time machine happy

For week seven of The Happy Book, Jamie Ridler asks us to make a time capsule list that we could go back to in the future. What a great idea...reminds me of the sporatic journals that I have kept since I was old enough to really express myself in writing. I think I was glamored by television in which all young girls kept locked diaries. I always dreamed that someone would find, read and fall in love with my diary some time in the future. I have the same feelings about writing a blog or an article. I think that it is a great idea to leave yourself a future message. So many reasons to try this... helps with potential future loss of memory, captures your legacy, valuable if you get famous, makes your mark on the world in case you are forgotten or a way for someone else to connect with someone like you when they really need a connection at that time in their life.

Who reads these things anyways?

For this time capsule I thought I would write a few lines. I will eventually forget all about this post and probly read it years later. Hey... that is the point of this exercise, right!

Today is Thanksgiving Monday October 11, 2010 and I have spent the day hanging out with our little pug. We went for a walk and met the other local neightbourhood pug for the first time, it was love at first sight. This week I cried as my friend's pug JC passed away in his sleep, just shy of his 16th birthday. Fall is here in beautiful Toronto and I can smell winter upon the breeze. The Canada Geese have started to gather in the Humber valley to plan their trip south. I have been tackling homework for a course that is not my strength and feeling quite frustrated about not understanding the content. I am waiting for my husband to come home and just cleaned our lovely kitchen. I need to mail the package to my fairy-godchildren in B.C. and should get an oil change before our trip to Indiana this weekend.I love my job and my life and feel great after spending the holiday with my family on Sunday.  I am trying to figure out how to get more creativity in my life these days and how it is possible to love one man and one dog so much.

happy to the power of five

The Happy Book asks us to write a bio about what we will be doing in five years from now.
Honestly, if nothing changed from how my live is at this moment, I would still be so very happy. I tried to write a bio and really, everything was the same. Sure, I may like to move out of the city but other than that, fundamentally, I want to have all I have now.
The truth is that I try to enjoy every moment that I have day to day, minute to minute. I can be really hard at times but I try. I once attended a yoga philosophy lecture (I can't even remember who said this) and the speaker said something that I thought was so amazing. He (she) said that the past does not exist; the future does not exist; the only thing that we have, the only thing that exists is the present. Moment to moment. It all seemed a little clearer to me at that present moment.
So I was awakened to the fact that this simple statement could help me in so many situations. Take these common challenges...

1. Don't dwell on the past - you can't change it as it is gone. Only memories remain
2. This too shall pass - all horrible moments will pass so don't hold onto them; all great moments will also pass so hold on to those ones
3. Don't get wrapped up in the "what ifs" - "what ifs" are in the future and are not with you yet
4. Focus on the present, enjoy the now, stop to smell the roses - that existing present will be the past soon enough so get as much out of the present as you can
5. Don't sweat the small stuff - if you focus on the present, image how much lighter you will feel

So, if I could write my bio for five years from now I hope to be as happy and as content as I am today. Life is so great what ever my path is.

a playlist in time

For week four of the Happy Book, we were tasked with creating a dance playlist. Again, harder to do than you think. What music makes you dance? For some of us it is many different types of music. What moves me may not move you.
This exercise does a few things. It shows you a little glimpse into me. It also may stir some faves in you. It reminds me of the connection that we have with music. Finally, it reminds me to accept the difference in others. As I peek into the playlists of others, I giggle, relate and also scratch my head! No judgement, but I would love to hear stories about why we pick the songs we do. Our differences make us stand out but also create our synergies. I love it!
I have listed the songs that move me  shoulders (!) at this very moment in time. For me, each has a serious emotional connection or memory. Not just about the great music but much deeper.
Here is my sample playlist...
(I could not get the player link to work!)

Oh My God - Ida Maria
Wannabe in LA - Eagles of Death Metal
Chick Habit - April March
Monster Hospital (Mstrkrft Remix) - Metric
Song Away - Hockey
Satisfaction - The Stones
Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield
Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
Daft Punk is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem
Johnny Come Home - Fine Young Cannibals
Shake the Disease - Depeche Mode

happier

For week three of the Happy Book, we are asked to write about the people we are grateful for. At first, I found this hard, then I couldn't stop thinking of people that I feel gratitude towards.
It started with thanking my 3 closest girlfriends for helping me with my wedding 6 years ago. Each one brought their personal touch and strength into the day and this week I have been thinking about how lucky I was to have them in my life. I also feel very thankful to have the most supportive and loving husband in the world. Every moment of every day I think the universe for him. It is amazing when you find someone that loves you completely and through everything. I also found myself feeling gratitude towards someone I never met. I was named after my mom's sister who died after a very short battle with cancer at the age of 2. When I see pictures of her I image being close to her now if she had been given the chance to grow and be my auntie. I image that she would be my favorite aunt.
I try to take a moment everyday to feel gratitude for something; anything. Amazing who the universe can give us in so many forms to be grateful for.