Simple Pleasures 2

I havent had such a calm, simple, and wonderful day as today in quite some time :) It continues to amaze me that such simple things can create a most high level of contented happiness. A walk through a park. A light conversation. A lazy morning. Spending quality time. All these things are easy to come by, but have the potential of being the best memory of that day.

I believe that everyone should make a habit of enjoying a simple morning, afternoon, or evening at least once a week. You never know how much that little act can do for your happiness :)

Tea Time :)

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you."

-William Gladstone

It's no surprise that tea in bright mugs is on my happy list =) There's something special about starting the day with a warm and fragrant cup of mint tea. Im actually considering getting a mint plant so I can have whole leaf mint tea... served in a cute and colorful mug, of course.

I wouldnt have it any other way ;)

image from: shop.teaappreciationsociety.org

Dedicated to Jahbu

I was listening to some poetry tonight and started thinking about a particular poet who was very influential in my life named Jahbu. So while I was listening I jotted down a little poem of thanks for his path having crossed with mine.

There are certain people
That God allows you to meet
For a very specific reason

God used a poet
Traveling up from Birmingham
To save me
Pour hope back into
The emptying shell of me
Replace hurt with words
Made of helium - saying 'hold on'
Filling me lighter than air.

In the hands of the Father
We each are instruments
Of salvation

In the hands of the Father
We are exactly what
Someone needs to breathe
And live again.

Just a little something I was thinking. You never know whose life you are impacting everyday with the things you say and do. So be a wealth of positivity for the people you encounter each day.

Flowers!

My Beautiful Flowers =D

He sent me flowers at work =D I got them while I was on a call and I had to put my customer on hold so I could get Cheshire cat smile together, lol. He's pretty awesome... Im just sayin :)

FLOWERY GOODNESS!!!

P.S. Researchers at Rutgers found that flowers put a genuine smile on 100% of recipients' faces.
P.P.S. 100% ?!? uhMAZEing! lol =)
P.P.P.S. Since I got the flowers at work, I was actually able to be a happiness booster for my coworkers. They got a bunch of smiles because the flowers were there.

His Birthday

Today was his birthday :)
So here's a moment to be grateful for the wonderful people that God sees fit to place in our lives. He's been quite a blessing in the few months we've known each other. Happy birthday!

Image from: andreascakes.blogspot.com

This is me being viral happiness because Im pretty sure he's smiling right now =)

Childlike Praise

A child singing when we all get to heaven
is the most beautiful thing to witness.

After the Communion service at church today, the whole congregation joined hands around the sanctuary for benediction and to sing the closing hymn, "When We All Get to Heaven" A couple people down from me was a little girl, who couldnt be more than 1.5 years old, singing:

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus
Sing His mercy and His grace
In the mansions bright and blessed
He'll prepare for us a place!

How amazing! And what made it more awesome and touching- I didnt even know this child could talk. =) Praise God for children that just sing to Jesus... honestly singing the song to Jesus.

Bubbles

I read today that bubbles can actually be a symbol of the brevity of life and certainty of death. I didnt know that but it got me thinking about how quickly things can change... Just like a soap bubble pop. In a nutshell, a friend and I had a pretty serious fallout, and it feels like the type that may not be able to be fixed with a sit down conversation and a hug. But thats not the purpose of this entry.

Everyday we are blessed with the opportunity to live another day. So many other people were not so fortunate. Everyday we blow up our bubbles.

Bubbles of friendships.

Bubbles of jobs.

Bubbles of boyfriends or girlfriends.

Bubbles of all kinds.

Sometimes we forget that bubbles are so fragile and all it takes is the right pressure... and its gone. Sometimes we think that our bubbles are indestructible...

that our friends will never leave...

our job will never fail...

our boyfriends or girlfriends will always be there...

Sometimes we forget that everything is a delicate bubble. Everything is a delicate bubble and it is our responsibility to take special care of the bubbles in our lives. Cherish them because we have them and because at any moment we might not.

Lessons from Lost Keys

Maintaining happiness sometimes, or more likely most times, calls for a willingness to accept the events of life. When we accept that things happen and we arent in total control of our universe - we open ourselves up to more happiness in that moment. We remove the anxiety that is present when we're preoccupied with worry. We allow ourselves to breathe and move forward instead of being tangled in the mess that was our frustration.

All that being said- I lost my house keys today. I ABSOLUTELY HATE LOSING THINGS! I dont like the fact that I cant remember where I put something. It is one of my highest irritants. However, when I got to my door tonight and realized that my keys were MIA, I actually had the presence of mind to pause, take a breath, and pull my spare out of my bag. (What fortune that my spare had been returned to me a few days ago.) So I got in the house and spent the next hour and change retracing my steps and looking for the keys. But still no keys. It wasnt until I said, "Well God... if You see fit to allow me to find the keys I'd really appreciate it, but if not- thank you for the spare" that I found the keys in the bottom of another bag.

It took accepting the fact that I lost the keys, and acknowledging the fact that God's in control and taking care of me, to open myself up to the happiness available to me in the midst of what I'd normally freak out about.

