Jenn tagged me in her blog to list "10 things that make me happy." Humor me as I stand on my proverbial soap box.
I believe that happiness is a choice.
(Now, I am blessed not suffer from depression, battle addiction, or struggle with psychological issues that impact ones every day life. I cannot imagine how such things impact ones life and won't even try to comment. I have often asked myself how and why I have lived such a blessed life while so many suffer. I don't have an answer.)
I consider myself to be a happy person, but it wasn't always so. Oh, I was a moody teen!! And even into my 20's I could easily find myself bitter and selfish. I like to say I'm a "recovering Leo", always trying to keep my ego and selfishness in check. (Don't ask Roy for his opinion on this topic, because this wonderful, Libra man sees me at my very worst.)
It's my belief, and those of you who talk to me regularly have heard me say it time and time again, that you're never done in your quest for happiness. It's a constant, life journey.
This is a good time for me to have been tasked with the "ten things" meme, so thank you Jenn. It's February and I'm moody. I'm feeling selfish. My house is perpetually messy. We're about to embark on a major life change with the new baby and Roy's work. I'm itching for spring. I want to open windows and air out my stuffy house. I could go on and on about the things that are frustrating me at this very moment.
But why? What good will it do?
After a particularly frustrating day, my wise father told me, "There are things you can control and things you can't. Don't waste your time worrying about the wrong one."
Well, I can control my happiness, even if not-so-happy things are happening.
Suffice it to say, I have enjoyed the past few days thinking about happiness.
There are so many things that make me happy, 10 doesn't even begin to cover it. New office supplies. The way bare feet feel on a freshly mopped wood floor. An impromptu dance party. But this question required me to think waaaay down into the recesses of my happiness meter. So here they are.
1. Baking bread in a clean house. I love a clean house. I love baking bread. But there is just something about bread rising in the kitchen and my housework is complete. It's probably one of my most peaceful places.
2. Sophie's morning walk to school. If it's nasty we'll drive and drop her off on the way to work, but most days she and I walk to school. It's at the end of our street and occasionally our cat, Tigerlily, follows us the whole way. We look at footprints, birds, and wave and talk to our neighbors. Sometimes I wish it were farther away.
3. My job. This doesn't mean I always want to work or that I wouldn't enjoy staying home every day, but I'm passionate about the work that I do and I love the ins and outs of my day. There is great satisfaction in doing.
4. Skyping with my family. I love seeing my family members and watching Sophie show pictures she drew, tell her tales, listen to mom read stories and watch her chat with Ella like they're 16.
5. Reading myself to sleep. Most nights I find myself falling asleep mid sentence, turning off my light, and rolling over into a wonderful slumber. It's a bit of a curse because this can also happen in the middle of the day, but its a worthy trade.
6. When Sophie tells me she loves me. This happens every day, unprompted, and is usually part of a deep, lovely, Sophie-initiated snuggle. This should probably be #1.
7. The first cup of coffee in the morning. Nuf said.
8. My guilty pleasure. And here comes a deep breath and swallow of pride. I love - and I mean LOVE - the nights when Roy is out, Sophie is in bed, and I can sit on the couch with a bag of cheetos and watch a marathon of America's Next Top Model without anyone judging me. This happens very rarely, and when it does, I wallow in a deep vat of trash for both soul and body. Sweet, happy trash.
9. Picking up where we left off. I'm a pretty bad friend. I don't return phone calls. I back out of plans. I rarely leave the house! But I love friends who I can go weeks... months... years without talking to and then, WHAM, here they are. And it's perfect. And they understand. And it's like no time has passed. That is a special love.
10. Roy Miller Cornett, Jr. After nearly 8 years of marriage, 10 years of living together, and in the 12 years since I first laid eyes on him, Roy and I have created a life together that I never, in my wildest dreams, could have hoped for. Knowing that I get to take this journey with him makes me just about as happy as is humanly possible. Even if he does have to be asked to pick up his socks.
Sharing a little bit of me with a little bit of you
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
overdue update
So I've been a bad blogger. Not as bad as some but bad enough. Jenn, politely and with words of just-checking-in concern, pointed this out to me.
I chalk up the drought to just plain laziness, not to mention a lack of interesting things to talk about. I have a feeling this post will be more of a journal entry than "interesting".
Easily the most exciting thing to happen recently was the birth of my very favorite Fat Tuesday Baby ever. Charleston Saxl, son of my dearest friend Carrie, entered the world 5 weeks early, just in time to grub on some gumbo and crawdaddies. I am overwhelmingly happy to say that mama and baby are doing wonderfully, despite his early entrance into this world. Lately my days have been filled with thoughts of Charlie and my little man (only a few months apart!) camping and hiking and running along the beach. Despite the considerable distance between us, I have high hopes that these boys will know and love each other well. Just like their mommies.
It's quiet around here right now; a little after noon and Roy has taken Riley to a work day at school where he has to build a vehicle of some sort. Sophie got me up at 5:30 this morning (yay?) and is conked out on the couch. I'm resisting the urge to turn on the radio or my book on tape, and am just enjoying the quiet. One thing I love about Kentucky is that we have birds in the winter. I hear my mom long for the first robin of the season, but I still wake up to birds chirping, even when there's snow on the ground - which has been more often than not, lately. Today it's supposed to be in the 40's and I think the birds are probably happier than any humans - at least they are from the sounds of things.
Roy made snowcream with the amazing amount of freshly fallen snow we have had this winter. I think there is a general feeling of joy amongst all species that March is just around the corner.
