Just so you know, my wife and I come up with our lists independently. Then we compare to see what we have in common. We are not allowed to revise our list unless it's a special exception. I think this only happened once or twice. This year there were no revisions.
10) Family events like BBQs and Christmas parties and our trip to Niagara Falls - just hanging out with them and staying up late.
9) Peaceful and joyful activities with my wife and daughters like the 2000 piece puzzle and playing Hollywood Game Night.
8) Watching Star Wars with my girls.
7) Attending Pan-Am torch relays where my brother and sister were torch bearers.
6) Trip to Great Wolf Lodge.
5) Watching my daughters at dance competitions.
4) Seeing M3 grow up - she finally listens to me now and she had her first dance performance on stage - although, she just smiled and waved at us.
3) M1 and M2 perform a duet together.
2) My three daughters.
1) My amazing and beautiful wife.
Happy New Year!
Big Oh
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Happiness - A Consequence Of Personal Effort
I have been writing a lot lately. I write on this blog when I feel like sharing. There are also writings I keep personal when I don't want to share (yet). This year I started 3 journals - one for each of my daughters. I usually write about things we've done, how I felt, what I observed about them. Sometimes there will be a life lesson on family, friendship, or themself. In reading these entries I've realized that sometimes crisis can turn out to be trivial & humorous in the end. Other times, what I originally wrote to be small & insignificant can have a profound meaning a few months later. I hope my daughter's see this & understand this. I don't know when I will give these journals to them. I have a feeling I will know when the time is right.
I read this on the internet today:
"When I say that happiness is a consequence of personal effort, this is kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about showing up, paying attention to the instances of good fortune in your life, putting a spotlight on the small good things, and creating a body of evidence that you are (on ALL days) brushing up against grace.
Look for it, and you'll find it. "
This reminded me of something my friend L.W. gave me a couple of years ago. It was a box that was filled with pretty pieces of paper. On each one she hand wrote something to 'cheer me up'. I read through all of them at least once - I think it's time to re-read them. Or better yet, create my own notes - I will write down something good, happy, fortunate that happened that day. It can be as trivial as getting a great parking spot in a crowded mall, trying a new restaurant, or spending some quality time with friends or family. I will start with this one:
Sleeping in on a Saturday morning. To be awaken by M2 & M3 coming into our bed for some snuggling time.
Wishing all our family & friends a happy healthy 2016 !
YC
I read this on the internet today:
"When I say that happiness is a consequence of personal effort, this is kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about showing up, paying attention to the instances of good fortune in your life, putting a spotlight on the small good things, and creating a body of evidence that you are (on ALL days) brushing up against grace.
Look for it, and you'll find it. "
This reminded me of something my friend L.W. gave me a couple of years ago. It was a box that was filled with pretty pieces of paper. On each one she hand wrote something to 'cheer me up'. I read through all of them at least once - I think it's time to re-read them. Or better yet, create my own notes - I will write down something good, happy, fortunate that happened that day. It can be as trivial as getting a great parking spot in a crowded mall, trying a new restaurant, or spending some quality time with friends or family. I will start with this one:
Sleeping in on a Saturday morning. To be awaken by M2 & M3 coming into our bed for some snuggling time.
Wishing all our family & friends a happy healthy 2016 !
YC
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