Happy #48: Follow your heart.

There is peace in truth.

This is not to say the truth is easy. Or even comfortable. Or convenient. But living a life for the benefit of other people at the expense of what you need never made anyone happy. (I'm not talking about service here.)

Many years ago I had a profound experience while standing in the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was a life altering moment.

Reading Jefferson's words inscribed on the wall, I understood for the very first time that I had a God given right to happiness. I came home from that trip with priceless clarity that God intended me to be happy. And wanted me to be. I also came home with the acute awareness that I had to choose it for myself, regardless of the difficulty of the choices involved.

I saw that nothing was going to happen to magically change my situation, much as I wished it would. And nobody was going to make choices that would free me from the painful decisions I didn't want to make.

The hand of God aside, only I had the power to change my life. Only I could choose happiness for myself. A gift, I came to realize, God gives his children in helping us understand the principle of accountability. You know, choice and accountability?? Why? Because other than God you are the only one who knows your heart and what you really need.

I learned that I needed to summon the courage and find the strength within myself to choose for my heart. I needed to take accountability for my own peace and happiness. (And misery, for that matter. But that's another post.)

I discovered that the path I needed to take to live my truth, in spite of how "wrong" it was for everyone else, was in fact the right choice. And as hard as it was to actually choose what I really wanted, God gave me the fortitude to step forward for myself. He was teaching me to be true to myself...

Here, I found happiness.

Choosing happiness can seem impossible when you feel stuck. The choice it takes to honor your heart and give voice to what you need for peace can be the most difficult choice you will ever face. (Especially when your choice bumps up against what everyone else thinks you should choose, or wants you to choose, or hopes you will choose for THEIR happiness.) But all things considered, a life without peace and happiness hasn't got much hope. And a life lived from duty will only get you so far.

Knowing the heart takes time. And a willingness to see the truth. Seeing the truth in a heart happens gradually until that crystal clear moment when suddenly you know and there is no turning back. In that moment, that perfectly clear moment, the honesty you find frees you.

"And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

There is a feeling that follows truth, and the light of it changes everything. No matter how hard it was to see the truth and no matter how difficult it will be to make the choice.

Follow your heart.

It's the place of peace.

And the only way to happiness.

Happy #47: It's all in your head.

Your feelings follow your thinking. Experiment with that idea. When you feel bad, change what you're thinking.

And when you have a spare couple of hours, open your mind and watch this film.

May all your dreams come true.

Ever wonder why mine do? :)

The cognitive, prayerful life... Something to think about.

Happy #46: Have hope.

Easter is a message of hope.

It gives the promise of life, shining as a beacon of light in the darkness.

Earlier this week I was reading in John of the New Testament. The risen Lord had performed a miracle, feeding 5,000 people from scraps of bread and fish. Following this Jesus said, "Ye seek me not because ye saw miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled...I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. And he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Preoccupied with satisfying their hunger, the people didn't appreciate the miracles executed in their behalf.

The Easter message of hope, the resurrection and the life of Jesus Christ, is a sounding call of victory over death. But It is also a call to have faith. Through the power of the atonement and with his life, Christ is capable of helping us live ours. He is able to carry our burdens and lift our sorrows. He is able to strengthen us, succor us, and heal us. He will give us direction, lighting the way when we don't know which way to go. (You know, "I am the way, the truth and...") And he can give us peace.

But He is also capable of producing miracles to sustain us. His ways and His means are infinite and limitless.

What I'm trying to say is that He is the bread of life and He can put dinner on the table.

So when you need help, ask.

And have faith. And hope.

Heavenly Father is listening. Jesus Christ lives. And he's ready to deliver.

Happy Easter. :)

Happy #45: Spend time with Juliet.

Ok, it's one hour later and I'm still awake.

So I'm going to take a minute and comment on one very quick way to happiness: spend time with my darling Juliet. (Well with any of my children, actually. They're all so flat out funny and enjoyable to be around...)

After teasing the President of Westminster College about his shoes (in her charming way and with her charming smile), Juliet left yesterday evening to return to Seattle. Spring break is over.

