tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69302633117800013872024-03-17T23:02:18.107-04:00Catching HappinessSimple pleasures and everyday adventuresKathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.comBlogger1272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-13549203978204755342024-03-15T07:30:00.002-04:002024-03-15T07:30:00.142-04:00Why We Should Remember to Want What We Have<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl9Jihl-epNWLXXsZOafVycCX_4btZ_lDICGFJKD4xjEX_hxjchri8_iH8gdLdZBYUXxqkNQC0H3P87Cha1X6FdrpacTR96PRhGjHp5GTK26cDcVnJA9yxSXl5F1kKnDMKaqzYhQaoLaKKUN0tt_RrfYRAG94H5xZHa1cpt_ylmHb5g-lt1tQRIwdxXRL/s5184/IMG_8977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl9Jihl-epNWLXXsZOafVycCX_4btZ_lDICGFJKD4xjEX_hxjchri8_iH8gdLdZBYUXxqkNQC0H3P87Cha1X6FdrpacTR96PRhGjHp5GTK26cDcVnJA9yxSXl5F1kKnDMKaqzYhQaoLaKKUN0tt_RrfYRAG94H5xZHa1cpt_ylmHb5g-lt1tQRIwdxXRL/w400-h266/IMG_8977.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">“Of course you will and can want more. You <i>should</i>
want more. But you should also <u>spend time trying to want what you already
have</u>. It’s slightly different from ‘practicing gratitude’ or appreciating
or thanking a higher force or God for what you have…. It means: Don’t let what
you already have be the baseline. Think of yourself before you gained what you have,
and remind yourself how much you want that, what you already have—your
spouse/partner, your family, your house, your job. Imagine you in an alternate
universe where you don’t have your family, can’t have your kids or your
partner, how desperate that alternate-you would be to get what you have. Or if
you don’t believe in the multiverse, the you from five years ago.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>—“Adam Parkson” in</i> <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690563/happiness-falls-by-angie-kim/" target="_blank">Happiness Falls</a><i>, by Angie Kim</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-91420622145788263452024-03-08T11:06:00.000-05:002024-03-08T11:06:06.287-05:00Are You a Carrot, an Egg or a Coffee Bean?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX8jowTCu7CkXe0pgLhTJwYkNy_5dG4MCSzOZxKD8jcZiOBpUlFcEqOB1Me4PlCX_GQMTls813H01_yB3wWF7ad38bemOGCbGbmnmZbS9B9yn9xqflhmfPYVNkOHCDnkRjqq4uyQfOyI2xFB_FXFduAyfaRt0s-ME68X_asSaj8HfyuMtXcxG_z5WYpPg/s2000/Untitled%20design.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX8jowTCu7CkXe0pgLhTJwYkNy_5dG4MCSzOZxKD8jcZiOBpUlFcEqOB1Me4PlCX_GQMTls813H01_yB3wWF7ad38bemOGCbGbmnmZbS9B9yn9xqflhmfPYVNkOHCDnkRjqq4uyQfOyI2xFB_FXFduAyfaRt0s-ME68X_asSaj8HfyuMtXcxG_z5WYpPg/w266-h400/Untitled%20design.png" width="266" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Over the past couple of years, we’ve been supported by two
different chapters of Hospice, first with Carol and then with my mom. I can’t
say enough good things about Hospice—I couldn’t have managed without their
help. Both Hospice chapters have sent me materials to help with grief and other
pertinent topics for the families of people who are sick or dying. I’d like to
share one of them with you today—it’s a story I hadn’t heard before, and I still
think about it often.</p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">A Carrot, an Egg, and a Cup of Coffee</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">(Anonymous)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life
and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make
it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed
that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots
with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the
first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she
placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">After 20 minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the
carrots out, placed the eggs in a bowl out and then ladled the coffee into a
cup.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you
see?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” the young woman replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the
carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the
daughter to break an egg. After pulling off the shell, she observed the
hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The
daughter smiled as she inhaled its rich aroma. The daughter asked what it
meant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced
the same adversity—boiling water. But each reacted differently. The carrot went
in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling
water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile, its thin outer
shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting in the boiling
water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique,
however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity
knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee
bean?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">Which are you? Are you the carrot that seems strong, but
with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Are
you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did you
have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, or maybe a financial
hardship become hardened and stiff? Does your shell look the same, but on the
inside are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;">Or are you like the coffee bean? When the water gets hot, the
coffee bean releases its fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when
things are at their worst, do you get better and change the situation around
you and make it better? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg
or a coffee bean?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We all know people who have been embittered by trouble and
grief—and we all know people who have grown through their suffering and become something
beautiful to behold. I do not judge those who have been hardened by adversity
or broken by it, but I don’t want to be one of them. I’m trying my best to “be
the coffee.” <o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-12164141717954877272024-03-01T10:40:00.002-05:002024-03-01T10:40:50.828-05:00Happy Little Lists<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvUWlAanqK-Nz0Q1Pz4ev5Rk0XiX1V3UjeI_KEIDkNmmfaJwafppgIQMyZhhjr9AhwppRY99dw7cmBSScIGpEWc0Nvgk-LBh8DZl2lxXiSm_Hk_VHBiza8UpD0wCOZbTwSb1Na4-WaXn61ao-00aH71s0-xQbmCWSPB3fZnNPbXU1dSZgeL2VKH1laeVk/s1920/jen-theodore-vJ8c4BKaqWE-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvUWlAanqK-Nz0Q1Pz4ev5Rk0XiX1V3UjeI_KEIDkNmmfaJwafppgIQMyZhhjr9AhwppRY99dw7cmBSScIGpEWc0Nvgk-LBh8DZl2lxXiSm_Hk_VHBiza8UpD0wCOZbTwSb1Na4-WaXn61ao-00aH71s0-xQbmCWSPB3fZnNPbXU1dSZgeL2VKH1laeVk/w400-h266/jen-theodore-vJ8c4BKaqWE-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jentheodore?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Jen Theodore</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-notepad-with-a-pen-and-a-potted-plant-vJ8c4BKaqWE?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">It’s no secret that I love a good list. In addition to
ordinary to-do lists, I make seasonal fun lists, list of books I want to read,
and more. I even have a <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2012/09/just-dont-do-it.html" target="_blank">“Do Not Do” list</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">(Maybe I love lists <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2011/02/attack-of-killer-lists.html" target="_blank">a little too much</a>?) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Attack of the Killer Lists” notwithstanding, I think lists
can be a good way to corral things you want to remember, provide you with
alternatives to less healthy activities, even be a source of happiness and
uplift in and of themselves. These lists are fun to make! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here are 15 Happy Little Lists you could make:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;">Happy Little Things—keep a running list of all the little
things that make you happy. It might be only one each day, week, or month, but
over time, that list will grow. (An alternative to the <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2022/01/holding-on-to-happiness-creating.html" target="_blank">Happiness jar.</a>) </li><li style="text-align: left;">Favorite calming and soothing activities for when you start
to feel stressed out. Having this ready ahead of time can keep you from
crashing and burning. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Places you want to travel. I’ve started a five-year travel
wish list because I’m not getting younger or fitter, and time is not slowing
down.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Possible little adventures and big adventures you could schedule each week (from Laura Vanderkam’s
book <a href="https://lauravanderkam.com/books/tranquility-by-tuesday/" target="_blank"><i>Tranquility by Tuesday.</i></a>)</li><li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://lauravanderkam.com/2015/06/2015-list-100-dreams/" target="_blank">100 dreams</a>, also a Laura Vanderkam idea. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Short, fun activities you can do when you have a few free
minutes and you don’t want to scroll your phone. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Books/movies/music you want to consume this year. What new
artists are you interested in, and what movies or books are you looking forward
to this year?</li><li style="text-align: left;">Places you want to explore, or restaurants you want to try in
your hometown. A good way to support local small businesses as well as have
some fun! </li><li style="text-align: left;">Quintessential [insert your home state] experiences—beyond your
hometown. In Florida, these might include visiting Disney, eating key lime pie,
hitting the beach, wearing shorts in February, seeing an alligator in the wild,
visiting the Everglades. What makes your state unique? If you moved out of your
state, is there anything you’d regret not seeing or doing?</li><li style="text-align: left;">Best dining experiences you’ve ever had. What made them so
special? I’m thinking of a dinner at <a href="https://www.theoldepinkhouserestaurant.com/" target="_blank">The Olde Pink House</a> in Savannah, GA. Savoring
happy memories, whether of a meal or some other experience, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-buoyant-life/202303/the-benefits-of-reliving-your-happy-memories#:~:text=This%20research%20showed%20that%20those,not%20have%20an%20intentional%20practice." target="_blank">increases enjoyment of life.</a></li><li style="text-align: left;">Favorite books/movies/music. Maybe it’s time to revisit
