happiness
Happiness, defined; things that help you find happiness, keep it, and share it with others.
I Feel, Therefore I Am
When we are born into this world the planets take their positions in the sky, having a particular configuration which is unique to the individual in their specific location. Each planet has a different archetypal energy and they interact with each other according to their alignment at the time. These ingredients make up our natal chart, a cosmic recipe, with our own unique flavours.
By Sharon Savage5 years ago in Motivation
Magical Mailman
It is seven in the morning when I open my eyes. I am feeling the grogginess of yet another restless night. It has been weeks since I last brushed my hair or decided to put any effort into my appearance. I desperately need a shower to refresh myself. But what is the point? This is just another meaningless day where I get to realize even more how far I’ve hit rock bottom. Ugh. Coffee. Coffee will be the perfect bandaid to my sorrow this morning.
By Amalie KS5 years ago in Motivation
Permission to dream
She thought Ramona was a piece of work. Everything about her paternal grandmother was a mystery to her. She seemed to hold the weight of a thousand worlds on her shoulders, and was never happy. And yet, there was a certain vulnerability about her that Amelia could not deny - and made her embrace her regardless of that lady's frown. She was bold and strong, like a written word that was here to stay. And contrary to what one might assume, Ramona was also afraid of her own shadow. Superstition and old town tales had forged a spirit of fear in her, and at 78 she was a walking, talking, shaky tree whose roots were old enough to succumb to the test of time, but whose determination to survive - regardless of any weather conditions - was keeping her alive and well beyond her natural years - even though she kept waiting for the worse to happen. Quite the character.
By Esther Berlanga5 years ago in Motivation
A Notebook Can Change Your Life
The book was out of place. It was in the middle of the bright green grass. Alyssa felt like it was a reflection of who she was. Her black flyaway hair and green eyes drew her to the spot. She stood over the book examining it. The thin spine and the unassuming look of the book made her want to open it. She looked around to see if anyone was paying attention.
By Amber LeBlanc 5 years ago in Motivation
"Something in the Snow"
I’ve just arrived home, its 6:30pm and as I open my front door to be greeted excitedly by my dog it suddenly dawns on me; I’ve forgotten to get the dogfood when I got off the bus at the shops before walking home. Bugger. I quickly put my work bag down, putting my wallet, phone and keys in my big fluffy fur coat pockets and head back out the door. The shops is only a five minute stroll through the main park from my apartment, however it’s a cold winters night in Victoria, Australia so my five minute stroll has now turned into a ten minute trek through the snow.
By CharM5 years ago in Motivation
Score Card
PRAYING for the day that I can get off these streets, dreaming of lying my head on a soft and fluffy pillow, with my body lying betwixt some good-smelling sheets. That's a dream that I would like to come true. I went past my spot and grabbed a bag of clean clothes so I can go past Miss Ida's house to see if she'll let me take care of my hygiene. "Hey, Logic. How is the best dressed homeless lady tonight"? questioned the young man. "Wonderful as always, young man," I replied. "Cmon Logic. Where do you live? You can't be homeless," the young man earnestly inquired. "Young man, in the wisdom of my years, would I make light of my pending circumstances"? I responded. I left him there pondering what I said and headed to Miss Ida's house. "Hey, babe, you just getting off work? the guy said. "Yeah, Skeeter, going to take care of my hygiene, a task you need to do, man," I suggested. "Now you know Logic; I ain't going nowhere. These streets got me, been out here too long. Not like you. No, you got smarts. You are only out here temporary. Babe, you got a couple of bucks"? Skeeter asked. Taking five dollars out of my pocket, I handed it to Skeeter, "And when I go, if you straighten up, I'll take you with me, later, man." I encouraged walking off. I needed to stop at the store to get a couple of things for my hygiene encounter. Before I went into the store, this young lady grabbed me by my arm, "Hey, Logic, can I talk to you for a minute" she begged. "Sweetpea, yes, give me a minute need to run into this store right quick," I answered. While in line, "Miss Logic, why do you talk to people like her"? the clerk asked, turning her nose up. "I use to think that a few years ago. That all homeless people were drug addicts, worthless people that don't pay their bills. But, I am she, and she is me. That is my outlook on it today. Thank you, sweety, you have a good night." I replied, leaving the store. "Sweetpea, you look a mess. You told me you were going to clean up with that money I gave you. Baby, I knew you were going to get high too, but you promised me you would tend to your hygiene," I scolded her. She went to give me an excuse, but I waved it off. I had a ten in my hand, "Sweetpea, I can't take you with me in this condition. I shouldn't give you this money either, because I'm scared the next time I see you may be in a box. I love you, boo. Gotta go." I said, handing her the money.
