Here's a trick to make your day better. Take something pencil-like (a pencil works great) and hold it by the ends with your two hands. Put it in your mouth like a bridle on a horse. Go ahead and push it way to the back and up a little . . almost as if you were smiling.
You should feel happier; most people do. Well . . do you?
What just happened was muscle memory. Because your muscles are in that position when you smile, and you smile when you are happy, your brain has become "reverse-wired" to act happy when those muscles get "smiley".
Oftentimes, making today a good day is made up of little happinesses. Let this be one of yours if you need a pick-me-up.
Also, watching your friends and co-workers perform this little experiment can make today better for anyone watching. Have fun!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Working for the money?
Life is full of work. You may be a student going to school, or a parent managing a household, or a you might be a worker in an office or a factory. Any way you look at it, there you are . . working.
One way to make today a good day it to have a reason for working and to remember that reason as you go through your day.
Making money is almost never the reason for working. If you are a student, you might be going to school because you love learning. If you are a homemaker you might be working to have a place that makes you and your family comfortable. If you are a worker outside the home, maybe you have that dream vacation on the horizon or the you want to be able to buy that new patio set.
Having a good day isn't always about what you are doing today. It can be about doing something today for tomorrow. Spend some time today focused on the *why* you are working . . and make today a good day.
One way to make today a good day it to have a reason for working and to remember that reason as you go through your day.
Making money is almost never the reason for working. If you are a student, you might be going to school because you love learning. If you are a homemaker you might be working to have a place that makes you and your family comfortable. If you are a worker outside the home, maybe you have that dream vacation on the horizon or the you want to be able to buy that new patio set.
Having a good day isn't always about what you are doing today. It can be about doing something today for tomorrow. Spend some time today focused on the *why* you are working . . and make today a good day.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Live life to the fullest
Making today a good day isn't about coasting along. Making a today a good day is about doing things you love. Making today a good day is about taking chances. Making today a good day is about DOING.
There once was a caterpillarLive your life as if you might not be here tomorrow to make that day a good day.
Who watched butterflies.
He said he didn't want yo fly.
But he lied.
One day he fell asleep.
When he awoke he could fly.
He soared with his wings
All over the garden.
Everyone now loved the butterfly
And he loved himself.
Not many weeks later
He flew higher than ever before
And was eaten by a bird.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
What may seem ordinary may not be.
Words are interesting things. It seems that sometimes a word is used so often that we forget what it means. Life van be that way too, making it harder to make today a good day.
"Extraordinary" is a good example. If you break it apart you get "extra ordinary". It's more than the usual, it's special. The thing is though, that when you pay attention, what may seem ordinary really isn't. It's more. It's extraordinary.
Have you ever grown anything? One day you have a seed, then you have a sprout, then you have a plant, then you have a fruit; finally you have a snack. Magic. Extraordinary.
Or perhaps you've watched a baby grow? I love watching pregnant women and I love watching newborns. I find it amazing that at first they can't even hold their heads up by themselves but soon they're crawling around putting everything they can find into their mouths. Fantastic. Again, extraordinary.
Your mission (should you accept it) is to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. To look past what may seem hum-drum and see the marvelous. Your goal should be to become enthusiastic (root meaning: having God within) about something and tell someone about it.
Go out and make today a good day!
[Speaking of babies . . is it any wonder that re-creation (making babies) and recreation (playing a game) are very much the same?]
"Extraordinary" is a good example. If you break it apart you get "extra ordinary". It's more than the usual, it's special. The thing is though, that when you pay attention, what may seem ordinary really isn't. It's more. It's extraordinary.
Have you ever grown anything? One day you have a seed, then you have a sprout, then you have a plant, then you have a fruit; finally you have a snack. Magic. Extraordinary.
Or perhaps you've watched a baby grow? I love watching pregnant women and I love watching newborns. I find it amazing that at first they can't even hold their heads up by themselves but soon they're crawling around putting everything they can find into their mouths. Fantastic. Again, extraordinary.
