Happiness is Simple - if we let it be.

SIMPLE and focus is YOU!

Credit:  Keep the Sun

We can only change our own outlook. Would it not be nice if we could make others happy? We can guide them and encourage, but for the most part we are all responsible for our own HAPPY state.
Simple - so why is it so difficult to attain? Possibly we spend too much time seeking happiness and not enjoying what we have.

HAPPINESS IS SIMPLE - get it?

I have had a few weeks of wonderfulness!! I can always add more joy and never be full, but I have had been having fun and feeling HAPPY. Not working helps with this feeling - however that could change when money runs out. New car, trips, spending time with special people most of all has brought me to this feeling of - YES I am Happy. I am not pleased with my physical appearance at the moment,  due to being unsuccessful with weight loss and some other goals - BUT, I am content and know that will come as I allow. And as Jan says, avoiding mirrors at this point helps - a lot!

I was reminded of how simple being happy can be today, while spending a couple of hours with my granddaughter Katelynn (almost 3) and Harvey (18 months). How getting back to basics and down on the floor and playing can be the best stress reliever. PLAY!!

What do you mean they are upside down?

Children don't read Self Help Books  

The newness of life and being loved is enough - of course all their needs are met and they are safe. They are still innocent, and have not yet uncovered all the complexities of life and they do not know otherwise. Spending time with young children and becoming like them in play can bring back this innocent Happiness.  

GROWUP!!

Of course then we remember we have bills to pay, and have not yet achieved all the goals we set out TO DO - today, let alone our life. Oh, I am unemployed so that should do in my happiness as well.

According to studies, such as those done by A study done by Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University (Read more at Suite101: What Causes Happiness?: Experiences, Gratitude and Spirituality http://alternativespirituality.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_causes_happiness#ixzz0tj7RjjxH)  

"What causes happiness? Experience or possession?

This question was answered in a new psychology study that showed life experiences rather than material possessions led to greater happiness. In fact, the experiential basis of happiness can be seen in two other corollaries — gratitude or the ability to live in the moment and a sense of spirituality." ....

"Experiences also provide challenges and personal meaning. Accomplishing a goal such as running a marathon or writing a book provides meaning within the context of life lived. Possessions are merely things and do not generate the same sense of personal challenge and significance.

What meaning, for example, can one have about a new roof or a new car? Material things, according to psychology professor Leaf Van Boven, are separate from humans and cannot provide the same meaningful contexts as personal experiences."

 This last statement, I must disagree and agree. For myself my new car is an accomplishment, and is a sharing experience. Any car would not provide the level of 'well-being' and warm fuzzies of happiness - BUT this car does. Obtaining possessions may be due to achieving goals, and therefore be entangled in the overall feeling of happiness.

The other point mentioned is Gratitude - or the ability to live in the moment. Simple again and like the innocence of children. Maybe getting back to basics and imitating young children - in the moment, pleasure of the world we can capture our own. 

Of course there is all the 'junk' needed to reprogram our minds, but it's a start.

                                                 If the heatwave has got to you 

- cool off  (kiddie pool if necessary)

GET WET & SMILE!!

...darleen & jan

Tequila is the ANSWER ... no matter the question.

Mexicans don't have menopause symptoms ...
 



At least that is what Jan and I came to a realization of when trying to sort out the treatments for aging, menopause, hair loss, arthritis etc. There is such as thing as Mexican Wild Yam - that can be used for treatments. So .. we figured that Mexicans don't have the problems we have in North America.
Is it the YAMS? 
NO!! We are convinced it is the Tequila.




Life can be confusing enough, but as we age we are informed that we should take this medication, or supplement  - and in the end we notice no difference. We push ourselves to be the best, be positive and stop thinking bad things. BUT - we sometimes just want to throw in the towel and do it our way.

Tequila for breakfast. Tequila for lunch. Tequila for dinner and beyond.

We would be happy. Sleep would not be a problem. The bathroom would be cleaned more often.

Hot flashes? A thing of the past in our relaxed state. 

Self esteem? We love everyone including ourselves!

