Homemaker: Skill – Happy

Happy is my daily goal. Life happens, the ups & downs, twist and turns and the occasional ful loop. When the bumps arrive, they can feel like a punch, and when I feel the punch I aim for evasive maneuvers like the Bob and Weave. (A term borrowed from boxing, and as a dancer I enjoy the visual that’s associated.) In order to be truly happy, for me, I must engage as many senses as possible.

Sense #1 Taste – I love good food and drink. I start my day with the best cup of coffee I can make for myself. For year I bought great coffee beans from our local health food store. My machine ground the beans, then brewed a fresh pot of coffee for me. This has become a healthy, ritual boundary for me that I kindly remind my loved ones to respect. If they bring me a cup of coffee, all the better.

Sense #2 Touch – A good night’s sleep is critical for us all. Scientists have hypothesized that the reason we age is due to the decline in good quality sleep as we get older. I make my sleep environment the softest, coziest, environment that I can possibly create. Comfy mattress, soft sheets, multiple blankets. When I get into bed I want to have that sense of relief that there is NOTHING that a good night’s sleep can’t cure.

Sense #3 Sight – I realized a few years back that I get sad as Christmas gets put away. I finally, only 2 year ago, left up a stip of LED lights. WOW! What a difference it makes when I need to get up in the middle of the night, or when I walk into a room that it’s lit with all those tiny, sparkles. Last year I added a new strand to another room. If I keep this as an annual tradition it could become excessive, but right now I love walking into my kitchen where I strung my multi color light strip. They run 24/7 because they help me be happy.

Sense #4 Sound – MUSIC! Nee I say more. The streaming music services just keep getting better. I still remember other forms of music (I’m sure you can picture your own), but if you love music and you are not streaming it yet, you are totally missing out on the greatest thing since sliced bread (see my Breadmaker post).

Sense #5 Smell – At home, the fresh bread smell really improves my mood. But, when I am really feeling blue, I make sure to walk into a Coffee shop. The smell instantly improves my day.

There are some additional senses, here are some more ideas:

Additional Senses Vestibular & Proprioceptor

The real message is that happiness comes down to the “little things” we can do to shift from the crash and burn or the total knockout, to being a person who recovers quickly from any “crash” and/or who gets back up again immediately following the “punch.”

Additional Resources:

A great read about How to Be Happy

Stress Reduction Practices

Recovering from Setbacks