Sometimes the best this you can do is: Smile, Shrug, and Say... Stuff Happens. ;)

The Mile Walk

Kiva and I walked a mile today. =D We were up and out by 10 something this morning and heading down the road to Braun Spring Park... At 10 and change AM it was like 95 degrees!!! WTF?! But aside from that it was a really good walk. Getting the exercise this morning did give me a boost of energy later on in the day which is awesome considering I sit on the phone for 8 hours. Thumbs up for exercise.


Somehow I feel like I dont really need to highlight the positives of getting some physical exercise. I know I need to do it more... sigh... =)

But here are 3 pros of exercise!

1. "As we exercise, we oxygenate our brains, creating better brain function, and flood our bodies with a 500 percent increase in endorphin production." -M. J. Ryan

2. Exercise makes you more mindful of your body and how it moves and this is always good. Being conscious of each part of yourself brings a new awareness physically and mentally.

3. Think an exercise routine is too much?? Try walking. Studies show that the repetitive nature of walking can induce relaxation and reduce stress, while a quick power walk gives an immediate boost of energy and mood. How awesome is that?!

Calibration

Today was full of tears and frustration and im not exactly sure why. Every time I found myself getting upset at work, I tried to recenter myself, happiness-wise... But it just seemed like nothing was enough to bull me out of the funk... This month has been particularly rough in reference to my happiness commitment. I realized that Im 6 months in and probably need to recalibrate myself. So I plan to make the next couple weeks my recalibration period. Im going to clean house (physically- which will make me feel much better mentally). Im going to organize and straighten up. Im going to rearrange my living space for a breath of newness. And now is the perfect time to reset my happiness meter because Im facing at least a week of solitude. What better time to get back on track? =)

Spending Out

The concept of ‘spending out’ came from a passage in The Happiness Project. It’s the idea that we should use our possessions instead of saving them. So for me, no more saving that canvas in the corner for that perfect creative moment, no more hoarding fabric for the perfect thing I’ll make one day… no more saving that dress for the perfect outing. None of that! The point is that that perfect whatever might never come.

So use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without! (anon. True Rule)

So now the plan is to stop saving stuff. Im going to use all the resources I have at home. The next time Im in a store and feel the urge to buy a couple yards of fabric trying to take over- I’ll remind myself that I currently have more than enough fabric to cover an F150, lol. Now is the best time to use my things. That ever-illusive perfect whatever is like the horizon… an imaginary line that recedes as you approach it. ;)

Jesus Sticky Note

This song randomly came to mind today while I was at work. So I sang it between calls =) Those little songs we sang in Sabbath School were great. It was just the thing I needed to bring a genuine smile to my face and heart as well.

Natural Beauty

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Of Family and Friends

Today was all about family: blood and otherwise. He and I went to ATL for GC and I was able to see a few of my wingmates from freshman year at Oakwood. It was great to see them and to know that we're still "fam" even though we dont stay in constant contact with eachother. These are the women that will always ALWAYS make me smile. Thats awesome =)

A Bit of 2Dub!

AND... He met my mom today =) And she really likes him! Yay =D I also saw my cousin Felicia which was really great because I havent seen her in a couple years. Awesome reconnection.

This is my mommy!

Family/Friend connections are very important to me. There is always some reason to smile that I discover with them. In fact, M. J. Ryan writes of a research study that showed that happiness increases 30% by greater community interaction.

So how can you be happier each day? Connect with your family or friends.

Build and cultivate those interpersonal connections. More and more Im understanding things that my dad said to me when I was younger. He was always telling me that the most important thing in life are the relationships with other people. Now, as if that wasnt sound advice by itself, there is proven benefit to what he was saying. Turns out he knew what he was talking about, chuckle.

Just a Note

We went shopping for comfy black dress shoes today. And walking around in the mall.

Remember to make time to spend with those people that make you feel special.
Remember to tell them that they make you feel special.
Remember that every moment is an opportunity to be thankful for something wonderful in your life.
Remember that there is always something wonderful.

Always.

A Great Day for a Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICKY!

This is my birthday blog for my bff Ricky H. Too bad he's in Korea right now and I dont have skype... I hope he had a wonderful day :)

A picture of us. Friends for like 6 years! Awesome!

Quote and Picture

"1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment" is a new book Ive recently picked up. I found a couple library quotes in it and they made me smile.

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
-Jorge Luis Borges

"In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still, and absorbed."
-Germaine Greer


Gotta love the rows and rows of books :D

Mr. Magorium Quote

Find and Honor Your Own Pace

This little gem, from Instant Karma, made me think about work. The goal call handle time is 10 mins. My average time is considerably longer. Every time I get on a call, I have the initial stressing urge to beat the clock. And so when I dont, I feel like a failure of an agent. So of course when I read this statement, it was like a reassuring pat on the back. :) It made me think,

"As long as I am doing my job, respecting each customer, and resolving their problems, my pace is not a huge issue... well as long as im not having 2 hr calls. chuckle. I have to work at my own pace in order to become better at what I am doing."

Here's to Finding and Honoring My Own Pace!

A La Instant Karma

I have a little book called Instant Karma. It has 8,879 things to do as happiness boosts. I think its awesome! I like to randomly open it and point. So today I got:

"Dress your bed in colorful sheets"


Now I wake up to sunshine coming in my window and sunshine in my bed!
I wake up smiling. How can you beat that?

