We all are in need of some serious fun! Isolation and this pandemic have gone on for too long. What can we do to help our mental attitude? Every day when you wake up smile and make a simple plan for something that you find to be fun, play a game, play with your children or pets and laugh. Or spend time outside and enjoy the beauty of nature, breathe and smile. Or call or text someone, and laugh, but never make fun of anyone but yourself!
The Actions for Happiness calendar has ideas for connecting. Make it fun!
The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness.” — Maya Angelou
Listen to people, smile and connect
Happy February, the days are longer, it will warm up this month and the celebration of Valentines Day! It is exciting that after almost a year some schools are going back to in-person learning. The challenge of many this month is to get vaccinated from COVID, and I wish you luck!
February is also important for Black History Month. How can we all work for a more just and equitable world?
The Action For Happiness calendar follows with ideas to challenge you to stay connected. Lets all renew some friendships, and challenge ourselves to spend more healthy time outside.
Make February a good month, and live it with passion!
On this 50th anniversary of Earth Day let’s celebrate our Earth. We ate all in this together, and it’s a wonder how interconnected we all are. Who would think the entire planet could work in solidarity for one thing, healing! Our forced isolation has begun to heal the Earth. The air is clearing, the waterways resting, and wildlife is happy to have quiet and some of their habitat back.
Our Earth is an amazing place, and on this Earth Day think about the wonders of our beautiful planet.
Wonders of our Earth
“There’s wonder everywhere, if only you look for it. Look for it. It might be in a tree outside your window, in the patch of sky you can see if you crane your neck, in the herbs you’re growing, in the nest the swans are building on that open stretch of marsh across the street.” Sam Sifton NYT
All these wonders are connected. We can make the world a better place when we work together in solidarity. Can something good come of this awful crisis? May science, justice and kindness transform our world into a new beginning. Take 3 breaths for peace, and celebrate wonder on this Earth Day!
Collective action can create a healthier and happier world.
What ever your spiritual practice, nature can heal us. Today find beauty and love whether through the gospel, through a poem or picture, time outside or a meditation. Dare to dream. Spend the day doing what you love and finding beauty in your day. If the weather permits go for a long walk. What do you love? how can you have more of what you love in your life? Find beauty from your walk or from your window. Wishing you peace.
Unplug today! Your Daily Good is to spend a day without screens! Can’t make it a whole day for one reason or another? We get it. What about an afternoon or even an hour? Spend the day doing something you love. I hope that is time outdoors with no phone.
Welcome to February!
See the Actions for Happiness calendar below. I’m wishing you kindness and happiness in February.
Friends are the sunshine of Life!
March 20th is the International World Happiness Day. This year, 2018, Finland has been declared the world’s happiest country. Read about it here. Finland is followed by Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. It amazes me that these cold Nordic countries tip the balance of happiness, obviously there is a lot more than long dark winters for happiness! These countries that are more environmentally savvy and conscious and consistently top the list of greenest countries. Clean air, clean water, renewable energy, and reducing plastic pollution are their way of life.
Happiness suggestions from me and Actionforhappiness.org
1. Do things for others and volunteer your time
2. Take care of your body, go for a walk, eat fruits and vegetables
3. Pay attention and live your life mindfully
4. Learn new things, and lose yourself in something you love
5. Have goals or things to look forward to
6. Everything won’t go the way you want, but happy people bounce back and are resilient
7. Look for what is good and smile
8. Accept yourself, be comfortable with yourself and who you are
9. Be part of something bigger than just yourself
10. Get outside and enjoy our world! 11. Listen and be thankful!
“Every aspect of our lives is, in a sense, a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.” Francis Moore Lappe
Love our earth
What better week than Valentine’s week to show love for our earth. Take the 10 for 10 challenge. Can you score a perfect 10 by completing these initiatives? Maybe you already do these things? Take a breath, slow down and think how you can positively make a difference. It’s easy, and I hope you learn something. Let me know how you do. Good luck!
Day 1 Go meatless, extra points if you also go vegan!
Day 2 Go plastic-free, no straws, plastic utensils, water bottles or containers, unless of course they are reusable.
Day 3, Reuse Day. Bring your lunch in a reusable containers, and remember your
Bring your own water bottle
reusable water bottle.
Day 4, Leave your car parked day. Walk, bike, car-pool or use public transit.
Day 5, Take a walk day. Enjoy the outside as you walk, listen for birds, the wind, water? What nature sounds do you hear?
White-throated sparrow
Day 6, Water-Use Day. Become aware every time you use water. Is there a way you can reduce your water use?
Day 7, Cut Food-waste Day, Clean out left-overs and produce. Make a soup, a stir fry or wraps with your left-overs.
Day 8, Chemical-Free Day. Use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, and shop for organic produce. Read about chemicals and air pollution here.
Day 9, Reusable-cup day. Bring your re-usable cup to the coffee shop, to meetings, and to work.
Day 10, Gratitude. Be thankful for our beautiful planet. What was the best thing about the past week? Could you complete 10 for 10?
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. and the world will live as one.” John Lennon
The sun is shining and the temperature is comfortable. There couldn’t be a better day to think positive! Celebrate Positive Thinking Day today, September 13. A day to smile, love, be kind, enjoy and show gratitude!
Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite days, and this year we need to clear our heads and celebrate harder than ever. We all can find something to love. Because I have a passion for our earth. My suggestions are about loving the earth. What do you love??
My suggestions for loving the earth today, tomorrow and forever.
Reduce your plastic use and always bring reusable shopping bags
Recycle, Recycle, and Recycle some more
Turn off lights and electronics
Buy Less and reuse what you have
Pick Up trash and litter. Any litter can end up in streams, lakes and oceans
Walk and use public transit. How many days can you go without a car?
Appreciate the beauty of the earth
Plant seeds of milkweed, cone flowers, bee balm, asters, and Liatris to bring butterflies birds and bees to your yard. And never use chemicals Happy Valentine’s Day
“In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship and never in want.” Celtic
“May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.” Celtic
Holiday blessings and wishes for all; Celtic and Irish blessings for the holiday season:
Six blocks of Christmas luminaries in my neighborhood
“Nollaig Faoi Shean Is Faoi Mhaise Dhuit” (Gaelic)
(pronounced) Knoll-ig f’wee haan ss f’wee shun-ah g-with
(translation) (A Christmas of Happiness and Joy to you)
(old Irish Saying)
“May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season, which is peace,
The gladness of the season, which is hope,
And the heart of the season, which is love.”
Irish blessing.
New Year Celtic Blessing
Slàinte maith, h-uile latha, na chi ‘snach fhaic!
Gun cuireadh do chupa thairis le slainte agus sonas.
A h-uile là sona dhuibh ‘s gun là idir dona dhuib.
Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Good health, every day, whether I see you or not! May your cup overflow with health and happiness. May all your days be happy ones. Happy New Year!
Health4earth 