Juliet. Everybody MISSES you SO much!! Keaon, Kelsie, Jackson, Rhea, Me. Even Mark and Matt. Especially Matt.

You left a big hole here in Salt Lake City when you got on that airplane.

So enough of this college in Washington nonsense. There are plenty of good schools in Utah.

We need you. We love you. We miss you! :(

Seriously? I'm having an allergic reaction to your absence. I'm breaking out in a rash. Ok, maybe it's from the stress I'm under, but all I know is we like it better when you're here with us. And I wasn't itching before you left. I'm just saying.

In the words of my dear friend Vicky Palmer Otte:

"Ergo," it's time to come home. (Ok, word. Those last five words are mine.)

No pressure.

Happy #44: Get some sleep.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Because it's 4:30 in the morning and I've been working on a proposal for 21 hours now and I am really, really tired. Not finished with the proposal. Just incredibly tired.

AND, I'm having a hot flash. Isn't that nice?

I'm not complaining. Just making an observation.

As I said. Get some sleep.

Because I really wish I could...

Happy #43: Grow Something.

I've been growing these vines in a vase of water on my kitchen window sill since September of last year.

They started as twigs. No leaves, no roots. I expected long stringy white things to show up at the ends of the branches.

But in the sun and with plenty of water, the twigs sprouted these beautiful little roots balls of red and white and green. It's like looking at Christmas in a cup. :) And I've been charmed watching this unusual root system develop in front of me.

Under transparent conditions, it has been a blessing to watch them grow. I've loved it. I can hardly wait to plant my grown with love vines in soil and start them climbing on the red brick of my adorable little Tudor house.

So here's my Happy #43. Since it's spring...

Grow something. Begin with twigs or starts or seeds. Give them water and sunshine and watch life happen.

Because new life is exciting.

And it's a good reminder that it's never to late to make a new life of our own.

Ever.

Happy #42: Find a considerable sweet spot and dream.

Sweet spot: a place or thing (not a person) that just the thought of makes you feel good.

Here's mine for the moment.

When your considerable sweet spot stops making you feel good, choose something else. (It's an exercise in learning not to attach to things.)

Our minds have the power to make our world. And to make us feel better.

The beauty of imagination...

It's all in your head.

Dream on. :)

Happy #41: Speak Good. And follow with dessert.

“I would rather be poor in a cottage full of books than a king without the desire to read.”
Thomas Babington Macaulay, English Historian, 1800-1859

Not me. I would rather be wealthy, have several cottages full of books, and a dinner date with the King. Then we could have a conversation about the benefits of reading and education. Following dinner I'd like an array of exceptionally delicious and expensive desserts.

But speaking of conversation (and not the array of treats after dinner with the King), there is a LOT of political dialogue going on over the Health Care Reform Act. Very little of what I've managed to hear has been good. Which disturbs me.

I have several strong opinions. As always. But I'll spare you.

I only want to say one thing.

When the Civil Rights Act was passed (as well as the Welfare Act, the Unemployment Insurance Act, and others), lawsuits were filed. The same lawsuit, in fact, that has been filed against the Health Care Reform Act. And likely by the same sorts of people.

We resist change, even when that change means protecting other human beings. Often these events bring out the worst in people. Which is both sad and unbelievable to me.

That being said, in the upheaval that seems to be stirring, speak Good.

Assume the best. Because almost without exception (even if it's not what you would do or choose), people are doing the best they know how to do.

I can't change anything that's happening. Or enlighten anyone really.

But I hope for the best. And I can try to bring happiness to the people around me. I can think something positive, engage with and have a good laugh with my kids, eat a spectacular dessert, be kind, give love, serve someone (Mark, we bake your chocolate cake tomorrow), and above all? I can speak Good.

We can all speak Good. And follow with dessert. ;)

Not solutions to the problem, I understand. But then this blog isn't about solving world problems. Now is it?

Maybe somehow my small effort to make myself happy regardless will make the world a happier place.

And maybe in the process it will make you happier too. (Especially if you come over for dinner and I make you these spectacular dessert cups we made for my birthday last year.)

By small and simple things...

Happy #40: Take a nap.

