I realized something a bit embarrassing yesterday. I was reading someone's blog and came across the word "Yay". Of course I've read this expression of joy many times, but for some reason it struck me that when I'm happy I write, "Yeah" instead. I know that "Yeah" really means "yes", so why on Earth am I using it in sentences like, "Yeah me!" Yes me? Really? I have to be more careful to use the correct words. How else am eye going to get the correct meaning across? Well by-by mistakes! :)
In other news, I finished two books this week which is unusual for me. The first one was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She spent a year experimenting, reading and finding what worked to make her happier. She didn't want to drop everything and go to India or Thailand, she wanted to be happier in her own home with her kids and her husband right beside her. In the end she figures out 12 Personal Commandments which she decides to live by. It's a great read of her journey toward improvement. Even though I wouldn't follow everything she proposes, like starting a collection I'm not interested in that one, I love her statement to "act the way I want to feel". In other words, if I want to be energetic, I need to act energetic, get out of the chair and jump around with my kids. You can check out her happiness blog here.
The second one was The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) by Scott Hamilton. This was also an inspiring read. Scott has an incredible life story. He battled a mystery childhood illness that almost took his life, testicular cancer, and a brain tumor. He has many reasons to feel sorry for himself, but he doesn't. Each time he's been knocked down, he jumps back up. In this book he uses plenty of humor and skating analogies to coach us to our own happiness. My favorite quote from the book is from 1980 Olympic champion Eric Heiden who said, "It's not the events in our life that define our character, but how we deal with them."
I'd love to hear what you've been reading.
Kathy
In other news, I finished two books this week which is unusual for me. The first one was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She spent a year experimenting, reading and finding what worked to make her happier. She didn't want to drop everything and go to India or Thailand, she wanted to be happier in her own home with her kids and her husband right beside her. In the end she figures out 12 Personal Commandments which she decides to live by. It's a great read of her journey toward improvement. Even though I wouldn't follow everything she proposes, like starting a collection I'm not interested in that one, I love her statement to "act the way I want to feel". In other words, if I want to be energetic, I need to act energetic, get out of the chair and jump around with my kids. You can check out her happiness blog here.
The second one was The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) by Scott Hamilton. This was also an inspiring read. Scott has an incredible life story. He battled a mystery childhood illness that almost took his life, testicular cancer, and a brain tumor. He has many reasons to feel sorry for himself, but he doesn't. Each time he's been knocked down, he jumps back up. In this book he uses plenty of humor and skating analogies to coach us to our own happiness. My favorite quote from the book is from 1980 Olympic champion Eric Heiden who said, "It's not the events in our life that define our character, but how we deal with them."I'd love to hear what you've been reading.
Kathy
Woah, I love the idea of The Happiness Project. I'll bet it's fascinating.
ReplyDeleteLately I've been beta reading a sci-fi romance and YA thriller. With finals week coming up that's about all I've had time for.
i alwys did th yeah for cheering too. now i use yay or yea-uhh! (from regular show cartoon =)
ReplyDeletenow i'm reading the Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (an ancient greek murder mystery/comedy) yea-uhh!
I just started reading "Ordinary Miracles" by S. David Nathanson, M.D. Its subtitle is "Learning from Breast Cancer Survivors." Because I can spare only an hour a week to devote to reading for pleasure, it will be a while before I'll be done with it. So far, I like it a lot.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, my ever-present sense of gratitude about my current life brings happiness to me each and every day. For me, happiness is an absence of the hell that I had lived through as a child. Was the hell a blessing in disguise then? Possibly but I would not wish it upon anyone.
Happiness, I think, is a state of mind. No one can make or force anyone else to be happy. What makes one happy is intrinsic and unique to each individual.