Happy Place

I slip into a zen-like happy place; the gentle buzz of cars passing on the left. Cruise is set and I am one with the road again. No stranger to endless yellow and white lines, rest areas, and mile marker signs, my mind goes where it wants. No kids whining, no dogs barking. My arm rides the wind like a long wave. The breeze is warm and welcome, and the miles come as they please. Forget horns, the finger, and road-rage, I'm an old dog now, minding my own in the slow lane. It's easier over here, safe from speeders and hungry cops. 

Born behind the wheel. A feeling of freedom and America fulfill me. It's a blue bandanna, feeling sixteen again or ten, wearing dark sunglasses, and singing along. The road takes me back, keeps me young, and gets me where I'm going. The grass is green, it's spring today, and cattle chew knowingly. The sky knows it's spring too, vast and blue. Green grass, blue sky, and black asphalt call my soul home wherever I go. 

Drive to the desert or the mountains, roll the windows down on your way home, go down memory lane in some old stomping grounds; either way eat your slice of happy place springtime pie on the good old open road today. 

HAPPY SPRING!

Happy International Day of Happiness

Today is the United Nation's International Day of Happiness. Don't be alarmed if this makes you feel a massive amount of pressure to have the happiest day of your life, and you start thinking it's not my birthday or wedding day, I didn't receive a promotion, I'm still ten pounds overweight, and it's just Thursday and I'm still in the same place I was yesterday. If a coworker or your boss is mean to you, immediately tell them, "It's International Day of Happiness," so stick that in your mean old pipe and smoke it! Start small, thinking internationally is too daunting. Treat yourself to that Dutch Bros. coffee drink you've been avoiding, buy your best friend a Snickers bar and surprise her, or take your kids an awesome lunch to replace that stale PB&J you sent them to school with.

If you've been trying to get something started for the past few months do it today. Take that walk you've been saying you'd take. Go to the gym for the first time in six months. Order the salad when you normally wouldn't. Use this international power to empower yourself to do things out of the ordinary, heck you may kick something off.

Big picture thinkers think small, and small picture thinkers think big. Big picture people appreciate the smell of a candle burning, or the ice chilling your soda to that perfect frosty temperature (so many countries don't even have ICE), and small picture thinkers remember you have a car to drive with a heater and comfortable seats, and count those big blessings in your life like you're alive and well. Be present today, look around yourself, and observe things. If you have a picture of a beach on your cubical wall imagine yourself sitting there with a Mai Tai.

Today, I'm allowing myself that second morning Diet Coke (usually I only do this on holidays, weekends, sick days, cheat days...), I'm going to blare some Beach Boys as loud as my back speakers can handle (blew the front ones out already) and sing along, and when I get home tonight I'm going to indulge in a good hour of mindless TV.

Spoil yourself, spoil a friend, make someone else happy, and you will feel great. Happy International Day of Happiness everyone!

Happy Herb Garden

I peek into the sun-baked gloves, hoping a spider hasn't turned one of the fingers into an apartment, shake them out, and put them on. Crusty as they are, I am ready. Basil, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, and parsley are the herbs of choice this season. I know rosemary well, here in California it grows in the parking lots of grocery stores, the side of high traffic roads, and in pretty much all front yards, but I love it anyway. It's resilient, which is good for someone who remembers to water the plants about twice a week. I find a proud red pot a friend had made a "dirt cake" in years ago to plant it. Something about digging a small hole, plopping the plant in, and watering it for the first time makes me feel accomplished. I stand back and soak in the success of the rosemary now living in the bright little pot perched on the patio table. One small addition of a plant and some color makes the furniture sing, "dine al fresco, dine!"

Next, it's on to the cilantro and parsley. Last year I killed both of these herbs before I could eat a single leaf. Granted I was trying them from seed. This year I'm erring on the side of safety and success, and starting with a plant. The stems and leaves are fragile, I'm cautious not to force them into the pot, I dig the hole deeper. I snuggle them in and their long dainty stems fit nicely side by side.

Now for the final two: basil, my favorite herb of them all, and thyme will be fast friends as they neighbor in a medium sized pot. Granted, I am no gardener and have no clue as to whether any of my pairings make sense or help the plants in any way, but that's how the cow eats the cabbage in this garden. Just the smell of basil alone brightens my mood. Suddenly visions of balsamic soaked tomatoes, salty prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella dance through my mind. Summer is on it's way and with a garden full of fresh herbs to delight myself and my guests, it is sure to be a happy one.

Happy Gardening My Friends!