Earlier this morning Kelsie commented on our cat Sophie always finding a spot to nap in the sun. "What is that?" she asked. "I don't know," I responded. "But if I could lay on that little bench and take a nap in the sun, I would."

Naturally, it got me thinking about naps.

Needless to say, at the end of the work day today when I found the sun streaming in through my bedroom window and casting it's warm golden rays on my bed, I could not help but think about that morning conversation...

Giving in to my fatigue, I layed down and dozed off because I was simply too tired to stay awake.

I only slept for 60 minutes, but when I woke up I was thoroughly refreshed.

Reaching for my laptop, I found the Google search bar and entered "napping". With one click I found this article in the Boston Globe.

It's worth a glance just for the laugh.

But it's also worth a glance for the information it provides. And the validation it gives to napping.

"A nap of 60 minutes improves alertness for up to 10 hours...A Harvard study showed that a 45 minute nap improves learning and memory...Napping reduces stress and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke, diabetes and excessive weight gain. Naps make you smarter, healthier, and safer."

The sun is still streaming in through my window, I haven't missed a thing, AND I'm rested. Truthfully, I can't think of a better way to go through the remainder of the day. See? I'm so rested I'm rhyming. :)

So. Find a soft spot in the warm sunshine. And take a nap.

Because we could all use a little more rest.

Happy #39: Cultivate the art of the note writing.

I was in Washington DC about this time last year. And just in time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. DC has deep meaning for me. And I loved being there when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. It was spectacular.

But we're not talking about that right now.

What I would like to talk about is the art of note writing.

Today I finally got something into the mail that I should have mailed a LONG time ago. (Matt, please forgive me.) I'm terrible about paperwork and even worse if it involves going to the post office. Which is why I sent my beautiful Juliet to do it for me...

But it got me thinking about mailing things and this delightful little stack of note cards I bought in DC during my last visit. My intention was to send them off, surprising unsuspecting recipients with a gesture of loving kindness. Which I haven't. And the cards still sit neatly stacked in their ever so charming little cherry blossom box. Waiting.

Someone left me a little gift the other day. On my doorstep. With a handwritten note. I was touched by the time she took to a. leave the gift, and b. hand write the note.

So here's my happy suggestion for today:

Hand write a note of love to someone you've been thinking about.

And MAIL it. :)

We seriously underestimate the power we have to make each other happy.

Seriously.

Happy #38: Feel the hope of Spring.

I heard something in a movie not too long ago that has stayed with me. The film was P.S. I love You. Kathy Bates (playing the mother) was talking with her daughter (played by Hilary Swank) about being alone. She said, "If we're all alone, then we're all together in that too."

I've thought about this a lot. Possibly because I've had quite a bit of time alone lately. Or maybe just because it resonated with me. I don't know.

Anyway, I posted a video of the song Imagine (from the TV series Glee) on my Facebook page awhile back and again today after my friend Christy also posted it. I love it. (And thank you Christy.)

The song gives me hope. It reminds me that we're all here together. And that we're not alone. No matter how alone we feel.

Someone out there reading this blog is feeling alone right now. I'm sure of it.

So whoever you are, this post and this song is for you. (You'll have to go to my Facebook page and play it from there...)

You're not alone, you are loved, and you are enough.

And it's Ok to feel like you're under water sometimes. The sun can still shine in. :)

Happy Spring.


(Tulip immersed in water above. Primroses outside my door below.)

Happy #37: Connect with someone who makes you happy.

This is Anne-Sophie.

She is from Germany and she is beautiful and precious in every way.

This is what she posted on her Facebook this morning.

Anne-Sophie makes me happy. She was born on my birthday and I watched her come into this world. So she is a treasure to me. Anne lives her remarkable life in Germany. But even from across that big blue pond we call an ocean, she has continued to light up my life and make my world brighter.

In honor of treasuring life, connect with someone who makes you happy.

I love you Anne-Sophie. :)

Happy #36: Treasure your life.

Her husband called her Flower. And her blog is a profound reminder that life is a gift.

One look at her life and you will suddenly be more grateful for yours.

Happy #35: Use your talents to bless the lives of others.

