Happiness & Value Definition

The Happiness Project is one of my favorite blogs (see my last entry!). But it's not always "on happiness"--well, maybe it is, but sometimes in a more roundabout way.

Anyway, today's blog was on the definition of character, and it hit especially close to home since I've been enjoying trying to clarify my values--off and on--over the past month.

Two things in particular:

1. It confirmed in my mind how hard it is to define values because we all come to the table with different life experiences (I know the definitions weren't academic, but even so...maybe particularly so). For example, my father would have failed miserably if society defined character by whether one was a drinker--but they would have been wrong! On the other hand, several of those definitions could be good indicators of character. And that is a window into the beauty of the world we live in.

2. Some of those definitions sure did make me rethink some things as to my own character/nature...somehow I think that treating people better leads to happier self and happier people around the self. Now there's an idea! And something positive to work on!

I hope you take a moment to read the blog and maybe even come up with your own definition (or, better yet, self evaluate!).

Happy Value Hunting! (Hmmm. I just noticed that all the capital letters in my title are HVD: so early Happy Valentine's Day!)

Twists on a Common Practice: New Year's Resolutions

I find it beneficial to really look at myself and my potential at least once a year (be it January, June, or October) and write down some life goals. This pursuit is undertaken with one understanding: Life is a journey, not a destination - so if I don't make real headway until six months from now (or even in a year or two), that's okay. I've written them down because it's important to me to keep the goals in sight, not to torture myself that I said I'd do them and haven't yet.

Some years I write them down just like a New Year's Resolution List--even title it as such. But this year, I came across two twists on this practice that I like better than the "Resolution List".

The first a list of your own commandments--a list of phrases, words, and insights that will help you to be your best self (see http://www.happinessproject.typepad.com/). Below is just the beginning of my list...

1. Know Thyself, but more than that: Be Thyself.
2. Low hanging fruit does not make the best pie.
3. See perfection for what it is: unattainable. (And that’s okay.)
4. Seek out meaningful human relationships.
5. Ask questions.

The second is "Forget New Year's Resolutions, Make 52 New Week's Resolutions" by CurtRosengren. I'm sure this is much like Stephen Covey's 7th Habit - Sharpen the Saw. But what always stresses me about the "Sharpen the Saw" when I'm thinking about change is that I don't feel ready to tackle several parts every week (at least not in the beginning). So this is more free form and freeing to me.

So those are my New Year's Tools. Here's to a year of new journeys for everyone--enjoy the path!

Anguish Language Supporters?*

Big surprise...I love words (and phrases!). What I love even more is when society is called out for misusing them. Mainly because it can be funny stuff--or at least mildly amusing. (And thanks, Mom, for many amusing years--I promise I'll start that "collection" of your best catch phrases one day!)

So, it should be no surprise to you that I truly enjoy this university's humorous raking of our language choices. "Winner of five nominations" is my personal favorite. Enjoy the nonsense (or is it, now?)!

http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php

*Disclaimer: Supporters of the Anguish Language do not search for misuse. They are more interested in the economy of language, among other things (see http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/anguish.html#Introduction). But don't you think this Banished Language List furthers the SPAL cause!?

'Tis the Season!

About 10 years ago, I got a wonderful "Twelve Days of Christmas" gift*--a mold for a gingerbread house! Dad thought it would be a fun tradition to start (he was all about TRA - DI - TION!). And I was so excited!

Days later, I found myself in tears just trying to put the thing together--with help!! We would put one piece up and try to hold it while we attached the other with our glue (i.e., royal icing). Hold it a little more so it would "stick". And just as we would go to get another piece because the first two were standing, there would be this light thud. Needless to say, this gift offered a lesson in patience & endurance!

Many years later--as I put together a house in a matter of minutes, deftly with one hand tied behind my back--I believe this is my favorite Christmas tradition. It helps to awaken in me the enjoyment of the holidays...'it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.'

Enjoy GB08! Thanks, Clint, for helping with the snowman by making his body parts! And, Mom, you're the best for cutting all of my roof tiles; that was a (st)icky job!

*For those of you who don't know...Mom and Dad's anniversary was December 13th, and since that was 12 days from Christmas, Dad started a tradition of giving Mom something each day, culminating in her big Christmas Day gift! I was lucky enough to be gifted from time to time, as well.

Morning snow? SNOW DAY!

What do we do in the south when we get a couple of inches of snow on the ground early in the morning? Call a snow day! My next door neighbor Kristen and I sat on our porch and had coffee (AND FROZE), enjoying the beauty of snow.


At almost noon today (see below), I imagine we could go along with our business. But we'd most likely make a true tangle of traffic. So here's to snow in South Louisiana! (Cause in a few days it'll be 70 degrees again.)
























































8:30 this morning.













And the same scene just before noon!

Book Geek Alert!

I don't know why, but I think this blog is sooo cool. Be sure to check out the lemur eyes book. It's eerie (and oddly inviting) -- must be some kind of marketing tool to lure you to buy it...
http://nytimesbooks.blogspot.com/

On Dreams

(an adaptation of an entry from my Scrapbook Journal project)

A smattering of dreams -- past and present:
Occupation: Famous singer. Live in NYC. Ride a train through Europe. Win an Oscar for Best Screenplay. Be credited with positively restructuring our education system.

Dreams give us wings, enabling us to define our desires and passions--and, thus, ourselves. I believe few of life's acheivements or failures (and their subsequent lessons and experiences) come about without dreams tied to them...

So I was surprised one day when I realized that my life, while pleasant enough, was FLAT. I looked around and found a missing link: I HAD NO DREAMS--nothing to propel me forward. I was living my days simply as they came at me and not molding them into what I might want them or my life to be like. Dreams were simply memories of my youth when I still believed I could be whoever, whenever.

How wrong I was. For dreaming has a way of finding you if you keep your mind open long enough (truthfully, it doesn't entail keeping your mind open very long). And it quickly found me again.

Now, I'm still reformulating some of my old dreams--and finding new ones: i.e. I haven't yet realized my dreams--but I'm there, exploring the sparks and following to see where they lead. AND I know that the fruits of a dream are of the maker--at whatever age--and with a little effort I can be whoever, whenever.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. In the long run, we really do shape our own lives; and then together we shape the world around us. The process never ends until we die." - Eleanor Roosevelt