Memories are made of this

Please share a MEMORY you have of me (or us), and I'll share something I remember about you (or us together).

When I did this two years ago on Facebook,

1. Jan remembered our early blogging days,
2. Shon remembered book club discussions,
3. Candy remembered dim sum together (with Barbara, now departed),
4. Sarah remembered reconnecting at the bookstore in North Chattanooga,
5. Fartema remembered being adjunct professors and lunch at Blue Orleans,
6. Kathryn remembered us visiting in her kitchen,
7. Barbara mentioned our mutual friend Sylvia,
8. Sylvia remembered I took her to Candler in Atlanta,
9. Leslie remembered having "daisy" rolls for breakfast at my home,
10. Annette remembered "Bonnie, Donna, and Annette's Excellent Adventure in Atlanta," and
11. Donna said, "Too numerous to name."

Monday Mindfulness ~ happiness report

Click to enlarge calendar

Second week of a new year, so it's time to pull up another seven days from the Happiness Calendar (see below).

Jan. 8 ~ Go to bed an hour earlier than normal.
Jan. 9 ~ Take ten minutes to sit still and just breathe.
Jan. 10 ~ Use one of your personal strengths in a new way.
Jan. 11 ~ Learn something new, and share it with others.
Jan. 12 ~ Ask other people about things they've enjoyed recently.
Jan. 13 ~ Thank three people you're grateful to, and tell them why.
Jan. 14 ~ Get back in touch with an old friend you miss.

I'm planning to "go to bed an hour earlier" tonight, mostly because it's been a busy few days and I'm tired.  I think I'll also find time, tomorrow, to "sit still and just breathe" as I think about happiness in the world and in my own life.

Happiness Report

At the end of last week (in other words, yesterday), Deb and Helen and I had a sort of conversation on our various blogs.

• Deb left a message on Helen's blog thanking her for sharing the January 2018 Happiness Calendar.
• I commented on Deb's blog, saying, "I love it!  You got the Happy New Year Calendar from Helen, and she got it from me.  So we'll be doing it together, in a sense."
• Deb came over and commented on my blog post:  "I love it!  I got it from Helen, and Helen got it from you, and you got it from Jan .... happier and happier!"

Happiness is spreading.  Can you feel it?

Mindfulness resolutions ~ or are these goals?

Click on the image to enlarge it, or find it here to print a copy.

My friend Jan posted this on Facebook, and I printed it out to use it myself and share with others.  We can take action for happiness for ourselves while improving our communities and the world around us.  Happiness is contagious, this site says, and I agree.  Here's the first week, in case you can't read it the small print on the chart:

Jan. 1 ~ Find three good things to look forward to this year.
Jan. 2 ~ Look for the good in others and notice their strengths.
Jan. 3 ~ Do three extra acts of kindness for other people.
Jan. 4 ~ Make time today to do something kind for yourself.
Jan. 5 ~ Say something positive to everyone you meet today.
Jan. 6 ~ Do an extra 15 minutes of physical activity (ideally outdoors).
Jan. 7 ~ Write down ten things you feel grateful for in life and why.

"Happiness is not something ready made.

It comes from your own actions." — Dalai Lama