It's Been Over A Year ?

I've been away, it's been over a year since I was last here.  WOW how, when and why?

So now I'm back.

Firstly a little bit of housekeeping, I noticed my last post a year ago was in the midst of my 100 Days of Happiness for which I did not write an ending.

The 100 Days of Happiness challenge, reaffirmed to me something that I already knew about myself - I am a happy person.  I wrote about the little things in life I had noticed that helped make me happy.  Whether it be dew drops on flowers, the twittering of birds, or glimpses of the ocean, I take time to notice these things and I am happy.  

The surprising revelation that came to mind was that I do notice these things because 

I am happy  

This revelation made me think back to a time in my younger life when I didn't notice these things, I never took notice and I don't remember feeling happy.......because I wasn't.  I was sad and life was sad.

My life has come a long way since those days. I have a loving husband, two beautiful children, fantastic family, I am surrounded by wonderful friends, I see the ocean every day (more on that to come!)  and most importantly of all I have happiness within...

To see the wonderment of life, the beauty in our surrounds and the calmness and tranquility nature offers, you must have that happiness within. Let it grow and glow, don't suppress it and make it dull, let it shine! Let it sit up and be seen.  

No one thing or person can make you happy.  

YOU must make YOU happy.  

YOU must nurture YOU.  

YOU must grow the happiness on the inside.

YOU must let YOU shine!

100 Happy Days - Day 92

Blowing bubbles is so much fun.  

Today my children and I set up two big trays of bubble solution and blew thousands of bubbles!  

Lots of giggles, lots of fun and lots of happiness.

100 Happy Days - Days 77 - 91

Lots of happy moments over the past few weeks and  my birthday amongst it all.  My birthday was celebrated surrounded by family and close friends, lots of laughs and great company.

One of my major moments of happiness during this time has also been the sense of relaxation and comfort I have finally felt in our new home.  I have now settled in and our new house feels like home.

When we moved life was a bit of a rush, not only did we buy a new house and move, but we also sold our former house at the same time with a very quick settlement period.  The first few weeks of living in our new house were a mixture of work, school, and busy weekends whilst we were clearing out the old house, ready for takeover as well as unpacking and setting up our new home.  I think because we were so busy, I took awhile to relax into our new home and I didn't really feel settled.  

Within the last week, our old house was taken over by the new owners and I had some time on the weekend where myself and my family were able to sit and relax in our new home and not rush about like we have been lately.  

There's nothing better than snuggling up on the couch with your children, having a yummy lazy Sunday morning breakfast or a soak in the tub to help you settle in and enjoy your new home.

100 Happy Days - Days 64 - 76

The last 2 weeks for me have been not just busy, but crazy busy.  I find that during times like this I don't always post blogs, use the internet or go on facebook and I'm ok with that. Truth be told I actually find the lack of contact with technology quite relaxing in itself.

Being more than half way through the 100 Happy Days Challenge I can see that it has helped cement behaviours into my normal every day life that I wanted.  The ability and sense to stop and take a moment to realise happiness in what ever form it may appear has become a normal habit and is now second nature.  

So although the last two weeks have been crazy, I know that I have taken the time and enjoyed happy moments and I have found that I feel more thankful for them, I guess I appreciate them more now that my awareness has been switched on.

I am finding that at the end of each day, regardless of how stressful the day may have been, when I lay down in bed and start preparing my body for sleep, my last moments of reflection are a replay of what I felt was the happy moment for the day.

Whether it be remembering the sweet smell of a flower, the love and warmth in my child's smile, or laughter shared with another, falling asleep wrapped up in happiness (and a warm doona), beats stress each and every time.

100 Happy Days - Day 63

Today's happiness comes in the form of a two hour yoga session, an early birthday present from my closest friend.

I am a huge fan of yoga and believe strongly in its wonderful benefits for your mind, body and soul.  To date the yoga I have practiced has always been of the more gentle and relaxing nature known as Hatha and these sessions usually last for about an hour.

I have always wanted to try the more vigorous forms of yoga such as Bikram or Vinyasa and tonight I was lucky enough to do so.  The session was also complimented with a live musician who created some wonderful energy and vibrations allowing participants to really "get lost" in their poses and feel everything they needed to feel.

