Do What Makes You Happy

37/365 Days of Happiness: Do What Make You Happy

I have a couple of heart-wrenching disappointments last year. I lost focus of more important things in life. It's a misguided pursuit of happiness. Big mistake! It took a while before I recovered. It's one memory lanes I would not want to walk back into.

What's important is there is something good in all that has happened. First, I realized how insignificant I am in the scheme of things, a tiny speck in the universe. Paradoxically, I also realized that, insignificant I may be, I can influence people. My choice was clear. I could go on wallowing in my sadness and spread a contagious disease of negativity or move on, learn from it,  and create a web of positivity, a web a could rely on to catch me if I fall.I chose the latter.

I decided to do what makes me happy. Writing makes me happy. And if there is one person in the world that I can lift up because I write, that would make me happier. I no longer write because it makes me happy but because I could touch life with what I share. Interestingly, the more I focus on giving joy, the more the happiness returns.

Happy Friendship Day

36/365 Days of Happiness: Happy Friendship Day

“Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.”

The more joy we share, the happier we become. In contrast, when you share your pain, it lessens. The more you share it the less painful it becomes. Pain, when shared gets less.

That's what friends are for. To laugh with us when we are happy, and to sit with us when we are in pain.They sit with us when the moment calls for sitting, and walk (even run) with us when we can move forward again. 

35 Reasons to Be Happy

35/365 Days of Happiness: 35 Reasons to Be Happy

1. I have TODAY to be thankful for.
2. I am ALIVE - to dream, to explore, to laugh, to love, to share… and more
3. I know there is something good in every day.
4. I have a home.
5. I have enough.
6. I can change the things I can.
7. I can accept the things I cannot change.
8. I am strong. Imagine what I have been through.
9. My emotions vary. I am not always happy. I am normal.
10. I can remember. I can look back at the past and remember the many happy memories I have – the happy thoughts and Wendy’s magic dust—I can fly!
11. I can love.
12. I can dream.
13. I can believe.
14. I can flatter myself and believe myself.
• Me: “You should be proud of all the things you have achieved so far.”
• Me: “I believe you. Now, go and accomplish more.”
15. I am not alone. I can connect with other human beings in this world.
16. I have great friends -- old and new. They all bring happiness. Short talks, long talks; emotional and otherwise. It's always a great time when you spend it with friends.
17. I am unique. Nobody else is like me. What I can to this world is unique too. Nobody else can do exactly as I can.
18. I am gifted. I can give something to the world in my own little ways.
19. I can spread joy around me if I choose to even if I don’t have everything you want. Giving joy to other people makes me happy, too.
20. I have started writing my happiness blog and I am still writing.
21. I can change the world. I may not be able to change it in grand scale but I can make little changes like the waves creating tiny grains of sand.
22. I can touch people's lives. There may be just fifty-eight likes in my 365 Days of Happiness page, but even if there's just one, I will continue writing because I am able to touch one's person's life, no matter how brief.
23. I can appreciate every small thing that is already great in my life.
24. I can appreciate the beauty of God’s. I can hear birds chirping in the morning like a lullaby. I can watch the sunrise and see the sparkling stars at night like shining diamonds. I can smell and taste home-cooked meals. I can feel the cool breeze.
25. I found my passion.
26. I can laugh.
27. I can laugh to myself.
28. I can make other people laugh.
29. I can make choices.
30. I can help myself become better.
31. I can help other people. I can create value to other people today.
32. I can fix something.
33. I can start breaking a bad habit.
34. I can take risk. What a joy to win against the odds.
35. Contrary to the news we see and hear, there are more good things in the world than bad things.

Fun Times with Family

34/365 Days of Happiness : Fun Times with Ate Ens and The Twins

Like I have mentioned in my previous blog , Chopsuey,  my oldest sister ( like my mother - also mentioned in Living in the Moment), was no longer allowed to do household chores.

But since she is getting better, she insists on cooking meals. Not only that, she insists that she can also go to Market! Market! on her own and she can go to SM Aura to watch movies and dine out :)

So that's what we did.

Extra serving of happiness for me: I realized it's my first time to hang out in SM Aura. :) So of course, we took pictures!

First Time +SM Aura Premier

Seattle's Best @ Market! Marke

Chopsuey

33/365 Days of Happiness: Chopsuey for Lunch

My eldest sister is getting better each day. We found out last year that she had heart condition similar to Nanay’s. She was not allowed to do the usual household chores. 

Now that she is getting better, she is cooking again for the twins. She often shares their food with us. 

Today, she gave us Chopsuey. It’s good!

Thanks for the lunch, Ate Ens!

Simple Joys

32/365 Days of Happiness: Post-Typhoon Glenda Inventory of Simple Joys

1. Bangus was on sale – Nanay bought six big ones for one hundred pesos, a definite bargain.
2. I forgot that I was sick the previous day because rain water seeped through the walls. I had to do a thorough cleaning when I removed the wet carpet because water and dust underneath the it was not a pretty sight.
3. I had both time and reason to put my plan into action. I had been planning to give my room a spring clean and it got one.
4. I discovered little treasures while I was cleaning my room:

• Eleison’s Christmas gift – finally sent
• Borrowed book from Leng – not yet returned but will be soon
• My “to read” books – neatly stacked on my desk and will be read in coming weeks
• Stash of usable clothes – already worn one in the office
• My old “to-do” list – will find time to check the unchecked: Voter’s, Postal and Unified ID
• My sewing machine, along with clothes that need mending. The curtains (my Christmas project) are still missing.
• My scrapbooks –in-progress and the new, unused ones
• Old pictures – perfect for #tbt.  Here's one.

I Have A New Blog!

31/365 Days of Happiness : 365 Days of Gratefulness

Nanay's garrden was devastated by Glenda. These are the survivors.

The trees that are  part of our childhood stand proud as well.

Yet despite our best efforts to see the sun after the storm, we can't close our eyes to those who were harmed and those who lost their loved one. Our roof can be repaired. Nanay's garden can be replaced. What we lost, we could regain; but for others, this may not be so. This moment may have not brought me happiness, but I remain grateful. 

I will continue with my 365 of Happiness Blog but will pursue my new happiness:
the 365 Days of Gratefulness (http://365daysofgratefulnessbyruth.blogspot.com).

See you there!