Day 10: Fond Memories from 2013

This year has been a roller coaster for me, to say the least, so I'm reflecting on the good things today:

I went sky diving! How crazy is that?

I re-awakened my love of fitness and nutrition with some personal training back in January and proceeded to take classes to become a certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutritionist.  I have yet to finish my final exams but I have finished all of the other elements of the courses.  Excited that this could be a huge key to my life going forward.

I was able to travel to a lot of places I've always wanted to see and visit a large number of friends. (and the traveling will only continue as 2014 approaches!)






I started writing songs with lyrics!  This is just a feat for me since in the past I've only been able to compose music or write poetry - so it's neat to make a transition where they come together.

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There were a lot of other great things, but these are the most noteworthy.  I'm sure as the day moves forward I will continue to remember more fond memories.

Happy New Year! - may 2014 bring even more happy moments.

Day 9: Funny Things on the Internet

Well... the title is obvious.  All of the blog entry titles are obvious, but today I actually tracked down a few of my favorite lists and realized they are all on BuzzFeed.  So I guess BuzzFeed makes me happy - sometimes.  It also has other things that are a bit ridiculous.

Anyway, here are some lists:

The 33 Dumbest Things to Ever Happen

Makes me chuckle... Read it with my sister-in-law and we both couldn't stop laughing at a few of these.

13 Simple Steps To Get Through the Day

I was having a bad day and a status on Facebook requesting things to turn that around and this was posted as a response.  Definitely helped.

35 Vines From 2013

Some of these are dumb, but... some are hilarious!

24 Vines You'll Watch Over and Over Again

A less daunting number than 35 - though includes some from the list of 35 as well.



These are just a few... but there are things on all of these lists that make me laugh.

Day 8: Writing and Snapchat

Let me begin by saying that when Snapchat was originally released I said I would never get such a thing as I could see clean reason to have the app - My thought was that if I want to send a picture to someone, I'll send them a picture.  But then I got it just to try, and I've found that it's more than possible to take clean photos that probably just aren't worth having available long term.  

Snapchat then started the "My Story" feature where one can put photos up in a sequence for anybody to see. I hadn't really used this feature until recently when I realized how silly it could be.  So... it has become a source of humor (because I crack myself up).  Who knows if anybody else finds amusement from my stories but I do have fun making them - and they go away after 24 hours.  Probably for the best, as they are generally so ridiculous they definitely aren't worth saving.

This began today's story:

Which brings me to the joy of song writing.  I'm not always inspired, but when I am, I feel like it's important to just go for it.  And of all of the songs I've written, they've generally been pretty melancholy, but this one is pretty happy.  I think this blog and focusing on happy things may have contributed to that element.  (Especially when I started trying to write the line "the laughter of children, wagging tails of puppies..." - which I did not use.  Haha.)

Anyway, for anybody that may be reading this, if you are finding yourself unhappy with where you are in life, I would highly encourage finding an outlet to explore the things that which make you happy - as it's definitely influencing other areas in my life.

Day 7: Simple Things

I'm easily amused. But this was posted on Facebook by my favorite radio show hosts (Slacker and Steve on Alice 105.9 in Denver!)

It only works on a touch screen... But it has made me smile or laugh every time...

Day 6: Weddings

I'm bound to lose count on my days soon here but as long as I'm still in the single digits I feel I have no excuse to put the wrong day in my title... so, for the future, who knows what will happen?

Anyway, today I saw a post on Facebook of some friends of mine celebrating their 10th Anniversary.  I believe their wedding is the first that I actually remember.  They had said their vows to each other and proceeded to also make vows to each other's families. At the end they - and their wedding party - danced out of the hall to some hip music at the time.  10 years ago puts it at, what? Beyonce's Crazy In Love?  Anyway, besides the point, it was fun and the reception was also fun.  

Since then I've been to countless amounts of weddings so I took some time to reminisce a bit today.  I know I've forgotten a lot on my list (which is crazy to me - but I guess I've just been to THAT many that I can't even remember them all).  Anyway, here is the list, along with a some cool highlights and memories from each one. 

(I adore how each wedding is unique to the couple and always fits so well.  Such happy occasions!)