Riley turns 12 in a few weeks. I have a post forming in my head about this amazing kid, and what it's like to be a step parent, that I'm saving for his birthday month. His current obsession is, without question, Lost. We finished season 2 last night and it seems to be pretty much all he can talk and think about. And Roy and I are enjoying watching the early seasons concurrently with the final. And how about this show, my fellow Losties? HOW ABOUT THIS SHOW????
Sophie is continuing to become more and more awesome. They moved her up to the 4 year old room at her preschool, despite the fact that she's not even 3 1/2. It has been interesting to watch the transition for her. It was immediately obvious that she was exercising that brain and really enjoying it, but at the same time the social aspect was difficult for her. I love our daycare, but it's moments like that that make me long for this kind of experience. It's been a few weeks however, and she has adjusted beautifully. We're grateful to have her preschool right at the end of our street and a highlight has been our morning walks in the snow, noticing all different sorts of footprints.
Sophie's a chatterbox, like both of her parents, and has developed quite a little stutter. We're assured that it's normal and aren't worrying about it, but she's beginning to notice it. If she can't get a word out, she stops, takes a deep breath, and tries again. I'm proud to see her handling her frustrations this way.
She is most anxious for spring and to ride her bike, play Roast Beef (frisbee) and asks almost daily for a pair of roller skates. She's also on a huge grapefruit kick, eating half a grapefruit almost every night. Or in this case, cheerios balanced on each finger.
This is a terrible, lazy-sunday-morning picture of me (yes, vanity, vanity) but it shows the state of my belly - at least the state as of a couple of weeks ago. It's amazing to me how quickly the new shirts I bought no longer fit, and the "you're huge!" comments I've been getting at work are coming on fast and furious. And no, I don' t mind them.
Cousins Mallory and Aiden are on their way over for a little Chuck-E-Cheese and pizza action. I have to wake up Sophie and get her dressed, etc.
I hope this post wasn't too boring or rambling or whatever. If it was, you should've stopped reading paragraphs ago, you silly people.
xo
I chalk up the drought to just plain laziness, not to mention a lack of interesting things to talk about. I have a feeling this post will be more of a journal entry than "interesting".
Easily the most exciting thing to happen recently was the birth of my very favorite Fat Tuesday Baby ever. Charleston Saxl, son of my dearest friend Carrie, entered the world 5 weeks early, just in time to grub on some gumbo and crawdaddies. I am overwhelmingly happy to say that mama and baby are doing wonderfully, despite his early entrance into this world. Lately my days have been filled with thoughts of Charlie and my little man (only a few months apart!) camping and hiking and running along the beach. Despite the considerable distance between us, I have high hopes that these boys will know and love each other well. Just like their mommies.
It's quiet around here right now; a little after noon and Roy has taken Riley to a work day at school where he has to build a vehicle of some sort. Sophie got me up at 5:30 this morning (yay?) and is conked out on the couch. I'm resisting the urge to turn on the radio or my book on tape, and am just enjoying the quiet. One thing I love about Kentucky is that we have birds in the winter. I hear my mom long for the first robin of the season, but I still wake up to birds chirping, even when there's snow on the ground - which has been more often than not, lately. Today it's supposed to be in the 40's and I think the birds are probably happier than any humans - at least they are from the sounds of things.
Roy made snowcream with the amazing amount of freshly fallen snow we have had this winter. I think there is a general feeling of joy amongst all species that March is just around the corner.Riley turns 12 in a few weeks. I have a post forming in my head about this amazing kid, and what it's like to be a step parent, that I'm saving for his birthday month. His current obsession is, without question, Lost. We finished season 2 last night and it seems to be pretty much all he can talk and think about. And Roy and I are enjoying watching the early seasons concurrently with the final. And how about this show, my fellow Losties? HOW ABOUT THIS SHOW????
Sophie is continuing to become more and more awesome. They moved her up to the 4 year old room at her preschool, despite the fact that she's not even 3 1/2. It has been interesting to watch the transition for her. It was immediately obvious that she was exercising that brain and really enjoying it, but at the same time the social aspect was difficult for her. I love our daycare, but it's moments like that that make me long for this kind of experience. It's been a few weeks however, and she has adjusted beautifully. We're grateful to have her preschool right at the end of our street and a highlight has been our morning walks in the snow, noticing all different sorts of footprints.
Sophie's a chatterbox, like both of her parents, and has developed quite a little stutter. We're assured that it's normal and aren't worrying about it, but she's beginning to notice it. If she can't get a word out, she stops, takes a deep breath, and tries again. I'm proud to see her handling her frustrations this way.She is most anxious for spring and to ride her bike, play Roast Beef (frisbee) and asks almost daily for a pair of roller skates. She's also on a huge grapefruit kick, eating half a grapefruit almost every night. Or in this case, cheerios balanced on each finger.
This is a terrible, lazy-sunday-morning picture of me (yes, vanity, vanity) but it shows the state of my belly - at least the state as of a couple of weeks ago. It's amazing to me how quickly the new shirts I bought no longer fit, and the "you're huge!" comments I've been getting at work are coming on fast and furious. And no, I don' t mind them.
Cousins Mallory and Aiden are on their way over for a little Chuck-E-Cheese and pizza action. I have to wake up Sophie and get her dressed, etc.I hope this post wasn't too boring or rambling or whatever. If it was, you should've stopped reading paragraphs ago, you silly people.
xo
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