Crochet Happy

Ive been doing a bit of crochet these last couple days :) Ive made some kitchen goodies for him :D He now has 2 potholders in Orlando Magic colors and an OU potholder. The OU one took me like 2 hours and change to do, not including the time it took to graph it out. I def want to try it again. But not bad for a first attempt at 2color crochet design. ::pats self on back::

I love how whenever I get to sit down and crochet or be creative in some way- I get such a calm happy feeling... color me contented :)

But to be honest... I really need to get back immersed in my personal happiness project again. Since starting work at West, I have really let it tone down. So Im going to consciously recommit myself to this project. Happiness is showing itself -more and more- to be something that really doesnt just show up. It is created and must be actively maintained. ;) Im so on it!

the 3 potholders i made :) He really likes them! excitement!

Guntersville

He and I went to Guntersville today. =) We took Kiva too. We had a picnic by Lake Guntersville and went wading. We also went in the woods and took pictures of deer. So... this is going to be a photo blog.

Color me: Picture Happy ;)

The welcome sign at Lake Guntersville

-smile- how cute :)

He took these pics of me while was wading

Uplifting words from him :)

He sent me a text message because I had a tough yesterday :) I read it and smiled SOOO BIG! =D

"Even the stupidest weeks have Fridays in them. Hang in there!

And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9

Have a great day!"

A Note on Working

"Do the thing you have to do,
when it ought to be done,
whether you like it or not."

...nuff said...

Noble Truths of Happiness

So Im still reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin and im half way through the book. I just finished the chapter for June :) Anyway, every so often, she comes up with -what she calls- noble truths of happiness. So far there are two and im keeping a running list of them in my little carry-all notebook. So here they are:

Noble Truth #1:

To be happy, I need to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right in an atmosphere of growth.

Noble Truth #2:

One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.

I am really enjoying this book. And aside from learning alot about cultivating happiness, I am also building my vocabulary. lol. In each chapter there are at least three words that I underline for later defining. :) love it!

Hello Summer

I missed what I think was a sunshower today. I ate my lunch outside - as is my custom and it was SO humid. I felt like I'd missed the rain by moments. The sun was so hot that it was evaporating puddles and there was literally steam rising from the parking lot. I enjoyed the heat and had to resist taking my shoes off and playing in the puddles... sigh... but my break wasnt long enough.

Simple Pleasure of the Day
Sunshine and Rainstorms

Wisdom from a Stage Play

Love is a great thing, yea, a great and thorough good; by itself it makes every thing that is heavy, light; and it bears evenly all that is uneven.

...

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more courageous, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller nor better in heaven and earth; because love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all created things.

I heard the beginning of this quote in a musical play that He and I watched this evening. The play is called "Love on Lay-a-way" It was a really good play. The quote was actually much longer than what I have written above, but these two parts stand out the most to me. When the character recited the passage, I thought "man... i really need to find that." So i googled it and tah-dah! The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love by Thomas Kempis. Thinking about love made me happy. Thinking about God's love for me and then my love for my family and my friends really made me feel a deep sense of contentment and blessedness... I am truly blessed to have the relationships that I do. I know that I should be more vocal about how much I appreciate the people in my life... I really want to start doing that more. Besides I know that by letting a person know how much i value them, i can definitely spread more happiness. So thats a happy bit times two :)

OOPS ! o.O

Due to a blip in the system at work. Pretty much all agents got a 2.5 hour break from receiving calls. Our system was telling customers that we were closed for the holidays :D

What an awesome mistake!

Via Text Message

Every night, someone thinks about you before they go to sleep. At least 15 people in this world love you. The only reason someone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. There are at least 2 people in this world what would die for you. You mean the world to someone. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good come out from it. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take another look. Always remember the compliments you've received and forget the rude remarks.

=)

I got this in a text message from one of my OU friends. It started my day with a smile.

...Sensible Me...

See: clouds
Hear: birds singing
Taste: cheesecake [yum]
Feel: sunshine
Smell: trees

I was sitting outside for my lunch today. I figured that I would focus on each sense as I relaxed. It was a pretty great moment. Color me: simply sensible :)

Quote :)

“Choice, not circumstances, determines your success.” -Anonymous

Thumbs up! The Reprise :)

Sometimes, a reassuring comment is just the happiness boost that was needed.

My PTL, Ms. Mary, said that Im doing very good on my calls. Only thing… I need to stop saying…
UMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-chuckle-

Color Me: Logophile o.O

I enjoy reading books that broaden my vocabulary. I am learning all kinds of new words in the book, “The Happiness Project.” Words like: arduous- hard to accomplish or achieve; draconian- a rule of great severity; detritus- accumulated material waste…

New words make me smile. =D

LEVEL UP!!!

I made it out of On the Job Training at West! Yay me! And yay classmates! We have officially stepped up to a new level. [victory dance!]