By Kandance Ferrari5 years ago in Motivation
The Lion's Share
I’ve wanted to be a Leo for as long as I can remember. Who wouldn’t want to be a natural born leader with a passionate, generous, and cheerful personality? I would give anything to be confident and attractive. Oh the things I could accomplish if I were able to unite and lead people for a shared cause! If only I were a Leo…
By Linda M5 years ago in Motivation
Jamie's Tale
Rehab Aftermath: How to Maintain Drug-Free? I scoff and clench the pamphlet in my fist, feeling the sharp edges poke my palm. I close my eyes. Just a few more minutes until I’m out of here. My body longs for something to relax, to escape. I shove the thought out of my head. That thought is exactly what lead me to drugs. It was just my luck that the day I’m being driven to a sober living group home, there is traffic. I fight the urge to cringe at the car horns blasting on my left and the motorcycles whizzing by on my right.
By Lyn Morgan 5 years ago in Motivation
While Waiting
While waiting by Dorota De Cruz Her steps appeared less graceful for the first time in her life; this time heavier, almost as if they were taken in slow motion. Her legs suddenly felt too heavy to move in her usual swift manner. All the burdens of her past and her present wrapped themselves around her legs like thick tree vines, and today, the knots that formed and held her energy captive for so long felt even tighter. Each minute becoming more mundane than the last. Adding “unemployed” to her already dreary status of fifty-five and divorced was not part of her life itinerary that she had imagined so vividly. She never feared failure until now, when it suddenly felt too close and too real. Alas, a park bench appeared even closer than she could even dream of. Despite the still damp coating of fall leaves that covered most of it, she fell onto them with no hesitation, leaned back, closed her eyes, and took the deepest breath she has ever taken. Her entire being was trying to catch all the delicate autumn sun rays as if they were the ingredients to her dreams that were yet to come true. These tiny joyous snippets of what she could still become were overpowered by reminders of her current reality. They say life flashes before your eyes during a near death experience. She was waiting. Suddenly, she hears a series of knocks coming from right beside her. Not those of a woodpecker on a tree, but as if they were coming from an ancient wooden door nearby. “Knock, Knock,” says a voice from underneath the bench. “Who’s there?” she then comically replied. “It’s me, over here. I’m just a little, black notebook.” The woman uncertain of whether she was hallucinating, or she was in fact hearing a voice introducing themselves as a notebook, slowly raised herself up from a leaning position and started to look around. With a little help from the wind blowing away some leaves from underneath the bench and the sun shedding some light through the slats she was finally able to see whom, or rather what was behind the stoic voice and the knocking she heard. Still in disbelief of what she might have heard, she picked the notebook up and wiped the dark cover of dirt and debris. “Don’t be afraid, open me,” it said. She couldn’t help but to be just that, a little frightened. She stood up and threw the little black book on top of the bench, “Am I going crazy?” she thought to herself. Yet with a feeling of nothing to lose and a bit of curiosity, she picked it up again, hands shaking with uncertainty, and opened it only to see slightly yellow, aged and empty pages of nothing. “Would you fill my pages out? Can you make them less empty?” it asked. He explained to the woman that if she succeeds at filling out all the pages with anything she chooses to in three days and returns it back to the exact same place, something extraordinary and unexpected will come her way. In the most mysterious and magical way the notebook closed itself, still in her hands and became silent. She asked herself one question, “What am I waiting for?” and left. The blank pages did not remain blank for long. She held her pen confidently, as if she has done this many times before. Not really knowing where to start, she quickly came to a realization that the most rational place to start would be the very beginning. The first several pages she filled were about her life long desires. Her deepest desire was the one for love. All she ever wished for is for someone to love, and that someone to love her back. The pages that followed were filled with her worries and fears; the worry of love not coming her way, the fear of growing old without someone to share all the things she was writing down. Her daydreams of having someone so close to her brought her comfort throughout the years. She always believed this someone would come one day and witness every one of her wrinkles form on her face. On the last day, on the last page, with no doubts, and a big smile on her face she wrote, “to be continued…” The rain