Finding Happiness

Penny Yaffe Krakow

New Mantra

Joshua Becker via becomingminimalist

Two years ago now, I made a donation to the Veterans Thrift Store in Fort Smith at least once a month, every month, in an effort to declutter our home. I made a lot of progress, but I’m trying to get started again.

This month so far we have made one donation – a whole bunch of glasses – glass and plastic – that were cluttering up our kitchen cabinets and pantry. I was truly amazed when my husband brought a 5 foot long box in from the shop to use. I was amazed when we filled it almost to overflowing!  We added a trash bag with an old crock pot and an old juicer, and that it was the first donation.

I’m going to continue in the kitchen/pantry/dining area for now. Since we are eating keto now, I’ve changed the way I’m cooking. I’m going to reorganize, so that the things I use the most often are in the prime storage spaces – or, at least, that’s the PLAN. :0)

It feels good to gather things others can use and donate them.

This year I’m not going to try for any particular number of donations. I just want to make steady progress in my effort to only have things around that I use and enjoy.

 

Today – and EVERY Day…

Slice of Life

Just Dance

The Enchanted Portal

I love this.

Last year at some point I decided to QUIT feeling buried in things I SHOULD be doing and to consciously incorporate some fun into every possible day, whether it be working outside in my flowers or veggies, playing in my art room, sitting in my recliner with coffee and a book, sitting on my porch or the deck just doing nothing….

I have to tell you it’s been a really good thing for me. I feel MUCH less stressed, and HAPPIER.

I’m still a slob and will never get awards for my house being clean all at the same time, but I realized that if I killed myself and things were ready for House Beautiful to come photograph, it really didn’t matter. My husband didn’t notice. The people who came didn’t say anything. I had the satisfaction of a job well done for a minute, but only a minute – for it seemed as if everyone – humans and animals alike – conspired to mess things up again as soon as possible. I figured I could 1) get angry that they were messing things up and yell at them, or 2) go for a reasonably clean most of the time and not stress over it. Since I adopted the latter I’ve been much happier, too.

Now I do something on my SHOULD or NEED TO list, and then I do something fun. It may be only for a short time before I do something else on the list, but then I consciously relax and do something for me.

It’s a happier life ‘dancing to the beat in my soul.’

 

I’m Not Mean…

teespring.com

Starting 2020 with Sass and Attitude

All Things Halloween via Desiree Angelique Hackett

New Year’s Resolutions – NOT

Peace Love and Smiles

Attitude vs To-Do Lists

2 STAR art

I love my life.

Not EVERYTHING about it, but close.

I’m retired, so I can pretty much design my day – except when the water pressure booster dies, like yesterday.

I have given myself permission NOT to be productive. I used to make a to-do list and not allow myself to do other things until I had at least shown a bunch of progress on it. I FINALLY realized that my to-do list just grows. Most of the things I accomplish on it don’t STAY done, so they get added onto the bottom in a never-ending depressing length. I don’t get any POINTS or anything for getting these off the list, so I have changed my ways.

I now do the things that will result in bad things if I don’t on time. Those take priority for the day. I try to do the MOST important things first – the ones where I will be thrown into the slammer if I ignore them today.

I then intersperse FUN stuff – like playing in my flowers in the spring, or harvesting my veggies at the proper time, or playing in my art room. THEN I go back and do another ‘important-to-others’ thing from the list.

I’m MUCH happier since I started doing this.

Nanea Hoffman – My Positive Outlooks via Bethany Kerr

 

“Back in the Saddle”

Timeline Photos via Martha Kirkendall-Ghearing

Today is the first day of December. I’m ‘back in the saddle” again – or TRYING to be – on my diet and exercise.

I’m a weak person, basically, allowing any excuse to knock me off the horse.

FunPicsandStuff

There are two of us here, so the ‘get-rid-of-everything-you-shouldn’t-eat’ is difficult. Plus, my husband has essentially met his weight goal and is only avoiding sugar, so HE is having strawberries, dessert cakes, and no added sugar ice cream before bed.

The exercise thing was going well until ‘something happened.’ I really can’t pin it down – I just started making excuses. Is there an award for that? If so, no one else need apply to win….

ANYHOW – I am determined to get my good habits going again and today will be DAY 1 of the new effort. I will do 35 minutes on my elliptical trainer later this morning. I’ll do half an hour or so of good, gentle yoga this afternoon, stretching my body in all directions, hopefully getting rid of the kinks I’m feeling this morning. I made keto chili by Suzanne Ryan of Simply Keto yesterday. We enjoyed some last night and will have it again this evening.  I would like to lose another 35 pounds. (I’ve lost almost 45 thus far and about the same in inches). I’ve been holding here for far too long now, and will be happy to start seeing new results on the scales and with my tape measure. I’ll let you know at the end of the month.

123RF.com

Fingers crossed that I can stay motivated. I have my gold stars ready to go on my calendar for my exercises. I lost a pound yesterday. ..

Secret to a Happy Life

Coffee for All via Michael Remillard and Martha Kirkendall-Ghearing

Enough

Myleik Teeler via Cindy Basnett Thurman

Hahahahahahahaahah!

Purple Clover

Coffee

Coffee for All via Michael Remillard

Fakes

Aradhana Goes -LinkedIn

Are you “Flawsome?”

Your Tango

Request

Water Street Vintage LLC

Be

Beautiful Recipes for All

Secret

Alive Inside.org via Marianna Bellantoni

I Believe

pinterest

Happy

Artist Cave via 2 STAR art

Magic

Thoughts from a Twisted Angel via Marianna Bellantoni

Let’s Do This

Kelly Versteraete via A Girl Down Under Vintage

Weight Loss

Remember

Nanea Hoffman -Sweatpants & Coffee – via Hippie Peace Freaks

Encouragement

Pieces of Soul via 2 STAR art

Can You FEEL It?

Zen to Zany via Contemplative Monk

Happymaking

2 STAR art

Be Yourself

happybrainlife.com via  2 STAR art

Perfect

Country Livin’-via Martha Kirkendall-Ghearing

Appreciation

Moonbeams and Mayhem via A Girl Down Under Vintage

Allergies

Pinterest