In my quest to be Hallmark Happy in 2018, I’ve been taking mental notes and literal snapshots of suggested ‘happiness tricks’ to try out. So we are fourteen days in and here is what I have discovered thus far: happiness is a choice and by making that choice you are choosing to do things that you believe will make you happy. And that may look different to everyone. I cut out this quick and easy guide from Time magazine and thought why not…
Write a thank you note. No problem. I write thank you notes all of the time. Possibly because Emily Post has sanctioned it as proper etiquette or because I have an affinity for stationary and all things pretty paper or because I like this old fashioned form of communications. Regardless of the why, it really does make me happy to thank others for their kindness and generosity. Real Simple recently said that the thank you note was obsolete and that maybe so, but I think it’s unfortunate. So maybe you shouldn’t expect to receive one in the near future but at the very least considering writing one because it could make you just a little bit happier.
Snap a Smart Phone Photo. Don’t mind if I do. I am by nature a documenter of life. I know that it’s important to be present and in the moment instead of behind the camera, but as someone who has feared having a finite number of moments it has been increasingly more important to me to document them. A very close friend once said to me that she wished she had more videos, more photos of her loved one because they’re all that she has left of them now. Plus why wouldn’t you want to capture all those great moments in life. Just this weekend I snapped photos of every smile I could at our cake tasting, family gathering, dog playing. Do it and print them. Surround yourself with happy moments of your life. Sometimes the little things really are the big things. I recently read an article written by a 27 year old who didn’t get the chance to beat her cancer and her words definitely resonated; appreciate the life you have!
Drop (almost) everything. Easy doing at this current juncture. I would have sworn to you nine months ago that I was completely incapable of this. I was anxious getting a facial for the ten minutes when she told me to relax, because I felt like their were other things I should be doing. But not anymore. I appreciate the down time, the opportunity to just be. Maybe that means spending an afternoon unexpectedly napping, take the dog for a walk, watching a movie you may have already watched; just taking some time to unwind. I’m mastering it now and worry about how to get back into the swing of my harried work schedule.
Get some sun. So years ago when all of the self help guides suggested getting out in nature I scoffed and now I know that I shouldn’t have. I should have wanted to go out chasing butterflies in the yard and letting the sun shine on my face, soaking up all the Vitamin D I could get. I may have arrived late to the party, but I definitely got there. Now most days I jump at the chance to get outside and take a walk, photograph the landscape and the wildlife. It’s peaceful and helps me feel grounded. I can’t wait to hit the hiking trails in the spring and am still considering some winter activities.
Jot down what you are grateful for. I love the concept of a gratitude journal or even just writing down a positive note from the day like the Happiness Project suggests. It really does help you reflect on the good things rather than the less than perfect things we tend to dwell on. I stopped journaling when I got sick a few years ago, maybe because I just let myself be too busy or I was bogged down in what I couldn’t control, but I missed it. And since getting back into it, I find it meaningful. I want to look back someday at the year I was engaged and remember singing Champagne Supernova in the car on repeat.
Think about doing someone a favor. I have always enjoyed doing things for others. I pay attention and surprise them with that gift they mentioned once upon a time or drop a note in the mail when I’m randomly thinking of someone. It makes me happy to make others happy. I have been finding little ways to show people in my life that I care and I’ve been doing more of it since the New Year. I read an article about a couple who committed to doing 365 days of acts of kindness and the impact it had on their lives. They claimed 2017 was their best year ever as a result, they did so many unexpected things and met so many unexpected people. They were living their best lives and became even more incredible humans. We are living in a world that seems to lack empathy and compassion, so why not be part of a bigger movement that showers strangers with kindness. I’m hoping to find ways to demonstrate kindness that exist outside of my network.
Do a mini meditation. This one was a little more difficult for me. Meditation is an interesting concept but it’s pretty much foreign to me. I had to put some additional thought and energy into this practice. I started by using the meditation setting on my fitbit and would use it when I was in the car waiting for someone. Then I added the headspace app on my phone and would occasionally add that. The quiet was nice but I’m not sure that I feel as though it made me happier. I did however decide to be mindful about the practice and built it in to my morning stretching and sun salutation routine. Verdict is still out for me on this one.
Buy tickets to events. I’m all about experiences. I think about my annual summer vacation with one of my closest friends, we have experiences. We go to the movies, 5 Wit escape rooms, and so more. Those are the things I remember. Same with one of my oldest friends, we made a resolution years ago to do new things and it took us to great places, even to Philadelphia to run the MFA steps like Rocky. In thinking we definitely need to bring that resolution back. I haven’t had the opportunity to buy any tickets primarily because I’m still not suppose to frequent public spaces for several more months, but once I can I’ll be sure to add this to my list.
These were just a few suggestions, but I’m glad I tried them. I choose to be happy and have been consciously making that choice since my cancer diagnosis. Life is what you make of it, better or worse. You choose.
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