them?</li><li style="text-align: left;">People who inspire you to be the best and happiest version
of yourself. Who do you care about who you don’t want to disappoint? Who would
you like to emulate?</li><li style="text-align: left;">Things you’re looking forward to. Maybe it’s a summer
vacation, a visit with family, or even an afternoon spent doing only what you
want to do. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Things you want to learn. Maybe you want to try a new hobby,
learn a new language, or figure out how to do a simple home repair. Learning new
things is sooo <a href="https://sites.psu.edu/socialtrends/2023/02/08/5-benefits-of-learning-something-new-in-2023-plus-5-hobbies-to-try-today/" target="_blank">good for our brains and our mood</a>. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Tiny ways to <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2024/02/treat-yoself-updated-2024-edition.html" target="_blank">treat yo-self</a>. </li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p><i>What would you add to this list of lists?</i></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-50684217176971032212024-02-23T10:23:00.000-05:002024-02-23T10:23:33.899-05:00Keep This in Mind When Setting Goals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FEcSqVrW3jCinmwdJhZRNY1qB_swG6DRAwYTeg3pyqwQSQUS4vUlwdt4avaC1RERc2tkZ5cFecOytlFuZzN7YYiSlb4beJWcRuQbv5R_YjMzONR72DPKa17UolHB7GpT_cYJU9eGIyeWslWvd7X-ShwMRyieo-LWN6yJlJeGTcQMeS6nOiR_rfL9JPYz/s1920/javier-allegue-barros-C7B-ExXpOIE-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FEcSqVrW3jCinmwdJhZRNY1qB_swG6DRAwYTeg3pyqwQSQUS4vUlwdt4avaC1RERc2tkZ5cFecOytlFuZzN7YYiSlb4beJWcRuQbv5R_YjMzONR72DPKa17UolHB7GpT_cYJU9eGIyeWslWvd7X-ShwMRyieo-LWN6yJlJeGTcQMeS6nOiR_rfL9JPYz/w400-h266/javier-allegue-barros-C7B-ExXpOIE-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@soymeraki?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Javier Allegue Barros</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-of-road-signage-during-golden-hour-C7B-ExXpOIE?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“The way we think about growth often has us laser-focused on
the end goal. Yes, we might be aware of the steps that it takes to get what we
want, but we think about grinding our way through them in lieu of a process we
actually enjoy. When you think about your goals, take into consideration not
only the objective itself but the journey of reaching it. Ask yourself: Will I
like the ways that I’ll change along this path? Do I like the process of
learning, of supporting others, of working with new people? Reflection can help
you get clear on why you’re prioritizing certain goals and if they’re really
representative of the life you want for yourself.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">—Isabelle Eyman, <a href="https://camillestyles.com/wellness/mental-exhaustion/" target="_blank">“We Can’t Be Productive Every Day—So Why Do We Continue to Glorify It?”</a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-64730852989649288962024-02-16T11:01:00.000-05:002024-02-16T11:01:03.173-05:00The Blessing of Memory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVTCF-_HE_lrwFO51UszbMQLwGnQU-kL408d-kZBmtqP5w-3DoNof-6Qu4Be4aiB9-15cKy7oAy4Q7Si4oJN6X6YqWyP9v7Xu2EMk6pzXFjlxZ4xLIia3PTsP04X0gfUUtGB7lvsfIrNyFOtX-E2N6dLySgtQzF5WTOZJdy23JUoq_k65Hsa-gvP6QqRL/s4332/IMG_8431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3003" data-original-width="4332" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVTCF-_HE_lrwFO51UszbMQLwGnQU-kL408d-kZBmtqP5w-3DoNof-6Qu4Be4aiB9-15cKy7oAy4Q7Si4oJN6X6YqWyP9v7Xu2EMk6pzXFjlxZ4xLIia3PTsP04X0gfUUtGB7lvsfIrNyFOtX-E2N6dLySgtQzF5WTOZJdy23JUoq_k65Hsa-gvP6QqRL/w400-h278/IMG_8431.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow will mark the one-year anniversary of my mother-in-law’s
death. This week I’ve been mulling over what I might write about her to mark
this milestone. I had no time to process her passing and write about it because
I was immediately thrust into the trauma and chaos of my own mom’s last illness
and death, but Carol was an important person to me. She was always loving and
welcoming, and I can count only a few times when we disagreed or were at odds.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’ve thought a lot about grief this year, trying to feel it
without being undone by it. Trying to understand the process and work with it
to heal. I like this passage about mourning, from George E. Vaillant’s book <i><a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/george-e-vaillant-md/aging-well/9781549156601/" target="_blank">Aging Well</a></i>: “Counselors sometimes forget that the psychodynamic work of mourning
is often more to remember lost loves than to say good-bye. The primate brain is
constructed to retain, not relinquish, love…. No one whom we have ever loved is
totally lost. That is the blessing, as well as the curse, of memory. Grief
hurts, but does not—in the absence of conflict—make us ill. What is more, just
as rivers expose buried geologic strata, so may the erosion of living uncover
life-saving memories of love, formerly obscured by pain, resentment, or
immaturity.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In my experience, once I’m past the initial searing pain of
loss, remembering loved ones does bring comfort and joy. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Our family all has favorite memories and stories about Carol.
She loved to share “life lessons,” and every one of us has been on the
receiving end of these. I especially enjoyed her quirky humor, her eagerness to
help others, as well as her spirit of curiosity and adventure. She loved to
travel, and it was at her suggestion that she, my husband, son, and I rented an
apartment in Manhattan in 2007 for a quick Christmastime getaway, one of our happiest
family memories. My husband traveled to China with her in 2006, and she and I took a
two-week trip to Greece, also in 2007. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ytXTvyIoMzM/S-V_v7pEsfI/AAAAAAAAA2M/xweF6raUmjI/s1600/DSC01358.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ytXTvyIoMzM/S-V_v7pEsfI/AAAAAAAAA2M/xweF6raUmjI/s320/DSC01358.JPG" tt="true" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carol in Greece</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">She also taught me to value and respect things of the home, to
remain a lifelong learner (one of the last gifts I gave her was a book about
physics for the layperson—she was fascinated by the subject), and being around
her so much for the last years of her life made me realize how little we
understand and respect our elders here in the U.S. She made me kinder. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Last night I came across the following on Instagram. It made
me think of her—she absolutely would talk to anyone and she had a spirit that
embraced life fully, the good and the bad. I think she would fully agree with
these sentiments:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span> <span style="color: #073763;"> </span></span><span style="color: #073763;">Darling, go ahead and just love your life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> <span> </span></span>Take pictures of everything. Capture the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> <span> </span></span>moments, big and small, that make you feel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> <span> </span></span>alive. Tell people you love them. And mean<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> <span> </span> </span>it- truly mean it. Talk to random strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> <span> </span></span>Learn their stories. Do all the things that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> <span> </span> </span>you're afraid of and stop playing small.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> </span><span> </span>Stop being worried about all that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> </span><span> </span>can go wrong when the only thing that<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> </span><span> </span>matters is all the magic that could go right.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> </span><span> </span>There is so much life to be lived. So much<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> </span><span> </span>love to receive. Open yourself up. <b>Bloom.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3OClm0Bwly/" target="_blank"><span> </span>~ Alysha Waghorn</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>This post is for Larry, Mary Lynn, James, Sarah, Richard,
and Sam. I love you all, and I wish you comfort and healing today and every
day. We miss you, Carol.<o:p></o:p></i></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-14246604473934475292024-02-09T09:51:00.001-05:002024-02-09T09:51:49.184-05:00Treat Yo'Self, Updated 2024 Edition <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU34CKa7yM-WSal9qFPNDGfVnHlVWSDQDNJy63tdyQkUslv9aokQkhIjs8od1tJrcnGYTinE95PtqWNfQvIKRcjAT0_e_hDYznZk115DiFCwcx4gC-v3WD4BqvuW_JM2Llr96WqysglwWLTcbULGbr3YcspFlTUPonxPiRr7LU4eDmTNnmEKJHXft_g9p/s5085/harper-sunday-OO0JC5Ta7-w-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5085" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU34CKa7yM-WSal9qFPNDGfVnHlVWSDQDNJy63tdyQkUslv9aokQkhIjs8od1tJrcnGYTinE95PtqWNfQvIKRcjAT0_e_hDYznZk115DiFCwcx4gC-v3WD4BqvuW_JM2Llr96WqysglwWLTcbULGbr3YcspFlTUPonxPiRr7LU4eDmTNnmEKJHXft_g9p/w315-h400/harper-sunday-OO0JC5Ta7-w-unsplash.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@harpersunday?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Harper Sunday</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/pink-cup-on-top-of-magazine-OO0JC5Ta7-w?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Seven years ago, I wrote a post called <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2016/09/treat-yoself-25-simple-pleasures-to.html" target="_blank">“Treat Yo</a>’<a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2016/09/treat-yoself-25-simple-pleasures-to.html" target="_blank">Self: 25 Simple Pleasures to Brighten Your Day.”</a> It’s time to update that list, and
since my <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2024/01/some-assembly-required.html" target="_blank">“support” words </a>for 2024 are <i>restore</i> and <i>gentle</i>, this
post will emphasize gentle, restorative ideas—with a few active ideas thrown in
for the days when you’re feeling more energetic!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I still <i>highly</i> recommend taking naps, buying fresh