"Last weekend was the annual Blooming Hope charity flower auction. Several growers from Chile, Ecuador, and California generously donated flowers which Every Blooming Thing designers made into beautiful arrangements in front of an audience at the 2010 Spring Home and Garden Show. The $8,400 we raised was given to Primary Children's Medical Center.

I haven't had the opportunity before now to use one of my talents to give back in such a profound way. I feel blessed and inspired.

So whatever it is that you do well, do it to help someone else."
Kelsie Jones

Happy #34: Own your heart.

I recently experienced a cardiac event that has changed my life.

Forever.

And believe me, this surprised me more than anyone.

One of the follow-up procedures was a stress test. The cardiologist wanted ultrasound images of my heart beating before and after a work out to see how well it was (or wasn't) functioning. So I was hooked up to machines and put on a treadmill to run up hill until my heart reached 160 beats per minute. Sustaining this heart rate long enough would help the doctor see what my heart was doing under stress. Hence: stress test. ;) Up hill? 160 bpm for 6-10 minutes? Exhaustion.

And I was in pretty good shape before all this happened...

Anyway, as I was being hooked up to the monitor for the run, the doctor said, "Kathleen, your heart puts out electrical currents. It emits a frequency, a wave of energy that we can capture when you're connected to this machine."

I was struck by this. I've been thinking a lot about how our brains transmit a frequency of energy. So to hear that the heart also transmits energy was fascinating to me.

Without boring you with the details of my processing, I'd like to offer this:

Your heart? Belongs to You. It beats for YOU. And while it may be true that our hearts want to pulse an electrical, vibrational wave out there to the Universe looking for another heart to beat in time, our hearts beat for our own lives. Duh.

So love yourself. Capture your own amazing, beautiful, powerful heart and feel it beat with life for YOU.

Maybe if we could love and accept ourselves a little more, own our own hearts, and do a better job of loving and accepting ourselves, we could do a better job of loving and accepting others.

Own your heart.

Because it beats for You.

Happy #33: Engage with life.

"When we find a man who has ascended heights beyond ourselves; who has a broader range of vision than we, and a sky with more stars in it than we have in ours, we may know that he has worked harder, better, and more wisely than we. He was awake while we slept. He was busy while we were idle and was wisely improving his time and talents while we were wasting ours..." Self Made Men, a speech by Frederick Douglass, 1818-1895.

Engage.

Happy #32: Do something you've been putting off.

There's no better feeling than finally getting something done that you've been putting off.

Seven hours of paperwork later (with only another three weeks or so left to go...), and I am writing to lovingly suggest the following:

Do something you've been putting off. How? You know how. You're doing the very thing right now that keeps you from getting the thing done. You're procrastinating. :-) So just stop. And get your stuff done.

You'll feel better.

Trust me. :)

Happy #31: Embrace love at first sight.

I loved watching this little boy as he stood in wonder at this statue. And I'm delighted I captured the moment in this photograph.

Embrace love at first sight. Whether it be a handbag, a house, a man (or a woman...), or a really great dessert.

Enjoy the world around you.

You are loved. :)

Happy #30: Make choices that won't result in flashing lights.

There aren't many people who could see this image and not feel some sort of panic, even if mildly.

This warm and sunny afternoon, a woman came out of Smith's Marketplace and began putting her groceries in the back seat of her car when she was surrounded by three police cars. An officer stepped out of his vehicle and approached her.

She had gone shopping, leaving her two small children alone in the car for well over 1/2 hour.

Mistake of choice? She left her little ones unattended.
What she didn't anticipate? Kelsie and I pulling into the stall beside her.

I'm sure it wasn't the brightest spot in her day, having those police show up like that. But it wasn't the brightest spot in my day either, seeing those children unattended in the parking lot where tragedy could strike. Which is why I called the police. And stayed there with the kids until their mother (and the police) arrived.

The policeman was kind. He asked why she felt the need to leave her children alone. Then he informed her of the dangers in the area, asking her to be more responsible with her children and not make choices that hold the potential to bring hurt to them and into their lives.

After she pulled away, he thanked me for calling and said, "People have no idea how quickly harm can happen. What a stupid thing to do."

Don't get me wrong. I've had my share of flashing police car lights come up behind me.