• Betsy & CJ - 2003 - Vows to parents and some humor included.
• Christy & Dennis - Family Reunion
• Kara & David - 2005 - Hogshead on the "Just Married" Vehicle and explosions - A family notorious for their love of fire.
• Jennifer and Kagen - 2007 - Beautiful church with a delightful courtyard.
• Liz and Israel - 2008 - Irish Harp playing at a vineyard.  Bridal Party alternated man-woman as they were all considered friends and family of the couple.
• Vanessa and Caleb - 2008 - Magical wedding.  Everything was in a park that had ribbons hanging from trees. Lawn games all afternoon - picnic baskets and blankets provided, wooden swords for young boys and lace umbrellas for little girls, ceremony held right when the sun was hitting between the trees at the perfect moment.  This bride is an amazing wedding planner.
• Christi and Christer - 2008 - Interactive wedding book, take a photo as you enter and write on a page that will include the well wishes and picture. Cocktails in a garden while the bridal party took pictures and the ceremony area and the courtyard was transformed into a reception area.
• Chante and Logan - 2008 - A late reception with board games on all of the tables.
• Kathleen and David - 2008 - Bilingual wedding (French and English).  Bride's parents sang Once.  Beautiful.
• Katie and Erik - 2009 - Winter wedding, flower petals on the ceiling fans showered down like snow.
• Kelsey and Shea - 2009 - "New York Style" wedding - red, black and white.  Lake as the backdrop.
• Mandy and Carl - 2010 - At the end of the wedding they showed a movie interview of the couple answering all of the questions anybody might ask at the reception - "How did you meet?" all the way through, "What's next?"  Very clever and well done.  Lots of dancing at the reception - bridal parties can make the difference.
• Linsey and Derek - 2010 - Small ceremony on a cliff with a gorgeous valley backdrop recorded and shown at a larger reception.
• Sara and Jordan - 2010 - Biscotti, tea and a card of "The Ungame" as the wedding piece take home - very cute as that's how they got to know one another, and also good for creating conversation at the reception tables.
• Lindsey and Daniel - 2010 - The second of two weddings in one day. So much dancing.
• Rachael and Jake - 2010 - Hot summer's day.  Wedding fans with the date as a keepsake.
• Andrew and Morgan - 2010 - Hot chocolate and fillings at the reception. Big picture with all guests.
• Daniel and Becky - 2011 - Beautiful, long ceremony with all prayers, communion and elements included. Very spiritually centered.
• Madi and Colin - 2011 - River backdrop.  Flowers given to guests as entering and put into a bucket at the end of each row and later used as centerpieces for the reception.
• Sharon and Sean - 2011 - Cabin wedding - 7 minute ceremony, no chairs, walk around cabin for greeting line and barbecue set up.  Party and dancing into the wee hours of the morning including a family dance off.
• Melissa and Evan - 2011 - Beach wedding.  The most amazing DJ as Master of the Ceremony for the reception - really went to show how valuable a good DJ can be.
• Taalyr and Spencer - 2011 - Ring guided in on remote control car by the best man.
• Becca and Zach - 2011 - Young, vibrant love. Reception at a cute coffee bar with a balcony.
• Erin and Dan - 2011 - Ceremony-Reception combination.  Flashmob dance as a gift to the bride and groom from a sister (Betsy from wedding one!)
• Bethany and Josh - 2012 - Reunited many friends from over the years.  Learned at this wedding that it's more fun to fight for the bouquet than to stand awkwardly in the back every time.
• Megan and Justin - 2012 - Wedding out in some beautiful gardens.
• Brittany and Paul - 2013 - Canadian wedding - bridesmaids and groomsmen from all over North America.
• Katie and Zachariah - 2013 - 3 day wedding at a campground, campfires, reuniting with friends, decorations coordinated by Vanessa's magical hand.
• Heather and Dalton - 2013 - Colorado mountain wedding.  Rain during the ceremony didn't cause the bride nor groom to lose focus.  Barn reception with 2 levels and the bridal party in the center so all felt they were near them.

Day 5: Hugs

According to Wikipedia:
A hug is a near universal form of physical intimacy, in which two people put their arms around the neck, back, or waist of one another and hold each other closely.

A hug can be given as an indication of support, comfort, and consolation, particularly where words are insufficient. A hug is usually a demonstration of affection and emotional warmth, sometimes arising out of joy or happiness at meeting someone or seeing someone that they have not seen in a long time.

Hugging has been proven to have health benefits. One study has shown that hugs increase levels of oxytocin, and reduce blood pressure.

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I often forget how happy hugs can make me if I'm not around people who openly give hugs, but... there is something about a good hug.  And they make me quite happy :-)

Day 4: Generosity and Cooking

Well, it's Christmas Day and not-so-surprisingly, people tend to be more generous.  My family went to the movies and the folks in line behind my mother had some extra tickets that they'd bought early to see a movie with a large group.  They gave them to her and said, "Merry Christmas."  Gestures like these always make me feel happy, and I wish sorely they would happen throughout the year, rather than during one or two seasons, but the generosity is still appreciated.