Atlanta

Happy moment of today: I picked a magnolia flower in ATL. :)

He and I went to ATL to go to Morehouse’s Med School graduation. It was a fun trip. We took this random way that had us driving through back woods Alabama/Georgia… Anyway, the trip was good. We saw his old roommate get his Doctor’s degree. [hip hip horray for Dr. N. McGinnis!] After the graduation, we drove around ATL talking and exploring the city.

I suppose you could call this a simple pleasures moment. The afternoon was so pleasant. It wasn’t high energy- there was no rushing… It was just pleasant. And that’s a really really good thing :)

I wore my new dress today. It’s white with navy polka dots. It makes me smile :D

Quote :)

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

[just a little something i found while puttering around online :)]

Honeysuckles...

I inhaled the scent of honeysuckles on warm night air walking to my car tonight. =)

How nice.

How pleasant.

How lovely.

Honeysuckles are one of my favorite yearly experiences. I love when they bloom. And what I love even more is that they grow wildly everywhere. They always bring a smile to my face when im driving or walking or randomly outside and the wind brings their scent towards me. I just wish the candles that claim to be scented like them would actually smell like real honeysuckles. =)

I Think therefore...

Today= Being sick but in good spirits + managing to drink 1/2 a gallon of orange juice with only 2 bathroom breaks + customer service with a cough and sore throat but having to suppress coughs while on the phone...

-sigh-

The common cold and AT&T customer care DO NOT go together at all! -chuckle-
But Im still in good spirits :D
My QA asked me the other day why I was in such a good mood, and I told him I purposefully put myself in a good mindframe. He asked how I did that... My answer... You just do it. You control your mood- not the other way around. He raised his eyebrow all skeptical-like and kinda shrugged the conversation off.

Quote

"Whatever you are, be a good one."
-Abraham Lincoln

Just a thought for today ;)

Attitudes

This is a poster that was hanging in the room I trained in at West.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than failures, than successes, than what other people say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we well embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. And so it is with you... We are in charge of our Attitudes."

Namaste' : A poem for my mother :)

Happy Mother's Day!

This post is for my mommy, Crystal :D [I wrote this poem on our birthday 2 years ago and never read it to you. I hope you like it, Mom]

Namaste' is a sanskrit word/gesture that basically shows respect for another person.

-Namaste'-
(for all that you do and have done)

With adoration, love, and respect
I bow to you
For nine months and labor pain
For Hooked on Phonics lessons
For kisses and bandaids on skinned knees and elbows
For you love
Namaste' Mommy
For teaching me lessons
Like "If you get lost, call for Mommy Crystal"
So even now at 22 [24] years
I still call for Mommy Crystal when I cant see my way
For your resilience and strength
For your unwavering faith in God
For teaching me to keep going until God says stop
For showing me that real women
Truly are more precious than rubies
They do not crumble under pressure
They bend but do not break
And they always stand tall
Namaste' Mommy
I bow to you
Woman of strength beyond your stature
Woman with love beyond yourself
Mother with a heart of finely tried gold
I bow to you
Hoping only to channel some of your essence
Hoping to mother my children
Just as you've mothered me
You- a virtuous woman
Taking insult, injury, negativity, and curses
Taking hardship and struggles
And then handing it all to your Father
You have taught me dependence on the Most High
You have prayed for His hand to hold me
And I thank you
Namaste' Mommy
I bow to you
You are my strong ground
My good earth
You are the woman I hope to one day become
Strong, lovely, loving, soft
Let it be known
"You're going to be just like your mother."
Is NO insult.

Graduation!

A number of my friends graduated from Oakwood University tonight :D I screamed and cheered til I was blue in the face and dizzy. LOL

(in an effort not to forget any names- im not going to attempt shoutouts)

Anywho- this occasion was definitely one of those times when your personal happiness is multiplied by the happiness of other people. As Im writing this, I am remembering the HUGE smiles on my friends' faces as they shook Pres. Baker's hand, took their photo, and walked triumphantly off the stage and out of undergrad. Im so proud of all of them.

On a slightly different note. I almost missed Kibibi's graduation lunch today. =| And while driving all the way into Madison, all I could think about was how she was there for me at my grad dinner... And truthfully when this old lady wouldnt let me into the turning lane by the restaurant- I almost lost it and started crying. But thanks to the awesome driving skills of my friend Doran, we just made it into the lot and I jumped out and ran -full speed- into the Thai Garden. My entrance was nothing short of a Gilmore Girls-esque moment.

Picture me flinging back the huge door and running into this quiet, refined, upscale, asian restaurant and looking at the maître d' with question marks in my eyes. He gave me a quick and prim and smile-less once-over and pointed to where Kibibi and her guests were seated. I hadn't even caught my breath when I hugged her and offered my breathless congrats. -chuckle-

Good friends are such a blessing.

CONGRATS TO ALL OF THE 2010 OU GRADS!!!

