Happiness For Sale?

The age-old question is: “can money buy happiness?”

Money cannot buy happiness because happiness is not for sale. 

Have you seen it in a jar, box, or bottle on the grocery store shelves?

Is it hanging on a department store rack?

Can you order it online?

What wholesale vendor can you place an order with?

Money can buy material things, trips, and pay off debt, which may bring a fleeting “sense” of happiness.

In the market for the authentic?  It’s free!

True and lasting happiness comes from within (knowing, accepting, and loving ourselves) and begins with a relationship with our Creator.   

Defining Your Happiness

Do you remember having to look up vocabulary words in English class?  For me it involved the use of a large hardcover dictionary, for some of you Dictionary.com  or a similar website may have been your source.  No matter what source was used, you found that most words were not limited to one definition, but often there were multiple meanings.

Happiness is a trending term.  It is a broad word that many try to define narrowly.  Many self-help books have been written on it, public speakers hold seminars and conferences about it, life coaches offer their services to help guide you to it…..

What does it mean?

Just like many other words, happiness has more than one definition.  Dictionary.com gives two:  the quality or state of being happy is the first and most basic meaning and the second is good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.  So now that we have it defined, how do we reach this state of being happy?  How do we obtain good fortune, pleasure, contentment, joy? Is it something to be pursued or do we already have it innately in us?

My Happy/Your Happy

For some happiness is attached to material things and social status.  Careers, money, houses, cars, designer clothes, jewelry are the indicators of happiness for them.  Relationships are the source of happiness for many:  significant others, family, and friends determine whether or not they are happy.  Others equate a spiritual connection to happiness.  Having a relationship with God or their ascribed higher power defines their happy.  I think that happiness is innately within us and that sometimes it gets buried underneath some “stuff” but it still lives.  For me God is the main source of my happiness, but I believe that contentment with my relationships, career, and having some of the material things that I desire further contribute to it.

What does happiness mean to you?

How you choose to define your happiness is just that, your choice.  Choose it on your own terms and not someone else’s borrowed definition.

Plant and Grow in 30 Days Days 24-30

This final week of 30 days of growth and “newness” sprouted up different thoughts and revelations and a new breakfast spot.

A couple of days this week I found myself feeling a little down.  There was no particular reason, it was “just one of those days” times two.  Normally, I would have just gone through it and went about business as usual.  Trying to push through it just wasn’t working this time; I couldn’t shake it off.  Then God sent me two “angels” to encourage me and I allowed them to do just that.   The role of encourager is usually mine, so it was different for me to switch places.  I give a lot, fully believing in the words “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).  I am grateful however, for the lesson that I need to surrender to allowing myself to receive from others as well.

My husband’s birthday was this week.  Every year since we have been together I have always sought to make his day special.  From “fancy” dinners to Disney World and various things in between I have tried to do something out of his ordinary to honor his birthday.  Every year though, he has requested not to do anything special for his birthday.  So this year, I did something different and gave him the low-key day that he has wanted.  No promises for next year though lol.

I told you that I really enjoy food.  So you know I could not end the 30 days without a food “new”.  I’m not big on breakfast, I know it’s the most important meal of the day…. It’s just not one of my favorites.   When I do eat it though, I like a good spread.  I had a breakfast craving earlier this week and answered it with a trip to a local country kitchen restaurant.  It offered a cozy, friendly atmosphere and a hearty down home southern breakfast that a girl raised in the south could appreciate.

These 30 days have been interesting, fun, and challenging at the same time.  But……. tomorrow it’s back to the regularly scheduled program-weekly posts.  Join me to see what May brings.

Plant and Grow in 30 Days Day 19

I am a strong proponent of not living in the past, but it is good to visit there sometimes.  So I paid it a visit today.  I took a stroll down the proverbial memory lane, with music as my guide.  Memories of when my husband and I first started dating, our wedding, and other highlights of our time together, brought both smiles and tears(happy ones).  I sung in and out of tune, reminisced, and got that “old feeling” back.  That feeling I had when I first fell in love with him resurfaced.  Not that it had gone anywhere, but sometimes it gets buried under the complexities of “life”.  No, can’t live there, but it felt really good visiting.

