A colorful table with a bouquet of flowers deserves notice. That’s because in this dreary world where everyone agrees that the country is a mess but we’re all divided regarding why, we need more than ever to celebrate the small stuff.
A pop of color here and there, little bits of beauty, and small doses of positivity may be what’s standing between you and the loss of your mental well being.
Turn off the news, stop reading comments and memes, and start snoozing people on Facebook who stress you out. They do not deserve your energy. I have no problem leaving rooms where I do not belong because I would rather be alone than feel preached at or bullied. I would rather keep my circle small than be with people who judge the world and me using their narrow views as guide.
My cat and I are good pals and he has never once ruined my day.
Look for the good stuff – the new music, the volunteers who are improving your community, the sunsets, and the flowers in the window. If you can’t find anything good, maybe it’s time you take matters into your own hands.
Become the volunteer, plant the flowers, adopt a pet, share a meal with a friend, stand outside and watch the new day dawn because living to see a brand new day is worth celebrating.
Do something useful in this world. Even if you are the only person who notices. It’s the only way things will get better.
The premise of this blog space is in the title: Make The Journey Fun.
That’s not to say that every day is fun or that it’s an adventure. That’s to say that we have a choice each day – enjoy it or don’t. However, life is much better when you make an effort to enjoy it.
I live my life by a number of keys to happiness. One is that you should always have something to look forward to and another is that you have to make the best of where you are right now. Obviously, making the best of your circumstances isn’t easy if you’re sick, unemployed or facing the death of someone important to you. However, most of us aren’t spending our average days facing these circumstances. Instead, most of us are facing first world problems that make life harder like the neighbor is a jerk or something on the news bothered you. Why let these things ruin our day? It’s all just part of the journey.
It’s about 5:40 on Sunday night. The heat broke with the rain Friday and we have had a few cooler days. The windows are open and a cricket in a nearby butterfly bush has been serenading me all day. Homemade granola cools in the pan while Scout wanders from one window to the next, breathing the fresh September air.
This day has gone far too quickly as Sundays often do. However, it has been a good one. I slept in and did some chores. I finished a book and selected the next. I finally made it through the stack of mail that has been accumulating on the counter and sketched out a new budget that still needs some work. A late afternoon shower left me feeling clean and refreshed. Laundry is done for the week and leftovers are stacked up in the fridge for tomorrow’s lunch.
Life is pretty good.
This time last week I was adventuring through Philadelphia with a friend, soaking in history, art and stories from another time. Life was pretty good then too.
You see? Adventure makes life better. A quiet day at home makes life better too. Tomorrow takes me back to work. This is less thrilling but it’s a good job that allows me to have a life that I can enjoy. After work, I look forward to coming home to my cat to do a few chores and settle in with a book.
Life can’t always be a fun adventure but it’s up to you to decide how good or fun the normal days will be. Not sure how to adjust your attitude? Start giving yourself something small to look forward to every day. Some candidates might be your first cup of morning coffee, a walk after work with a friend, a trip to the library, a pan of homemade (from the box, of course) brownies or a package you ordered from Etsy.
These things can cost money or be free. They can be big or teeny tiny acts of kindness toward yourself. These are the things that make life better. These are the things that make the journey more enjoyable and these are the things that can even make the journey fun. Don’t believe me? Give it a whirl and see what happens.
I wrote something for today but it was fueled by exhaustion. I’m long overdue for a vacation or maybe just a good night’s sleep. While I ruminate over whether or not I want to publish a piece that’s kind of personal but that would likely resonate with many of you, I give you this one very small suggestion.
Do yourself a favor.
Step away from all the screens in your life. Turn off the tv. Put down your phone. Step away from your computer.
Now read something. Anything that is printed on a tangible piece of paper. A novel for escapism, a non-fiction book for education or a printed newspaper for the sake of understanding something that is happening in the world around you.
Ask questions. Be curious. Seek to understand what doesn’t meet the eye. Do something that will make you smarter or happier or just better informed than you’ll be with the garbage fed to you by social media and televised opinions that are masqueraded as news.