Accomplishment and Happiness

This was such a productive day!!! I did laundry, got Kiva’s nails cut, ran errands, hung out with my friend Sheree, and made the end of OU consecration! Color me: all tuckered out :)

Im not sure why the sense of accomplishment brings one such a happy feeling… Whatever happens—its really great. Ive found that writing a thorough to do checklist gives a concrete direction to my day. It gives purpose to those lulls that are guaranteed to happen. AND when that checklist is fully marked or crossed off—it feels like YES!!!!!! I HAVE TRIUMPHED OVER THE MOUNTAIN OF THINGS TO DO!!!! And now… I can put my feet up… and read… or crochet… or people watch in Books-a-Million…

Just a Nice Day

I did a bit of yoga this morning! =D I washed and folded laundry, and while doing that, I took my dog with me to the laundry room. She got a huge kick out of being outside. Pretty awesome morning ;)

I sat outside eating yummy cheesy rice and broccoli and sunbathing during my lunch break today. It definitely put me in a very pleasant mood.

Its awesome what a productive morning, a bit of sunshine, and some good food will do :)

New Books

i wrote out my list of 24 things that make me happy again. I was bored in training class... -shrug- Anywho, number 2 is books and reading. And im just realizing that im reading ALOT more than i use to. I actually came home today and turned the TV on just to frown in disgust, turn it back off, and pull out a book. [aren't you proud of me cherie?!] I have since then, read almost a chapter in The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, eaten some Dulce de Leche Ice cream, taken a nice cool shower, and turned on some jazz by way of Hard Groove by Roy Hargrove. This is turning out to be quite the relaxing evening.

At work today, this little blurb from How to be Happy D*mmit by Karen Salmansohn ran little circles in my head.

"Your faith determines your destiny. So you must make sure your faith remains stronger than your mood. You must resist the temptation of giving up when your hoped for goal doesn't seem to be showing up!"

I showed that to my friend Nay and I hope it encouraged her. :)

Im glad that i have new books. I had forgotten how nice it is to sit down with a book and read... when im NOT in a bookstore or a class. ;)

[[Im also secretly waiting for the sun to set cuz i firmly believe my neighborhood is going to be SO LIVE TONIGHT! Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!! lol]]

To Stumble into a Better Day

Sooo I wrote yesterday's tidbit thinking, "Oh what a nice sentiment!" Only to have to wake up early this morning and be in a mandatory training meeting at 7a... -pooh- So Im all mad and irritated and bent out of shape about the time [i started my reg schedule at west yesterday 1:30p - 10p] But I get into the training room and clock in and in the midst of my negativity, I open my little green notebook only to see...

Do not communicate dissatisfaction with what you are doing at any given moment.

I was rebuked... -sigh- So I resolved to be more positive about my unexpected early start.

-List of Positive Things-
*I had time to get rent/utilities paid
*I got to watch a movie [The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus]
*I got to relax and chat with my cousin
*I didnt get that cleaning done... better luck on that tomorrow ;)

All in all, when I decided to make this day a good day- it truly took that form. Ive been thinking about the idea 'fake it til you make it' and it seems that today was definitely that kinda day. So for those times when we arent happy with whatever the current situation is or what have you, we have the ability to change our perspective by changing the way we think about it. I was tired and very cranky this morning, but when I started faking like i was happy about being in training, I actually started feeling happier about it. Try it some time :)

Quote :)

"Do not communicate dissatisfaction with what you are doing at any given moment."

The Color Purple

He and I went to see The Color Purple musical by the Huntsville Broadway Theater League tonight :) Now, I have never seen the whole movie... [i know... shame on me...] But the play was UH-MAZE-ING! We missed a tidbit of the beginning, but it was no big. He had tech difficulties printing out the tickets, and it looked like we werent going to get it when we got to the Von Braun Center. But, thankfully the ticket lady was understanding. :) yay!

The music was... phenomenal.

We were sitting near a group of older black women, and they were amusing for me. When Mister would say something mean to Celie- the women would go "uhh-uhh!" "mmm-mmm" And everyone started clapping early when Sofia said "You told Harpo to beat me?"

It was great :) I had a wonderful evening with him.

-----------------------------------------------------
I bought a new happiness book. Actually, i bought 3. :) And this was a little blurb that I wanted to share.

Your enemies = your teachers
Your failure = your wisdom
Your mistakes = your lucky discoveries
Your conflicts = your growth opportunities
Your undesired endings = your desirable beginnings
Your grapes of wrath = your raisons d'etre
Your painful feelings = your proud proof that youre dealing with your feelings head on!

Think on that :)

Happy Sabbath

Waking up slowly on a Sabbath morning is wonderful. Not having to toss myself out of bed at 6am is great. God really knew what He was doing when He instilled the Sabbath.

Anyway, here's a little tidbit from church :)

God always shows up in the form best suited for our needs.

The preacher also focused on this text, Joshua 6:1-2. In it, God is saying 'See what I have done for you? Ive given you Jericho.' The preacher took it and expanded it to 'See what I have done for you? I have given you money for your bills, food for your refrigerator, gas in your car. I have given you whatever you need. I have given you Heaven.'

How awesome is our God :)

Saved by the Serenity Prayer & God

Sometimes you'll be having sumkinda day... It's not a horrible day, but one of those days that could EASILY turn bad...

This was that day for me.

Short version: I was cussed out by an AT&T customer. He started out angry about his bill, then definitely transitioned into verbal abuse slung at me personally. -sigh- Needless to say, I cried. it was WAY too much negativity for my sensitive emotional self. I managed to hold it together long enough to get a supervisor.