Now this is a joke, in order to alleviate our endless quest to find the answer.
Some days it is healthier to joke about and just enjoy the day. And have a Margarita!!

...darleen & jan

NOTE:
Mexican Yam Extract
It is highly suggested that if you would like to try Wild Mexican Yam extract as a form of natural progesterone, you should be under the care and recommendations of a medical doctor or a natural health care provider who has a relationship with your medical doctor or who can develop one.

Humour & Drink Recipe

First the drink ...

 Cat Can Cook 

Iced Carmel Mochaccino Coffee

1 TPSP instant coffee granules
2 TBSP chocolate syrup
1 TBSP (or a tad more) caramel syrup (this can be found with apples in fruit aisle)
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup ice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Combine all ingredients in the blender, set on high and blend for   about 30 seconds to one minute. Serve in tall glass and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired.

Darleen's Variation:

Use espresso granules or TBSP espresso

I didn't have any caramel syrup (hate that yesterday- straight from the jar) so used Creamy Caramel Butterscotch ice cream.

Oh .... and I added a splash of Baileys Irish Cream - well large glug actually.

mmmmmmm.... yum.
I drank mine before I remembered to take a photo - so photo is from Cat Can Cook.

Jan's Variation:

I believe she would drive to Starbucks and buy one  - but I will need to verify that :)

FROM  JAN:

As you said I would definitely go to Starbucks but in a pinch I would forget the caramel as not a big fan, stick with instant coffee granules and DEFINITELY go for the Baileys :)
Jan

HUMOUR

Exercise in Golden years

The Importance of Walking

Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
home at $7000 per month.

I like long walks,
especially when they are taken
by people who annoy me.
 
The only reason I would take up walking
is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.
 
I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I'm doing..
  
I joined a health club last year,
spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.
 
Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
 
The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'
 
If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
start with a small country.
  
I know I got a lot of exercise
the last few years,......
just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older,
because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
  
AND

Every time I start thinking too much
about how I look,
I just find a Happy Hour
and by the time I leave,
I look just fine.
 
You could run this over to your friends
But just e-mail it to them - or share on Facebook

If you don't forward
this to 1 of your friends within
the next 5 minutes your belly
button will unscrew and your
butt will fall off.
Really.... It's true

 ...darleen & jan

 

Empty Nest Syndrome ... not me??

 NOTE:
This post is dedicated to cousin Cathie and Jan & Darleen's grandkids - Katelynn & Harvey.
It is transcript of a speech written by Darleen 3 years ago.

With Love xxoo ...darleen

Empty Nest Syndrome? Not Us!

Empty Nest Syndrome is something you NEED to prepare for!
That is what our friends whose children had recently moved out told us.

What? Sadness and depression - due to the children leaving? What is this Empty Nest Syndrome? I even looked it up and read the findings to my husband.

From Wiktionary:
empty nest syndrome

1. a feeling of loneliness or depression experienced by some parents when their children have matured and left home

 And Women's Health
"Well, it's not a term you'll find in many medical text books, but it has become a useful phrase for identifying and encapsulating the feelings of sadness and loss that many parents experience when their children no longer live with them, or need day-to-day care.  
Mothers are particularly affected.
It is quite normal for parents to feel some sadness at this time.
It is quite normal to have a little weep now and again
- and it is even normal to go into the absent child's bedroom and sit there for a bit in an attempt to feel closer to him or her."

We were in fits of laughter, almost rolling on the floor –
 ‘A little weep ? .. We don’t think so!
I asked my husband if he was going to be sad with us being on our own –
The smirk he gave me and dreamy look could only mean … no, he was thinking of something altogether different than depression – His eyes glazed over , AND A SONG  ERUPTED FROM HIM -->>

Brand New Girlfriend!! by Steve Holy

I got a brand new girlfriend.
We went and jumped off the deep end,
Flew out to LA for the weekend,
Spent the whole day, lyin' on the beach,
Wearin' nothin' but a smile,
Playin' kissy-kissy, smoochy-smoochy,
Talkin' mooshy-mooshy bout nothin'.
Man, i think im on to somethin',
Because i feel just like a kid again.
I got a brand new girlfriend,

 ‘Why would anyone struggle with the empty nest syndrome?’ Heck we could hardly wait. Get them out and on their own. Isn’t that the goal after all? Raise them to be independent and able to go out into the world?