The Sun Will Shine Again

Today started out with gloominess and rain and then suddenly the skies cleared and the sun made an appearance, erasing the memories of the dreariness that preceded it.  Isn’t this just like life?  We’re going through a storm then suddenly it’s over, things are good again and that’s all that matters.

A couple of hours later the skies grew dark again and it looked like the rain would return.  Similar to life, sometimes we think the tides have turned, only to have them to reverse.  We can take heart however, and be encouraged during the gloomy, rainy seasons.  Just as the sun emerged from the darkness the first time, it will shine again.

Stay in the Race

The first week of 2017 is ending.  Resolution makers are you still resolved?  Goal setters are you still striving?  Hopefully you were able to start strong and are happily on your way.

Normally it’s not the start of something that is problematic, nor the end of it, but it’s the middle part that is difficult.  We start strong, we know what our desired end is, and we have a plan on how to get there, but……….

• Naysayers say this
• Negative thoughts take over
• What Ifs pop up
• Obstacles try to block us
• Time seems short

How do I get past the ‘middle stuff’ to make it to the finish line?

• Tune those naysayers out or politely tell them to shut up
• Conquer those negative thoughts with positive thoughts, prayer, and affirmations
• Ignore the What Ifs; You know that there are not many guarantees in life, but if you do nothing, you are guaranteed not to succeed
• Lean on your defense (God) when the obstacles try to block you; He will get you around them, over them, or through them
• Any productive time applied towards your goal is better than no time, so prioritize and manage your time wisely

Remember “the race is not given to the swift nor the strong, but to the one who endures to the end”(Ecclesiastes 9:11).  Stay in the race!

Plan First, Party Later

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, it means you made it to the last day of 2016.  Hopefully it was a good year for you, if not rejoice in the fact that it is almost out of here.

For many, New Year’s Eve is a day or rather a night of celebration.  I plan on celebrating tonight as well.  But, before the “party” begins I like to reflect on “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of the outgoing year and make plans and set goals for the incoming year.

While I do walk by faith, I don’t believe that means to walk blindly.  Whatever your desired destination for 2017 is, you need a map(plan) to get there.  I know we’re used to the GPS, but in this case a “map” is necessary.  Your map or outlined plan will guide you and keep you focused, as you travel from where you are right now to where you want to be this time next year.

The excitement of 2017 is in the air; help make it a great one for yourself.  Plan before you party.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!!!

Short List

Happy New Year!

I’m not a resolution list maker.  Not knocking those who are.  I just choose to sum mine all up in:  I will do better this new year than I did last year.

What that looks like for me is:

Spiritually- I will do better at seeking God first thing in the morning, trusting Him more, and being more obedient

Physically- Eating better, drinking more water, exercising more, and getting enough sleep

Mentally/Emotionally- More “me” time, less stress, and no to being driven by and making decisions based on emotions

Financially- Being a better steward of my finances and making wise financial choices

Now that I’ve put this out here. I’ve made you my accountability partners.  Help hold me to it.

May 2016 be all that you desire it to be and more. Blessings!

Be Happy

The verb “be” means to exist or have existence.  To be happy one doesn’t have to do anything.  Happiness exists in our being.  We simply have to own it.  Everyone can afford to be happy, it is free.  There are no prerequisites for it besides merely being alive.  It is an equal opportunist, available to all races, gender, and nationalities.  Be happy, it is a non returnable gift from God.

Little Pieces of Happiness

Warm smiles
Shared giggles
Infectious laughter
Feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin
Birds serenading me outside my bedroom window
A hot cup of cappuccino on a chilly morning
Light rain showers that lull me to sleep
Reading a good book that draws me in
A meal that leaves me wanting more
Spotting a rainbow
Feeding the ducks
Daydreaming by the lake
Afternoon naps
Starlit nights spent sitting on the patio
……………………………………………