Which is exactly my point.

Wanna be happy? Be wise.

And protect children.

Happy #29: New Music.

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. He's my most recent music find. I heard him live in Vancouver, B.C., and he's from my hometown--Calgary, Alberta, Canada. :)

He's adorable and I love this charming Canadian boy's sound. You can hear my favorites (Amazed and Care for You) on his Myspace page.

Have a listen.
And remember the value of discovering new music.

Add some joy to your world. :)

Happy #28: Find the sun.

Enough said.

Happy #27: Learn to take a different view.

If you read the post below and looked at the tulips, did you notice this picture in the bottom right hand corner? There were several things to view in that picture. The tulips were just one of them.

A friend shared a story with me yesterday that altered my thinking. Not feeling at liberty to share the details, let me just say this:

You have to think outside what you know and learn to take a different view.

Life happens. It just does. Surprises turn up. And they aren't always a delight. But the resilient, progressive spirit finds another way to think and act and overcomes difficulty no matter what the setback looks like.

Yea, so what you got wasn't what you expected. Or ever thought you'd get. So? Welcome to life on planet earth.

Take a different view and you'll figure out what to do differently to make your world right again.

After hearing this story I began thinking about people who have overcome serious setback, achieving remarkable things. I want to be one of those people. Sure, I may need help seeing things from a new angle (I'm not always the sharpest tool in the shed), but I want to be the kind of person who is willing to do life differently (and make different choices if need be) to find peace and happiness and personal strength. I want to be the kind of person with enough courage to make those kinds of choices.

It's true that sometimes there is no way around or under or over a thing. And all you can do is go through it.

So then that's just what you do. You breathe deeply and go through it. Taking a different view.

It will broaden your thinking, and your horizons. It will make you better and stronger and more innovative. And because you learned, you will have new knowledge that will likely help you to help someone else at some point, which is always worthwhile.

In finding a different view (even if a friend has to point it out to you), you will find gratitude.

And hope. No matter what you're going through.

The sun is always shining somewhere.

Happy #26: Fresh flowers.

Fresh flowers heal the heart.

Give yourself some, give some to someone else, or just stop wherever flowers are and make sure you see them... (Tulips are my favorite. Pink tulips. This picture does not do the radiance of these tulips justice.)

Flowers are everywhere. Even before spring. Just check out your local market.

And feel the love. :)

Happy #25: Feed your mind.

Albert Einstein inspires me. He thought beyond what society prescribed at the time.

Years ago I read something he said that struck me deeply. Words to this effect, he said few people think with their own minds and aspire to original thought. I tried to find it online. Unable to find the exact quote (though I found one close to it and equally as meaningful), here are a few of his other gems:

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Albert Einstein (Let me be so curious...)

"Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts." Albert Einstein

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton)

Food for thought.

I've been thinking about strengthening today. Having taken my personal physical strength for granted (not something I realized I was doing), I'm thinking now about how to approach change. I believe whatever we're able to do to strengthen ourselves (body and soul) begins with what we do to inspire and enlighten our thinking.

So feed your brain.

Because your body follows your mind.

Happy #24: Know a simple thing that gives you joy.

Recently my family and I experienced an event that has given us new appreciation for each other and fresh gratitude for the simple things in life.

This experience has also served to renew my understanding of the importance of having one or two simple things that bring you joy without requiring too much energy to pursue. Something that fills you for a reason you may not even know. And something that never fails to put you at rest and make you feel better. Regardless of what is going on.

For me one of these precious simplicities is tea towels.

Tea towels hold a special sort of spell over me. I have no idea in this world what it is. But I've loved them since I was a little girl. I love the patterns and the colors in the fabric. I love holding them in my hands and using them. I love washing them, pulling them warm from the dryer, folding them, and layering them in a stack. The whole process gives me pure joy. Ridiculous perhaps, but true. And it's such a simple thing.

I suppose this Happy idea goes along with Happy #5: You have to know what brings you up.

In any event, I think it's important to have something simple in your life that makes you feel better. Something easy and accessible. And something that takes very little energy to give yourself when you need it.

I'd be interested to hear what yours is. Does anybody read this?? ;-)