My husband and I, between the 2 of us have a total of 5 girls – all young adults now.  Count then – 2 23 / 2 20 twins and 1 19 about to start university. PMS is an understatement, although we never had all 5 living with us under one roof at the same time. ‘One in five will be sane’ my husband likes to say – and is not always the same one, but usually only one at a time!!

Life was rarely boring throughout their teen years, as someone was always crying due to a boy, awful hair, weight gain, weight loss, and many other reasons including the moon was in the wrong part of the sky. As a woman, and mother, I could easily (well for the most part) ignore their dramas, as knew it was mostly emotional and would pass in time, if not within 5 minutes - especially if a boy called!

Cooking for them was hopeless, as what they just had to have yesterday would suddenly become disgusting today, or they were now… vegan! A stocked fridge and turning a blind eye to kitchen cleanup was essential for household calmness. A lock was installed on our bedroom door and my husband began hiding things, magazines, razor blades, special soaps and beauty products, in the locked room – along with alcohol, favorite foods, snacks and movies. This eliminated the fighting, and denying of ‘who took my almonds?’ or ‘how could she have eaten the entire box in one sitting?’ I did think at one time that there was more in the locked bedroom than elsewhere, and did we need to install a fridge in the bedroom? And then it suddenly it was no longer required. They did not stop eating; they just were not there.

At the first instance of no children coming home, we were delighted. It was quiet as constant rap-crap no longer played or television blared. Peace. And we enjoyed it.

But.  They came back. First it was just one that needed a place to stay temporarily while her and the boyfriend were rearranging their life. We had to find a place for her to bed down, as since we finally had the house to ourselves we had started to renovate, and had the bedrooms in disarray. One evening we went out, and came home to be confronted with the fact that another sister was on her way, as she had broken up with her fiancé. Ok, so now we had 2 daughters at home, and one boyfriend that would arrive for a short time as well for a 2-month stay. There was a lot of emotional and other support required for the daughter that was going through the relationship breakup.  I jumped back into being mom and needed with all 4 feet! Surprisingly, I realized l liked them being home, and that I was in no hurry to see them go – but of course this time they were in a hurry!

I am glad to report that they did leave within 2 months, and are leading responsible lives and enjoying life in their own apartments.  I miss them more then I ever thought possible this second time around. I now understand the other parent’s woes and that Empty Nest Syndrome is more like an empty heart. I felt needed as a mom again; I could talk to them without getting frustrated or telling them what to do, but had real conversations. I was able to share in their lives again and even give advice that was at least listened to, even though I know they will still do things their way. We cooked together, watched favorite movies together, had ice cream at midnight and borrowed each others clothes!

And then it was over.

They moved into their new apartments and with us being required to help with the first grocery shopping and move in – they were gone. The house was quiet. We were once again alone. During the day while my husband went off to work, I was very alone. The house was too quiet.
I admit to even having a little weep now and again. UGH!

But there is joy again; as yet another daughter came home the week after her sisters moved out to announce that she was 1) pregnant and 2) getting married ASAP! As this news washed over me, or more like a bucket of water was dumped on me…I thought …a baby is a wonderful, and a wedding needed planning. Mom was very much needed again!

We got her married with me as the mother of the bride and also I was the wedding planner. Now we are moving into the baby is coming phase – making me - grandma!  Due to circumstances she is with us for part of this time, so we get to enjoy her again, and also share in her pregnancy. I am enjoying this so much more after realizing how special this is to be able to share with her, and have her with us for a little bit longer.

 The baby will be the start of a whole new generation to enjoy, and watch grow up.
And this time, I will enjoy so much more, as I appreciate that this is my second chance to do just that!

Empty Nest Syndrome? – Not us! - as our nest is never empty for long.
Oh … and they say the baby is  … a Girl ….  Katelynn

 MORE ....