Happy More Today

I firmly believe that what makes us happy one day can change or flip-flop the next. Today what made me happy was a strong feeling of hope; hope that my life is finally heading in the direction I've been thinking about driving it in for years. But today for one reason or another, I believe I have turned the car on, fueled it up, and started heading down the road that's been calling my name for so long now.

Although it may have seemed like just another day of doing the same thing I've been doing for the past six years, for some reason there was a freshness in my soul. A sense that a new beginning is coming my way, and not on behalf of anybody but myself. Today I've decided to believe in myself, and not just say it, but mean, and act on it. The wheels of change are in motion and that notion has given me an immense feeling of joy and happiness.

A great six figure job didn't just fall into my lap, and the steps I plan to take are small, but like the saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day," and today I have began to build.

Happy Pet, Happy People

Happy More  - Happy Pet, Happy People
by Natalie Patton Chance

How to find your "happy." In my opinion everyone should have a pet.

For me and my family our "happy" is dogs. For my mother-in-law it's her horses (an Arab mix, and a miniature horse with clear blue eyes), and for one of my best work friends, it's her turtles. I'm not saying everyone needs a pet to be happy, but like a George Washington Burnap said, "The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."

Having a pet definitely qualifies under the something to do and something to love categories. It's impossible not to chuckle as the silver-dollar sized turtle races madly around the tank trying to catch dinner. Whipping around the plastic plants, dodging the miniature rock structures, he ultimately traps the fish in the between the glass and the tank, and enjoys the sweet glory of success. Hilarious, entertaining success. 

Yesterday was my Rottweiler/Ridgeback, Caine's, sixth birthday and I swear he knew it. A bone, a rope toy, and wet food mixed in with his usual dry-food had to mean something was definitely up. Mid-afternoon I curled up in bed with a book and decided I'd invite him to join me on this special occasion. He gladly jumped on the bed and began napping in my husbands spot; he even had his head on the pillow. Spoiling him and making him happy made me happy.

About twice a week we take our boys out to a field near our house to play; it's a guaranteed crack up every time. Brinkley, our Golden Retriever, weighs about thirty pounds less than Caine and takes the game of fetch very seriously. Caine gets the ball about ten percent of the time, and when he does he pretty much throws himself a parade. He proudly prances around with the ball as if he's walking on water, which needless to say, really annoys Brinkley. Once we have the game of fetch back up and running, and Caine has started to tire he'll start a new game of simply waiting for the Golden to retrieve the ball and then body slamming him as soon as he's going to bring it back. 

Whether it's your German Shepard named Harley, your tabby-cat named Silly, or your Frenchie called Chopper, a pet of your liking WILL make your life a better/happier place. Give your pet food and love and it will pay enormous dividends.

 

Happy More Prescription Free

Happy More Prescription Free
 by Natalie Patton Chance

Recently, a friend of mine almost fell down the deep, dark rabbit-hole known as addiction. He had quickly become addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol. After a hip surgery he was prescribed a drug we are all way too familiar with called Norco. This drug is habit forming even on prescribed amounts, but Norco wasn't his only problem...because doctors don't have to communicate with each other regarding a patient's problems, diseases, or prescriptions, he was able to get six other prescriptions at the same time. Not only was he taking a wild array of high-powered drugs, he was drinking alcohol at the end of each day as well. Within six months of the surgery everyone that knew him could tell his life was about to take a turn for the worst. It was only a matter of time before he was in and out of the hospital, and this problem had gone from bad to worse. The more serious the issue became, the harder his family began coming down on him.

It was a full-court press, every family member, and every friend he had, was checking on him daily. They were begging, pleading, crying, fighting, screaming, and begging more for him to stop. Most of these stories end in utter tragedy, but not this one! After another bender on pills and a trip to the E.R. the family came down on him even stronger. The next day he called them and admitted to his addiction. The very next day he revealed that pain wasn't his biggest problem, he was unhappy. People need a purpose and he didn't have one, people need someone to love and he didn't have one of those either, so he turned to the ever accessible pill fairy or any doctor dumb enough to give him a prescription for whatever he asked for.

After he had accepted his addiction, he was able to tackle the real problem, happiness. He recognized that he needed a direction and as soon as he was able to do this (literally within hours) he was instantly feeling an endorphin rush and even said, "I feel better already." He still suffers from chronic hip pain and is actively taking natural measures to heal, but honestly says. "the pain doesn't matter, I'm immensely happier being prescription free." With family pressure, and introspective soul-searching he was able to find a purpose and that was the only drug he needed to becoming happy more.