Sunday, February 5, 2012

Happiness


Cleaning, raking, trimming. It is that time for me. We do all our own yard work and well mostly I do so this time of year I start at one end of our backyard and just trim and clean the planters as I go.

This kitty is Mr. Bee-Doos. Yep that is his name. My silly daughter and equally silly husband came up with that. We are used to it now but at the vet they know him as Nemo as I was a little embarrassed of this name. Poor cat he is probably always wondering why they are all calling him that.


Yeppers more sunshine. We have had the most spring/summer like winter. It is supposed to rain next week so I am very glad. Our mountains and hills are thirsty.



This one is happy for the days outside. We are out about two hours everyday and have our lunch on the patio. It wears her out. That is good for mommy.





Heard this on the radio.

"It is your moral obligation to act happy. Happier people make better spouses, parents, friends, employees."

Do you agree? You know what at this stage in my life I do. I am always telling my kids that sometimes you just have to fake it. That is fake happiness. It helps snap you out of a mood. In my younger years if I wanted to go around grumpy, I did. If I took the whole house down with me so be it. Selfish. That is what I was. I once heard that a mother's attitude sets the tone for the whole family. I agree. We all have times when it is appropriate to be sad or mad but I am talking about in our daily everyday living. I hung that quote on the fridge. I want my kids to see it, learn, do it. I want them to realize that happiness is a choice. I want them to learn it young. Of course they will do as they choose but it won't be for a lack of me trying. So I choose happiness. I was so happy today after our no spend Jan. to go to Sam's Club and just really stock up. Just food and needfuls but wow that is such a gift to be able to do that. Some months I don't go if I don't have the extra stock up money so I just felt so lucky to be able to fill my cart. Okay, have a blessed Sunday. Thanks for listening.



23 comments:

  1. Your cat is so pretty! One of my dogs is a Yorkie and his name startted out as Chico, but it has evolved to Mr. Cheeky or Chi-Chi. The vet knows him as Mr. Cheeky. Mama laughed hysterically when I told her that, but I think it's cute! LOL

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  2. Everything looks so pretty. Q is really growing too! Enjoy, wish I could be out doing the same, but it will be long time!!

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  3. Darling pic of Q coming down the slide! Pretty kitty with a funny name! And I totally agree about our obligation to be happy!!!

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  4. What a beautiful cat! I think you are right about choosing happiness (and contentment, which I believe is closely related). Being grumpy and discontented can become a habit. This is something I have had to really work at through my life.

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  5. Q is so cute, looks like she is having such fun. Oh I so agree that happiness is mostly a choice and a matter of being thankful and looking at your glass half full. Smiling just makes everyone's day. Hugs, Marty

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  6. I love and agree with your philosophy to choose happiness. Smiling and laughter changes you in a real way, and is a gift to those around you. Thank you for sharing this happy post! ~CJ

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  7. Your weather looks lovely, as is ours here in FL. No winter so to speak of. I am absolutely with you on choosing happiness. Somedays I have to force myself, but I find that if I smile and say something nice, I also reap the benefit! Not a Pollyanna, just trying not to be a grouch. Ann

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  8. Oh it's great that you can be out in your garden! Your daughter looks so happy! And, I think you're right-sometimes you just have to fake a positive attitude to snap out of a rut. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
    -Lynn

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  9. Your cat is cute! Quite a name!

    The birdhouse is really adorable!

    I just couldn't believe it when I read that you told your kids to fake being happy! That's exactly what I told my son during his teen cranky years! It is SO true!

    One time I was so unhappy with where I was living and where we were in life. I decided to send one positive Thank You note to a person per week. That first week was so difficult because I was accustomed to seeing the negatives, but I wrote a super short note to someone and sent it, thinking "what in the world will I use for next week????"

    The next week I was all ready for that Thank You. I had been LOOKING for something! Before long, I was seeing so many things to be thankful for that my negativity just couldn't survive all of the good going on around me--and I was using a BUNCH of Thank You notes each week! It does really work! Try it! :)

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  10. happiness is a choice and you are quite right in that the mother sets the tone for the entire household...love the kitty and his name...olive

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  11. Your cat is adorable and I love the name!! We have had this gorgeous weather also and it's so nice to get outside. I know your children are enjoying it! Lovely photos! Happy Sunday! hugs, Linda

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  12. Hi Elaine,

    Reading this post was really timely for me. Thank you for sharing this quote. I struggle with this sometimes and have to work at it. I do believe it's true and worth working on. Have you read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin? I really enjoyed her book, which chronicled her year of choosing happiness. I think I need to re-read it!

    Betsy

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  13. I try to be honest to myself about my feelings, but I choose to focus on the positive. It's what works best for me. The blog is definitely for the positive in my life.

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  14. I have tried to teach our boys that very thing. Our youngest son was really struggling with being positive and was lately diagnosed with depression. Now that he's on meds he can actually be content and happy. It is such a gift for ourselves and others. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad for your sunny, happy day!

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  15. i love animals or pets that cool & different names. so cute!! i love your sunshine. we have had a very cloudy day ... a little rain but nothing much. i would prefer rain or sunshine. not just cloudy.... makes me sleepy. yawn. (:

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  16. Great pictures...Beautiful and full of sunshine.
    I just love happy people!
    hugs,
    shug

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  17. I couldn't agree more with you. Happiness and joy is our decision, our choice. Sometimes it's hard to choose it, but I've found that if I don't, I start to get negative and then everything seems to go wrong. Each morning I get up and set my intention for the day, to be positive and joy-filled. It works for me. This past week I've had some challenges in this area, but I've made some new discoveries about myself and I'm remembering that I'm in charge of how I feel, no matter what may be showing up at the time. Thanks for your post.

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  18. I see that many of us believe that happiness is a choice. One of the saddest things is the person who is waiting for someone else to make her happy.

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  19. I think your cat's name is adorable and very unique! When my kids were little they had a cat and I let them name it, they called it Janya. It was a new name to me!
    I do agree with what you said about happiness, it really is our moral obligation to act happy. You are so right, it is selfish to not care who our attitude is affecting. Someone once said "Fake it 'til you feel it." And you will feel happy if you fake it.
    A very good read tonight, thanks!
    Hugs, Cindy

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  20. I love your cat's name. Winter was the time I liked best when I lived in Southern California. Yes, it was usually the rainy season, but the temps were great. Enjoy your lovely weather and keep smiling. It's good for the body and soul.
    Lauara

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  21. Well, I think you posted this just for me. I have had a cloud over me today - circumstance I cannot control but which was saddening me. I choose to let God take control of this and choose to be happy - thanks for spreading your sunshine today! Thanks for sharing with A Return to Loveliness,
    God Bless,
    Kathy

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  22. I have resolved to be happy and cheerful if it kills me-most of the time! No, I really have decided to not let people or things affect my mood and try to be happy. I am so anxious for spring and the weather has been so nice, I have gotten some things done, but not all.

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  23. Yes indeedy, I choose happiness every single day. Life is too short to NOT be happy. Just getting out of bed in the morning brings me joy. I have another month before I can start in the yard. Much of your post sounded as if I had written it. We (mostly me) do all of our yard work. Once our cat Shidie had to be taken to the vet. My daughter who had named it told the vet his name was Petey because she was a bit embarrassed. We always got reminders sent to Petey to come in for a visit. Sad that we no longer have Shidid (Petey) Lookin for some sunshine here!
    Hugs,
    Jann

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