Today I Will

Today I will practice being happier than a dog on a trampoline.



What will you do today to better your life?

Impossible Goals and Epic Searches

Impossible Goals

If you've ever read anything about goal setting, you've no doubt heard about SMART goals.

SMART stands for Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely. Basically, if the research is to be believed, all of your goals should meet this criteria. For example, your goal shouldn't be "I want to loose weight" because it's not simple, there's no time frame for accomplishing it and how do you measure it? When do you know if you've accheieved this goal? How do you know when you're done? You don't. A better goal would be, "I want to loose 10 pounds by August 30." See how much better that is? You know when you're done and you can measure your progress along the way, which keeps you motivated. Studies have shown that you are much more likely to succeed.

Now, SMART goals have their place. In fact, 99% of your goals should be SMART goals. But there is also a place for impossible goals. I believe everyone should have at least one impossible goal. Something unattainable, but no less worth the pursuit of it.

My impossible goal is to Know Everything.

Knowing everything is, of course, impossible. But my quest for infinite knowledge will make me an overall better and more interesting person. So why shouldn't I strive for that?

It's not simple, there's no time line, I can't measure it and by it's very nature it's not attainable. That's no reason not to try.

Epic Searches

There's probably a better name for this, but I can't think of it, so I'm going with Epic Searches.

So I'll start with a story that's not really all that interesting, but best explains what I'm getting at here.

As I'm sure I've mentioned, I work in a call center. One day, we got an e-mail that that informed us right in the subject that there was a Fun new Contest!!! going on. This prompted me to explain to my cynically like minded co-workers one of the things in life that I completely love - Things That Have to Tell You They are Going to be Fun.

If something has to tell you it's going to be fun, chances are it's stupid. There is a 99% probability that you are going to roll your eyes at it. And do I ever love a good eye roll.

My favourite part of it, though, is that this fact goes completely over the head of marketers who slather the word fun all over the packaging of their new awful product or managers that assure their underlings that this contest/meeting/holiday party/team building retreat will, in fact, be fun.

Guys, you are not fooling anyone.

This all lead to a discussion on a related thing I love: Foods that, on the label, have to assure you they are in fact a food. Often, I'm sure, there is some kind of legal reason for this distinction, but still, it makes me laugh. Take for instance, Potted Meat Food Product. I first head about this product years ago on The Sneeze, when Steve Reviewed it (sort of?). The word Meat and the fact that it's likely located in the food isle should be enough to alert you to the fact that this is a food product and not some kind of horrifying joke. But there it is, right on the label, in case you weren't quite sure.

Now, I've never eaten Potted Meat Food Product, so I'm not making any judgements on it's tastiness or about the people that choose to eat it. I just don't think I want to put anything into my body that has to tell me explicitly that it is food. Unless society has collapsed and/or there are zombies. In the choice between eating a Food Product and starving to death...well, you know.

Now, on to the epic search. I am on a quest. Maybe not a quest. I don't know. Anyway. I am in search of the ultimate product label - One that both proclaims that it is Fun and a Food Product. It is my dream that some day I will find such a product, and it will be glorious. My life wont be complete or anything, but it will make me furiously happy. And isn't that what life's all about?

Let's attempt to tie this all together, shall we?

The thing about impossible goals and epic searches is that they ensure that your life always has meaning and direction.

...that's not really worded well. Life always has meaning and direction, but we can't always see it. Maybe you work in a job that you hate, and although you've been working hard to change this fact it hasn't been going great and now you're depressed and just want to hide in bed. Or maybe you have real problems that I can't even begin to comprehend. Even the mildest of depressions can make regular goals seem pointless and impossible. The very point of impossible goals is that, while impossible, they are still worth pursuing. And your epic search gives you hope that, possibly, just around the next corner is something so epic that you can't help but jump for joy.

And when life is good? Working toward impossible goals and searching for things that make this weird world of ours a more wonderful and perplexing place just make things even better. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Happy Friday! How About Some Insane Gratitude?

There are things in my life that generally make me happy. Things like, My husband. And my kitty. And my hound. And other excellent things.

This is not a list for those things. 

This is a list for little things that have made me Over the Top Insanely Happy this week.

1. Right now I am using a Booze Popsicle as ice cubes in my rum and cola. Because I forgot to make ice today. But this is better than ice! Even though it's flavoured like fruit punch (and rum) and my Rum and Cola is flavoured like Rum and Cola...it's a little odd, but totally fun. 

2. Two people in the last week found my site by searching 'difference between alpaca and llama'. I hope they took my mom's advice to heart. It was, after all, excellent advice.

3. I saw a deer out back of my house the other morning. Deer are awesome!

4. That I'm feeling like writing again. As of just today. I just have not been able to piece words together into sentences recently. Seriously, I wrote a cover letter yesterday and it was the worst cover letter I've written since I learned how to properly write cover letters. It was horrifyingly bad, as opposed to my regular style that is just...hopefully not terrible. But still. Writing is good, not writing is bad.