We finally did get our first BOY ..... 18 months later - Harvey!!

And for Cathie and Jan that will not have grandkids to fill the void - I do feel your pain. My grandkids are amazing, and becoming a 'Grandma' is the most wonderful experience. BUT - I still miss my girls, and being a mom. As well this Empty Nest happens at a time in our lives, that we really, really desire to feel loved and surrounded by those special to us - maybe to get even? We are going through changes within ourselves and somedays are not sure who we are any longer. BUT .. again remember
- Rule # 6 and a new  one. Darleen's Rule # 7 - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!
... seek out those that you have not had time for, and discover YOU.

AND -
Congratulate Yourself!
Although the job of being a parent is forever, you have reached a goal. You have raised an independent young adult! Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
YES, this was the goal - Jan, not to have babies forever :)
YOU did good.

Of course still -  it is quite normal to have a little weep now and again.

 And you can always call me 24 x7!!

NOW FOR the MEN .... welcome your wife in her new state.
 YOU -  GOT A BRAND NEW GIRLFRIEND

...darleen & jan

So ... I am no longer HOT?

Formerly HOT ... or at least un-young
  Being at the beach this weekend reminded me that I am no longer  HOT
.. or that at least age is possibly catching up with me.
AND as noted on the BLOG
- Formerly Hot  -

"sudden realization that I was no longer who I'd always been -  a pretty girl who navigated the world partially aided by the advantage of her looks. 
After 30 some odd years, Spanx had found their way into my lingerie drawer, 
and men who asked me if I "had the time” really just wanted to know the time. Imagine!"

Stephanie Dolgoff, discusses many aspects of the what she calls the tweens, appearance and other realities of life as women growing older. I am past that, and to the point of being what is referred to as 'middle-age' - I suppose. So that means I will live until 110, if I am at the mid-point.

And it is sad that we do still put so much emphasis on physical beauty - or outside appearances. I suppose. I am reminded of the articles including photos, of how we as women age - this is just the head-shots. The full effects to entire body is not pretty - or at least I was not impressed. Certainly we can fight against some of these effects, and leading a healthy lifestyle will  ensure we look as good as we feel - usually. But we still age - and to be blunt - WE GET OLD. Of course the benefit is that it is much better than the alternative - we are alive and kicking still.

                                              

faces of aging woman

How do we accept or adjust?
There are a variety of changes as we age that we can minimize effects or eliminate - but our physical appearance can only we 'uplifted' so much ... until our bodies do naturally age, with wrinkles and weight gain, and well shifting of 'stuff' to places we are not  used to 'stuff' being.

 So... how do we accept our changing physical bodies?
 OR more exactly still feel attractive and even sexy?

SIMPLE - definitely the packaging does change as we age - BUT the Attitude is how to still achieve feeling SEXY and viewed as attractive by others.

So let's control what we can, make peace with that we cannot,  and start having some fun embracing our age, wisdom, sassiness and power! Attitude. After all we really do not really want to go back to being those people we were, when our packaging was more attractive on the outside. Well, okay we do - but just for a weekend!

I involved Jan on this question - as how she deals with the physical changes to her body as she attempts to get as old as me.  She feels her body after birthing and mothering 5 children is her 'mommy body'. So is well worth any changes, due to all that it has done and definitely changed along the way, but she has 5 beautiful children. She has the same husband that she started out with, and fathered all these children - and he still finds her attractive - and thus she most of the time still feels attractive.
However - as far as attitude and feeling attractive internally -

 " Well I have a vivid imagination and that sometimes helps also. 

Can imagine a lot in my head as long as I don't look too much in the mirror :) "

Uhuh .. as I thought - MUST HONE GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR!!

As this video demonstrates and is silly as well.
Appreciate what we have, the NOW and add laughing at ourselves and ATTITUDE.

RULE NUMBER 6: Don't take yourself so goddamn seriously! - LIGHTEN UP!!

Enjoy YOU - NOW!!
And DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

darleen & jan

Happiness is ..... MY NEW CAR!!!