Your mission (should you accept it) is to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. To look past what may seem hum-drum and see the marvelous. Your goal should be to become enthusiastic (root meaning: having God within) about something and tell someone about it.
Go out and make today a good day!
[Speaking of babies . . is it any wonder that re-creation (making babies) and recreation (playing a game) are very much the same?]
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Good deeds are not just for Boy Scouts and Superman
Making today a good day is not just about noticing what makes a good day. It's also about doing to *make* today a good day. Doing something for others is a sure way of making today a good day.
Have you ever had a secret admirer? Have you ever had a secret love? Have you ever participated in a secret Santa exchange? Have you ever left hints to find a prize?
There is something powerful and joyful and exciting and rewarding in doing something good in secret. The anticipation of how the recipient will react can be a thrill. You imagine smiles and laughter or perhaps just surprised satisfaction when the secret is revealed.
Combining the doing of a "good deed" with a secret that can not be known can make a day a good one.
Do something nice for someone today. Do something big or small. Do something and never tell a single soul that it was you that did it.
I'll bet your day will be a better one . . and so will theirs.
Have you ever had a secret admirer? Have you ever had a secret love? Have you ever participated in a secret Santa exchange? Have you ever left hints to find a prize?
There is something powerful and joyful and exciting and rewarding in doing something good in secret. The anticipation of how the recipient will react can be a thrill. You imagine smiles and laughter or perhaps just surprised satisfaction when the secret is revealed.
Combining the doing of a "good deed" with a secret that can not be known can make a day a good one.
Do something nice for someone today. Do something big or small. Do something and never tell a single soul that it was you that did it.
I'll bet your day will be a better one . . and so will theirs.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A list of good things at 9:30 in the morning
- The sounds of birds
- Waking up.
- Having all my hair.
- Being surrounded by family.
- Having a sense of sight.
- Colors.
- Smells.
- Pets.
- Coffee.
- Clean water.
- Food.
- Choices of food.
- Music.
- A voice.
- Cool sheets.
- A breeze.
- Computers.
- Home movies.
- Cicadas.
- Roses.
- Clothing.
- Asprin.
- Pencils/paper.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Being a part of something good is great
Being alone can be very peaceful. It can be healthy. It can make a day better. More powerful though, it being a part of something . . . anything.
I've met a few recluses in my time; people that might have been called hermits if they weren't smack in the middle of a suburb; people that keep to themselves more than most.
As I am a gregarious person, I've made efforts to engage these folks in conversation. Sadly, I've concluded that, while they have some days that are better than others, they have fewer good days than they'd like to have.
Being a part of something makes most people feel better. Being part of something good can make you feel great.
Take a moment to think of all the things you belong to. It might be work or school. You might belong to a church or a club. It might be a neighborhood or an apartment complex. Do you volunteer somewhere? Do you play a sport? Do you spend time with other people doing something together?
It doesn't always matter what group you are with to make today a good day. The thing that can transform belonging to a group into something "more" is recognizing that you belong.
Belonging makes today a good day. Focus on belonging. Focus on making other people feel that they belong. Focus on making today a good day.
I've met a few recluses in my time; people that might have been called hermits if they weren't smack in the middle of a suburb; people that keep to themselves more than most.
As I am a gregarious person, I've made efforts to engage these folks in conversation. Sadly, I've concluded that, while they have some days that are better than others, they have fewer good days than they'd like to have.
Being a part of something makes most people feel better. Being part of something good can make you feel great.
Take a moment to think of all the things you belong to. It might be work or school. You might belong to a church or a club. It might be a neighborhood or an apartment complex. Do you volunteer somewhere? Do you play a sport? Do you spend time with other people doing something together?
It doesn't always matter what group you are with to make today a good day. The thing that can transform belonging to a group into something "more" is recognizing that you belong.
Belonging makes today a good day. Focus on belonging. Focus on making other people feel that they belong. Focus on making today a good day.
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