Comments on: Happiness Challenge

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 23:18:30 +0000

Thank you Debra. So sorry to hear of your own dental and medical woes. Very honored that reading about I focused on my gratitude and happiness inspired you to do the same. You are very welcome and here’s to more happiness all around!!

By: Debra Maslov

Debra Maslov — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:04:40 +0000

Oh Maria, how I needed to read your wise words this week! I too am going through some dental woes – medical too – but LOVED reading how much focusing on your gratitude moments changed your mood & boosted your feelings of happiness. I will surely do the same now. Thank you ever so much!

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 18:08:48 +0000

Thank you, Veronica! I’m so glad to hear the earthquake didn’t cause any damage where you are. I know some folks in Napa who did experience some significant damage, but thankfully they are alright themselves. I loved hearing some of the things that are bringing you happiness, and also how you feel grateful and happiness, while distinct, are intertwined. The watching and listening is always a good path in, isn’t it? Thanks for the well wishes and sympathy about the dental work, and I’m sending good thoughts for you as you address your own stressful stuff–and I totally agree, pizza is the thing to do!! 🙂 xoxo

By: Veronica

Veronica — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:21:12 +0000

Lovely post, Maria! It’s especially important to reflect on the good when you have a particularly bad week… I’m sorry to hear about your dental woes. Ugh. I’ve had my share, and it’s not fun. I feel for you – good luck!
It is true, there is a difference between gratefulness and happiness – but often one leads to the other and vice versa. Or at least puts you in that mindset to expand into the other.

-I think the number 1 thing I’m grateful for this week is that the earthquake didn’t cause any damage here – we were very lucky.
-Watching the birds and squirrels and their hijinx outside always makes me temporarily forget whatever’s going on and focus on watching and listening; a bit of meditative mindfulness, and I’m glad I have them.
-I’m getting back into my knitting! I’ve missed it, and it’s nice to have the yarn back in my hands.
-Many more things, but I won’t clog up your comments listing it all. We’re going through some stressful stuff right now, and I needed a reminder to focus on the good stuff – thanks for a timely post. 🙂

Oh – and we’re having pizza this evening. It seems like the thing to do…. 🙂 xoxo

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 15:32:44 +0000

Thanks Pam! It made ME happy just to read about all those people of all ages and stripes singing and swaying and dancing and kicking along with those songs! I love the richness of your list, and the opportunities for awareness, forgiveness and presence they afford. I also appreciate the well wishes for the dental work. There’s a long road ahead.

By: Pam

Pam — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 10:25:46 +0000

Sorry to hear you had a rough week, Maria. Dental stuff is never fun. Hope you have the best possible outcome with little to no effects on your health.

I love your happy list! Here are a few of mine for the week:

– sitting in an Irish pub in Dublin with my husband, who is the best possible travel partner, listening to local musicians come together to play traditional Irish music – several fiddles, a flute, a squeezebox
– in another pub/restaurant (uh-oh, there’s a theme here!) listening to a young Irish man sing what he called “nostalgia”songs – Dean Martin, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and his encore was “New York, New York” and he had the whole place swaying and dancing and kicking, from the 11 year old girl who had a birthday to the couples in their 60’s and 70’s!
– I realized this week that I’ve gained some weight since I’ve been traveling. It’s not great, it means I’m not eating as well as I should, but they are the happiest 10 lbs I’ve ever gained!
– I was so happy to discover the small harbor near the town of Dalkey, which looks out to Dalkey Island. I love the sea, and this area has such a great feel to it along the coastline.

Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on me week. 🙂

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:24:09 +0000

Thanks for this beautiful comment, Veronique! I appreciate you also make a distinction between feeling grateful and feeling happy–though they certainly “feed” each other really well, don’t they? I loved reading about your jar and your list and sharing the pizza plans too!! Thanks, too, for the well wishes on the dental work. And I SO agree that gratefulness and happiness reproduce very fast and they are by far the best way to soar through the not so good times, if at all possible. And it seems it always IS possible to find them, if we look. xoxo

By: Veronique

Veronique — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:04:31 +0000

Hi Maria,

Sorry to hear about the dental troubles. Always wondered how our stone age ancestors dealt with that 🙂 .
Yes being grateful and being happy are two different things and though I am part of a facebook group “I am grateful for” and it is brimming with gratefulness, I also keep a gratefulness and Happiness jar. I am grateful it stopped raining but I am happy my two friends are back from holiday so we can go swimming together again, I am grateful my friend brought me a new bird’s house and I am grateful to have a garden. Watching the happy birds makes me happy. Thinking of dinner (pizza too!) Also makes me happy. I was also very happy making the nut and soy free cheese from http://www.cookingwithplants.com It’s in the fridge firming up and I will try it on my pizza later on. Those are happy moments too 🙂
Gratefulness and happiness reproduce very fast. The more you are aware, the more there will be to be aware of. And it is the best way to soar through good, but especially through the not so good times.
Good luck on the dental thing and thank you for sharing your happy moments!
XXX
Véronique

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:49:14 +0000

Oh Danielle, LOVED the toothpick and q-tip confession!! That made ME happy! Thanks for sharing your lovely list here. 🙂

By: moonwatcher

moonwatcher — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:48:25 +0000

Thanks, Teresa! I loved hearing what you are grateful and happy for, too. And sorry to hear about your own dental woes.Yes, let’s enjoy the week ahead!