What little things made your week brighter?

Little things I'm Loving

It's been a trying couple of weeks. I'm not going to get into all the gory details, but let's just say it's been pretty not great. And things don't exactly look up in the near future. That's why it's exactly the right time for a gratitude/love list. Won't you join me? Post your own in the comments or on your own site.

Here are some of the things I'm loving right now:

Apple Blossom Weekend: The Apple Blossom Festival is a yearly event here in the valley, and it's kind of a big deal. Although this year might lack some of my regular traditions, there's still Fireworks tomorrow night, parades on Saturday and general fun to be had by all. I took some vacation that has resulted in a four day weekend, so that's also something to put a little spring in my step.

Hearing this song on the radio this morning:



It's time to go old school. Yo.

(also, is it just me, or is this Hi Res version of that video a little unsettling? I like my 90s faded and slightly out of focus, thanks)

My husband, my kitty and my hound: They bring a lot of happiness to my world. I couldn't possibly say enough on this point, so I'll quit while I'm ahead.

Wildlife sightings: Birds in my bird feeder (and at my new hummingbird feeder!), chipmunks and pheasants my my front lawn and deer right across the street. It's been a busy spring in my neighbourhood!

Cheese: Who doesn't love cheese? That's an instant pick me up right there. Feeling blue? Eat some cheese.

Nicki Minaj: Like the rest of the world, I'm pretty obsessed with Nicki Minaj. There are a bunch of songs that I absolutely hate, aside from the parts that feature Nicki Minaj. Like this one:



Man do I ever hate this song. As I said though, except for the little bit with Nicki Minaj. To be fair though, I probably wouldn't hate it at all if it wasn't for the "L U V MADONNA" part. My hatred for it makes me a little crazy. The rest of the song is actually pretty ok.

Ok, Example two:



I just found this today. I'm generally not a Mariah Carey fan, but I find her tolerable most of the time. Overall, this song is pretty stupid. But then there's that part....

New recipes and kitchen experiments that work out: Cajun Mac and Cheese, slow cooker wrap filling, empanadas...Nothing to make you feel accomplished like new recipes that turn out excellently.

Fixing up my garden: Just about everything in my garden in perennial and very low maintenance, but my garden was a bit of a mess. Until last weekend. Old, dead plant parts cleared away, pulled out some weeds and added some new top soil - now it's more beautiful sanctuary, less recently abandoned house where the weeds are just beginning to reclaim their territory.

THIS:


Want more? Of course you do!


You will find yourself singing this all day now. You're welcome.

Have you ever been in this situation
Where you lost your keys and your mobile phone?
Oh Where me keys?
Oh Where me phone?
Oh Where me keys?
Oh Where me phone?

Speaking of Brittan's Got Talent...:







That was a lot of videos, I know.

Random stuff: The colour teal, wine, world history, reading, sunshine, LifeHacker, Pinterest, My favourite co-workers, snuggling.


...I'm feeling better already.

Laughing at Nothing

Image Link

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.  

                                                                  -Norm Papernick

Rethinking My Happiness Commandments

I’ve finally had the opportunity to read The Happiness Project. I’m a long time reader of the blog, so it was pretty exciting to read the book. Back at the beginning of 2010 I wrote some happiness commandments of my own, and I think it’s about time to rework them. When I go back and read the original list, they’re all still pretty relevant. In fact, there is only one I would get rid of. I'm adding a few, including Be Dee. Like the author, who’s first commandment is to Be Gretchen, I need to remind myself to be who I am, and that although I might want to like something (or thing I should like something), doesn’t mean I will like it. 

My Updated Happiness Commandments

• Be Dee
• Do Something
• Look Good, Feel Good
• Never Stop Learning
• Act how you want to feel
• Healthiness is Happiness
• Do it now, Don’t wait
• Change leads to Growth
• Spread joy, Knowledge and Love
• Be Grateful
• First things First
• Get Out There
• You Get One Life - This is it!

 Do Something is a big one for me. I always seem to have lots to do, but I get little accomplished. I procrastinate (which ties into Do It Now, Don’t Wait) and do nothing - or at least nothing useful - and things don’t get done. Which makes me feel awful and guilty. Do Something reminds me that if I’m going to waste time, by lets say watching the first two seasons of Cougar Town for the bazillionth time, I better be doing something useful at the same time. And that when I’m feeling bored, I should do something. Something is always better then nothing. 

So, anyway, that’s my happiness boosting efforts for today. Are you working on your happiness? Why not make some commandments of your own!

You've Got Choices

Photo by Gabriela Camerotti

You've got a lot of choices.  If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.  ~Steven D. Woodhull

Why Not Be Happy?

image by brennaval

"Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy."  -Cynthia Nelms

Welcome to 2010!