Honestly, I believe that the only thing that helped me pull it together was the Serenity Prayer. I wrote it out on sticky notes and put them on top of my computer. I read and re-read it while praying for calm and peace...

I think God held the calls from my line just to allow me time to talk to Him.

God is so good... And He knows just what we need, right when we need it. :)

A great day for a Birthday :)

Today was my Bestsisterfriend Amber's birthday :) I made her a video and successfully uploaded it to her facebook. [color me: excited]

I also got to sit outside in the sunshine this afternoon. Not particularly by choice, but when I look back on it- it was a good thing. I havent really gotten to soak up any sun lately. The customer service job is quite taxing... anyway... Im glad my girl was blessed to celebrate another birthday.

[I love you Ambs, my darlin'! Happy 23!]
there's your shoutout ;)

...I Adore You...

God is good :)

I was listening to 'I Adore You' by Darlene McCoy in the office this afternoon, and it brought tears to my eyes. I thought of how many stupid things I do. I thought of how small I really am...

But then I started thinking about how good God is. How He loves us regardless of what foolishness we get ourselves into. How He constantly teaches us how to be more like Him. He is so good. Even saying that is a gross understatement. I sometimes think of what it will be like in heaven... with everyone praising Him. Sometimes I think it'll just be silent. Masses of people just sitting and marveling at a God that loves them so much, He gave His son...

What words are there for that?
I adore You... That's all...

This is me today :)

Today I will be happy.

Not because something awesome happened, but because happiness is a choice.

It's interesting... in deciding to be happy/positive today, discouragement seems to be a bit farther away. I mean, being on the phone at work has felt easier today and I feel more balanced...

Its like im finally learning how to stand solidly. You know- both feet firmly planted :) And to make it better, I solved my own problem today without help. [fist pump] That really boosted my confidence.

I can do this. I am capable. I can give off positive energy to those around me. I can be viral happiness in my workplace. ;)

Quote :)

My bestsisterfriend Amber said something wonderfully beautiful and true to me today. She said,

"We are God's children.
So we can do everything but fail."

:D Love it!

Thumbs up!

Two people told me I had a pretty name today. :) That was awesome considering they came after a horrible first call for me... I considered them God's little gift to me :)

Thanx Jesus :)

Blessings

Thank you for small blessings, Lord...

Sometimes when I feel myself getting down about circumstances in my life, I try to remember to count my blessings. There is always something to be thankful for. Having a mindstate of thankfulness truly combats those self-deprecating moments.

Dont forget to count your blessings.

Need Hug...

I needed a hug today because working customer service is no walk in the park... =/ I considered quitting for the first time today... -sigh-

So i talked to him about it and he listened and gave me a real good hug. :)
Then I felt better.

Hugs have got to have some kinda medicinal properties :D What do you think??

Polkas

I wore my red polka dot skirt today. :) I felt pretty. It's good to feel pretty once in a while. :)

Thrift store church

I went to ThriftMart for $0.99 monday this evening. I perused the book section, fabrics, and random other sections looking for refashions waiting to happen =) When I made it around to the women's blazers, i started hearing singing. And it was gospel music. Above the radio lady gaga jams, there was a clear voice singing His Eye is on the Sparrow. It was beautiful... you know... one of those moments that you have no choice but to stop what youre doing and listen. Needless to say, I walked up to the front of the store to listen to the rest of the song. It turned out that there were two young men singing. And the only thing that i can say that would describe them is... singing to the glory of God... Customers were standing around listening and getting lost in the song.

It moved me to tears.

I started thinking about the words as they sang.
I sing because Im happy. I sing because Im free. For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me...

Its such a blessing to know God makes it His business to watch over the little birds. Every moment He is keeping our world and those surrounding it in balance. He makes sure that our sun isnt too far away or too close. He makes sure that the earth doesnt tip too much in any direction. He makes sure the tides ebb and flow as they should. He keeps the stars in the sky. And while making sure that everything in existence is in its rightful place, He still watches over me. He sees me. Living in little mexico. Trying to figure out what my life is suppose to be.

He sees me.
He watches over me.
And there isnt anything more blessed and wonderful than that.

Refashioning

I love thrift storing! Reason being: I get to take clothes and give them a new life =) Its great.
I bought a ginormous red night gown with white polka dots for about $2 the other day.

When i saw this on the rack, i instantly thought, "AHHH!!! This is an awesome pencil skirt waiting to happen!" So I brought it home. And an hour or two of cutting, pinning, sewing, and problem solving later.... [drum roll]

TA-DAH!!!

Front view

Back w/ button detail =)

I also made a neck tie for my friend, but i dont have a picture of it... =/ Maybe i can find one on facebook and post it over here...

Oh the joy of using your creative talents =)

My buddy, my pal, my friend

Ricky, my best friend from college, came into town :D I havent seen him in a looong time... so this post is about how awesome it is to have friends :)

I feel very blessed to have such great friends. Ricky has been one of those who has "really been there for me." One memory i have is of him forcefully taking me to health services during my junior year. He was more concerned with my health than I was, lol...

