happiness
Happiness, defined; things that help you find happiness, keep it, and share it with others.
MANIFESTATION
I have never been much of a city lover. If anything, I actually feel dirty when I am in a city. Even though, I live off-grid on 10 acres abundant with red clay that has taken up real estate on everything I own. I still feel dirtier in a city. I am an earth sign through and through; a good ol’ cappy.
By Biscuit5 years ago in Motivation
Hundreds of hanging cornflowers
Creating with nature expands my horizons. It allows freshness, calm and tranquillity to enter my mind. I work frontline in the National Health Service, and this creativity brings me stillness, positivity, and my being to be refined. I go outside to explore the seasons and bring fragments of nature back inside. I draw parallels from the changing environment around me, and the wisdom it can unearth. I gather and arrange the flowers of the age, and twist cut string and fabric to create new displays. I learn from the seasons and am led by this routine. Whether it is Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter, I dance in the season’s wake. I gather cherry blossoms and bind them with jute. They may need breaking, and they take on this different form with unseen roots. I hang dried flowers with bendable wire. I make garlands from them and chain them together. They fit together like they have always belonged and take up their post in the mix of it all. I collect red, golden leaves and hang them from string. They are poised for action and speak of the need to seek clarity, from the depths of my core. I dry sweet orange slices and tie sticks of cinnamon within. I take in the fragrant smells and their delicious delight. I return to the warmth and their nourishing effect. I lay down on the earth and take some rest. I emerge and am refreshed and have a spring in my step. I relish the time to return to my craft, and treasured moments are made with this passion for life. I unpack a box of cornflowers and a new song is birthed. I snip and cut the thin copper wire, and carefully tie it around the flower so bright. I observe the petals so intricate in design. I see the light bounce off and flicker and glide. The buds no longer connected to the earth, are still alive and vibrant as my hands get to work. The cornflowers tied, the lengths never ending, they curl around and end in a twirl. As they hang from the wall, ceiling, or frame, I rock and swing to the unique story they must tell. They sing of their journey from seed to full flower, and how they sway and are merry with the sun’s heat and power. They are cherished by all and grow tall and strong. Then they are gone and whisked away from it all. They tell me how their song does not die, it is in the whisper of the wind, and they are very much alive. They enjoy being displayed in all their creative shades. They encourage me to venture and make use of their life. The option of this craft is endless and inspiring. As one dance ends another can begin. New versions of this colourful cornflower collection are being moulded in time. I create cornflower stems from green hard wire, and I cut the desired length with scissors and attach them to the bud with pliers. I bunch stems together and tie them with ribbon or lace. From the depth of their essence a kaleidoscope of pattern flows, and I feel embraced. From silence and drought new life is brought forth. I see the beauty and fruit of my hard work. Crafting with the seasons teaches me much. I see that each time has a meaning and needs to be nurtured. How soothing it is to look at my cornflower creations, a hanging banner of hope, love, and light. My hands rest from this rewarding activity, I clear up, sit back and am at peace with what may come next.
By Haseena5 years ago in Motivation
The Brightside
If someone were to ask me, out of everything I have been through in my nineteen years of life, what the most damaging thing was, I honestly don’t know which event I’d tell them about. But what I can tell you, is that I came out of everything as a very strong and beautiful person. I not only use the skills I’ve learned to continue to help myself, but I use them, along with my great personal traits of compassion and understanding, to help everyone I meet in life who needs some help in their own personal journey of healing. I have grown, after my spiritual awakening last August, to have this amazing mindset and outlook on the world. I am a very spiritual person and I have learned to deeply connect with the planet and therefore myself.
By lilly jimenez5 years ago in Motivation
We’re Only Guaranteed Today, So Stop Waiting for Tomorrow
If your permanent expiration tomorrow, was that the way you would like to use it? Listen, the truth is, nothing is guaranteed. He knows that better than anyone else. So do not be afraid. Live. ”~ Sarah Dessen
By Samyog kandel5 years ago in Motivation
Why Happiness Means Letting Go of the Life You Imagined
"Happiness releases what you think your life should look like and celebrates it with all that it is." ~ Mandy Hale As a child, you think (with great pleasure!) The life you are determined to have as you grow older.
By S.K5 years ago in Motivation
"What Do You Want To Be?"