flowers, sipping hot drinks, and lounging in fresh sheets, but here are 10 more
simple pleasures to brighten your day. (I have no affiliation with any brands
mentioned—I just like them.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;">Soak in hot water—in a bath, shower, or if you’re lucky, a spa
or hot spring. Let all the knots in your muscles unwind. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Give your hands and feet some TLC. Rich lotion, self-massage
(try rolling a tennis ball under your foot), a manicure, a pedicure. My
fingernails almost always look ragged and uneven, so I’m setting aside time on
Sunday evenings to take care of them, even if that only means pulling out a
nail file.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Burn a seasonal scented candle. Changing up scented candles
with the seasons has been surprisingly fun. I’m currently alternating a fir-scented
candle and Yankee Candle’s <a href="https://www.yankeecandle.com/yankee-candle/candles/original-jar-candles/large-jar-candles/jack-frost---returning-favorite/ORCL_1630621.html" target="_blank">Jack Frost</a>. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Make a <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2023/12/fall-fun-list-recap-and-what-will-be-on.html" target="_blank">seasonal fun list</a>. I got this idea from <a href="https://lauravanderkam.com/" target="_blank">Laura Vanderkam</a>, and I love how it forces me to think ahead about what fun things I
can do each season. I haven’t made my winter fun list yet, and winter is fast
slipping away! </li><li style="text-align: left;">Go to the county or state fair. I’ve always had a soft spot
for state fairs, and <a href="https://floridastatefair.com/" target="_blank">Florida’s state fair</a> just started. I haven’t attended for
a few years, so maybe this weekend… </li><li style="text-align: left;">Spend some time in a room lit only by candles. Combine with
number 1 on this list, or sit in the glow of the flame and just <i>be</i>.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Find
some really good pens to write with. <a href="https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1373923/TUL-GL-Series-Retractable-Gel-Pens/" target="_blank">These</a> are my current favorites. </span></li><li style="text-align: left;">Make yourself a special breakfast. One of my favorites is toasted sourdough bread topped with melted smoked cheese, mashed avocado,
and an over-easy egg. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Tell someone you love them. I’ve really been missing my mom
this week and wish I could tell her I love her one more time.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Lean in to your favorite hobby. Allow yourself to daydream
about it, set aside time to do it, and if appropriate, buy yourself something
that will help you do it better/easier/with more enjoyment.</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Go forth and treat yo’self!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>What would you add to this list?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-88706477899706938492024-02-02T09:45:00.000-05:002024-02-02T09:45:06.810-05:00February Already? 2024 Goals: Check-in Number One<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjt2sCzrB_dW65U8jj1xGThhcTUSt-1gFigPDC1nau1DJFkJIxm3Q0vftYeLmr8TenPEgQPJlP9hxHhXxXyxLtoaQj1x-XLJ5momGC9PiZzNUWfljNHanGKgo_H2ytREO9Bqpno5dRGmsj7Xolj9izR_ZB2InR2VrdP-dlnJFx0ZmR2EgGiMbTZuShhyphenhyphenq/s4080/office%20bookshelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjt2sCzrB_dW65U8jj1xGThhcTUSt-1gFigPDC1nau1DJFkJIxm3Q0vftYeLmr8TenPEgQPJlP9hxHhXxXyxLtoaQj1x-XLJ5momGC9PiZzNUWfljNHanGKgo_H2ytREO9Bqpno5dRGmsj7Xolj9izR_ZB2InR2VrdP-dlnJFx0ZmR2EgGiMbTZuShhyphenhyphenq/w400-h301/office%20bookshelves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My decluttered office bookshelves</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">After a year in which I had little control over my time and even
less over my emotions, I’m planning to make 2024 a year for restoring and <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2024/01/some-assembly-required.html" target="_blank">building</a>.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I’d like to see happen in 2024,
personally and professionally. Today’s post is a check-in to see how things are
going.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I thought it might be useful to talk about my goals on Catching
Happiness throughout the year—it’ll keep me accountable, and maybe it will be helpful
to you to see how I (try to) break larger goals down into smaller steps. I’ll
share progress, missteps, and sources of inspiration. If there’s something you’d
like to me to write more about, please feel free to comment below, or contact
me directly at kathyjohn335 [at] gmail [dot] com. </p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Goals and happiness</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In January’s edition of the <a href="https://catchinghappiness.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1bc9b9b0fb3dbbaedfe7b31f5&id=5ba9c161f3" target="_blank">Happy Little Thoughts</a> newsletter,
I revealed three of my major goals for 2024 and wrote the following paragraph:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What do goals have to do with
happiness? Having goals to work toward, something to look forward to, contributes
to hope, optimism, and, yes, happiness. According to <a href="https://actionforhappiness.org/10-keys/direction" target="_blank">Action for Happiness</a>, ‘Direction’
is one of the 10 Keys to Happier Living. Goals which are good for happiness are those
we choose for ourselves, rather than things we think we ‘should’ do; they’re
things we want to move towards rather than things we want to stop doing;
they’re personally meaningful for us and reflect our interests and values; and
we have control over how we work towards them.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">(If you don’t get the Happy Little Thoughts newsletter but
would like to, click <a href="https://catchinghappiness.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1bc9b9b0fb3dbbaedfe7b31f5&id=5ba9c161f3" target="_blank">here</a>. Happy Little Thoughts comes out on the last
Wednesday of each month, and I don’t share or sell your email address.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">While I have additional goals that I may discuss later, the
three I shared in the newsletter are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Write a draft of a book I’ve been thinking about for <i>years</i>.</li><li>Declutter (to some extent) my whole house.</li><li>Complete an online dog training course and train my dog,
Luna (hopefully won’t take the entire year to do this one).</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">How did I do in January?</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Welllll, results were mixed. January was a FULL month: we hosted
guests from out of town twice (family last weekend, my friend Kerri for the
first week of the month) and I dealt with a few miscellaneous life maintenance
things like dental appointments and household repairs. Tank was seriously sick
and between worry, hospital visits, and trips to the barn to shoot medicine
down his throat (you can guess how happy that made him) I didn’t have much
bandwidth for anything except getting through the day. Here’s how things went:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Goal 1:</b> In January, I wanted to go over what I
already had written and organize my materials, as well as start regular writing
sessions three times each week. I knew it would be a busy month, so I wasn’t ambitious.
I did collect my materials, briefly look them over, and I managed one writing
session total. Not a great start, but considering my stress and busy-ness
levels in January, I’m not too surprised or disappointed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Goal 2:</b> For my whole-house declutter, I’m working on
two rooms each month, pairing a simple one with a more challenging one. In
January, I worked on my home office and our guest bathroom. I’m basically finished
with both—though my office (the challenging room) still has a couple of minor
things that need to be taken care of. It looks so much better and is now a
place where I want to spend time working again. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Goal 3:</b> I’ve purchased an online dog training course (<a href="https://spiritdogtraining.com/" target="_blank">SpiritDog</a>,
no affiliation) after trying out some of their free offerings, but all I
managed to do in January was read a couple of emails and watch a couple of short
videos. <o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">What’s next in February and beyond?</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I don’t think February will be as busy a month, but it is a
shorter month so I’m still being conservative with my expectations. I want to
build consistency and momentum. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">These are my plans for February:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Goal 1:</b> I’m considering investing in a couple of online book
writing courses, and I’ll decide whether or not either of them is appropriate.
I’ve blocked out time for writing and research sessions. I’m planning to
experiment with writing in different locations, both to reduce distractions (Laundry!
Dishes! Luna wants attention!) and to make writing more fun. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Goal 2:</b> I’ve got my next two rooms picked out: my kitchen
and dining room. In January, my habit was to set a timer and declutter for at
least 15 minutes a day. That worked well, so I’m going to repeat that process.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Goal 3:</b> I’ll schedule time for reading/watching the dog
training course, and short sessions of training with Luna several days a week. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m still kind of feeling my way. Each month, I want to
review my progress and make any necessary adjustments, but I probably won’t do
an update like this on the blog every month. Maybe quarterly? The idea of
having to publicly report my progress or lack thereof is pretty motivating!
(And a little scary!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I want to be a person with a mannerly dog, in a decluttered
house, who has written a book. These goals will all take time, consistency, and
the building of habits. It’s only February, and I’m still filled with optimism.