It's not only a new year, it's a new decade. Welcome to 2010! I love the new year. Everything seems so fresh and so clear. It's a perfect time to set some new goals, make some changes. Even if I don't stick to them, it always feels good at the time. All warm and fuzzy like. or whatever.

As usual, I have big plans. Big, grand, life altering plans. What it all boils down to though, is that I want to be happy. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? But I find myself feeling unhappy much of the time. The problem is that we have a hard time figuring out what is actually going to make us happy in the long run. We think we know, but we're often wrong. I've been reading a lot over at the Happiness Project, so I think I have a pretty good start on making 2010 the happiest year possible.

To get ready for my year of happiness, I've already been hard at work. I've compiled a list of commandments or whatever to guide me on my way. Things to keep in mind when I'm having a hard time with this whole happy thing. (Want to write your own commandments? I found these 6 tips to be immensely helpful)

My Happiness Commandments or Whatever

• Act how you want to feel
• Look good, Feel Good
• Healthiness is Happiness
• Do it Now, Don't wait
  
• Change Leads to Growth
  
• Do Something
  
• Never Stop Learning
• We are what we repeatedly do

This is the first step in my journey. I've got far to go, but there are no limits. And that makes me happy just thinking about it.

What are your goals, dreams and aspirations for the new year?

Look on the Bright Side: How to Find Happiness When Life is Making you Miserable

 (image: HaoJan)

Sometimes, life throws a lot of crap at you. Maybe you're in a job you hate, you're fighting with your spouse/mother/best friend/kid, and you're not getting enough sleep. Perhaps you're having major money troubles or you're sick. Maybe it's all of that as well as any other number of terrible things that can and do happen.
When things are going wrong and falling to pieces all around you, it's hard to keep a positive attitude. But there are things you can do that can help you on your way to a happier life.

Gratitude Lists

I know. Every person out there that is touting the power of positive thinking tells you to write gratitude lists. And all the skeptics out there roll their eyes. I know I did (and sometimes still do when I'm feeling cynical). But the reason that they push it so hard is that it works. On days when I'm feeling particularly miserable, I take some times to write down all of the things I'm grateful for, looking forward to and that just make me smile in some way. I always end up feeling at least a little bit better. Every little bit helps! Don't worry if some of the things on your list are silly or superficial. You don't have to share it with anybody if you don't want to (although, if you do feel like sharing, I recommend participating in Gala Darling's Things I Love Thursday - You could start tomorrow!). You'll quickly realize that even when your life sucks, there are still good things about it.

Learn Something New

Or take up a new hobby. Sometimes, you're miserable because you're stuck in a rut. Same thing, day in, day out. Why not sign up for a wood working class, join a unusual sports team or buy a book about bird watching? Anything to shake up your routine a bit. Maybe you'll find that thing that's missing from your life. Even if you don't, it's something to distract you for a little while. Which brings me to...

Distract Yourself

Read a book, watch a movie, hit the gym, blast some music, go for a walk, have coffee with a friend...just do something to get your mind off whatever it is that's making you miserable. You make think this is a temporary fix - and it is - but string enough of these small distracting moments together and you'll be living a richer, more interesting life, which is key to finding happiness.

Treat Yourself

If money is not the cause of your discontent, then a little retail therapy may be just what you need. Buy yourself that new espresso maker you've been eying, or perhaps you need a new jacket for the coming cool weather. You're worth it - just don't go overboard or spend outside your means. Even if you're low on funds, there are still plenty of ways to treat yourself. If you've got a sweet tooth, you're in luck, because there are tons of inexpensive things to treat yourself with. Think ice cream, your favorite chocolate bar or a single cupcake from a local bakery. If you're looking for something a less...caloric, check out second hand stores or clearance racks (ps: I LOVE clearance racks!) to find something awesome that's more in your price range (at the very least, some of the truly horrific things that get pushed to the clearance racks are good for a laugh!). If free is closer to your price range, don't fret! You can still treat yourself. Maybe you like bubble baths or bike rides. Also, check out free local events for a little pick me up. For example, a vineyard/winery near me has free wine tasting events. I've never been, but it sounds like fun!

Help Someone Else

Give and you shall receive. Or something. Whatever, one thing is for sure, helping other people makes us feel good about ourselves. I'll bet there is some sort of scientific, psychological reason for this, but I'm sure I don't know what it is. It doesn't really matter though, what matters is this is a win-win situation - someone gets the help they need, and you feel better. You don't have to go out and build houses for the homeless or feed the hungry- but those are certainly good ideas! Something as simple as watching a friend's kid so they can get some errands done, or helping your dad rake the lawn will work, and I know they'd appreciate it.

Smile

Does smiling really make us feel happier? Who knows. But it can't hurt, right?


This is just the beginning. There are a million and one ways out there that you can choose to start feeling happier today. What are some of your tricks and suggestions for finding a little joy in life?