Monday, April 5, 2010

Happy Thoughts

We’ve heard it said that happiness is a state of mind and I believe that. Just don’t ask me on a crappy day. All kidding aside, even on those days, when it feels like we are the thistle, standing in a bed of poppies, we can still feel rained on by happiness. I’d like to thank two dear friends Deanna Schrayer at The Other Side of Deanna and Elizabeth Etheridge Ramblings for reminding me of this and for the splendid Happy 101 Award. They are velvet roses in my friendship garden. Thank you so much!



Now I'd be delighted to share ten happy thoughts with you. And if I've passed on the award to you, please share it with five others who make you happy and let us all know what keeps you smiling while you're at it. Thanks and congrats to all!


Ten happy thoughts:


1. Of course faith. Without that, I'd be lost. My sense of direction is terrible but I know which way is up and which way is down. Up, please!


2. Family: They are my treasure, my soft place.


3. Friends: the virtual ones and those within touching distance are my sugar and spice. When I’m having a horrible day, an email or phone call is all I need to remember to smile. I couldn’t be more thankful for my friends if I tried. I’m blessed in this department.


4. Writing: I forget the world when I’m knee deep in a story. There’s nothing better in my mind than turning out something from the heart and sharing it with others. If I’ve made one person smile, think, laugh out loud, weep or otherwise carry on, I’m all the happier.


5. Pets: Our two little dogs, lying around like kings, eating, drinking and wagging tails, make me grin. They know instinctively if a family member is sick or having a bad day. When that happens, they take their spot next to the afflicted like sentinels. They’ll do this for days if necessary. They are tremendous teachers in the unconditional love department. We also have a chubby grand cat who has managed, with her charms, to reduce me to mush when she sits on my lap and kisses my nose.


6. Giving to others: sending cards, gifts from the heart, emails, phone calls, taking someone to lunch, listening when someone needs a sympathetic ear, not judging but loving.


7. Birds at my feeder, flinging seeds.


8. Working hard in my garden and seeing instant results. When my hands are plunged in the dirt and I’m out there, making things happen, I can’t help but smile. Later, when my back aches, I try to remember that.


9. Fresh, clean laundry. I know this sounds trivial, but I learned to appreciate creature comforts after being without them for an entire week. A hurricane will do that for you.


10. Nature: in all forms. The view from my back window,lanky pines, swaying in the breeze. A hike in the woods clears me out like a good rubdown.


Those are just a few. I’m really quite simplistic when it comes to happiness. Just do what I love and give what I can when I can and appreciate tiny things, which are really huge things. That’s it.

Okay, now I’m getting out my happiness wand and sprinkling a little joyful magic dust over five beautiful blogger friends who make me smile. Thanks for the sunshine, dear ones. I’m happy to know each of you and I'm blessed by your words.


Tina Lonergan The Clean White Page



Stacy Post
A Writer's Point of View



Jitu Rajgor Thinker's Page



Duta
Places with Character



Anita Beyond Diapers and Spills

22 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your award, Dorraine!

    I loved how fresh clean clothes make you happy. They make me happy to. Unless a person's had to do without them, for whatever reason, they wouldn't understand what a luxury it is to be in clean clothes.

    Jai

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  2. Thanks, Jai. Yes, it does seem that being deprived of something forces one to appreciate our creature comforts that much more.

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  3. A hike in the woods does it for me too!

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  4. What makes me happy? Reading something written by Drainy. I missed my fix last week 'cause you didn't post.

    I'm happy to learn that you know the difference between up and down. Real happy:-)

    Oh, I'm starting to tingle. I think the magic dust is starting to kick in.

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  5. Yvette-you and I would get along famously!

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  6. Oh, Ronda, Ronda, could I interest you in an excuse? Well, my college girl was home for spring break last week and we had some fun to do.

    I missed you, too. You always make me happy. :-)

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  7. Oh dear Dorraine,this gives me great sense of joy and gratitude.Friends like you on Redroom, Facebook and blogger are my treasure.They help my mind to keep running THINKER'S PAGE.
    http://jiturajgor.blogspot.com/
    Smile on the face of poor patient makes me happy and I am blessed that I can achieve that happiness with very little effort.

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  8. Well, of course, if fun was involed...well, no more needs to be said!

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  9. Indeed, it is the little things at home and in nature that make us happy. And above all, our faith in God and in ourselves.

    I feel very flattered to get an award from you, Dorraine. Thank you for your kind gesture.

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  10. Congrats and thank you, Drainy! :) What a nice surprise!

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  11. Jitu: the treasure of your friendship is mine as well. Keep those ideas flowing and your smile bright. You are most welcome!

    Ronda: I hoped that explanation would work. We had long chats over coffee and lunches and movies out. We know those same moments don't come back around. :-)

    Duta: I'm so tickled to have discovered you. What a great story teller you are! You are so welcome and deserving.

    Stacy Sue: Thank you. To make you smile makes my day. What a treat it is to have gotten to know you and your writing.

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  12. Dorraine, you have one of the most calm spirits! It shows in your list. Any award to you is well deserved. :)
    Thank you for passing it on to me. It's very special coming from you.
    I've been very busy for the last couple weeks and I'm away from home this week, so I haven't been reading blogs. I've missed you and others!
    I will be visiting more often next week...until then...
    Blessings.

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  13. Awww, Anita. That's a sweet thing to say. I can be calm, when the dogs, kids and hubby aren't pestering me.

    And you are special, hence the special award. You're so welcome. I've missed you, too. I've not exactly been attentive to Mr. blog either, but sometimes life just plain gets busy. Until next time then.

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  14. I really like the diversity of your list including giving to others like random acts of kindness too.

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  15. Thank you for the kind comment, Paul! And for the follow. So nice to meet you. :-)

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  16. your 10 things make me happy as well! hope you have a wonderful day. congrats on the award!

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  17. Happiness all around, Brian! Grazie.

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  18. Yup, I believe there are pleasure centres in the brain, and you just have to find out what connects to them.

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  19. True, Dave. Once found, we have to remember what they are!

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  20. 4, 9 & 10, especially 4. Loved "Jack Rabbit Moon", btw :)

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  21. Well, hello there, Subby! Great to see you around. Thanks for reading the book and for your generous comment. I'm happy that you liked it.:-)

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  22. Cyprus is a wonderful Place with warm weather most of the year and a beach only two hours away no matter where you are the holiday makers coming here mostly for Beach holidays .

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