We shall see what the rest of the year has in store.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">If you’d like to share your own goals in comments below, I’d
love to hear them!<o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-90713963932626322172024-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:002024-01-26T08:00:00.134-05:00New Year, New Link Love (Vol. IV)<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt33J7AAZ-IKOxdkPIPj09YW4AV3_McfOZzXgf9IyqFUuruU0diJTAkRa6yvLM7sgPfv32rBwzdHjHyUT0lZoH3KmFIURrFC1DrRJKdOQsj0MQU0nWz60tV34seqW5hl3ftdUVs-EcJxKn0njc58BlzeXRhGMBWOP3PrxFfsfUnKDpGWVQPBiIsi3SBOU/s3072/IMG_20240120_113926334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="3072" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt33J7AAZ-IKOxdkPIPj09YW4AV3_McfOZzXgf9IyqFUuruU0diJTAkRa6yvLM7sgPfv32rBwzdHjHyUT0lZoH3KmFIURrFC1DrRJKdOQsj0MQU0nWz60tV34seqW5hl3ftdUVs-EcJxKn0njc58BlzeXRhGMBWOP3PrxFfsfUnKDpGWVQPBiIsi3SBOU/w400-h324/IMG_20240120_113926334.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank on left enjoying his first day home</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">First off, I’m happy to say that Tank is doing well at home,
and I’m much relieved that he seems to be continuing to recover (and he’s
enjoying the extra feed as we try to put some of the weight he lost back on him).</i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This is 2024’s addition to my tradition of “New Year, New
Link Love,” even though it’s almost the end of the month. January has gotten
away from me in a number of ways, but hey, here we are. Grab a cup of something
warm to drink and enjoy these links:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In <a href="https://aestheticsofjoy.com/how-to-cheer-yourself-up/" target="_blank">“How to Cheer Yourself Up on a Hard Day,”</a> Ingrid Fetell
Lee shows us how we can create and embrace small moments of joy even in the
midst of frustration and struggle. (Check
out the “Joy Break Generator” at the bottom of the post.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m not the only one who was happy to leave 2023 behind. But
it’s not enough just to leave the year <i>itself</i> behind if we continue to
carry things that weigh us down into 2024. In <a href="https://bemorewithless.com/heavy-things/" target="_blank">“7 Heavy Things to Leave Behind In 2023,”</a> Courtney Carver gently urges us to leave those heavy things in the past
and walk forward feeling lighter, and with room in our lives to allow in more
good things. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/14/1212908276/can-little-actions-bring-big-joy-researchers-say-micro-acts-can-boost-well-being" target="_blank">“Can little actions bring big joy? Researchers find ‘micro-acts’can boost well-being,”</a> NPR reported that scientists behind the <a href="https://ggia.berkeley.edu/bigjoy" target="_blank">BIG JOY Project</a>
found that those who commit daily “micro acts” of joy—such as making a
gratitude list or doing something nice for someone else—“experience about a 25%
increase in emotional well-being over the course of a week.” These acts “led to
increased feelings of hope, optimism, as well as moments of fun or silliness.” These
findings don’t surprise me, but it’s always nice to be reminded that in a world
where so much is beyond our control, small positive acts can make a difference.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">How good are you at loving yourself? If you could be better,
here are <a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/self-love-how-to/" target="_blank">“99 Ways to Love Yourself A Little Better.” </a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Click <a href="https://www.inspiremore.com/4-week-old-wolf-pup-practices-their-awoo-in-adorable-video/?utm_source=beehiiv&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=howl-cute-is-this" target="_blank">here</a> to see a baby wolf learning to howl! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I found this discussion of <a href="https://www.raptitude.com/2023/05/how-to-think-about-politics-without-going-insane/" target="_blank">“How to Think About Politics Without Going Insane,”</a> interesting. I really do think most issues are more
nuanced than we realize. David writes: “If you can achieve a multi-viewpoint
understanding of the debates over gun ownership, law enforcement, socialism,
capitalism, transgenderism, housing policy — even if you still adamantly favor
one position afterward — the conflict no longer needs to be attributed to
malice or stupidity on the part of half the population. There’s a better
explanation, which is that contentious issues tend to be multi-faceted and
morally complex, and people fixate on the first facet of an issue that makes
them feel something. To make it worse, our culture incentivizes the denial of
moral complexity. Simply put, it’s easy to motivate people with simple moral
stories (those guys are bad) and hard to motivate them otherwise.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I enjoyed <a href="https://mairakalman.com/" target="_blank">Maira Kalman’s</a> TED talk, <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/maira_kalman_how_to_find_humor_in_life_s_absurdity" target="_blank">“How to find humor in life’s absurdity.”</a> (I am down for her “murder
and mint chip portion of the day”!)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This weekend we will host out-of-town family as well as
continue to monitor Tank’s progress and give him his medication and extra
calories. How about you? Any fun plans for the weekend and beyond? How is 2024 going
for you so far?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-10345126934247625122024-01-19T09:12:00.002-05:002024-01-19T14:20:55.806-05:00Some Assembly Required<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVVdwM3oTOcTSUYevRgtTL2cFJV5OB-BrdFoEuPToLitlmn_6fOZaOEzYGSaiOdeRf5PDThdrsXrTGYSxPnVnVyYxJKT4upCrD8lTMpXNTONtiB1OnXDI1dW0X4rbv40rLPBE-OWttwHBucSv_nQyjeBZCw5dOOA2AXv0E2Sqb7E7MqLk3SoeuoFOtZhk/s1920/andrik-langfield-ujx_KIIujRg-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVVdwM3oTOcTSUYevRgtTL2cFJV5OB-BrdFoEuPToLitlmn_6fOZaOEzYGSaiOdeRf5PDThdrsXrTGYSxPnVnVyYxJKT4upCrD8lTMpXNTONtiB1OnXDI1dW0X4rbv40rLPBE-OWttwHBucSv_nQyjeBZCw5dOOA2AXv0E2Sqb7E7MqLk3SoeuoFOtZhk/w400-h225/andrik-langfield-ujx_KIIujRg-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@andriklangfield?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash"><span style="color: blue;">Andrik Langfield</span></a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/person-balancing-rocks-ujx_KIIujRg?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash"><span style="color: blue;">Unsplash</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Happy belated New Year! I’m mostly back from my extended
break after a productive, in-depth review of 2023.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As I wrote in December’s Happy Little Thoughts, I did not
accomplish many personal or professional goals in 2023. I spent most of the
year navigating grief and the practical and administrative matters related to
two deaths, and it was all I could do to keep my own life somewhat functional. When
I wasn’t doing those things, I was mentally and emotionally recovering from
doing them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">But now things are starting to settle down*. Starting a new
year feels like starting fresh. <o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Choosing a word of the year</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As usual, I have been pondering the choice of a word of the
year. I would like 2024 to be, as professional sports teams call it, “a
rebuilding year.” Now that I’m no longer responsible for caring for my
mother-in-law, I can begin to think again of what I want to accomplish.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I toyed with the idea of <i>rebuild</i> as a word of the
year, but it didn’t feel quite right. My circumstances have changed. My dreams have
changed. My tolerance levels for some things have changed. I’m staring down a
milestone birthday. Instead of <i>rebuilding</i> what I had before, as great as
it was, I want to <b>build </b>a life I love, one that makes me happy to wake
up in the morning, on the foundation of my old life. If that makes sense.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here’s the quote, from <a href="https://www.jamievaron.com/" target="_blank">Jamie Varon</a>, that inspired me to
choose build as my word of the year:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Imagine the woman you want to be. Think of what her daily life,
her habits, and routines would be. Start showing up to those habits and
routines, start building them, step by step, and day by day. You don’t become
her like magic. You build her. Start building.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Words of support</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Knowing that I am still somewhat shaky emotionally
(especially considering what’s been going on with Tank—see * below), I’m
choosing a couple of “background” words to support build: restore, gentle. At
least right now, I’m not up for any major disruptive changes. I <i>am</i> up
for building <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2011/05/just-call-me-tortoise.html " target="_blank">small habits</a>, <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2023/08/small-is-big.html" target="_blank">little by little</a>, gently, while allowing time for
restoration. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">After I wrote down some big goals I want to achieve in 2024,
I broke them down into smaller goals, sometimes into something I can achieve in
a month. Some of these subgoals are process goals, like “work on [insert project
here] 15 minutes 3 times a week.” January has been kind of a trial run, as I
figure out how to build the habits I want.<o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Some fun supportive practices</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Thinking about choosing your own word of the year? That’s
only the first step. While you can leave it to chance, if you want to make the
most of the practice of choosing a word of the year, it helps to keep that word
uppermost in your mind. Here are a few supportive practices I’ve heard about and might
try this year: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;">Keep a notebook to record ways your word of the year has
shown up in your life</li><li style="text-align: left;">Create a Pinterest board for your word of the year</li><li style="text-align: left;">Create a vision board focusing on your word of the year</li><li style="text-align: left;">Put your word of the year on sticky notes and post them in strategic
places. </li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">What feels different?</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I feel a certain determination I haven’t felt before. A few
of my goals have migrated from year to year without my making any real headway
on them and I want that to stop. I feel more likely to look for solutions and work arounds when I hit a
roadblock, rather than giving up at the first significant obstacle. One lesson
I learned from losing my mom and mother-in-law is that you <i>don’t</i> have
all the time in the world. If you want to do it, do it. Do not keep putting off
things that are important to you. Build the life you want <i>now</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Do you choose a word of the year? If you’d like to share,
please do in the comments below!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Read about past words of the year <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2023/01/when-choosing-one-word-isnt-enough.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2022/01/first-thoughts-for-2022.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and
<a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2021/01/the-strength-of-word.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">*<i>Last week, my horse, Tank, developed some kind of serious
mystery ailment and for the past week I’ve been alternating between hope and despair.
