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blogging101, Family, Journaling, Poetry, Sandbox Writing Challenge, Uncategorized, Writing 101, Writing Prompts
I’ve had a discombobulating three weeks, part of which has been dealing with a back injury that makes it hard for me to sit for long stretches at a time (and I’ve discovered it’s harder than heck to type on a laptop lying down). So I have tended to space off playing in the Sandbox. But things are looking up finally! Yay! So I’ve gotta get my head back in order and pay attention to these.
This challenge was chuck full of questions, and as I considered the first one,
What are the things that make you happy?
I started to wonder if I haven’t been settling a little bit lately… (And by that I don’t mean areas of my body are settling into shapes I’m not crazy about!) But it seems like lately I’ve allowed contentment to be more important than being happy. And while that maybe true in the grand scheme of things, happy is what makes the world keep spinning. Right? Yet here Drollery and I sit with not the least inclination to pursue any of those activities we always enjoyed.
So what things make me happy? Blogging. Going for short scenic rides in the car. Going to Starbucks to sit and shoot the bull with a friend. Drivin’ down to Sonic late in the evening with Drollery and getting a $1 ice cream cone, then sitting there talking (like we used to do when we were dating). If I’m grocery shopping when Arn comes home from work and sees the car in the parking lot then comes in and surprises me. And sitting with him on Saturday mornings (while Bran’s at work) rehashing the week over a cup of coffee.
I actually did a collage years ago as a exercise from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. The exercise was to cut pictures out of magazines of things that make you happy. It was fun. 😀
Can’t see it very well, but it was a fun thing to do, and I highly recommend it. I actually found out some things about myself I didn’t know! (And no snarly comments about Willie!. 🙂 )
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The second question (in conjunction with the third) hit close to home for me:
I think I’m afraid to be really crazy happy
because whenever I do _____________.
Are you one of the fortunate folks who never struggle with that fear of waiting for the other shoe drop?
If you are, tell us why!
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We’ve had three major financial setbacks in our married life, all due to issues with Drollery’s job (yes, the SAME bloomin’ job). Each time we pulled ourselves out of the hole it left us in, but each time it took longer and longer to bounce back. And it seems like every time we’d just start to let our guard down and get comfortable again, BAM!!! something else unexpected would happen (like the office getting moved to Puerto Rico!). And after awhile I guess I became one of those “worst case scenario” people. It’s not a happy place to be in. And yes, we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But in the meantime Drollery and I have decided we need to throw caution to the wind and go have some fun. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to have a date that begins at HIS favorite store, Office Max, and ends at MINE, Barnes & Noble, having a cup of Starbucks coffee in their cafe.
This is a relatively NEW awakening on our part, but we’re getting better at it. Had a date for dinner at Olive Garden last night and then went to see Sully with Tom Hanks. Great movie. Though I cried happy tears at the end.
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So, all things considered, I guess I’m on a mission now to see what else I can find that makes me happy! Of course that WILL entail getting my keister out of the house!
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Picture Credits:
Sonic Drive-In — Wikimedia Commons
College — moi
Starbucks Frappucino — FactSlides
The Sandbox Writing Challenge #61 — Happiness is NOT a dropping shoe!
Shannon said:
I wrote my post before reading yours and here you are likening happiness to contentment as well! Of course, we both came out with that in the same way.
For better or worse, I am back and I will try my best to catch up on the challenges as I so love doing them and so love reading everyone else’s responses!
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calensariel said:
Yes, your post really resonated with me. But hey! Don’t knock yourself out trying to catch up. Just jump in where we’re at. No biggie. 🙂
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Janet Thomas said:
Glad to hear your back is improving Calen. I think having been crazy happy, in love happy, new babies happy, new home, happy, out of love happy, working hard happy, retiring happy and many other kinds of happy, I might settle for contentment and see how it feels. It seems to me contentment lasts longer but it does carry a whiff off sitting in one’s old age and being content because there’s no other choice. Maybe contentment with a large side of happy is better? Great blog, really got me thinking! Thanks
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calensariel said:
“…contentment with a large side of happy…” Now THAT sounds like something we need to add to our menu! We do have tickets to see The Bar J Wranglers Christmas concert December 15th. I think we’re finally becoming aware of how important those little happy times are, too.
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Opher said:
Love the collage idea. Looks great.
I guess our move is one of those moments of uncertainty. We’re taking big risks. But hell – that’s life! It’ll work out – or not.
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calensariel said:
How far are you moving from where you are, Opher? Downsizing a lot?
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