was heavy on the third day, and the winds were strong. As she walked out of her apartment trying to shield herself from the harsh air with her big, yellow umbrella, she pressed the little black book to her chest as if it was a newborn child, protecting it with her life. When she finally arrived at the park there was no other soul in sight. She felt rushed by the gusts of wind, so she quickly left the book underneath and covered it with some wet, sticky leaves to protect it. She stood there and looked around for another couple of minutes while the wind and rain was getting even more unpleasant, hoping to maybe hear from her unusual friend again. Disappointed, she felt as if she was walking away from her destiny. Feeling let down and rushed by the weather, she walked back home. Her eyes struggled to stay open from the exhaustion, so she dropped her raincoat and the umbrella on the floor and fell into a deep sleep. The very next morning started with a sun ray peeking through one of the blinds that just happened to rest delicately on her cheek. It’s warmth felt like a hug, which instantly woke her up. To her surprise, her body felt free of yesterday’s troubles when she stood up. As she made her way to the bathroom she suddenly stepped into a puddle of water that was left behind by the already dry but still open umbrella. Something stuck to its yellow fabric made it look as if it was smiling at her. She smiled back. When she pulled off what appeared to be a piece of paper, which she was about to toss in the trash, but suddenly, to her surprise realized it was yesterday’s lottery ticket. With much enthusiasm, she logged on to check the numbers. “Ahh, I won! I can’t believe it! I won! I never win anything!” she screamed. She just won $20,000 thanks to someone losing their ticket. Still dancing in the puddle of water, she realized that what happened wasn’t just luck, and that it might’ve had something to do with the notebook. Without any hesitation or coffee, she quickly got dressed and ran out to go find the book to express her gratitude. On her way to the park she realized that she forgot her coat, but her immense joy kept her from feeling any discomfort in the cold. At that moment it was impossible to put her smile to rest. The energy shift in her life was visible enough for everyone to see. She said hello and smiled at everyone who was lucky enough to cross her path, the path to the same bench that brought her so much good fortune this morning. Everything around her was lit up by the day’s sun with not one cloud in sight. When she finally arrived at the park she saw that her bench welcomed another visitor. A man sitting with his leg crossed at his ankle resting against his other knee on which upon laid a little black book. He was reading it and it looked as if he was almost done. As she walked up to get closer she noticed he was not only handsome but very much intrigued by what he was reading. “Did it speak to you too?” she asked the stranger. He smiled and replied, “Yes it did. There is some good stuff in here. Too bad we don’t know who the author is.” “You really liked it?” she asked, looking for reassurance. His eyes were honest and made her feel safe and comfortable enough to ask him, “Did you have a coffee yet?” The two strangers agreed to grab some at the nearest café where they took a table in its front window overlooking the Park Street. The traffic of people and the surrounding noise was somehow muted. There were no awkward pauses or judgmental stares in their conversation. Instead, just a simple feeling of “right at home” that consumed them both mutually. And in between them there were no boundaries or limits, just a little black book resting on the table next to two coffees. At that moment he knew he had to ask. “So what will happen next?” As they exchanged smiles, in admiration of one another, she gracefully closed the book and replied, “Don’t wait for it, it will come.”
By Dorota De Cruz5 years ago in Motivation
The Little Black Book
Jarica popped up from her towel to head to the restroom. The beach was closing up for the day and she was amazed to see how much garbage was left from the patrons over the past few hours. Beaches seemed less crowded in the pandemic, but as her traveling companions noted: "Humans are still the worst."
By Sarah Rogers5 years ago in Motivation
Pigeon Park
The night was not hot or humid. It's March, and it's not even night. It's a mild and foggy morning. Saturday morning, in fact, and Lorena finds herself sitting on a park bench picking crumbs off her itchy sweater and feeding them to the pigeons that are bobbing their heads around her feet. A slight sigh drains out of her. She thinks about Pidgeon's and how they are not asking for much. They have their mediocre suits on, on a mediocre morning eating mediocre crumbs. The Pidgeon's are okay with this, and she wonders if she is a pigeon in life. Maybe. If she suddenly turned into a Pidgeon, she was dressed for it.
By L. Young5 years ago in Motivation