As I write this post, he is doing better and I’m cautiously optimistic that he’ll
pull through. He’s due to come home from the vet hospital tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></i></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-12388827509986972032023-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:002023-12-22T08:00:00.136-05:00Unplugging<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo6zwqmvwAIjdahqCdQg0eS3Xdir1sKt_jMrVXzYb1NlJqIZoODNM1w9Qknd8-mAYVQJt9P8GqXM4bJoca5VQLTJQEaFs87E20g7YmPBNKagRKh-W6ihyphenhyphenVsjUUobGEMZwOff6p82-T8lJZz-xEQ6IF9XDs3yxUHlydEBxleQ_yqdoR_eWwO7Z37QSKDm5/s5568/kelly-sikkema-zwU2x2Yg-xY-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo6zwqmvwAIjdahqCdQg0eS3Xdir1sKt_jMrVXzYb1NlJqIZoODNM1w9Qknd8-mAYVQJt9P8GqXM4bJoca5VQLTJQEaFs87E20g7YmPBNKagRKh-W6ihyphenhyphenVsjUUobGEMZwOff6p82-T8lJZz-xEQ6IF9XDs3yxUHlydEBxleQ_yqdoR_eWwO7Z37QSKDm5/w266-h400/kelly-sikkema-zwU2x2Yg-xY-unsplash.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Kelly Sikkema</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-usb-cable-on-brown-wooden-table-zwU2x2Yg-xY?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a
few minutes…including you.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">—Anne Lamott</span></i></p>
<i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thank you so much for taking the time to read
Catching Happiness, and for your kind and thoughtful comments this year. Writing
for us (because I write for myself almost as much as I write for you) has been
a bright spot during some hard times. After sending out the Happy Little
Thoughts newsletter (click <a href="https://catchinghappiness.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1bc9b9b0fb3dbbaedfe7b31f5&id=5ba9c161f3" target="_blank">here</a> if you’re not already subscribed) next week, I’m
taking a short break to celebrate Christmas, host an out-of-town friend, and start
2024 in a thoughtful manner. I wish you the happiest of holidays and look
forward to connecting again in the new year! </span></i></div></i><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-25986672063499307052023-12-15T16:48:00.001-05:002023-12-15T16:48:15.762-05:00Fall Fun List Recap, and What Will Be on the Winter Fun List?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmfMA02PtwhRn0FTjnqR4u1jEyHSX9lUJd41j8mhLxDHSmjgWlrJXVXrrxyCi2alBqxYpwQzOgtVY02kMscpV-QfkG4PJnzZ_ewZeZS_OolpEltoTcwWxWdz-rZSOA0hcls4lPwOAIrVi0OCnz2oAHc8D5etN5Wi3wdRUbMa11Ib8svwfqcsWgw54ytAR/s3728/IMG_20221204_154901586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2012" data-original-width="3728" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmfMA02PtwhRn0FTjnqR4u1jEyHSX9lUJd41j8mhLxDHSmjgWlrJXVXrrxyCi2alBqxYpwQzOgtVY02kMscpV-QfkG4PJnzZ_ewZeZS_OolpEltoTcwWxWdz-rZSOA0hcls4lPwOAIrVi0OCnz2oAHc8D5etN5Wi3wdRUbMa11Ib8svwfqcsWgw54ytAR/w400-h216/IMG_20221204_154901586.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dog is on the nice list...usually</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">Fall Fun List update: I did
nearly everything on my list! </p><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Decorate the house for fall<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Burn fall-scented candles and
diffuse fall scents in my essential oil diffuser<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bake sourdough bread using my
“mother”<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Write a letter to someone (friend
or relative)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Play cozy ambience music videos on
YouTube (like </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6930263311780001387/7189711826382035711"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">this one</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte and
other fall foods and drinks<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eat </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6930263311780001387/7189711826382035711"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pomegranates</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watch </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6930263311780001387/7189711826382035711"><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barbie</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with a friend <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Choose and order a 2024 planner<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Celebrate Thanksgiving with the
family<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take a trip to a local nursery and
decide what, if anything, I want to plant for our fall/winter garden<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Attend the first three musicals of
my </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6930263311780001387/7189711826382035711"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Broadway series</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> at the Straz Center in Tampa
(<i>The Choir of Man</i>, <i>Beetlejuice</i>, and <i>Funny Girl</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sit outside and enjoy cooler
weather—if we get some by Dec. 21<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Change out fall house decorations
for winter (I usually do this around the beginning of December)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><p style="text-align: left;">I probably won’t manage to make the bread or see <i>Barbie </i>before the 21<sup>st</sup>, but that’s OK. Both of those things can move on to a Winter Fun List, which I’m still in the process of making. (Fun Lists are slightly different from lists of goals, and are good reminders that life is about more than work and chores and various other responsibilities.) </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I realize “winter” in Florida is quite different from winter
in most other locations, so my winter fun list will not look like the winter
fun list of someone who lives in Ohio (Hi, Debbie!) That’s one of the beauties
of fun lists—they reflect your unique situation and personality. As Gretchen
Rubin has pointed out in one of her Secrets of Adulthood, <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/whats-fun-for-other-people-may-not-be-fun-for-you/" target="_blank">“What’s fun for other people may not be fun for you, and vice versa.” </a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Maybe take some time this weekend to think about what’s fun
for you. Then make plans to work that fun into your life more often. <o:p></o:p>I’d love it if you’d come back here to share some of what’s
on your winter fun list in the comments. We can all use a little fun
inspiration!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-17039992747079524782023-12-08T09:25:00.000-05:002023-12-08T09:25:31.755-05:00The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Cry<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_ZLlXCJhnDzsUgRzildrihVSbn4x573Hktac8w1DaTUehOe2dPWpUQTul7_WkuYldlhocXg2r1CH0qI9F1P5IWwHEGFEEm8ieNuxhqsasqbAIg41NPf4SMSKrV71loHS7UHCdoSqv72aV_Bpb_HyyBT0Y6gtet5nhhbNTKvkeyIma1JrOx14Txhg6GN1/s1280/resolutions-7697504_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1280" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_ZLlXCJhnDzsUgRzildrihVSbn4x573Hktac8w1DaTUehOe2dPWpUQTul7_WkuYldlhocXg2r1CH0qI9F1P5IWwHEGFEEm8ieNuxhqsasqbAIg41NPf4SMSKrV71loHS7UHCdoSqv72aV_Bpb_HyyBT0Y6gtet5nhhbNTKvkeyIma1JrOx14Txhg6GN1/s320/resolutions-7697504_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/usa-reiseblogger-328188/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7697504" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; text-align: start;">Simon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7697504" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m currently working my way through Susannah Conway’s free
<a href="https://www.susannahconway.com/unravel" target="_blank">Unravel Your Year workbook</a> (no affiliation), looking back over the events and experiences of
2023, and man, that post headline about sums up 2023 for me. Those of you who
have been with me for the entire year already know that in 2023 my husband and
I both lost our mothers rather suddenly. I was my mother-in-law’s caregiver,
and while she <i>was</i> under Hospice care, her decline and death were unexpected
and extremely quick. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">My own mom’s decline was even faster and more unexpected,
and I spent good parts of the months of February through May flying back and
forth to California, staying by her bedside as she transitioned, arranging for
her funeral, and then closing up her home and preparing it for sale. I also
contracted Covid while I was there in February and spent many of what would be our
last precious days sick and in isolation (because the last place you want to go
when you have Covid is a nursing home…).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">How’s that for Bad?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">And believe me, there was some ugly crying.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">On the surface, the Good doesn’t leap out at me, yet I know
there was good, and a lot of it. The support of my friends through this year
has been more than “good”—it’s been priceless! My son and husband here at home
kept everything going while I was otherwise occupied, including taking care of
our pets and each other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I read a lot of really great books (post to come) and saw
several fantastic theater productions. I reconnected with a couple of friends
from high school. Just as it’s impossible to keep bad things from happening, it’s
also impossible to keep good things from happening! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This morning, I came across a phrase that describes
something I believe to be happening to me: <i>post traumatic growth</i>. <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2023/03/getting-through-tough-times.html" target="_blank">This year
<i>has</i> been traumatic</a>, and I don’t intend to waste the pain I’ve
experienced. I feel different from the person who started 2023. While I’m a
little shaky and unsure about how to move forward in my life after this
transition, I also know that I found depths within myself and a safety net
surrounding me that I did not realize existed. For that I’m profoundly
grateful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I encourage you to take the time to reflect on your
experiences in 2023. What joys and what sorrows did you experience? What lessons
will you take with you into the new year? (If you want some gentle prompts to
