Find What Makes You Happy ... Just Dance

This year for me is all about shifting my attitude. I am working toward shifting my attitude to one of gratitude. I want to live a blissful life now and every day tomorrow. I recognize there will still be days that are not perfect, there will be days when I might be sad or down but I am learning there are ways to shift my thoughts to a happier place. Every one should have a list of things that make them happy just by thinking about them, looking at them or touching them. This will be the first of several posts about the things that can help you shift your thinking when you are down, and put you in a happy frame of mind. Because really, doesn't everyone want to be happy? I know I do.

Just Dance

Put on music that you really love or a song that you can really dance and cut a rug. There is nothing better to help you change your mood. I love it when a great classic R&B song comes on the radio, it just makes me want to move. I am that crazy woman in the car singing loudly and dancing behind the wheel on the highway. And you know what, I love it. It makes me feel great!

Songs like this one....

Music can really lift you soul. You know what I mean if you have heard a song that really strikes a cord with you, makes you happy, makes you want to dance your feet off. So I say DANCE. Connect to the music and live a life that is full of the music of your life, dance and love. It will bring you bliss!

Give a Hug, Get a Hug...you will love it!

There is nothing better than hugging someone you love. It will make you feel good... and again it is one of those things in our lives we often take for granted. And it is free to give and free to get!

Just Laugh...It's Free

Here is something funny, laughter is just another one of those amazing things that can be added to the best-things-in-life-are-free list.

Laughter can be the best medicine if you are not feeling happy. Just think about it. Think about all those times when you were feeling down and you came across a picture that made you laugh, or someone told a really funny joke that made you laugh until you cried, or what about all those YouTube videos of laughing babies; all those things made you laugh until your gut hurts. Something that does that for me is the website www.damnyouautocorrect.com (check it out. You will laugh too but just wait until you finish reading my post, please!)  Let's face it,you feel better after laughing. I know I do.

I wrote about the benefits of laughter here and also here and there is no doubt there are great benefits to laughter. It benefits mind, body and spirit. Research shows laughter has far reaching benefits, including strengthening the immune system, reducing food cravings, and even increasing a person's threshold for pain. Laughter can reduce levels of stress hormones.  Laughter has also shown to increase the level of health enhancing hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters.
And don't forget the physical benefits of laughter, especially when you have a hearty belly laugh. It exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed. Not bad eh? It gives you a full body work out. But don't just go by what the research says, do it and you will see.

There is a growing movement in laughter yoga. Yes, I said Laughter Yoga! Or there are also laughter clubs. Wendy Woods of Watershed Training Solutions is a laughter yoga instructor. She says laughter is just another tool that allows us to approach life a little lighter. She says laughter is intuitive. We just know how to laugh, the youngest of babies know how to do it and they do it exceptionally well too. Woods says laughter yoga teachers us to use laughter as a tool. She says it is based on the concept of laughing for no reason. "You start out faking the laughter and because it is in a group and laughter is contagious, real laughter kicks in."

Kids are great teachers when it comes to laughing. Children laugh on average 400 times a day. Compare that to an adults average 15 laughs a day. We should look to children for inspiration, they know how to let loose and really laugh, they aren't worried about looking silly, or that someone will judge them. Kids laugh because they can, they laugh because something is funny.

The beauty of laughter is that you can do it by yourself, with a group, with loved ones and even with complete strangers. It doesn't matter where you are, laughter has positive effects. It will make you feel better no matter where you are, no matter who you are with, and no matter when you do it. Can it get any better than that?  Oh ya and it is FREE.

The Best Things in Life Are Free!

There is ultimate truth in that saying... THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE!

 Sounds too good to be true? Well, when you think about it, it is true. No seriously. Just hang with me here for a few minutes and you will agree with me.

I have been on a bit of a personal journey over the past year or so. You might have noticed if you have been reading my posts lately. And during the journey I have been reading a lot and thinking a lot.  I recently read a book by Mike Dooley called Choose Them Wisely. There was a moment in the book when Mike talks about the fact there are things in our lives that are free and those are the things we most often take for granted. It really struck a cord with me. I realized before starting on this journey I was often looking to things to make me happy. I was wanting to have the life others appeared to be living, and that included all the things they had in their possession, like cars, homes, clothes and vacations. I was taking for granted the things and blessings I already had in my life. So let's just look at things in your life and mine that are free.

FIVE THINGS IN MY LIFE & YOURS THAT ARE FREE!

1. Your Talents
Every single one of us has a talent. You might not think so but it is true. There is something you are good at. There is something that I am good at. Own that! I am good at writing. I am good at communicating. I am good at my job in news broadcasting. Those are my talents. They are mine, and mine alone. There is only one of me! I am unique and you are too and so are your talents. Believe it and be grateful for it. It is free!

2. Friends
Having friends doesn't cost a thing. Think about it. You have always had at least one friend in your life. When you were a kid you probably had lots of friends, friends in your class, friends in your neighbourhood. Maybe they weren't forever friends but more like in-this-moment friend but you had a least one friend to play with. True friends are there for you when you need them, they are great support, they are great sounding boards, they are great when you need to talk, need a baby sitter, or just to have fun.

3. Family
Family is a great support! They are like friends but even better. Your Mom and Dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, grandfathers; there is always one person in our families we connect with. Use that! It is something to be grateful for.

4. Time
Time is free. The best part about this one is that time is actually kind, every day we get the time to start fresh, start over, change things and move forward. Every day is a new day. We can use time to our advantage and it is free!

5. Your Imagination
Dreams baby! We all have them. This is so great because it is our imagination and our dreams that help build our lives. Dream big!


This is only a list of FIVE but the list is REALLY endless. There is so much in our lives that is free and help us lead more blissful lives. You don't need to go out there and spend a life savings to have a happy life. Use what is already in your life and the best part many of these things are FREE!

Wordless Wednesday - Inspiration

Motivation Monday - Oh The Possibilities

What a beautiful day today. The sun is shining and I can smell spring in the air. Over the weekend the kids got their bikes out and were riding like the wind. They were smelling spring in the air too and could hardly keep their coats on.


It is Monday and that means a fresh week ahead. We often think of Monday in a negative light. It is the first day back to work after the weekend for many people and so there are often a lot of people moaning and groaning about Monday. BUT ....I think Monday's are great. It is the start of a new week. A chance for a fresh start. Your batteries are recharged after a weekend with family and friends and now Monday gives you the chance to do great things with the days ahead.

What can help you see the potential of the week ahead write down your intentions for the week. It will help you focus on what you want for the week ahead. It will help you get more focused. It will also help you see all the possibilities for the days before you.

Monday offers you so many possibilities...there is so much potential for greatness. Happy Monday.

Wordless Wednesday: Positive mind... Positive Life

(A Facebook friend posted this and I had to steal it to post here...Thanks Tina)