happiness
Happiness, defined; things that help you find happiness, keep it, and share it with others.
Gifting the gifter
This started out as a creative yet obligatory gift to a new friend that gifted me an axolotl bag. I have been in an artistic slump for months now. I had inspired to start painting on a regular basis with my new job that afforded me several days off with the same amount of pay that my previous employment had but alas, 2020... need I really say more? Probably not but in good humor I will inform you that my children have been home since October and the necessary space one (or I) needs to create in has not been available. Mind you I’m talking about head space but that’s a conversation for another time. So absolutly no painting has been happening until now. I had no gift for this new friend, nothing that I thought was cool and personal enough to equal the thoughtful gift she had presented me. I knew her general likes, and with those in mind I set to creating this painting. I am always incrediably nervous when presenting my art to anyone, even as a gift it causes me to be a bundle of nerves. This painting was no different yet I started and finished it in one day. The next day I delivered the gift to her while she was at work. She seemed happy about it but I had to leave in a rush since I was out running errands with my 11 yr old. We didn’t get the chance to talk much before or after the exchange so I found myself wondering if she really liked it or if she was just being polite. Then a few hours later I received this text “ So listen....you were the only person to give me a gift this year....just wanted to say thank you again. So... Thank you!!!” It’s in moments like this that I am reminded that a small act can truly make all the difference to someone else. I never imagined that my gift would be her only one. Now I am glad that I did something unique to her style and used her favourite colors because my unintended good deed but intentional gift made her feel important and loved. The good deed part wasn’t apparent till after the text, before it was giving because I had been gifted. Afterwards the good deed was clear, I had thought of her. Good deeds do not have to be grand gestures or sacrifices, they can be as simple as thinking of another person.
By Crystal Hollembaek5 years ago in Motivation
Four Ways to Increase Your Happiness Quotient
I used to have mild anxiety due to negative thinking, a general sense of unhappiness and worry over the future. An oppressive negative mindset was my go-to until one day I was just so sick of myself I decided to do things differently.
By Jessica Lynn5 years ago in Motivation
Fun to Bring in 2021
Now, I know that the arbitrary tick of the clock that will change 2020 to 2021 will not solve all our problems. The emotional and financial devastation will have a lasting impact, but this can still be a cause for celebration. I don't know a single person who isn't ready to put 2020 behind them, so why not send it out doing something you love?
By Nicole "ChaseThePen" Sanchez5 years ago in Motivation
Loving myself!
As a young woman, I had too learn how too love myself. I am 27 years old, at a young age I was LOST and didn’t know exactly where I was going in life. After going through so much, I ended up having my first child at the age of 26. I am a single mother, and my child is the love the of my life. Having him taught me so much, it taught me that I couldn’t keep giving up in life, he taught me that I have too strive for GREATNESS in life. Even when things in my life are falling apart, I have too keep going for him. There are times where I look back on my life and tears begin to fall because I never thought in my life that I would be where I am today. As young a woman, we have too learn to put ourself first and actually love us for who we are, because, if we don’t love ourself how can we allow someone else too love us. Actually they can’t, because we don’t know how too love. From my experiences in life, it taught me too value the small things in life and believe in myself and the unpredictable things in life! I use to wonder will I ever learn how too love? Will I ever find myself ?? All the answers I never got. I had too step out my comfort zone and actually do some soul searching.
By Lecretia Wilbon5 years ago in Motivation
Small Space Garden
There is something so beautiful about a garden. Whether it is a garden of flowers intentional for beauty or a garden that is beautiful that will eventually produce food. Have you ever looked outside at the beauty of nature and just had your breath taken away? How beautiful the leaves on trees look swaying in the wind, how the sunlight just seems to dance off the leaves of plants while butterflies and bees bounce on top the branches pollinating them. In the morning , as the sun comes up, I love to just look out and see the dew shining like diamonds on the plants as the sunlight begins to touch it, I love to see how alive everything looks, ready for the day ahead, the flowers open up and the plants begin reaching for the sun as the night turns to day. When I began my journey to grow my own food, it was very much powered by the drive to eat food that tasted the way it should. If you have ever grown your own food you will know what I am talking about. The store bought fruits and vegetables not only provide less nutrients and unknown chemicals or pesticides but they also provide much less flavor. In the beginning of this journey, I also wanted beauty in my small urban yard. I needed to be able to trust that what I was eating was not hindered in anyway with growth hormones or harmful pesticides. I knew I could achieve all those things by growing it myself. What I did not expect was to gain healing. I am sure many of you have heard of gardening being a way to mend anxiety and depression, as did I, but did any of you believe it? I sure didn't. When you battle anxiety and depression on a day to day balance it is hard to believe anything that is going to require so much of your time and energy could do anything but cause more anxiety and in turn more depression. Waking up is a task all on its own, making yourself go to work, or to the store or even to visit a friend or family member is so grueling, so how could adding more responsibility not do more harm then good? While I have no idea how it did it, I can stand to testify that it certainly did more good than harm. And yes, it is not a miracle answer and it may not help everyone, and I definitely had and still have days where I am bogged down by the depression and anxiety and unable to get out to the garden. However, for the most part, having this garden has provided me something to look forward to, something to bring a smile to my face when it seems impossible, something to focus on when my anxiety is doing its very best to make me focus on all that is wrong around me. A quiet place to go, free of judgment and free of pain.
By Michelle Paiva5 years ago in Motivation
The year that feels like a decade
I listed events (Kobe Bryant’s passing, invasion of the locus, & water discovered on the moon) that have happened so far this year, 2020. As we all know, this list is strange, long, and affects everybody, everywhere. I watched local and national news, read up on current events & watched news broadcasts from around the world on YouTube about the events of 2020. Personally, I can not put a list together to demonstrate this year’s overall POWER & UMPHFFF in kicking most of our butt’s. Because I feel overwhelmed by this past year, I decided to find 3 blessings. Surely, I can find 3 positive contributions to the year, right? Of course, I can!
By Amanda Jones5 years ago in Motivation
Continuing the Journey to Positive Change
Welcome back. Congratulations! You are making a conscientious choice to change yourself. We sometimes forget that we are not required to continue on in the status quo; so many people never even attempt change because they don’t believe that it is possible. You on the other hand have stepped out of the paradigm and have realized that you are not stuck. You are awakening and know that if anything is going to happen it is your responsibility to create it.
By Leah Cox5 years ago in Motivation
ONDA SKATEBOARDS
We have all had one crazy year, that’s for sure. I personally witnessed my business revenue collapse as a direct result of COVID-19. I found myself lost and depressed and I would like to share how I managed to climb out of this temporary rut.
By ONDA SKATEBOARDS5 years ago in Motivation
