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Posts tagged ‘Happiness’

Mar 3

Dig In, Delight

“The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.”― Isaac Asimov

“Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.”― W. Somerset Maugham

Delight. Delight. Delight.
Emphasis. Steadfast. Keen.
Found in play, lightness.
Hidden in the bucket of ordinary days.
In finding out, discovery, unfolding.
Sacred, holy ground of frolic and fun.
Seed. Root. Bloom.

“Happiness isn’t reserved for privileged individuals. It is a state of mind that can neither be bought nor stolen nor traded; it is a liberty available to anyone.”― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway

“The dog is the god of frolic.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Feb 18

If I Could, Yes You Can

“So plant your own gardens and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”― Jorge Luis Borge

“If I could live again my life,
In the next – I’ll try,
– to make more mistakes,
I won’t try to be so perfect,
I’ll be more relaxed,
I’ll be more full – than I am now,
In fact, I’ll take fewer things seriously,
I’ll be less hygienic,
I’ll take more risks,
I’ll take more trips,
I’ll watch more sunsets,
I’ll climb more mountains,
I’ll swim more rivers,
I’ll go to more places – I’ve never been,
I’ll eat more ice creams and less lima beans,
I’ll have more real problems – and less imaginary ones,
I was one of those people who live
prudent and prolific lives –
each minute of his life,
Of course that I had moments of joy – but,
if I could go back I’ll try to have only good moments,

If you don’t know – that’s what life is made of,
Don’t lose the now!

I was one of those who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer,
without a hot-water bottle,
and without an umbrella and without a parachute.

If I could live again – I will travel light,
If I could live again – I’ll try to work bare feet
at the beginning of spring till the end of autumn,
I’ll ride more carts,
I’ll watch more sunrises and play with more children.”― Jorge Luis Borges

Don’t wait or delay living.
Live fully today.
Make decisions and daily choices that serve joy, feed gratitude, foster awe.
Travel light, use all of the crayons in the box, delight in this day.

Feb 1

The Wonderful Things

“What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this would be like without dogs?”― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs: Poems

“Or maybe it’s about the wonderful things that may happen if you break the ropes that are holding you.”― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

Look, look again.
See what is before you.
Pull it to the forefront.
Main stage.
Sweep aside somedays, perfection, shoulds, weren’ts, messy, busy.
The ropes that hold you.
Wonderful things in reach, in view, in abundance.
Woven in the ordinary, daily, presence.
Gratitude bears joy, delight and contentment.
Smiles. Laughter. Light.
Let them in.
Wonderful things off leash.

“Come with me into the woods where spring is
advancing, as it does, no matter what,
not being singular or particular, but one
of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.”
― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs: Poems

“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.” – William Hazlitt

Jan 12

The Gift of Listening

“Look for happiness under your own roof.”― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

“…good listeners have a humble perspective. Humility in listening means that we let go of preconceived opinions, we let go of the need to be right, we let go of our own insecurities, and we let go of the need to appear wise, good or spiritual. In short, we let go of ourselves in order to be present to the other. This is a high calling and a commitment we will need to return to again and again.”― Alice Fryling, Seeking God Together

The gift of listening.
Really listening not merely waiting to respond.
To be right.
To pronounce your opinions and return to your corner of the ring.
Asking, asking again and waiting.
Allowing space and silence for understanding to unravel through conversation, connection.
An exchange, a dance.
Life is rich and meaningful in relationships.
In moving from self, self-absorption, ego into engaging with the souls among us longing to be seen, heard, and accepted.
There is happiness, not perfection, under our own roof.
Start with empathy, kindness, compassion.
To really understand the heart of another, and of self as well.
The task of today, of a lifetime.

“We do know that no one gets wise enough to really understand the heart of another, though it is the task of our life to try.”― Louise Erdrich, The Bingo Palace

Dec 14

A Splash or More

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”― Martin Buber

“so long as you don’t mind
a little dying, how could there be a day in your whole life
that doesn’t have its splash of happiness?”― Mary Oliver, House of Light

Drop
Splash
Wave
Of happiness, joy, laughter, peace, gratitude, resilience, wholeness
In each day, moments that make up life
Someday is today
Be present while in it
No do-overs.

“The wholeness we seek lives here, with and within us, now, in reality.”― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Life Lessons

Oct 27

Go Astray

“I need to be silent for a while, worlds are forming in my heart.”― Meister Eckhart

“Wisdom consists in doing the next thing you have to do, doing it with your whole heart, and finding delight in doing it.”― Meister Eckhart

The path is rarely straight and smooth.
Take the detours.
Pull off to rest areas.
Go off trail.
Follow the winding road.
Pump the brakes.
Enjoy the scenery.
We arrive eventually.
And then start again and again, always from a new place.
Don’t miss the beauty, joy and delight of the journey focused only on the destination.
Go astray.
You are not lost, you are on the way.

“We rarely find people who achieve great things without first going astray.”― Meister Eckhart

Aug 22

Joy Coach

“Today is gone. Today was fun.
Tomorrow is another one.
Every day,
from here to there,
funny things are everywhere.”
― Dr. Seuss

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Children remind us how to find joy daily.
The ordinary made extraordinary.
Imagination.
Play.
Fun.
Exploration and discovery.
Eyes wide open.
May we connect with our own inner child and invite them out to play often.
To lighten up and delight in this day.
Happy 7th Birthday to one of the best humans I know – Liam!

“You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Jun 23

To Marvel At

“The real treasure offered by mindfulness—its most amazing gift—is that mindfulness provides us with the opportunity to respond rather than simply react.”― Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

“Rather than wandering around in problem-solving mode all day, thinking mainly of what you want to fix about yourself or your life, you can pause for a few moments throughout the day to marvel at what’s not broken.”― Kristin Neff, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

Be where you are at now, completely.
With a full view, not merely a crack.
Marvel at what’s not broken.
Savor goodness.
Drink in beauty.
Respond rather than react.
Nothing to fix.
Always arriving and unfolding.
Enjoy this day, who you are, invite others in too.

“Happiness is not dependent on circumstances being exactly as we want them to be, or on ourselves being exactly as we’d like to be. Rather, happiness stems from loving ourselves and our lives exactly as they are, knowing that joy and pain, strength and weakness, glory and failure are all essential to the full human experience.”― Kristin Neff

May 22

Laden with Lilacs

“The lilac branches are bowed under the weight of the flowers: blooming is hard, and the most important thing is – to bloom.― Yevgeny Zamyatin, “A Story About The Most Important Thing”

“Spring as always was in full bloom, the breeze laden with lilac, the brush flanking the path rustling with life.”― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

What lilacs lack in length, they make up in fragrance, in presence.
Bursting for only a short time but worth it.
Depth rather than length.
Brevity, reminding us to appreciate what and who we have while we do.
People. Places. Seasons.
Awake. Blooming. Life.
Notice, hold, be held.
While in it.
Gratitude over griping.
Beauty overflowing.

“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.”― Seneca

May 13

In a New Way

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“i do not wish
to change the past
it made me
who i am today
i only want
to learn from it
and live in a new way”
― yung pueblo, Inward

Circling the same mountains.
Doing the same things, getting the same results.
When the horse is dead, dismount.
Pick new mountains to climb, not circle.
Do new things.
Keep going.
Live well in a new way.
Color. Beauty. Bloom.
Seasons. Cycles. Transformation.

“Become who you want to be while you can enjoy it. Don’t put off doing the work of becoming who you want to be. Waiting will not make it easier, and time is short.”― Kerry Egan, On Living

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