"It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.” ~Lucille Ball Yesterday was like the last day of school.... like graduation day, and I can't believe it's over. My #100HappyDays project is officially a wrap. Have no idea what I'm talking about? Here's my original post if you need some clarification: 100 Happy Days Anyways....so, yeah...it's over. Yesterday was #day100. How did I do, you ask? Well, let's talk about it. I want to start by saying that I have a lot of things in my life that I am grateful for on a daily basis....my husband & children....my health......my job.....my home.......food on my table....the list goes on and on! This was NOT an effort to try to search for God's Blessings in my life. I KNOW that I am richly blessed. No doubts there! Some of you reading here may not understand this, but it's my reality to state the following: While I am blessed by my God beyond anything I could ever deserve, there are days (sometimes weeks....even "seasons") of my life that I struggle to find joy. Yes, I am always grateful, but no, I am not always in a good place mentally or emotionally. Sure, I know what that old song says about grey skies clearing up if we'll only "put on a happy face," but it's not always that easy for me (......and it's getting harder with every passing year! The struggle IS real.) That's why I was so eager to give this #100HappyDays thing a try.
If you looked back at my original post about this effort, you'll see that "Day 1" was June 17, 2014. If you do the math, June 17th - Oct. 3rd = 109 days. In my original post, I resolved to "be happy for 100 days in a row." However, I didn't want to force it. I wanted it to be a daily realization that I expressed in the moment as it happened. Unfortunately there were several days in there that I simply couldn't muster up happiness. Now, again, I am ALWAYS "grateful," but joy? No, not every single day. In the beginning I was skipping right long, but then I hit a major setback...... I lost my grandfather-in-law. There's a long backstory there, but suffice it to say, he was MUCH more to me than our family tree would indicate, and when he died on July 14th, well, our family suffered a major loss. The immense sadness was like a very dark cloud hanging over us all for days and days. Joy was nowhere to be found.
While we still miss Grandaddy every single day, I knew in my heart that life this side of Heaven was going to keep rolling, and I had to make a conscious choice to seek joy again. So, I asked my God to help me, once again see it in my daily life. He answered my prayer. Take a look at my #100HappyDays.... Finding out an "inconclusive shadowed mass" wasn't breast cancer was the highlight of this set, but obviously, other things in my life brought plenty of joy, too! Family, food, friends, books, photography......lots of joy in this set! All of these shots make me happy just looking at them again, but the middle one is really special to me. Knowing that a mother was pleased with my pictures of her precious daughter is SO very rewarding! I finally resolved to find joy in knowing our Grandaddy was no longer hurting and finally walking tall on streets of gold! It would appear that food and great friends was also a highlight here. :) Yep, I even realized that visiting Amanda and getting those pesky grey roots taken care of brings me immense happiness! I also love it when special folks stop by for visits! :) I hope I always find joy in photography.....and home-grown tomatoes! Also....#FreshSqueezedFridays are awesome! :) This time last year, I was a sobbing "roomy nest mama." This year? Moving Baby Bird #2 back to college was a breeze! Oh, Happy Day! Also...there's that sweet little 3-yr-old that I adore sitting at my dinner table! Talking about books with coworkers brings me immense joy! Surviving another level of my fitness DVD is a super-good boost! Taking pictures of pretty things (and people) ranks right up there, too! DawgBoat, Dallas, and Diet Dew..... (some special peeps in here, too!) :) Mercer University, a newly discovered frozen treat, a handwritten thank you note, and time spent with one of my favorite southern ladies on the planet! I try to give 110% to everything I do, and every once and a while, someone acknowledges it....twice in this set....once for work...once for photography. Oh, also....autumn is finally here! YAY! Ice Cream (with chocolate syrup!), Fall decor, my peaceful place, and a new friend with a common interest. It's the little things that make a big impact!
Perhaps some of you (if you're still with me here) have realized that each set held 9 pictures and there are 12 sets. Once again, the math would indicate that I have 108 happy things here. That's because even though it took me longer than 100 days to document some happiness, there WERE times that I had several different moments of sheer joy within the same day! Now, THOSE were some sho' nuff' happy days! :) So, now that I've typed "#day100", what do I do? Many of you may be so sick and tired of my daily posts that you're praying I'm over it. A few of you out there have actually expressed your concern that I was coming to an end and wondered what I would do about it. (You folks really made my day because it means you became invested in my happiness journey somewhere along the way! Thank you!)
Well, I can assure you that this project has definitely changed the way I look at my daily life. I find myself anticipating what it will be that will evoke that deep sense of pure joy every day. .....and when you think about it, isn't that what it's been all about? Helping me "consciously pursue happiness every single day." I'm no longer waiting for something bad to happen. (Well, most days, anyway, and that's a HUGE personal improvement for me!) I'm actually counting on experiencing the good instead! I am forever changed....and forever grateful to my sweet sorority sister/friend for passing the idea my way. I'm going to back off the obvious #100happydays posts for a bit and just come up with some other hashtag to help me pinpoint my joy, but who knows.....that sister I just mentioned has recently started "#100happydays.....#Round2". I think that's a splendid idea! :) So.......I gotta' ask....... Are you pursuing happiness in your day-to-day life? I'm not talking about gratitude here. I'm talking about the stuff that produces sheer joy. I challenge you to start looking for it and then take time to thank God for all of the big and small things He puts in your daily path. It'll change your life! I guarantee it!
Until next time, ~Dot
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AuthorHi! I'm Dot. I refuse to succumb to the "empty nest syndrome"! So, this is my journal.....my photo album.....my attempt to enjoy the next chapter of my life as it unfolds. Welcome to The Roomy Nest! Archives
January 2020
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