I also love cooking.  The holidays are always a time to cook and bake more, so I was able to spend some time at the stove.  Don't know why but chopping and cooking have always been therapeutic activities for me.  This year I made and herb gravy to go with our turkey, and a fresh green bean casserole.  I cannot tell you how much better fresh green bean casserole is than the typical can of green beans with cream of mushroom soup that not everybody loves.  So... I'll just share the recipe in case you have the desire to make it and give it a try someday.

Fresh Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Day 3: Laughter and Family

I adore laughing. Probably one of my favorite things... And most likely because I have a family that loves laughing. 

Some great quotes from us all being together for Christmas... Thankful and happy. 

Happy Christmas Eve to those who celebrate Christmas!

Day 2: Seasons

I love seasons.  It's Winter in Montana, and although I hate being cold, the snow covered trees and mountains have been stunning.  I was also fortunate enough to be on the East Coast during the height of Autumn - following a brilliant Summer in Colorado.

I love the changing of seasons.  Keeps it interesting... and makes me happy and hopeful for change.

Summer - Denver, CO

Autumn - Worcester, MA

Autumn - Chicago, IL

Winter - Flathead Valley, MT

Winter (Yesterday) - Flathead Valley, MT

Day 1: Coffee, music, clean rooms

So I'm sure some might think that a blog like this would be better started on January 1st, but I tend to not really buy into "New Year's Resolutions" simply because I think if you want to resolve or change something in your life, you should just do it when you have the urge.  Of course, nothing against New Year's Resolutions for others, if that's when you want to make a change, do it!  I just plan to act on my instincts while I'm having them.  So... It's what?  December 22nd - let the happy seeking begin!

Some things that made me happy today: Coffee, music and clean rooms.  And also sweet notes from way back when.

Coffee.
I'm sure I'll note coffee more than once over 365 days, because I love coffee.  Today's coffee provided by the Montana chain City Brew - a coffee shop in which I used to have wonderful deep conversations as well as shared many laughs with friends.  The memories are fond and make me happy - but beyond that, I know that there will be more memories to be added over time when I visit Montana in the future.

Music. 
I will probably also mention music on many occasions, as I am, in some sense, a musician.  But today I'm particularly thankful for the kind of music that makes me want to dance.  For me, today, that is Pandora's Macklemore station. I don't know why but so much of the music that comes on that station makes me quite happy - happy to the point of dancing.  (Though I'm not able to dance around like a silly person (which would also make me happy).)  We all have that music that just hits us, and this is one of several genres that does it for me.  

Clean rooms.  
There is just something calming about a clean room.  Since it's the week of Christmas and my brother and sister-in-law will be arriving in town tonight I decided it was time to finally get the organized clutter off the floor and organized into the proper locations.  After this task, I took a moment to sit back and just sit in the room - and it already feels a lot better. 

I've heard some people say that the cleanliness of their home usually reflects the status of their life - if messy and cluttered, it means they are in the midst of chaos in their life, but if clean and organized, it reflected the organized, smooth state of life. I used to also think like this, but later chose a new line of thinking - and that is that the messier my living space, the more I was not there and the more I was living life. 

I think it can go both ways, but it doesn't detract from the fact a clean room just feels better. (And there are even studies to prove it!)

Notes from way back when.
I once started a box to put happy memories in - pictures, notes,  poems, random items, and pretty much anything that can go into a box.  So I pulled it out last night and found myself laughing at some of the ridiculous notes that friends had written me so long ago.  I even found a poem I'd written for a friend while in college but apparently never given her - so I decided to give it to her today and we both laughed at the ridiculous friendship we'd built so long ago. 

The notes were so impacting that I was reminded how much writing notes to people makes me happy.  A practice I plan to re-adopt.

Happiness is Everywhere. We Just Need to See It.

Lately I've found myself getting caught up in sadness or anger - usually about things happening in the world or external issues that have directly affected my life.  When others are experiencing this, I seem to find myself encouraging them with lines like, "Only you can choose to be happy," or "This moments is brand new, what will you do make a difference?" and as far as, "Dwelling doesn't help."

So I find it interesting when I can't hear my own advice, my own "wisdom;" my own random inspirational thoughts that I probably compiled after reading them from someone else.  I also find it important to acknowledge the human experience, and note that we have emotions and react to things the way we do as individuals, and that is never to be discredited.

Simultaneously, I want to be happy.  And I think all people deserve to be happy.  So I've decided to start a blog.  365 Days of Happiness.  To record on a daily basis what has made me happy that day - and seek out the happiness that surrounds us.

I believe it's there and I believe we were meant to find it.  If you would like to join me with your own blogs, or comments, I welcome your partnership.  After all, one thing I do know makes me happy is support from others.

**Please note, this was inspired, in part, by another blogger and friend of mine: happyladykatie.blogspot.com