10 Actions That Bring Happiness

                                                       10 Actions that Bring Happiness

                                 (1,000 Little Things Happy Successful Things Do Differently)

1. Appreciate what you have

2. A mom who cooks dinner and makes bread

3. A dad who drives me everywhere

4. Our brave troops

5. A hot boyfriend who not only takes me out but also cooks for me at home

6. Fluffy socks and rainbow slippers

2. Focus on things that truly matter

3. My writing especially Story of Hope

4. Being a good friend and person

5. Respecting myself

6. My relationship with God

7. My family

                 Things That Don’t Matter

• How fast people reply to my texts

• Who did what to me six years ago

• If my phone is charged

3. Define your own meaning of life and pursue it

My Meaning of Life: To uplift others and improve yourself. To walk in God’s light and enjoy every moment. To follow your dreams and ask for help if you need it. There is no shame in needing it.

4. Embrace life’s challenges

My Challenges:

• bipolar/ OCD (I came very close to checking this morning but I remembered I  had just updated my OCD rewards sheet and I could not, in good conscience, give myself a reward if I had checked. So I didn’t. But God, the willpower it took)

• PCOS

• Crohn’s disease

• My weight

• Making it as a writer

I can deal with my challenges/ tips in the following ways

1. Take life one hour at a time. Sometimes an entire day can feel overwhelming. Turn your hour into something magical. Make it count.

2. A support system

3. Plan your day. Free time (for me) is the enemy

4. Make sure you eat and drink. Snickers had it right. You are not you when you are hungry

5. Trying waking up one hour earlier. Maybe you’re a morning person and just didn’t know it. 

5) Roles i Play

• Writer

• Daughter

• Sister

• Friend

• Cousin

• Niece

• Girlfriend

• Crafter

• Musician

• Employee

I would like to do more:

• Be more in touch with my brother

• Start a creative non fiction program at the senior citizen home where I work

• Finish my best friend’s wedding present (shhhh I won’t say what it is)

• Finish my short story book to be ready for January

6. Love your body enough to take care of it

Target weight: 150

Current Weight: 193

                                                    Rules to Follow

• At a restaurant? Only water. No soda, no shirley temple, just water

• No onion rings, milkshakes (even those delicious ones from Johnny Rockets)

• Consider getting two appetizers instead of an appetizer and an entree. Or, even better, no appetizer. Or just an appetizer.

• Only the mini pizza at BJ’s Brewhouse

• Drink more water (you’ll feel more full)

• If you order an appetizer, no dessert

7. Limit Your Time with Negative People

Negative People:

…….what? You actually thought I’d name names on my blog

8. Treat others the way you want to be treated

• Be extra nice to cashiers and waitresses. Make sure to smile

• Keep your thoughts about other people to yourself

• Compliment strangers (especially if they are wearing something Winnie the Pooh related)

• Let people go in front of you now and then

• Hold the door for people

• Don’t text when you are with someone

• Don’t make it all about you

9. Accept what is and look for possibilities that lie ahead

What is:

• As of Fourth of July I am ten YEARS sober

• Justin and I have been together longer than any relationship I’ve ever had

• I’m working on my seventh book, hoping it’ll be ready for publication in January

• I’ve got a job

• I’m a little overweight. Well, maybe more than a little

• My books have made a difference in some lives

• Both my cats have passed away

Possibilities:

• My books may make a difference in more lives

• I could help people through my job

• We could get another cat (or even a dog for dad)

• Someday Justin and I will get married