t going to make me happy. How could I expect someone to love me when I didn’t even love myself? So I changed. It wasn't an over night thing. There were some habits I had to kick, I needed to start thinking more positive, I had to just start enjoying my life more and get used to being alone. But I’m happy to say I’ve never loved myself more than I do now. And I never would have been able to see that if I hadn’t first been lost.
Another example:
When I found out my papaw had cancer, I was lost in pure anger. I was angry at God for allowing him to get sick, angry at people who had never taken care of their bodies and were still alive- I was just an angry person. I stayed mad for a few weeks before I got myself in check and realized that it was getting me no where and making my life miserable. So I chose to turn my negative thinking into positive action and started praying. My reasoning was, of course it couldn't hurt, and I needed some kind of outlet for my thoughts and emotions so why not turn to God? I prayed with more compassion than I ever had before, and started thinking positive about the situation. Two weeks ago, we got a report that one spot of cancer is gone and the other is shrinking. Not bad for an incurable, inoperable form of cancer. It's amazing what a little positive attitude can do.
Currently I'm realizing how refreshing it can be to be lost in contentment. I'm starting to understand what little things I can do daily to keep myself happy. Such as: not sweating the small stuff, enjoying simple things in life, trying to smile as much as I can, and lots more things that seem small but have a huge impact on my day to day life. Its when you are truly happy with yourself and your life, that you get a glimpse of the best version of yourself you can be, and to me, that makes all the struggling worth it.
So what I'm realizing is that its the times when you feel completely lost, have no direction, and it seems like no one cares to help, that you discover how strong you really are. You'll never know what you're truly made of until you're put to the test and I've found that I like myself more after every struggle that I face. So I'll say it again: Sometimes getting lost is the only way to really find yourself.
When I first read this quote, I just stared at it for a few minutes and really let it sink in. As I thought about it, memories from my life flashed before me and transformed these words into the truest statement I have read. Being lost (I mean emotionally and mentally) isn’t always a bad thing. We have all felt lost because we were hurt, forgot about, angry, or whatever the case may be. But I’m beginning to learn that how you act when these situations arise is an indicator of your true character, and how you mishandle these situations can only help you grow.
When a romantic relationship went sour, I was “lost” in a lot of the same emotions everyone feels after a break up. But instead of stewing in my loneliness, I took a step back and did some self reflection. I realized I didn’t like who I was, so no matter what my boyfriend did, it wasn’t going to make me happy. How could I expect someone to love me when I didn’t even love myself? So I changed. It wasn't an over night thing. There were some habits I had to kick, I needed to start thinking more positive, I had to just start enjoying my life more and get used to being alone. But I’m happy to say I’ve never loved myself more than I do now. And I never would have been able to see that if I hadn’t first been lost.
Another example:
When I found out my papaw had cancer, I was lost in pure anger. I was angry at God for allowing him to get sick, angry at people who had never taken care of their bodies and were still alive- I was just an angry person. I stayed mad for a few weeks before I got myself in check and realized that it was getting me no where and making my life miserable. So I chose to turn my negative thinking into positive action and started praying. My reasoning was, of course it couldn't hurt, and I needed some kind of outlet for my thoughts and emotions so why not turn to God? I prayed with more compassion than I ever had before, and started thinking positive about the situation. Two weeks ago, we got a report that one spot of cancer is gone and the other is shrinking. Not bad for an incurable, inoperable form of cancer. It's amazing what a little positive attitude can do.
Currently I'm realizing how refreshing it can be to be lost in contentment. I'm starting to understand what little things I can do daily to keep myself happy. Such as: not sweating the small stuff, enjoying simple things in life, trying to smile as much as I can, and lots more things that seem small but have a huge impact on my day to day life. Its when you are truly happy with yourself and your life, that you get a glimpse of the best version of yourself you can be, and to me, that makes all the struggling worth it.
So what I'm realizing is that its the times when you feel completely lost, have no direction, and it seems like no one cares to help, that you discover how strong you really are. You'll never know what you're truly made of until you're put to the test and I've found that I like myself more after every struggle that I face. So I'll say it again: Sometimes getting lost is the only way to really find yourself.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
2011- The year of high hopes
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
2010 was a good and bad year for me. I had some of the best times of my life, and also some of the worst. The one thing I will always remember about 2010 is that it was the year my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, making it the first year that really changed my life. My papaw has taught me many things throughout my life. Like how to make a perfect bowl of cream of wheat or how to tell a good story. But the biggest lesson he taught me he never spoke a word about, and I didn’t begin to learn it until he was diagnosed with his disease. It began when I went to church with him the first Sunday after he found out he was sick. Everyone was telling him they were praying for him and how sorry they were, and the first thing he would say to them is, “this is my granddaughter, isn’t she beautiful?” It was like his cancer had never been mentioned and he just wanted to show how proud he was to call me “his”. And their response to me was always the same “Your grandfather is one of the greatest men I’ve ever known.” I smiled and fought back my tears because I knew they were 100% right. He is the greatest man I’ve ever known too. My papaw lived a simple life, always had enough of what he needed but never more. His biggest investments were in the people around him- his family, church family, friends, and community. He shows love to everyone and spreads joy every where he goes. He had nurses stopping by after their shifts were over just to say hi and see his smiling face. I can’t go visit him without a friend calling to check on him and see how he’s doing. He has blessed so many lives and continues to everyday. Everything about him is exactly who I want to be- completely beautiful inside and out. I finally picked a new years resolution for 2011, and it is to be more like him. To love like him, forgive like him, be joyful like him, and enjoy life like him. I'm looking forward to this year and all the happiness I'm going to spread to others, all because my papaw has shown me the way.
2010 was a good and bad year for me. I had some of the best times of my life, and also some of the worst. The one thing I will always remember about 2010 is that it was the year my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, making it the first year that really changed my life. My papaw has taught me many things throughout my life. Like how to make a perfect bowl of cream of wheat or how to tell a good story. But the biggest lesson he taught me he never spoke a word about, and I didn’t begin to learn it until he was diagnosed with his disease. It began when I went to church with him the first Sunday after he found out he was sick. Everyone was telling him they were praying for him and how sorry they were, and the first thing he would say to them is, “this is my granddaughter, isn’t she beautiful?” It was like his cancer had never been mentioned and he just wanted to show how proud he was to call me “his”. And their response to me was always the same “Your grandfather is one of the greatest men I’ve ever known.” I smiled and fought back my tears because I knew they were 100% right. He is the greatest man I’ve ever known too. My papaw lived a simple life, always had enough of what he needed but never more. His biggest investments were in the people around him- his family, church family, friends, and community. He shows love to everyone and spreads joy every where he goes. He had nurses stopping by after their shifts were over just to say hi and see his smiling face. I can’t go visit him without a friend calling to check on him and see how he’s doing. He has blessed so many lives and continues to everyday. Everything about him is exactly who I want to be- completely beautiful inside and out. I finally picked a new years resolution for 2011, and it is to be more like him. To love like him, forgive like him, be joyful like him, and enjoy life like him. I'm looking forward to this year and all the happiness I'm going to spread to others, all because my papaw has shown me the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)