My word for 2012: Happiness

Several of the blogs I read talk about choosing a word for the year. Along the lines of resolutions and goal setting, the idea of one word, one simple word to guide you through the year. Of course I’m lousy at finding links when I need them, but there are blogs out there that quite eloquently explain why you need a word. Other bloggers (generally mommy bloggers are the ones I follow) talk about the word story, or peace, or discipline. It’s an idea I like and one I have been thinking about for a few months. Towards the end of December I decided my word should be discipline. Mostly because I’m struggling with the eating thing and really wish I had more of it. Discipline, that is, not eating.

However, as the new year rolled over I decided I want to focus on happiness this year instead. I realized, what most of you already know and have been trying to tell me in your sweet ways, is that I am being way too hard on myself. I am healthy. I am strong. I am loved. I should be happy.

Happiness, mind you, does not mean acting on every whim. Instead it means making choices for myself and my family that will lead to happiness

Have you seen this video? Alan is a big fan of TED Talks and turned me on to this one. The Happiness Advantage: Research Linking Happiness and Success

Shawn Achor is a fast talker, but very funny. He says:

“The lens through which your brain views the world shapes your reality. If we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.”

“90% of your happiness is predicted by the way your brain process the world.”

“The absence of disease is not health.”

“Your brain at positive performs significantly better than it does at negative, neutral or stressed. Your intelligence rises, your creativity rises, your energy levels rise.”

I like the ideas very much. So much of success is based on positive thinking and that good old fashioned “can do” attitude! When when you get bogged down with worry about “what if” or “if I had only” or “how will I ever” you are really just setting yourself up for failure. Bummer as that may be!

Recently I read a book called Mindset for Moms: From Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days. It is a very easy read, essentially just a series of tips on how to look at your every day life in a different way. Not how to clean out your house and declutter your world. Not how to raise your kids better or earn more money. Just how to look at what you have in life with more respect and appreciation. I think we could all stand to do a bit more of that.

This year I will focus on happiness. I may not make much (or any!) money. I may gain a few (more) pounds. And I will certainly have good and bad days, but I will strive for the good ones. I will look for the positive every day. I will try to find the balance that allows me to respect and care for my body, my family, and my surroundings.

So as not to get too serious, and to leave this happy post with some happy pictures… What could be more fun than…

Decorating the trees in the middle of winter...

Winning at pin the eye on the fish...

A party for twins means twice the cake!

What makes you happy today?

Linked up to the Happiness Is… blog hop.

It’s always a good day when you spend it with these smiling faces!

We had yet another fun-filled vacation to Franklin this week. I’m tired and not going to go into detail, but here are some pictures for those who are interested. :) Let’s see if these pictures say a thousand words.

Pictures from the first day in town are on my previous post.

Sunday morning Lex built a basketball hoop, complete with backboard and ball, out of Laser Pegs. These things are pretty cool!

He took the picture above, then turned on the laser pegs and turned off the light and tried to get a picture of his basketball hoop all lit up. This is the best he got. It's hard to take pictures without a flash.

Sunday afternoon Alan and I went out to a matinee and early dinner, when we returned we found Mema and crew painting. She must have been feeling brave. Eve loves painting!

Eve painted a rainbow, complete with sun and rain.

Alan and the kids got a lot of playtime on this trip. I think it was good for all of them.

Rainbows were all the rage in the art world this trip. Lex added some birds (and sound effects!) to his picture.

Mema bought Eve a new puppy at the grocery store and Eve loves it! She's a sucker for pink puppies :) She drew a portrait of the puppy, complete with flowers, grass, sun, sky, and "I love you" dialog.

Eve and I were being crabs. How this makes us crabs, I'm not sure, but Eve was insistent that we were and Lex was happy to photograph the silliness.

Whaaaht?!

Guess who took this picture?

Another drawing of pink puppy. The stuffed animal has a little bump on top of its head, which Eve says is a boo-boo. We put a marker cap "ice pack" on it. That's what Eve drew in the picture.

Time for some outside fun. Driving the broken down lawn mower! :)

Heading up to the old milk house.

This used to be our playhouse. Looks like B-Dogg was there too! :)

Can't visit home without a walk up the tractor road. With all the development going on these days it's no longer a tractor road, per se, but it always will be in my mind.

Poor Alan was sick the whole time but he managed to drag himself up the hill for some fresh country air and sunshine.

After watching the girls basketball game on Friday we got on the subject of donkey basketball. How we made it there, I'm not sure, but we did. Mom got out an old yearbook (my senior year, OLD!) to see if she could find some pictures. Instead we found B's comments on almost every page. We had a good laugh, all weekend! Sorry B. You were funny in 2nd grade. Not very nice, but funny.

Today we are enjoying a quiet day before we face two busy ones tomorrow and Friday. Lex kicked my butt at Life this morning. We had snacks and lunch, then went out to the toy store to buy a present for a birthday party on Friday. Back home we rode bikes and cleaned the mudroom. Inside for snack and more artwork. Lex wrote up a chore chart with assigned dates/times/payments for each. It’s on the fridge. I’ll take a picture of it later. Eve made a beautiful drawing for Molly, who will be visiting us tomorrow. They were working so nicely I busted out the computer to do a not-so-quick blog post. Now they are playing nicely in the living room and I’m ignoring them completely. Life is good. :)

Spending a few days at the old home front.

We got in late last night and for some reason Eve was awake and raring to go at 3am today! We stayed in bed until 4am, but it’s been a long day!

A pre-dawn chat with Joyce

Giggling girls

We spent the morning at home, had lunch and rest (Eve took a nap, thankfully!) then headed to church.

Mom doing a reading at church.

Then, in a complete 180 from church, we went to see the FCS Lady Devils take the Tri-Valley Championship!! It was an idea on the table and Lex said he really wanted to go, so we did. It was a lot of fun. I think the whole town was there! It was a great game, we all had fun, the energy was super high, and they won!! Can’t beat that!

There was great team spirit! The place was well decorated by FCS and people where handing out pom-poms and beads. It was great! (especially for those of us who came unprepared!)

The winning team!

After the game they inducted three people into the Tri-Valley Coaches Hall of Fame. It just so happens I knew two of them! What a great game to be at.

My high school classmate, some guy I don't know, and my elementary school gym teacher! Hall of Famers!

Kids were in bed shortly after 9pm. Another long day. Hopefully we’ll make it to AT LEAST 6am tomorrow morning! I’m going to bed now.