"We all need a group to be a part of, a place in the social world where we feel like we belong." This is what M. J. Ryan says about finding that core group of people. Having certain individuals we are connected to is a sure way to combat feelings of sadness. My good friends have most definitely been happiness boosters for me. I cant count the smiles that have literally exploded from my face when I talk to one of them. Even though my Bestsisterfriend Amber and I are separated by 800+ miles and our grown-up schedules prevent those long BFF convos like we had in high school- its like we never missed a beat when we finally get time to talk :)

Friends are truly a gift sent from God to sweeten our days ;D

Happy Tuesday

He sent me flowers :D

How lovely :)

Save!

This day began a bit off... I woke up at like 4:15a and couldnt get back to sleep. The upside- I got to watch Lilo and Stitch: The Series and crochet another row on my blanket. Now the last 3 rows look like neopolitian ice cream :) I took a long hot shower... only to arrive at work a couple minutes late... sigh... wtf man... From that point on, the day was pretty much garbage...
[I know this doesnt sound like a happy blog, but bear with me...]
That is until around 5:30ish. I was telling my friend, Lamar, about how another friend of mine ate the oatmeal cream pie that i was saving for "one of those days"... I know, such a little thing to be upset about Caleisha! Anyway, after telling him the story, I said something like 'This was such a down day... Im trying to find the good but Im really not seeing any.' So he decided to give me 2 oatmeal cream pies. One to replace the one that was eaten and one to make me smile.

It worked :)

Way to swoop in and save the day :)

Sunday Morning

Song of the Day: Sunday Morning by Maroon5 =)

The beginning of a beautiful day!
------------

I COOKED! I made fried rice and veggies with grillers today. Mmmmm! It was so good =) I followed the recipe from a book that my friend Sheree gave me for my birthday called "The Starving Students' Vegetarian Cookbook" Its pretty cool. Over 150 recipes for quick, cheap, and delicious meals. Im not normally the 'in the kitchen' type, but I really want to cook more.

Yummy yummy in my tummy!!!

Today was an ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL day! The temp was wonderful. The sun was shining. My dog was happily running amok in the house. I wanted to take her to the dog park, but i didnt... [better luck next sunday Kiva]

I suppose this was another simple pleasures type of days. =) Way to start the new week!

Monday, here I come with positivity and excitement! =D

TGIF

Today I played kickball with my kids at school =D It ended up being boys against girls and the boy's team SMASHED on the girls! SUH-MASHED!!!!!! Anyway, now my feet are tired and my leg muscles hurt, but i feel good =)

Im sitting on the sofa watching Property Virgins and relaxing under my crochet blanket. I really need to work on it some more... but right now it's long and wide enough for me to fit under... sigh [motivation wanes...]

Now... for... PICTURES! YAY =)

Kiva!


My cozy blanket

The math of my day

Today = (rainy late morning + many marshmallow moments in class) / doing my job right ^ dwele x jill scott&mos def

i.e.
The beautiful distress of mathematics... =)

**Add - rainy morning, late to class, and marshmallow moments
This day was full of so many moments that couldve made my day completely tank... I had a very frustrating group project this morning... one that ended with me taking my 'dammit doll' into the bathroom and slamming it into doors and walls... [takes.breath]

-Sidebar- a 'marshmallow moment' is when you want to say something smartaleck-like but you shouldnt and if you had a bag of large marshmallows, you'd shove 6 in your mouth to keep yourself quiet... lol

**Divide the foolishness by - Doing my job right
It just feels good to know that you are doing what you're suppose to be doing at work. That youre taking the right steps and following the procedures correctly. This is what i decided to focus on after my "marshmallow-moment-dammit-doll-banging" Finding the positive things to focus your attention on is a great way to kill frustration =)

**Raise to the power of- Dwele multiplied by Jill Scott feat. Mos Def
I came home and got down to the business of washing clothes and dishes. I boosted the peaceful vibe i wanted by lighting ALOT of incense and playing Dwele, Jill Scott feat. Mos Def 'Love Rain', and Amel Larrieux. [sigh] It was wonderful! Provided I havent finished the dishes... lol, I did finish the laundry tho =)

This all equals today. A good day. A full day. Im sleepy, and have a sinkful of dishes left to finish... Im feeling good =)

Covering the negative

Today my friend Tanaysha and I ate lunch outside under a tree. We talked about appearances, self-love, black families... lots of things. I enjoy conversations like that.

Speaking of conversations... Ive, sadly, been noticing that people will say negative things about themselves, or speak in a negative way. When I realized this happening in my training class, it made me sad...

How often do we speak about ourselves with a negative tone?
We say or think things like,
"Im not smart enough..."
"Im not pretty enough..."
"Im not thin enough..."
"Im not this" or "Im too that" or anything...

Replacing this thought pattern isnt easy, but it is something that we all should try. Each time we realize that our thoughts or words are coming from a negative place, we should consciously state something positive. Blot out the negative with purposeful positivity.

God will open a window

I secretly made a card for a sad coworker. It was nice to do something for her. It said "When a door closes, God will open a window."

Doing something considerate or kind for someone else boosts happiness in that person, as well as creates a true happiness within ourselves. Thats all for today.

Sadness to Calm

It is ok not to always be happy.
What isnt ok is dropping roots in your unhappiness because it's "easier"...