 Sorry ..but cannot wipe the smile off my face :) .... I have waited a looooooong time for this car.
Yes, it is just a car - BUT, it is my dream car and so SWEET to drive. Heck, it is even sweet to just sit and look at.

Cannot wait to take Jan for a spin in the REDVIXEN.

I am off to ride again ... will post more later about life and allowing happiness and being our best selves.

Busy for now!!

...darleen & jan

Canadian Blog Party

"Get Happy" - attract what you really really want! & Rule Number 6

From Abraham Hicks Teachings

- http://www.abraham-hicks.com/lawofattractionsource/index.php

Throughout our journey to reclaim our thin selves, we expected to become happy if we became slim and our 'old selves' - finding Ralphie. However - we have discovered with an epiphany of our own findings that we needed to find our happiness first, and make "peace with who we have become", as Jan stated so well. We have not lost our youth, but gained our new selves, and our future is now exciting.  How did we do this? Well we did read - or Darleen did most of the readings, and tested theories on Jan - about 50 self help books (list to follow). And well someone had to test the theories - Jan is a good sport and excellent at following instructions, with the one exception that 'No she shall not become VEGAN!' - or give up chocolate!

WE NEED A NEW LOGO!!   :)  Ralphie is out and Jan & Darleen are in!! 

Suggestions welcome.

Main books that had an impact were - by Byron Katie, Crystal Andrus, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Suzanne Somers, Paul McKenna -I Can Make You Thin (and other self hypnosis and brain retraining) and our most recent Abraham Hicks - Ask and It Is Given. Of course we also read diet books, and blogs and attended Weight Watchers and drank a lot of water. We have explored it all from the comfort of our homes with books, ebooks, blogs, websites, mp3 recordings, videos and emails - along with texting back and forth between us.
 

Slowly - we are that age, and our brains may be playing a few tricks on us, and require a lot of naps. Sometimes all the reading - like in the video - was too much for us to absorb. Water helped. Enjoying other activities to clear our brains from too much thinking - things like Sex And The City 2 and Chick Lit reading and knitting.

And then all the pieces of the puzzle suddenly started to move into place. 

And we got it! 
What all these many authors and life gurus were trying to tell us, all each in their own way.

YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT 

- OR YOU WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE MORE OF THAT YOU DON'T WANT!!

THE SOLUTION: YOU MUST FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO WANT

- TRULY VISUALIZE AND EXPERIENCE.

OTHER POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT HAVE GOT US TO OUR NEW HAPPY:

LIVE IN THE NOW

- APPRECIATE THE SMALL THINGS IF THE WHOLE SEEMS NOT WHAT YOU WISH.

TURN A BAD OR STRESSFUL SITUATION INTO APPRECIATION.

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS.

PAY IT FORWARD.

LOVE LIFE - FIND YOUR JOY.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. DO IT!


And this excerpt from The Power of Intention, by Dr Wayne W. Dyer
- taken from a book by Rosamund and Bejamin Zander - The Art of Possibility

    "Two prime ministers are sitting in a room discussing affairs of state. Suddenly a man bursts in,   apoplectic with fury, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk. the resident prime minister admonishes him: "Peter, " he says, "kindly remember Rule Number 6," whereupon Peter, is instantly restored to complete calm, apologizes, and withdraws. The politicians return to their conversation, only to be interrupted yet again twenty minutes later by an hysterical woman gesticulating wildly, her hair flying. Again the intruder is greeted with the words: "Marie, please remember Rule Number 6." Complete calm descends once more, and she too withdraws with a bow and an apology. When the scene is repeated for a  third time, the visiting prime minister addresses his colleague: "My dear friend, I've seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this. Would you be willing to share with me the secret of the Rule Number 6?" "Very simple," replies the resident prime minister. "Rule Number 6 is 'Don't take yourself so goddamn seriously.'" "Ah," says his visitor, "this is a fine rule." After a moment of pondering he inquires, "And, what may I ask, are the other rules?"
    "There aren't any." "


REMEMBER - RULE NUMBER 6! 'Don't take yourself so goddamn seriously.'
When stress or anxiety creep in, and threatens your HAPPY!

