Recently I’ve been more reflective on my life and thinking about what truly makes me happy. Who are the people I feel happiest around and when am I the happiest version of myself?
These are good questions we should all ask ourselves from time to time as part of our self-care check-in. Life can get pretty busy and sometimes we find ourselves feeling stressed or anxious. This is usually because we are doing less of what makes us happy. We feel off balance because the things and people that make us happy are the things and people that feed our souls. If we are only living to fulfill our obligations and not doing enough of what we truly enjoy, then it stands to reason that we are not feeling joy. We are not enjoying life but rather just living life, and let me tell you, life is too short to not feel joy! We need to cut through the clutter of life and figure out what really makes us happy, then do more of that!
So to answer the questions above, I am happiest when spending time with the people I love the most. Thursday night we had dinner with my two sons and it was great….great food and great conversation. I think most of us parents can agree that no matter how old our kids are, we still see them as our babies. So when we are sitting at a restaurant, having a bottle of wine, and discussing things like the real estate market, quantitative easing, and the state of the economy, I kinda laugh inside. When did my little boys grow up and learn all these things? Weren’t they just digging holes on the side of the house and teaching me how to rollerblade? Weren’t we just having dinner conversations about how their day was in school? At that moment I felt both pride and joy, and gratitude as well. I was thankful to be spending time together and proud of the men they are becoming.
Friday night we had dinner with my brother-in-law and I ran into some dear old friends whom I think the world of. Seeing them was the icing on the cake Friday night!
Saturday night we went to a fundraiser for The Buckeye Cruise for Cancer benefiting The James Cancer Center at OSU. We had so much fun seeing old friends and mingling with new ones. We gathered in a large tent listening to live music in the midst of an auction to raise money. It was a gathering of people united for a common cause and in a year of social distancing and masking, it was very refreshing to feel normal again; to see people smiling, dancing, and laughing. I think we realize now how much of our lifestyle we took for granted pre-COVID. I am a very social person so getting together with friends over dinner and drinks is always good for me.
On our way to the event, my husband and I were having a conversation in the car and talking about some of the things I’ve been putting on our social calendar. One of the things I said to him is how happy it makes me that we have so many good people around us. I love seeing how the people I love have welcomed him into our world and I love how his good friends have welcomed me. I feel like there is this bubble of support surrounding us right now, much the same as I felt years ago when I got divorced. My husband and my kids will tell you I cry easily and just having this conversation with him was enough to make me tear up again. It’s such a beautiful thing when people connect.
Another thing that makes me feel happy is when I am doing something to help someone else. Bringing joy or support to someone who needs it is the most rewarding feeling out there. Life has been a bit hectic for us lately but I look forward to the day when things settle down and I can start volunteering again. There are so many worthwhile causes out there and so many people who need help. If you have the time, I encourage you to find a cause that speaks to you and do what you can to support them. Giving to others is never time wasted and it will fill you with gratitude to give back.
Last but not least, I am happy when I am spending time on the beach, snuggling with my husband, eating a good pizza and petting dogs, especially large breeds. I am partial to all the gentle giants out there and I love getting my dog fix! We all agree that animals spread joy, right?
It’s another busy week on tap for us, but I intend to approach it with a Fearless and Faithful attitude to get everything accomplished that I need to. I intend to focus on being happy in the moment and seeing all the good around me. I intend to make more plans to spend time with the people that bring happiness into my life and to let them know how much they mean to me. If they are reading this, they know who they are. I have faith that everything will get done, everything will work out and all will be well.
Who are the people who feel like sunshine in your life? Do you know someone who radiates happiness? Is there someone you can’t be around without laughing so hard your face hurts? Make sure to pencil them in. Spend more time with the people that make you happy or doing the things that make you happy. It’s not selfish but necessary for your own self-care. You can’t give from an empty cup. My wish for you is that you feel true happiness this week and find a way to bring happiness to someone else.
Onward!