I have to admit I was a little concerned as to whether or not I could last two hours, but I did.  In fact when we finished, both my friend and I couldn't actually believe that it had been two hours.  

I finished the session feeling relaxed, exhausted (the good kind), well and truly stretched and totally reconnected with my "sun salutation".

100 Happy Days - Days 58, 59, 60,61 & 62

Day 58

Another great sunny day and a fantastic run.

Day 59

A neighbours pretty garden.  I went for a quick walk today after work.  We have recently moved and I was walking down a street I had not been in before.  I came across a pretty garden full of colourful flowers and sweet smelling roses, it was a lovely way to finish off my walk.

Day 60

A crisp morning.  This morning it was really fresh, however, the sky was blue.  I particularly love these types of mornings.  The crispness in the air fills your lungs and lets you know you are alive and that beautiful blue sky lets you know its going to be fantastic day.

Day 61

A bbq for tea.  Today the weather was beautiful and sunny.  Tonight for tea we decided to have a bbq.  The food was great and the atmosphere was relaxed.  Bliss!

Day 62

"Good morning" cuddles.  I love them and they are a perfect way to greet the day.

100 Happy Days - Days 55 - 57

Day 55
Lunch with work friends, outside in the fresh air.

Day 56

This week I ended my busy working week with a quick run with my closest friend.  It was a beautiful, calm and sunny end to the day.  Running along our foreshore, taking in the magnificent views of the ocean and spending quality time with my friend truly is happiness.

Day 57

Watching the breeze move through our trees.  Today there was a bit of wind around, I love watching it weave its magic as it makes it way through our trees.  If you've read my other posts, then you will know that I am a huge tree lover.  I find it very relaxing to take a few minutes, be calm and watch as the breeze pushes branches and leaves to and from as well as to listen to the rustle and whisper that the breeze makes when doing this.  In life it's the small things that count.  Stop, relax and take time to notice and enjoy your environment.

100 Happy Days - Day 50 - 54

Day 50

Today I am happy because it's Day 50 and I'm half way through the challenge.  When I first started the 100 Happy Days Challenge I remembered thinking to myself that 100 days was a lot and I doubted whether or not I would stick to the challenge and make it through the whole 100 days.  Although 50 days is still a distance from the finish line, I am happy that I have made it this far and still going strong.

Day 51

A wonderful compliment made my day.  I have been on the good old "weight loss" journey.  I'm in no hurry and am taking my time, losing bit by bit, nice and steady.  Losing weight is hard and sometimes you can get stuck in a rut and get a little slack.  I have just come off one of those times and have kick started myself back into gear.  Today I received a compliment on how good I was looking.  This compliment was totally unexpected, absolutely lovely and helpful in keeping me positive and focused on my goal.

Day 52

Sharing in a friends good news.  Happiness shared is happiness doubled.

Day 53

A walk in the sunshine and a play at the park with my children.  After a busy day at work, nothing beats fun and happiness with your kids.

Day 54

Tonight whilst standing in my backyard a beautiful parrot flew past.  I actually heard it's loud chirping as it whirred past my head and looked up to see bright red outstretched wings and a blue body swoosh past me.  I love birds, I love their sense of freedom as they soar high up in the sky.  Tonight I stopped and took notice of the parrot and it made me instantly feel relaxed and happy.

100 Happy Days - Day 49

Walking along on my way to work this morning I stumbled across a lovely little patch of strawberry clover in bloom.  The grass was glistening in the morning sun, covered with a light smattering of morning dew and the strawberry clover looked soft and pretty.  How easy is it to walk on by, rushing to get to work and not take notice of a sweet little spot of nature.  Today I am happy that I took the time to notice.

100 Happy Days - Days 44 - 48

Day 44

Oh Sunday how I love you.  The second day of the weekend - happiness!

Day 45

A caring and thoughtful mother-in-law (Nan).  Today was day one of moving into our new home.  My wonderful mother-in-law, knowing that I would be busy with the move made plans to cook tea for us tomorrow night and also cooked tea for us tonight.

Day 46

Our first meal in our new home, made by Nan and shared around our new dining table.

Day 47

Organising the new house.  It's so much fun getting things in place, decorating and making your new house feel like a home.