help you reflect, I recommend the above-mentioned <a href="https://www.susannahconway.com/unravel" target="_blank">Unravel Your Year workbook</a>.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m nearly ready to shut the door on the year and move into
2024. May we all find peace and closure with 2023. <o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-61040839730953401762023-12-01T09:13:00.000-05:002023-12-01T09:13:00.751-05:002023 Gratitude Challenge Wrap-Up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuCJeuNlvXp-Gl6xQkgd7aLEQXMUAJ1HXZqoC-W67MpUaRC3yNeOEFNc4EeTX7g3ZJwLBj5iZYyFIgqi-fl1cDWnYj_CZSlJ9Wo8_lHpBf9yfx8jmqN-Jvf8Prklil8TcRDxrRwLuEY_B0hSauIfkmFFfwJDpWHRAO02sTLrhO4hU8sSITLZJUlPIfvHK/s2000/2023-Positively-Present-Gratitude-Challenge-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuCJeuNlvXp-Gl6xQkgd7aLEQXMUAJ1HXZqoC-W67MpUaRC3yNeOEFNc4EeTX7g3ZJwLBj5iZYyFIgqi-fl1cDWnYj_CZSlJ9Wo8_lHpBf9yfx8jmqN-Jvf8Prklil8TcRDxrRwLuEY_B0hSauIfkmFFfwJDpWHRAO02sTLrhO4hU8sSITLZJUlPIfvHK/s320/2023-Positively-Present-Gratitude-Challenge-1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Positively Present</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I was pretty haphazard with my participation in the
Gratitude Challenge this year. Some days it felt too hard to come up with
something to post. Not that I’m <i>not</i> grateful for many things—it’s just
that I couldn’t gather the mental energy to formulate a thoughtful post that anyone
would be interested in seeing in their Instagram or Facebook feed. Sometimes
feelings are too deep for words, and I’ve been feeling A LOT of feelings. Still, I’m always glad to take some time to ponder what I’m
grateful for.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here are a few of my favorite prompts from 2023 (click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kathyjohn335/" target="_blank">here </a>to see all my posts on Instagram):<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpQga-NOJzHBc-mQrMy9RNsuNx47Tguq8yPLvxmtFsrvfG8iu-7EP3ZwyrSiiSineNHEa5V1O73QeaDgCWh0ATYucSOdvYG1N0wffNIuVs60mG_VnaAr4voD5dsF5BuTIbZHddyl7fD6LNhrgvFY6tgPQ4t8pPADvd0qbD6E9mBo24x-6gNgTl_ixs8KH/s3514/IMG_20230508_124701503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3514" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpQga-NOJzHBc-mQrMy9RNsuNx47Tguq8yPLvxmtFsrvfG8iu-7EP3ZwyrSiiSineNHEa5V1O73QeaDgCWh0ATYucSOdvYG1N0wffNIuVs60mG_VnaAr4voD5dsF5BuTIbZHddyl7fD6LNhrgvFY6tgPQ4t8pPADvd0qbD6E9mBo24x-6gNgTl_ixs8KH/w350-h400/IMG_20230508_124701503.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzUuNwesUZf/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Time</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Lately I've been trying to slow down my bad habit of rushing through everything I do to get to the NEXT thing. I feel so much better when I
let things take the time they take. This sundial reminds me to be grateful for
the time I have.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslDbvq4fj3m3i2ye34WIZVExgXqLdtFjfwm-9DrvZT_JYDVWvJU4hWQH3iOBnQIKBfpvjMsDmr1i1XC2NYy1Re9liUm1hlbAQPl5VCJgKft07-xGiMEZAuNYUkLC7Nbqp_H-a7pZH1LBQMTiFFsDvVltOanS7KuBnsk5r_w5wA0B7g1rqpYG7xvaJFzav/s4080/IMG_20230409_123940580_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2925" data-original-width="4080" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslDbvq4fj3m3i2ye34WIZVExgXqLdtFjfwm-9DrvZT_JYDVWvJU4hWQH3iOBnQIKBfpvjMsDmr1i1XC2NYy1Re9liUm1hlbAQPl5VCJgKft07-xGiMEZAuNYUkLC7Nbqp_H-a7pZH1LBQMTiFFsDvVltOanS7KuBnsk5r_w5wA0B7g1rqpYG7xvaJFzav/w400-h286/IMG_20230409_123940580_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzjpYlfJrgt/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Beauty</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Even during the hardest times, I'm grateful for beauty
(especially the beauty of the natural world) to remind me that there's more to
life than the mundane, the painful, the annoying. So the next time you (or I)
need a lift, look for something beautiful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG0p02370Gct0_v6llzRnPe32VH6uYr93VjxWkSbK79RbvBJT6fK-CgbP9zidNk2u3NV0uE6j8JIhhhyphenhyphen-7pNuAGkqpRoShYdaAV2ddhAbvC7Ow64Sj7L1c-546ijL3HvMc8EvrWgjBEEFqHooKAe8gNFa6QDBxJmurAc4NfccuPYrLnyTVmcFch4ZU8yR/s4080/IMG_20220620_112422009_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG0p02370Gct0_v6llzRnPe32VH6uYr93VjxWkSbK79RbvBJT6fK-CgbP9zidNk2u3NV0uE6j8JIhhhyphenhyphen-7pNuAGkqpRoShYdaAV2ddhAbvC7Ow64Sj7L1c-546ijL3HvMc8EvrWgjBEEFqHooKAe8gNFa6QDBxJmurAc4NfccuPYrLnyTVmcFch4ZU8yR/w301-h400/IMG_20220620_112422009_HDR.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0C2HmCJ-cS/" target="_blank">Inspiration</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">To "inspire" also means to breathe in... I'm
grateful for places like this that encourage me to do just that. And maybe,
once I have taken that breath, the creative inspiration I long for will also
find me.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqP_3Z3GFshLIVL2aD02N2RWOUk9X_8Ho2w-imlLKEuGPiFrF9Q46Ewz-sirJ3-VnN-LTjJWhktcSlOc4u6iPwcfwEpCuMFoCwG8hwGMpkDP4Ej5LjQSpxA3SNhv3ihqYGePO-88zXZFaeeIVDLoYfIkk0Cf2EMQwy83x4jw6yfdg1nIpkuMhUXbhGIJD/s4080/IMG_20231128_073920010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqP_3Z3GFshLIVL2aD02N2RWOUk9X_8Ho2w-imlLKEuGPiFrF9Q46Ewz-sirJ3-VnN-LTjJWhktcSlOc4u6iPwcfwEpCuMFoCwG8hwGMpkDP4Ej5LjQSpxA3SNhv3ihqYGePO-88zXZFaeeIVDLoYfIkk0Cf2EMQwy83x4jw6yfdg1nIpkuMhUXbhGIJD/w301-h400/IMG_20231128_073920010.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0SokNwM4iF/" target="_blank">Growth</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">On the last day of the 2023 Gratitude Challenge, I want to
express my gratitude for how growth (today's prompt) can sneak up on you. While
you're preoccupied with doing your best to survive whatever life throws at you,
suddenly you wake up to find you have the capacity to do more than survive.
Maybe you have a clearer idea of what's important, or you're not as scared to
do something you've always wanted to do. Maybe you feel stronger, just for a
moment. Those moments are worth noticing and holding on to. Why did I choose
this photo to illustrate this post? Because this plant, which I bought last
year, surprised me by growing several red bracts. I've never even been able to
keep a poinsettia alive for a year, let alone have one turn red. (It's the
little things... <span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😁</span>)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Thanks to @positivelypresent for the prompts, and to all who
have commented and shared their own thoughts on these concepts. On to December!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-45240046995797365992023-11-24T08:00:00.003-05:002023-11-24T08:00:00.157-05:00Ordinary Hours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6294G47Jpzmuq9DhL-olEQ9WD2ikLuzZgL_Z4kXDY5eRLf_rMJg0p4LwxLrSEw-4gIfx-N8nv4W2RimJUAL9B5EFLUAF20uBcX1DTqN8RyBBvU27ObZ-CF0cM0x9d5eh86_6Xbkwsm8KZS8Zr6Mys8k-q-P05sTcuusiEu4GlO9BfsCCkpQ-6KSkCDAFI/s5184/IMG_8989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6294G47Jpzmuq9DhL-olEQ9WD2ikLuzZgL_Z4kXDY5eRLf_rMJg0p4LwxLrSEw-4gIfx-N8nv4W2RimJUAL9B5EFLUAF20uBcX1DTqN8RyBBvU27ObZ-CF0cM0x9d5eh86_6Xbkwsm8KZS8Zr6Mys8k-q-P05sTcuusiEu4GlO9BfsCCkpQ-6KSkCDAFI/s320/IMG_8989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“There are many more
ordinary hours in life than extraordinary ones.</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">We wait in line at
the supermarket.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">We spend hours
commuting to work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">We water our plants
and feed our pets.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Happiness means
finding a moment of joy in those<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">ordinary hours.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">—<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316253/the-things-you-can-see-only-when-you-slow-down-by-haemin-sunim/" target="_blank">The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down</a>, </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Haemin Sunim</span><o:p></o:p></i></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-2866692033973185582023-11-10T07:30:00.021-05:002023-11-10T07:30:00.150-05:00November Link Love—A Hodge Podge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OgeVHrIac5cqFfBS2Fp7iSu__MaFUB_qyAw9Rz4dKpBYwg_6POu19SG2RRKxzZL12tLgYL6pQa1wMnf6zlebe4lSEyjU6YYKIVWNZfUQlCnN0v8RbUaMSLPzPMnVqKkYR1gXOgjz0Y96OydoESHlYDFwkud4n2UFVxidgeUa2UEYjcr41EqxxPec8GKx/s4744/jackson-simmer-ZxRHtPacwUY-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4744" data-original-width="3795" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OgeVHrIac5cqFfBS2Fp7iSu__MaFUB_qyAw9Rz4dKpBYwg_6POu19SG2RRKxzZL12tLgYL6pQa1wMnf6zlebe4lSEyjU6YYKIVWNZfUQlCnN0v8RbUaMSLPzPMnVqKkYR1gXOgjz0Y96OydoESHlYDFwkud4n2UFVxidgeUa2UEYjcr41EqxxPec8GKx/w320-h400/jackson-simmer-ZxRHtPacwUY-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, lately. Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@simmerdownjpg?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash"><span style="color: blue;">Jackson Simmer</span></a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/blue-orange-green-and-yellow-plastic-toy-ZxRHtPacwUY?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash"><span style="color: blue;">Unsplash</span></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’ve been feeling a bit scattered and all over the place
lately, and this Link Love entry is going to reflect that. Funny flight
attendant? Check. Thoughtful article about how money and happiness are
connected? Also check. Here’s a hodge podge of some of the interesting things I’ve
found online recently. (Also, “hodge podge” is a fun term to repeat to yourself…)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’ve been enjoying <a href="https://wow-moments.com/blog/" target="_blank"><b>this new-ish blog</b></a> which focuses on looking
for “Wow Moments.” (Wow Moments are definitely first cousins to my simple
pleasures and everyday adventures.) <a href=" https://wow-moments.com/2023/10/10/how-to-fine-tune-your-wow-meter/" target="_blank"><b>This post</b></a> details ways to improve your
ability to notice Wow Moments when they happen. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In <a href="https://aestheticsofjoy.com/money-does-buy-happiness/ https://catchinghappiness.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1bc9b9b0fb3dbbaedfe7b31f5&id=5ba9c161f3" target="_blank"><b>“What if Money Does Buy Happiness After All?”</b></a> Ingrid
Fetell Lee reports on a recent study showing just that. She shares several
specific areas that having more money definitely improves happiness levels,