And, for FUN  --


WANNABE  -- I'll Tell YOU What I Want ... I Really Really Want!!

...darleen & jan

Get Happy and How To Get STUFF done!

Getting Organized and STUFF done... with interruptions

So this past week Jan and Darleen have been attempting to get to happier state by getting house organized. We made lists, schedules for each hour of the day, with goals for end of week.

Challenges: Interruptions:

• Kids needing rides 
• Kids needing stuff
• Kids sick and needing care
• Stuff we forgot we promised to do
• Tied up 

NOTE: this is a joke

- we would never consider putting our children in a cage .. hmm might have worked tho :)

 

 Well maybe this didn't really happen - but was worth a shot.

TIME MANAGEMENT
Oh yes, we have read all the Time Management rules and advice. uh hum ... The 8 Minute Rule
as on how to: Get A Grip Get a grip on life
- take responsibility for yourself - be in control of your own life

"Most of the things that need doing around the house can be done in under ten minutes. That’s a really short period of time. If you have your snooze button set to ten minute intervals, you’ll appreciate just how little time that is.

BUT. It’s enough time to do LOADS of stuff:

• Taking out the trash – 2 minutes
• Loading the dishwasher – 4 minutes
• Hoovering one room – 7 minutes
• Ordering a crate of tonic water online – 4 minutes
• Ironing two shirts – 8 minutes
• Going around your bedroom, picking up every stray sock and t-shirt and chucking all in the laundry bin – 5 minutes
• Paying five utility bills – 6 minutes
• etc etc etc

If you’ve got young kids, eight minutes is about the maximum time you get to yourself anyway. Load the washing machine in your first eight minutes, and drink that gin and tonic in the second."

Ok ... for the most part this works, except when interrupted by children (even those not living at home) or now that we have menopause-induced-memory loss, we find we often forget promises we have made and suddenly our Blackberry signals a 15 minute warning.  So,, what's next ? Do we just give up, and throw ourselves on bed and take a nap?

Darleen & Jan Solution

 Eureka!! We managed to get stuff done - a lot of stuff done with PRIORITIZATION & chocolate!

Inspiration Visualization & through trial and error what REALLY do we have to get done?? - do it.

 

 Prioritization:

This is not much different than prioritization in the workplace  - but we are the BOSS.

 Jan's List 

1.  Walking 15 minutes each day
2. Laundry
3. Clean Bedroom that is full top to bottom in order that daughter that moved out can move back in. Should be easy, as 5 days to complete. 

We broke this down into schedule similar to Darleen's List below.

Inspiration Photos:
Imagine Laundry being COMPLETED

And Visualize the COMPLETED ROOM RATHER THAN THE OVERWHELMING MESS:

Incentive

- chocolate yummies to be delivered from Ontario to Alberta, and also special chocolate treat specially prepared by Darleen.

Darleen's List

Tuesday

 8 am - walk for 15 min8:30 - breakfast and laundry started  - bed made

9:00 am - Review Bills and mail that came while away  - apply for EI
9:30 - switch laundry to dryer and get 2nd load in washer
10:00  - 12:00  - start closet cleaning - watch laundry at same time 

laundry should be completed by 12 noon
Take break at  12:00  - lunch
12:30 - put laundry away and iron anything that requires touchup
1:00  - complete closet cleanout  and reorg

2:00  -- find home for shoes in front hall closet - or possibly over door storage?
3:00 - visiting parents for an hour
4:00 - 5:00 -- make supper or put it in early in morning before starting

Wednesday
  -- organize computer room >> remove all books and organize or set to send to used book store
obtain bins to store computer odds and ends with labels to put above cupboards in computer room
Organize Living room with books and load up bins for  - freecycle or give away

Thursday
Bathroom organize  - clean all junk out of cupboards in both bathrooms

Friday
Kitchen
-- remove all stuff and clean cupboards
- get rid of anything not required any longer
- clean windows
- wash floor if required
- wash out fridge if required
- organize front hall closet -- remove winter coats if can find some place to store ???

