“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.” Robert Louis Stevenson
Back in January, in honor of the start of 2010, I started my own Happiness Project, inspired by the bestselling book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.
(order your own copy via the Chapters/Indigo link button in the left sponsors sidebar...all commissions go to World Vision )
Since then I've worked hard to stick to my resolutions and new commandments and had time to modify them here and there to make them completely realistic for my life. Here is what I have come up with after almost four months of work...
My 2010 Resolutions
See the big picture...look past the little stuff.
Be present for family.
Make time for friends.
De-clutter life.
Create Wellness...
Sleep More...10:30 bedtime.
Inhale ...exhale.
Model fitness & clean eating for my boys
Find time for exercise.
Know that work can wait.
Show up...be part of the boy's school day more.
Give more & expect less.
Give with grace.
Follow my bliss...seek wisdom, insight, skills, passion.
Share well...attempt to shun gossip.
Honor memories...document life, house treasures.
Catch up on life and the not so fun things like the dentist, and the yearly physical I haven't had in three years! Ick.
My Happiness Project 12 Commandments
(basically an edited version of my resolutions)
Be Kerry
Be Present
Laugh More
Soak in the moments
Say "NO" to stress
Say "YES" to fun
See the big picture
Find my tribe
Love unconditionally
Nurture peace
Create wellness
Listen with my heart wide open.
This is the list that goes on my bathroom mirror and fridge and anywhere else I might glance when I need a good kick in the butt.
This week I did something completely out of character for me and I wrote an email to the builder of the house behind us that has brought me so much disappointment and anxiety these past months. I do realize the house isn't going anywhere, and we will never get our promised view back but I was struggling to let it go. Anyways, I vented and I feel so much better for it. For once I was true to my feelings instead of being nice and seething on the inside holding on to bad energy. I chose to break more than one of my precious commandments and ignore my 'people pleaser' tendencies by doing this. My words were bitterly honest and were not well received. Normally conflict brings me huge stress but this week I feel so much better and now that I got it off my chest I am ready to move on. So guess what? The leaves have all budded on the trees and the house is not so blatantly obvious so I will stop whining and snarking about the situation once and for all (or at least until autumn when the leaves fall and it's sticking out like a sore thumb again...lol!) I can almost here you cheering out there. I give thanks to you for seeing me through and your understanding wise words.
If you aren't a big reader Gretchen also rights an amazing blog, also called the Happiness Project. I've been a fan since the start and it's always a great source for coffee break learning and chatting.
Read more I've written about the Happiness Project here:
http://snickerdoodles.typepad.com/snickerdoodle_life/2010/02/bring-on-the-happy.html
oxo
Way to go Kerry..
Posted by: Kylie | April 28, 2010 at 07:07 AM
Friends get to give me a whallop when I break a resolution...now I am fully
accountable.
k
kerry macLeod
snickerdoodles
www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
Posted by: kerry macLeod | April 28, 2010 at 07:44 AM
I define - "Happiness is a state of equilibrium of mind and soul, by self choice and beliefs."
Life is beautifully twisted. Untwist to enjoy it. Happiness is basically a discovery of know-how and align self to it. Once you discover your own self and understand those cycles, emotions - happiness is discovered. I also say that "happiness is a matter of no effort". It is always there - you have just not discovered it yet; once we realize, there is absolutely nothing you have to do or even if you are doing; it will be fun. Nothing will change in material (virtual world) but you will feel happy. Your real world will be beautiful - Its heaven; right here, right now. You are a miracle. Discover it.
There will be no more questions and no pursuit. Once one can reach to this state and has mastered the skill to reach to a state of equilibrium - he has achieved happiness for ever...
This will last forever...
You have become human again!!! Humanity will automatically return...
Belief, Love and Respect
-Globezen.
Posted by: Globezen | April 29, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Wow, thanks for those amazing words of wisdom. I will take a look at your
webpage later as well. Life is twisted...isnt it?
kerry macLeod
snickerdoodles
www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
Posted by: kerry macLeod | April 30, 2010 at 10:19 AM
Money is like muck, not good except it be spread.
Posted by: Coach Factory | January 03, 2011 at 05:05 PM