including safety and security, time, health and wellness, and the ability to
live out your values. It’s a classic case of both/and (as I wrote about in a October’s
Happy Little Thoughts Newsletter): <i>of course</i> there are some things that don’t
require money, like our personal relationships, and many that <i>do</i> benefit
from having more money. She concludes her post by talking about why it matters
that we’re honest about the role money plays in our happiness. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I happened to be listening to the radio in the car when, to
my surprise, I heard a new Beatles’ song! I came home and looked online to
learn more about it. According to <a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-the-beatles-final-song-now-and-then/" target="_blank"><b>this article</b></a>, “The track was originally
shelved due to the poor audio quality, but revived when AI helped better
enhance Lennon’s performance.” You can listen to “Now and Then” <b><a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-the-beatles-final-song-now-and-then/" target="_blank">here</a>.</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m already thinking about next year, so I bookmarked <a href="https://georgiannalane.com/2023/10/2024-calendar-roundup.html" target="_blank"><b>this announcement</b></a> from photographer Georgianna Lane. If you’re looking for a beautiful
calendar for 2024, look no further than these (no affiliation). There’s even a
FREE printable Paris-themed calendar if you subscribe to her mailing list. (I’m
already a subscriber, and she does not bombard your inbox with emails.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">While <a href="https://www.self.com/story/three-things-wake-up-middle-of-night" target="_blank"><b>“3 Things to Do When You Wake Up in the Middle of the Night”</b></a> was written for a younger audience than me, I have found the tips here
helpful when I find my eyes popping open <b><a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2012/05/at-2-am.html" target="_blank">at 2 a.m.</a> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In <a href="https://bemorewithless.com/somatic-therapy/" target="_blank"><b>“Somatic Therapy: 12 Easy Ways To Shift Your Mood With Your Body,”</b></a> guest poster Rachel Shanken details ways to recognize where in our
bodies we’re feeling stressed, and ways to break the stress cycle. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I want to be on a flight with<b> </b><a href="https://www.inspiremore.com/rockstar-flight-attendant-gives-hilarious-performance/" target="_blank"><b>this guy. </b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This is so cool:</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rM5oX0KbtUw" width="320" youtube-src-id="rM5oX0KbtUw"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Friday, and hope you have a beautiful weekend.</div>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-3673244881135042872023-11-03T07:30:00.044-04:002023-11-26T11:40:51.777-05:00Inspiring Discoveries--Morgan Harper Nichols: “I believe art is a form of communication”<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3X9ODQ8a8Mv90T8mTlAOCqEmgEKKzJjEMqAYYRDRnV9ORWSt6ptlqHywwMiS2RaXwucOmio5baGwZPxHaJdln1g-dClw-okmPf0qYKRvcju9pzSeCA38nfHWCo5xSYJkvJX3ozyGP7B5HSFGMtLf-XakB7z9_ZdoLDHmNbrrCNQo2Ciy9ktw7Wyx033s/s3883/you%20are%20only%20just%20beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="3883" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3X9ODQ8a8Mv90T8mTlAOCqEmgEKKzJjEMqAYYRDRnV9ORWSt6ptlqHywwMiS2RaXwucOmio5baGwZPxHaJdln1g-dClw-okmPf0qYKRvcju9pzSeCA38nfHWCo5xSYJkvJX3ozyGP7B5HSFGMtLf-XakB7z9_ZdoLDHmNbrrCNQo2Ciy9ktw7Wyx033s/w400-h296/you%20are%20only%20just%20beginning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">During this past hard year, another writer/artist whose work
has helped me <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2023/07/some-books-that-saved-my-sanity.html" target="_blank">manage my emotions </a>and stay (relatively) positive and calm is <b>Morgan Harper Nichols</b>. <o:p></o:p>I thought you might enjoy Nichols’ work, too, so I’m sharing a little about her in today’s post.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Several years ago, I started following Nichols on Instagram,
where I frequently bookmarked what she shared because it resonated with me. I read
her book <i><a href="https://garden24.co/products/copy-of-peace-is-a-practice-by-morgan-harper-nichols" target="_blank">Peace Is a Practice</a></i> when it came out in 2022 and greatly
enjoyed it. Recently, I’ve been checking out her other books, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-far-you-have-come-musings-on-beauty-and-courage-morgan-harper-nichols/14906121" target="_blank"><i>You</i> <i>Are Only
Just Beginning</i></a> (2023) and <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-far-you-have-come-musings-on-beauty-and-courage-morgan-harper-nichols/14906121" target="_blank">How Far You Have Come</a> </i>(2021). There is something very soothing about the combination of her art and words. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Nichols posts frequently to Instagram, and I’ve especially
enjoyed her daily affirmations (see below for links). Sometimes just one sentence
is all you need to quiet your thoughts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Nichols is a mixed media artist from the Atlanta, GA area. In
2017, she began creating art and poetry in response to messages she received on
social media. In part, her artistic endeavors have come out of struggling with neurodiversity—she
was diagnosed with autism at age 30, and diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and SPD
(sensory processing disorder) at age 31. As noted in her bio, “Her work
features themes of creating room to breathe and how to recognize the ways you
are learning and growing in daily life.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m sure you can see why I enjoy her work!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here are two quotes I copied from <i>Peace Is a Practice</i>: <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">“What I have learned in writing poetry and making art about
peace over the past few years is that peace is a practice. The world practice
means ‘to carry out,’ and peace is a way of living that we can carry out each
day—maybe not everywhere all at once, but we can learn to find peace and live
in its presence.” </span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">“But to fill the page and to pour out, I must first open
myself up to inhale it all. I openly witness everything around me, allowing my
senses to experience the world fully, what I can see, hear, smell, taste, and
touch. And furthermore, I don’t try to make sense of it all right away.”</span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">I’m so grateful for the artists and writers whose work has
comforted, encouraged, and pushed me not just over this past year, but throughout
my life. How dull and sad would it be without the people who share their artistic
gifts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>Are there any other writers or artists whose work you
especially enjoy? Please share in the comments.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Where to learn more about Morgan Harper Nichols:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://morganharpernichols.com/" target="_blank">Website </a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Instagram <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Storyteller “daily encouragement” Instagram account (Click
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellerco/" target="_blank">here</a> to see October’s daily affirmations) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellerco/" target="_blank">November affirmations</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And speaking of gratitude…it’s November, and you know what
that means: the annual Gratitude Challenge, sponsored by Dani at <a href="https://positivelypresent.com/2023/10/the-13th-annual-gratitude-challenge.html" target="_blank">Positively Present</a>.
I plan to post on Instagram and Facebook as often as I can. Join in, or just
follow along by following me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kathyjohn335/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001109852453" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. I’ll also have a wrap-up
post on Catching Happiness at the end of the month.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-51687152462155055912023-10-27T07:30:00.007-04:002023-10-27T07:30:00.156-04:00Pain Prompts Us to Grow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgpBX-aQaWvXkA_3nqxecOtEw7iCxZXdcQ0X115gxQZrxOjuXGAWshB6u6pKaNIbc38MkW6-c1PVo4syPkgZe9wAlQW-m1hyphenhyphendlh7Kfo_WwKEVvSgi3yM-CQ0lBN43DhBUwQl_Got-13CUpNTeUFOdv1OWaqPj7L6CC4pCA_LQ2L5F4oIa3KBKamVJUNzI/s1920/suzanne-d-williams-VMKBFR6r_jg-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgpBX-aQaWvXkA_3nqxecOtEw7iCxZXdcQ0X115gxQZrxOjuXGAWshB6u6pKaNIbc38MkW6-c1PVo4syPkgZe9wAlQW-m1hyphenhyphendlh7Kfo_WwKEVvSgi3yM-CQ0lBN43DhBUwQl_Got-13CUpNTeUFOdv1OWaqPj7L6CC4pCA_LQ2L5F4oIa3KBKamVJUNzI/w400-h266/suzanne-d-williams-VMKBFR6r_jg-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@scw1217?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Suzanne D. Williams</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/three-pupas-VMKBFR6r_jg?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">“The scratchy truth of existence is that we learn more from
pain than pleasure. It’s just how we’re wired. It’s the pain that makes us slow
down and pay attention. It’s the pain that prompts us to grow. You might not
get the outcome you initially envisioned, but you’ll have learned some really
valuable lessons. If you are willing to sift through the whole experience
without judgment, you will see that you have developed and changed, and you
will take those lessons with you moving forward.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>—Tracy McCubbin,</i> <a href="https://www.dclutterfly.com/books-by-tracy" target="_blank">Make Space for Happiness</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-63578169803498555382023-10-06T09:30:00.000-04:002023-10-06T09:30:15.524-04:00Taking a Short Break<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8BIFvfvI_socSXD3XKzMvAuub_3pKi1lABy7EJl5E9ZsWhsipO_FkV-VL6OAVPxdDFdAnReK3daVeK9Tbxi3lTYdngWQFa6N8zMoIFfsSdRJQg5mJj95Qn1AmLWkUIF1KppkzPndIYsDLY3yHPtknDzhVVPv_6kfC8uuifd9AJsVUTEZKCzZG0aNAbB4/s5568/nik-tO9XHrBylyM-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8BIFvfvI_socSXD3XKzMvAuub_3pKi1lABy7EJl5E9ZsWhsipO_FkV-VL6OAVPxdDFdAnReK3daVeK9Tbxi3lTYdngWQFa6N8zMoIFfsSdRJQg5mJj95Qn1AmLWkUIF1KppkzPndIYsDLY3yHPtknDzhVVPv_6kfC8uuifd9AJsVUTEZKCzZG0aNAbB4/w400-h266/nik-tO9XHrBylyM-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@helloimnik?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Nik</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/tO9XHrBylyM?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">After a busier than expected summer, I’m taking a short
