happiness
Happiness, defined; things that help you find happiness, keep it, and share it with others.
Love At First Belt
One day, sometime during fall of 2016 l was staring at my closet trying to put an outfit together to go to work. I eventually decided to pair a dress with a cardigan sweater but I was still staring at my closet thinking to myself, “something is missing, not exactly a full on belt but what if there was a belt that cinched your garment of choice around your waist so your outfit can still be seen in the front seamlessly without any breaks. A belt but that was open in the front?!” Cue lightbulb. I came up with this idea to have a belt that would be open in the front to create a different look.
By Marianna H5 years ago in Motivation
Sprinkling the World with Blank Canvases
I have always been fascinated by the creative spark that has driven humans to innovate for the last 60,000 years. I deeply believe that if access to tools and spaces that inspire creative execution were ubiquitous, more of the world would be empowered to further social progress, and solutions to our greatest challenges would move forward like wildfire.
By Bethany Halbreich5 years ago in Motivation
Happiness Through Struggle
About one year ago today, my life came to a shattering standstill. My wife had been unfaithful yet again and ran off to North Carolina (we live in Michigan). She was attempting to blame my PTSD from the military on difficulties in the marriage, but as I came to find out, it was her continuous abuse of prescription medications as well as a hereditary dissociative disorder that were leading her to make poor choices. Being that I worked mental health in the Air Force, I understood these struggles and tried everything to work it all out, despite that not being in my beset interest. She went on to continue to have affairs, at a point was going to leave me for a heroin addicted individual in Florida, who also has 13 felonies under his belt. She acquired a stalker who was a paranoid schizophrenic who broke into my home with the intention of murdering me, two days in a row. By the time she came home in September, divorce was already filed. She ended up getting pregnant by a man who was not the felon and had an abortion while living under my roof. Last December I was going to ask her if she wanted to try for children. We got Divorced 2 months to the day of what would have been our six-year anniversary.
By Jason Schneckenberger5 years ago in Motivation
Rock. Paper. Scissors
“Create your own happiness”... This title reminded me of something my mom repeated to me growing up, often in the face of adversity. She’d say, “We Parker’s are powerful people Jillee, we make things happen.” This was her response to every roadblock that pummeled me, and trust, she who has lofty dreams is sure to be pummeled, because great joy must be balanced by great sadness. I decided 8 years ago, that all I wanted was to be happy, and I was determined to make that happen. I have an unconventional story, and to understand my love of scissors, my creative passion, and how I am still making my dream a reality, we must first start at the beginning.
By Jillee parker 5 years ago in Motivation
Subversion in the classroom, one pair of pants at a time.
When you become a teacher, you know you are walking in the well-worn footsteps of the great and good (and not-so-good) who have come before you. You are well aware of the heavy responsibility of moulding the minds of the young of today, soon to become the adults of tomorrow. You are determined to not destroy any of those young minds, while at the same time hoping to actually, you know, teach them something.
By Rebecca Lupton5 years ago in Motivation
Cutting, Pinning, Sewing Together Love
I never sewed in my life, nor was I ever really interested in sewing. When I was younger I wanted to be a fashion designer but I never learned how to sew. When I was still in High School we had special advisory classes we could take where we could choose an activity to learn and understand more about, and sewing was one of the many we could choose from. When it came time to choose I did not have any intention of choosing the sewing option and wanted to focus on something I knew I would enjoy. However my friend talked me into choosing it because she mentioned the teacher hosting the class was one we got along with very well, and we would not have to do very much. So after hearing this I said, “Sure why not.”.
By Popcornalot Pop5 years ago in Motivation
Finding Unexpected Joy In LockDown
Have you ever noticed those people who always seem happy? Not the annoyingly, boisterous, temporary happy, but the quietly, peaceful and contented people that have an illusive and contagious joy emanating from them. (I’m talking about the ones you gravitate to and just want to be in their presence, not the ones you want to punch.)
By Maria Calderoni5 years ago in Motivation
A Hand Full of Dreams
Fear and excitement grip my heart. I am not a writer by nature or by training. I tell my stories in individual experiences, in five senses, in three dimensions, using space as the platform. I am excited to push my boundaries, using Vocal to advocate for myself as an artist, a man, a warrior in the battle of love against fear. I’m grateful for this opportunity to reflect on the ways I’m creating my own happiness, and to rejoice in my newfound journey of curiosity and joy. I am Anthony Giannetti (he/him), and I am ready to share my dream of bringing people wonderous spaces that cultivate genuine connection.
By Anthony Giannetti5 years ago in Motivation
Weaving Hands and Hearts
Growing up, I was connected and supported. I had a community, several actually. They taught me to share and reach out. I am a small town woman and as such, did a lot of activities. In small towns we wear all the hats and do all the things. We were the soccer team, the cross country team, actually most of us were on nearly all the teams, we played in the band, sang in chorus and were in our respective denominational church groups. My friends and I were intertwined in many circles and it was so good and- 'normal'. When I went to college and became a grown up (whatever that means) I realized that my childhood experiences weren’t actually so normal. Many people are not connected, supported or have someone to call when times are tough, if there’s special and exciting news to share or a random, weird Tuesday that needs to be discussed and processed aloud, with a friend. When it occurred to me just how many issues that disconnect could do to people, I was beyond frustrated. Supporting children, elderly, those with mental illness and anyone feeling lonely in their life is important to me and should be important to all of us. I am a fiery and passionate person, so when there is frustration, that fire is lit to do something. I am an educator, artist and changemaker. I naturally see patterns of connectivity and seek to grow that. This realization and that spark was my initiation into becoming more of what I am meant to be. A connector, an instigator, a deviant thinking artist who forges ahead with scissors and paintbrush in hand and a troupe of friends and family beside me. Each one carries their own creative dreams and materials for systemic change too. We always seem to start with conversation and the basics and end with something miraculous and unique and stories to remember.
By Cary A. Thrall5 years ago in Motivation
Create Your Happiness
It was the beginning of CORVD-19 Pandemic when I discovered the joy and art of making wreaths. It is very therapeutic. It can also be helpful in calming the mind, overcoming anxiety, and just being at peace. Yes, making wreaths became my special time my happiness.
By Queen Bea5 years ago in Motivation
Every Twist
My hands started a journey that occurs every time an artist attempts to make the world see the vision of beauty held within the confines of their mind. The art which seems abstract to the world tells a message born from the soul. That message may allude the average mind, but the beauty that lives forever in your heart is knowing your project did not exist before the moment of its creation. For me, this was not the first Volkswagen buggy I have created from pipe cleaners, but with time, I forgot why my first buggy meant so much to me. How many times have you felt alone? How many times have you felt like a failure? How many times have you attempted to bring a dream to life that does not exist? These are questions that live in people every day.
By sweluni polumi5 years ago in Motivation
A ( Not So Timely) Reminder
I was sick... SICK. 102.4 °F. Excuse me....girl, what? “My thermometer is broken”, I thought. Cus Kaye doesn’t get sick so this must be a glitch in the simulation. Not this piss poor timing. See I had it all planned out. I read articles on how to win a Vocal contest, I mapped out my story, and I even perused previous winners for inspiration. And here I am at 9:07 PM on Friday June 11, 2021, typing this shit out now. Is there an award for procrastination because in this essay I will...
By Kaye Thompson5 years ago in Motivation