As well supposed to be spending time job searching .... hmmm

Inspirational Photos:

Incentive:

- One day in sun to do nothing.

SO ..... what was the Outcome ...

Please continue Reading 

Finding Happiness Knitting

Finding Happiness Knitting


This is a photo of my ONE sock that I knit. Cool!!
Yes socks usually come in pairs, and usually have a heel. This one does NOT.
The pattern is supposed to be easier as does not have the dreaded heel to knit. Let me tell you, it is NOT easier. It was quite challenging, and when completed I discovered that I will never wear such a sock. So.. I will also not force myself to knit the matching sock to make it a pair.
This is one sock was completed over 2 week period. Rather than completing mate, I may need to amputate one foot, so that I only require 1 sock!


UNEMPLOYMENT
Weeks 2 and 3 of being unemployed, I went to Alberta and visited Jan (and family). It was actually supposed to be 1 week, but was extended to 2 weeks on final day of the first week, We had barely relaxed or had time to ‘hang-out’. The family still had some events for me to attend as well. With 5 children ranging from 23 to 14, there are always events to attend.

The first 2 days of my 2nd week, I was sick with some sort of stomach disorder, so feel  I did get  somewhat ripped off. The rest was good I suppose.

Jan and I discussed many topics, shared ideas on achieving happiness,  annoyances of aging,  how to lose weight, and  -if we only knew what we know now 30 years ago,
AND OF COURSE – how do we find Ralphie?


FINDING JOY (must be related to Ralphie)

Darleen being in recuperation phase looked at – Hobbies - Do things that brought you joy in past , or find a new hobbie. Hmm, I suppose that LONGBOADING is not a wise choice - Jan's youngest daughter has taken up this 'sport'.

 Think of the cool clothing I could get for this sport!! AND SHOES!!

Brainstorming Ideas ... safer ideas
Jan and Darleen share many of the same hobbies & interests:

• voracious readers and both have Sony eReaders;
• Crafts – sewing, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc etc
•  Music
• Movies
• Walking
• Cooking

We noted that Darleen has not done any of her craft hobbies in a very long time., due to excessive work hours with previous job. We had discussed this before Darleen went to Alberta, and decided that knitting was going to be the best choice.

“Oh and bring something to work on at craft morning for Wednesday.” Jan so cheerfully told Darleen. “ACK… you do realize it has been 24 years since I knit last - maybe I can fake it? ” Darleen responded.

And thanks to cousin Cyd, who gave  an unfinished project that only requires straight knitting to complete - Darleen almost did get away with looking like an expert knitter. But, alas chose to be honest and take a stab (with knitting needles) at being a ‘real’ knitter. I purchased yarn beginner ‘how to books’, needles and a few patterns for SOCKS.

YES SOCKS!  I did want to present myself as an expert knitter after all. Jan did attempt to get me to start with dishcloths. “I am NOT 10 years old!” I informed her. I did however allow myself a practice swatch to get back in the track – or more to manage to keep the stitches suddenly decreasing or magically increasing. I discovered some very interesting stitches in my practice to find  my way to knit  and purl.  Now I must emphasize that this was with 2 needles, NOT 3 as required for knitting socks.

I did however manage to complete – 1 sock!!

And contrary to blogging and many of my computer oriented pursuits, knitting is more sociable as can knit everywhere - well except airplanes.
(apparently knitting needles and fondue forks are considered lethal weapons)
I cannot really eat while knitting, without taking a break. Or cannot smoke. Or drink much.
So ...
I did lose weight, and did learn how to smoke more in between
-- yes well working on one bad habit at a time :)

Did I find Happiness! Yes indeed. It was a challenge, something different. It got me away from the constant computer, allowed me to just be, at the same time as creating something. I will continue and look forward to doing more of the sewing and other crafts that I was once known for - and enjoyed as an outlet.

My advice 
- find a hobby that you enjoy, and you will find more happiness in your life.

More tomorrow on our Scheduling & Inspiration to 'get things done, log of our weight loss findings... and when it all falls apart due to INTERRUPTIONS!! 

...darleen & jan