Sure laying in bed all day because you're sad sounds great... You dont do anything but roll over and tuck the covers tighter over your head. Maybe get up for a snack, just to return to the waiting arms of your rumpled bedsheets. It's quite easy to not shower and eat ice cream from the carton with a serving spoon. It's easy to sit slouched on the sofa with said ice cream in one hand and the tv remote in the other.

It's very easy to become a victim to your sadness...

Today was one of those days. Lots of fighting tears, muscling through frustration, worry, and all manner of negativity... I honestly wanted to give up on the day and bury myself in the bed, but due to responsibilities, i chose not to... I kept trying to count and recount the good in today. Trying to highlight the positivity within this day. It took me, literally, all day to come back to a bit of balance.

I think that happiness, today, was more a place of calm within the storm. That calm took the form of tasks at work, driving in the car, focusing on the beautiful sunny sky... I think something important to remember on days like this, is there is always a choice.

There is always a choice.

Each day, each time the sun rises, each time you wake up, there are always choices.

Today I choose to find a way to return to a sense of calm...

Sunshine, on my shoulder

I slept in today instead of going to church. It was really nice to be woken up by the sun streaming in through the blinds again. I dont often get to experience that anymore due to the time change. Now that beautiful sunshine moment doesnt happen until around 10ish... But what that does do is make it even better, because it is a rare indulgence. I look forward to sleeping in just so I can wake up to the sun smiling on me =)

Blanket update

This is just a little update on my crochet blanket. Hopefully it'll be done some time this millennium lol =)

On contentment.

Im making a blanket. So far its about 6 feet wide and maybe 2 feet wide :D Ive lost count of how long ive been working on it. It's a multicolored wave pattern. It makes me smile when i take it out to work on it...

the wave blanket thus far :)

Im noticing that ive been writing about simple pleasures alot... not that that's a bad thing, but i want to highlight other ways to enhance one's personal happiness level... hmmm...

I feel content when im crocheting or doing something creative. Contentment is defined as "the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind." I think this is the underlying feeling behind why simple pleasures are so nice. At least for me, I can slip into whatever im enjoying at the moment and kind of float mentally in it. For instance, crocheting and singing along to Musiq. I dont have to focus so sharply on either task, so my mind is eased and my body is relaxed.

Another definition I found for contentment is "a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be." This one is a little deeper. It speaks to appreciation of what one has. It speaks to not becoming overwhelmed by desires for more. It is so much more than satisfaction or ease of mind... I imagine how different my outlook would be if, everyday, I chose to confine my desires to what i have.

Nicole Beland writes about the Buddhist Noble Truths in her book 'Girl Seeks Bliss: Zen and the Art of Modern Life Maintenance'. The second Noble Truth is: Suffering is caused by unnecessary craving.

She says, "To some extent, that includes the small stuff - vanilla chai lattes, prada shoes, a smaller laptop, a pair of jeans that make your butt look perfect. We think, If only I had that right now, I'd be happy. Which we are, for a few minutes here and there. But superficial acquisitions don't provide deep satisfaction, or prevent us from feeling sad, lonely, lost, or frustrated."

Craving things is taxing on all of our energies. Physical, mental, financial...

Developing contentment in our lives can bring more happiness. Wanting less is smiling more. Identifying the things that are truly valuable will shine light on other ways to enhance personal happiness :)

Ihop

Today was sunny =)

A great day to start off spring! Woo!

It was a very restful Sabbath.

Lunch at Ihop with my friends.

Gotta love having friends around =)

Pictures in the Park

This is only pictures cuz im too sleepy to actually write.

Me =)


Sharea & Kesha


Doran


Kesha


Willow switch jump rope


Wizard of Oz skipping


Sitting near Embassy suites


Embassy suites fountain


Piggy back gone sadly wrong [lol]

Get lost girl!

I lived through the day on a couple hours of sleep =) Training today was soo long. I spent the vast majority fighting off sleep, but I made it through.

Someone drew a smiley face on the trail.

After training, I came home and took a short nap, and then galavanted off to Monte Sano with my friends for an afternoon hike. Some of the hike was rough going, but it was fun.

It was beautiful.

We were climbing over rocks and holding on to tree trunks as to not slide down mountainsides =) We made our way down the mountain, following a stream to the waterfall it ended with.

Kesha going down the mountain.

While my friends sat downstream from the waterfall, I climbed up to another little spring. It was high up on a side, pouring out of a cavelike hole. It fell into a pool, but there wasnt any water pouring away from the pool. It was like a perpetual waterfall with no stream leading to it and none leading away. I sat up on a tree trunk and just listened to the water.

Beautiful...

Water has always been really soothing, relaxing, and rejuvenating for me. While i was sitting there, I took some pictures and a video, but my phone ate them... sorry... I did however have a quiet moment of happiness while sitting by the mini waterfall. I was looking down at my friends and they looked soo itty-bitty and i looked around me and there was nothing but nature. And I felt so far away from everything. In a good way.

Sometimes, if youre feeling down, getting out of your everyday surroundings just might be the best thing to shake that. =) I got away today. It was wonderful.