Happiness
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Small treats and rituals
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” ~Iris Murdoch After dinner, my husband and I grab a mug of tea or coffee and head for our favorite chairs to watch World News Tonight with David Muir on TV. Sometimes we treat ourselves to ice cream or a chocolate truffle. It’s a ritual that our dog, Coco, happily anticipates — because we also reward her with a handful of dog biscuits if she has finished her dinner. Watching her savor each cookie never fails to bring me joy. Sometimes we set our goals impossibly high, deluding ourselves into thinking that happiness depends on huge wins, special…
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The zen of lower expectations
“There are two ways to be happy: Improve your reality or lower your expectations.” ~Jodi Picoult How often have you ordered a product online that disappointed you when it arrived? Have you ever traveled to a place that was less amazing than the promotional brochures described? Have you ever expected more than someone else was able to give? As Anne Lamott wrote, “Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.” If we’re often disappointed, it might be time to examine our expectations. Truth is, we can’t always bend reality to meet all of our wants and needs. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep reaching for the best or trying harder. But sometimes we need to…
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Unexpected joy
“Joy is not made to be a crumb.” ~Mary Oliver Joy is a feel-good hormone. It inspires you to be more generous, more loving. But its unbridled positivity runs on short supply if you’re always mired in the habit of negative thinking. Worst of all, dark energy is both pervasive and contagious. Mary Oliver’s poetry always resonates. And when a dear friend shared “Don’t Hesitate” with me, the word “joy” jumped off the screen. It was exactly what I needed to read, and I hope it speaks to you, too. ~CL Don’t Hesitate If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of…
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Happiness is …
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love Finland ranked first place in the World Happiness Report again this year — for the eighth year in a row. Other Nordic countries also topped the list: Denmark in second, Iceland third, Sweden fourth and Norway seventh. What’s going on up there? You can learn more here. In today’s quote, Elizabeth…
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Admiration
“Admire as much as you can. Most people don’t admire enough.” ~Vincent van Gogh I started this blog years ago under a different title, “Something Beautiful Every Day.” At the time, my mother was battling vascular dementia, and I was struggling to manage her care. As my mother’s personality changed, my own moods cycled between anxiety, grief, and exhaustion. The blog became an exercise in positivity. I couldn’t “fix” Mom’s illness or bring her back to her former self, but I could challenge myself to find beauty and hope in the simple pleasures within my reach. I just had to readjust my focus and my attitude. Today’s quote from a…