“What do you want to be?” Is a question we are asked frequently as children. The response is typically a teacher, a police officer, or a firefighter. These are innocent responses as children but as we grow and experience life and what many feel as a calling, I would call a spark. I can't recollect any time when I was a small child when you would hear anyone respond that they wanted to be a painter, seamstress, or sculptor. Not knowing that it was possible to become those things always kept me confined to a box where I felt my art was trapped dimming the spark from within. My calling to art was something I hid from others for years in order to stray from being looked down upon. Living in a community where higher education came first made me feel that I would be choosing to be the wrong calling.
By Sabriyah Davis5 years ago in Motivation
Quilting
My love of quilting started in high school. How could I have known that a transfer student from Colorado would change my life forever? He was tall, cute, soft spoken and I was instantly ‘in crush’. I worshiped him and I honestly can’t remember how I found out that his mother was an expert quilter - a great reason to spend countless hours at his house.
By Linda Hall5 years ago in Motivation
Fuck It Switch
What is holding us back? Everyone understands what this is correct? That thing inside of us. That inner dialogue/little voice in our heads. That switch we're afraid to turn on but will ultimately help us grow for the better. Every human being has one and majority of us are too pussy to flick it on.
By Ace Howell5 years ago in Motivation
The Happiness Formula!
What is happiness? Happiness is a state of being. It is not an emotion. How do I become happy? Many people think that if they have money, power, pleasure, and fame, they will be happy. Not so at all. The lack of money will make you unhappy, especially if you need to choose between food or paying the utilities. But if you have a decent income and you don’t have to track every single cent, you can be happy. If you can cover your rent or mortgage, pay for food and clothes, have essential necessities (BTW, the latest Apple phone is not one of them), and have, say, an extra 20% to spend on what you want, you can be happy.
By Sylvie Gagné5 years ago in Motivation
Peaceful Plushies
Hi my name is Natasha Dejesus, a lot of my friends call me by my nickname "Nate". It has given me great comfort over the years. I am a 21 year old animation student. I am currently enrolled in the "Magic" program at Miami Dade college. I am super close to finally reaching my associates degree so I may begin my Bachelors. One of the reasons I do art is to inspire and bring upon happier times, we all have our share of ups and downs and art is the best way to express all those things in a lighter way. These handmade plushies have been a passion project of mine for the past few months. My grandma recently living with us during covid was a big change for me. I learned a lot about my self through this solitude moment of time with family. Id love to tell you a little bit on how It started. My dog foxy was a pup and had a thing for destroying pillows. He just loved the feathers inside a bit too much. Foxy was my dog so it is my responsibility to fix his so called damage. Believe it or not, sewing that pillow was a life changer from that moment on. I had a thought. "What if i made my own stuff?" Id always idolize and fall in love with high quality stuffed animals. Stuffed animals had always been given to me during rough times in my life. When ever I received one I would light up.That is when it hit me, I wanted to see how crazy I could make these stuffed creatures of my own design. They could bring others joy like they brought me joy countless times throughout my youth. These plushies have been helping me throughout quarantine by making the best out of my time. Quarantine has been a blessing and a curse for me. Such a change for a 21 year old that used to go out all the time. A great change. It takes months to weeks sometimes to find the perfect fabric. Corona has really impacted the scarcity of fabric choices. It is frustrating at times but it is always worth it at the end. Sewing has helped me think better and relax. I search through the internet and branch out to friends each time I start a new project. The opinions of my loved ones are most important to me! Its never a dull moment during projects. All my animals make sewing an adventure. Their is always someone sitting on my fabric. My black cat rescue scourge is usually the culprit. He has to spot check every fabric. Scourge is my project tester sometimes as well. He has always been there for me so showing him my creations always receives a meow or two. I usually start off with a couple drawings, a whole bunch of paper, and my favorite pair of scissors to create a paper replica first. These replicas made from paper usually take me days but they are the most important part in the plushie process for me. The paper replicas help me stylize the design and plan further. I take the paper replica apart cutting where I want the seems to be and copy it onto minky fabric. This is when I hand sew everything making them look unique. I usually use a blanket or a ladder stitch for all my designs. Music and art has been my main inspiration, I can always find the perfect song to help me power through hour five of hand sewing! Five hours of hand sewing may sound like a tough time but when you enjoy your creation it is but a simple repetitive job. Recently I've opened customs to save up for a sewing machine so I can see my plushie quality improve. Plushie making has been the best break towards my animation college I could have asked for. I get inspired from the sock or joy others give me when I show them a finished product. It never ceases to help me stay calm and collected. I hope this contest can bring to light some talented and heartfelt artists.
By Natasha5 years ago in Motivation