If you don’t want to do this, walk outside. Go for a hike, hit the swings at the park, wave to your neighbors from your front porch.
I honestly don’t care what you do. Just find a way to either better your mind or to ground yourself in the outdoors.
It may not make sense to you at this moment but it may after you have done it.
The overnight temperature on my ridgetop dropped to 59 degrees overnight. I don’t care if it is still hot during the day: it’s time to start gathering up the fall movies and books, begin working on indoor decor for fall and to embrace pumpkin spice and everything nice.
Call it jumping the gun if you will but it is time for change.
Friends, I am tired. I’m tired of being hot. I’m sick of summer blockbusters at the movie theater. I’m over my summer wardrobe and I’ve had enough of poison ivy and bugs.
I’m over it all and ready to move forward into a season where the sun doesn’t hurt your skin and where the humidity doesn’t take your breath away. I’m ready for boots and comfy sweaters. I’ll take When Harry Met Sally with a side of potato soup and some homemade cookies, please.
Friends, I want to be cold and then I want to curl up with a soft, fuzzy blanket and be warm and happy. I want to sniff cinnamon while reading an Alice Hoffman book with her patented mystic style and beautiful prose. I want to stomp through a pile of fallen leaves.
To be clear, I understand that it’s still summer and that we will be punished by summer’s heat for a while longer (like a month and a half longer).
I understand that it’s too early for blankets and pumpkins but that’s ok because my mental health says it’s time.
If summer is your thing, I hope you go stand outside and soak in all the heat you can absorb. Treat yourself to a slushie and chase those lightning bugs. Live it up!
Meanwhile, I’ll be admiring my scarves and pulling out fall decor!
A word to the wise though. As we approach fall, please remember the infamous words of Linus in the classic cartoon It’s A Great PumpkinCharlie Brown.
I wrote a story for today about idiot tourists who do stupid things and get hurt in state parks near me.
If you think that line reads a little harsh, you should read the story. But you won’t read it because the voice of Bambi’s little bunny friend Thumper rattled through my brain and told me not to publish it.
Remember Thumper? He famously said “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say nuthin’ at all.”
Thumper is more or less the voice of my conscience sometimes. And that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes we need to express the negative thing just to let it out and let it go. Trust me, if you hold on to the litany of gripes and grievances you have, odds are good you will explode for all the wrong reasons and at exactly the wrong moment.
Or perhaps just spontaneously combust. Either way, it’s messy.
So, type the thing for your own sanity and then delete the thing for your own well being.
Instead of the angry things I had to say about sightseers who don’t obey rules in dangerous places, I will say this:
1. If you’re a hiker or are someone going for a hike and aren’t sure what to expect, please remember to stay on the designated trails and follow other posted rules.
2. Above, you’ll find a pretty picture from my drive home two nights ago when I saw more bunnies, squirrels and deer than you can shake a stick at. Although, I don’t know why anyone would want to shake a stick at them- especially the half dozen little fawns we saw, all of which still had their spots!
Have a good day, friends. Remember, let go of the negativity sometimes and embrace the beautiful sunsets when you can!
It’s amazing what a few days away will do for the human mind and spirit. I was nearing the end of my rope last week when I finally got in the car with my fella and drove off in search of adventure.
This long weekend took us to Cleveland where we met friends to admire beautiful objects at the Cleveland Museum of Art. We shopped at seven bookstores, ate too much, toured the Christmas Story House and searched for nature in a place where there was little peace to be found.
There are so many stories to tell that collecting my thoughts may take a minute. That’s part of the fun, of course. While I am happy to sit and rest at home, I struggle to sit still when I travel. After all, I didn’t go all that way to do nothing! So I do all the things I can squeeze in, always striving to see what’s around the next bend.
Consequently, I come home with many fun memories to keep me satisfied until the next adventure.
Come back tomorrow and we’ll get started sifting through all the things that may inspire you to set off on your own adventure!