Day 48

A huge good morning hug from a work colleague was a fantastic way to start my day.  As I was walking along the corridor to my office, my work colleague Julie was making her way along, she looked up and smiled at me, opened her arms wide and said "come here and start your day with a hug".  It was fantastic! We stopped and chatted for a few moments and then finished off with another hug.....I love hugs, so two in the morning before I'd even started work for the day was bliss, it was also nice to share a peaceful and caring moment with someone I like. I think sometimes we forget to do this.

100 Happy Days - Days 30 - 33

Day 30

I have to confess that today was a bit of a challenge in the 100 Happy Days.  Today was flat out with lots to get done, always racing the clock and worrying that it might not be achieved.  Happiness today was the moment when I lay in bed, stretch, relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.  The day was finishing and yes I had got it all done.

Day 31

A quick afternoon Tea with some work colleagues.  Work has been crazy lately so it was nice to take time out and relax with other staff members as well as have a few laughs.

Day 32

Visiting our new house for final inspection.  It's nearly moving time.

Day 33

A Saturday morning sleep-in!  

Our house has been on the market for nearly 2 months.  Open houses have been early Saturday mornings and boy have I missed one of my most favourite things.....a sleep in.   This morning I woke up early, remembered I had the morning off and rolled over, snuggled my doona and fell back to sleep.....ah bliss!!

100 Happy Days - Day 29

So I couldn't help but laugh at this:

100 Happy Days - Day 28

This post on Facebook made me happy today:

100 Happy Days - Day 27

A 5km Fun Run for charity. I haven't run much this year due to a niggling injury, so I was quite nervous leading up to this run.  I used to run longer distances than this, but for the past few months have felt very out of practice.

So what better way to dust off the cobwebs than a run for charity.  The Leila Rose Foundation provides assistance to families affected by rare childhood cancers.   The community spirit was soaring high this morning and it felt wonderful to take part in something so special as well as stretch out the old body.

100 Happy Days - Day 26

Fantastic weather today, the sun was out and what better way to celebrate it than a walk along the beach promenade with my bestie, her cheeky dog (my favourite dog in the world) and my son.

100 Happy Days - Day 25

This morning I woke to the sound of rain.  We have had really horrible weather lately, lots of cold icy wind and so much rain.  Normally after a lot of bad weather, waking to the sound of rain can be a little depressing, thoughts of "oh not another terrible day" can run through your head.  

This morning as I lay in bed listening to the rain, my thoughts weren't negative.  I lay there, I breathed and I relaxed.  It was lovely and peaceful laying there listening to the rain and taking a few moments to just be calm.  

What a great way to start the day!

100 Happy Days - Days 23 & 24

Day 23

My daughters birthday.  Family and close friends together.  Balloons, streamers, cake and presents. Laughter, fun and lots of giggles, the perfect recipe for happiness.

Day 24
Happiness today is an electric heated throw rug, it's stormy and freezing and I love being warm.

100 Happy Days - Day 22

Thanks to my friend for sharing a link on anxiety where I read the following:

Mindfulness is both a set of practices and a way of thinking about life that is based on Buddhist traditions that are 3,000 years old. Being mindful means having a gentle, open and accepting attitude toward your own experiences and surroundings, whatever those may be. As Eckhart Tolle, a writer and spiritual teacher, once stated: “Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.” Meditating, focusing on your breath, or taking a nature walk and focusing on the sights, smells, and sounds are good ways to learn how to be mindful. Mindfulness creates a spaciousness of mind that allows emotions to be there without clinging to them.

 

 

A wonderful reminder, thank you.

100 Happy Days - Day 21

Time alone with my husband. 

 

As working parents you can be guilty of failing to find the time to be alone together.  Daily life is filled with the fun and excitable chatter of children, the rush to get ready for school and work, the end of day routine, making tea, reading school readers etc etc.

 

Today I was lucky enough to have some time alone with my husband and it was nice.

100 Happy Days - Days 19 & 20

Day 19 

Mr Willy Wag Tail.  We have a lovely little Willy Wag Tail that lives in our front garden. He's adorable and flits around from tree to tree, sits on our front fence and happily wags his little tail to and fro.  I love to sit in the lounge and look out our big front window and watch him fly about.

Day 20 

19 load and excitable little children having a blast at a birthday party. Busy and crazy, but so much fun.