break to rest and regroup. I’m still dealing with some issues related to my mom’s
estate and with putting my own life in order. Be back in a couple of weeks!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-71897118263820357112023-09-29T09:49:00.001-04:002023-09-29T09:49:46.213-04:00Bienvenue a là Rentrée and the Fall Fun List<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwpEWadeQ7gr1u8LsIRiwjHBjfgywX1jlbpd7XAgVK3_Fv0Q-Fpa_JpK8LyF5YxhH6FPk6ROWhAHkjWBNFs46GQsIKH1XrYz-ZPTNgUlTol_5CaRpHGKrLuWLIzbv9zZS6FbF6K9vgKJhIBV2DO-ojeDCStqgcc8xbc_tLTGnB_B1xfLE-FIG0XSHyYfq/s3833/Paris%20statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2534" data-original-width="3833" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwpEWadeQ7gr1u8LsIRiwjHBjfgywX1jlbpd7XAgVK3_Fv0Q-Fpa_JpK8LyF5YxhH6FPk6ROWhAHkjWBNFs46GQsIKH1XrYz-ZPTNgUlTol_5CaRpHGKrLuWLIzbv9zZS6FbF6K9vgKJhIBV2DO-ojeDCStqgcc8xbc_tLTGnB_B1xfLE-FIG0XSHyYfq/w400-h265/Paris%20statue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris in 2018</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Recently, I’ve bumped into the French term <i>la rentrée</i>
three separate times. First in a book I was reading, and then in a couple of
online articles. Many people in France take at least a two-week vacation in
August, often fleeing the city for the countryside and a true break from their
everyday lives. <a href="https://myfrenchcountryhomemagazine.com/the-meaning-of-la-rentree/ " name="_Hlk146864156" target="_blank">Là rentrée </a>refers to the return to
school and office in September following the long <i>vacances</i> of August. It
was described as a time of celebration, renewed energy, joie de vivre, enthusiasm. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Even though I didn’t just have a glorious August vacation, I
am embracing the coming of Fall and a more celebratory approach to life. <a href=" http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2013/09/september-is-new-january.html" target="_blank">September</a> always feels like a new beginning (yes, I realize that it’s almost October...), so it’s time for a Fall Fun List.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I have until Dec. 21 to accomplish the following things:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Decorate the house for fall </li><li>Burn fall-scented candles and diffuse fall scents in my
essential oil diffuser</li><li>Bake sourdough bread using my “mother”</li><li>Write a letter to someone (friend or relative)</li><li>Play cozy ambience music videos on YouTube (like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5XfSzBxSg0" target="_blank">this one</a>) </li><li>Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte and other fall foods and drinks</li><li>Eat <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2011/11/pomegranate-season.html" target="_blank">pomegranates</a> </li><li>Watch <i><a href="https://www.barbie-themovie.com/" target="_blank">Barbie</a> </i>with a friend </li><li>Choose and order a 2024 planner</li><li>Celebrate Thanksgiving with the family</li><li>Take a trip to a local nursery and decide what, if anything,
I want to plant for our fall/winter garden </li><li>Attend the first three musicals of my <a href="https://www.strazcenter.org/tickets-events/upcoming-broadway/" target="_blank">Broadway series</a> at the
Straz Center in Tampa (<i>The Choir of Man</i>, <i>Beetlejuice</i>, and <i>Funny
Girl</i>) </li><li>Sit outside and enjoy cooler weather—if we get some by Dec.
21</li><li>Change out fall house decorations for winter (I usually do
this around the beginning of December)</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’ve already started decorating the house, burning a
fall-themed candle (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1541958590/agathas-mysteries-book-inspired-candle?ref=yr_purchases" target="_blank">this one</a>), and had my first pumpkin spice latte, so I’m off
to a good start! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>Keeping in mind the spirit of là rentrée, what are your
fall fun list plans?<o:p></o:p></i></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-62196985409409880392023-09-15T07:30:00.018-04:002023-09-15T07:30:00.145-04:00Wild Thing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO_DyClCxQ7Lrj1eYJtKktBZCxmGO0AJmbsd8ww-GZmFi8YLVsA_BBJZFCMK3YO3dkNtn8ZKisKZnJrH2Hd7O1nMtdHvrmKuQaumYFjEEno3Rh9O501aZK7I6YfXyHxANoJZtVAYu5hn2zmEfU0bA9ns7YhhgB2sXLquLQFI9MuOylG-pL4Tc_nSGG1_Y/s2641/prince-david-MMKAbQPIXg8-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="1964" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO_DyClCxQ7Lrj1eYJtKktBZCxmGO0AJmbsd8ww-GZmFi8YLVsA_BBJZFCMK3YO3dkNtn8ZKisKZnJrH2Hd7O1nMtdHvrmKuQaumYFjEEno3Rh9O501aZK7I6YfXyHxANoJZtVAYu5hn2zmEfU0bA9ns7YhhgB2sXLquLQFI9MuOylG-pL4Tc_nSGG1_Y/w298-h400/prince-david-MMKAbQPIXg8-unsplash.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bravoprince?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Prince
David</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/MMKAbQPIXg8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“Everywhere you look, you see people pursuing happiness as
if it were something they could capture and cage. But pinning happiness down
only destroys it. It’s too wild for that—it needs room to roam. You have to
give it time, let it wander, surprise you.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>—Richard J. Leider and David A.
Shapiro, </i><a href="https://richardleider.com/books/repacking-your-bags-lighten-your-load-for-the-good-life/" target="_blank">Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Rest of Your Life </a></span><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-10030947862870037812023-09-08T07:30:00.003-04:002023-09-08T07:30:00.139-04:00The Summer of Kathy, Revisited<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtxomug5kujompHpfSdWMQpoQ2eeJFJCgqP_Ualf-qD60xIu6DCQZPl100aVplRYUy3WkpGYQ1DEDRLl5Iul1tzBMfE1-JN0YMnOxrKQNeGF7cln-zAtq_B0pm3csDAVZCQWC3BcB5DnmfiZDE-KgNo6tb5Ha1anPgU6CAw0M9T4iJNniVGuHWcrYQzvi/s2797/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2797" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtxomug5kujompHpfSdWMQpoQ2eeJFJCgqP_Ualf-qD60xIu6DCQZPl100aVplRYUy3WkpGYQ1DEDRLl5Iul1tzBMfE1-JN0YMnOxrKQNeGF7cln-zAtq_B0pm3csDAVZCQWC3BcB5DnmfiZDE-KgNo6tb5Ha1anPgU6CAw0M9T4iJNniVGuHWcrYQzvi/w400-h261/books.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of the the 36</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Even though the weather hasn’t gotten the memo yet, summer is
on its way out. Labor Day has come and gone, kids are back in school, and pumpkin
spice rules the land. So it’s time to evaluate my <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2023/06/the-summer-of-kathy.html " target="_blank">Summer of Kathy</a> and start
thinking about plans for September through the rest of the year.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Summer fun list success</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I did very well with summer fun list, checking off all but
two items! I didn’t relax as much as I wanted to and had planned to. Instead, I
filled my days with small tasks that, when added up, kept me from doing the
deeper work I still need to do emotionally. I guess I wasn’t ready for it, though
overall I feel like I’m healing. This is still a work in progress, but that’s to be expected.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here's the rundown (completed items in red):</p></div><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Paint my toenails a color other than pink. (With dubious results, but at least I did it. The jury is still out on whether or not I like teal toenails.)</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Have a bubble tea.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Try a new obedience training program with Luna (started). Ongoing! </span></li><li style="text-align: left;">Make key lime pie ice cream.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Plant a small, potted herb garden. And it survived the summer!</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Read a lot. Total books read June through August: 36. Whoa.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Take a horseback riding lesson. </span><a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2022/02/this-is-27-happy-birthday-tank.html" target="_blank">Tank</a> is semi-retired and off for the summer, but there’s a new horse at the barn available for lessons. I haven’t taken a lesson in more than five years, so I need a tune up. <span style="color: red;">Also was able to ride Tank twice!</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Work at least one jigsaw puzzle.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Have a massage.</span> I’ve been trying to do this since the beginning of the year, but I’ve had to cancel two appointments because of my moms’ failing health.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Go to a movie with my husband. (<i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9603212/" target="_blank">Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One</a>.) </i></span></li><li style="text-align: left;">Bake something from my grandma’s baking book (inherited from my mom).</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Get together with friends</span>—I’ve been mostly unavailable in 2023, so we have some catching up to do.</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Fall fun and beyond</span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">With summer winding down, it’s time to think about fall fun,
and get more serious about figuring out what comes next professionally. (Ramp
up the freelance writing or try something new? If so, <i>what?</i>) As the
weather cools and time continues to heal, I’m cautiously optimistic about the
rest of the year. We have a couple of family and friend visits to look forward
to, and will likely host at least one holiday at our house. Now that our caregiving duties have ended, my
husband and I can think about taking a trip together. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">There’s much to love about September and fall. In September,
I always love to watch the light change. Somehow it’s softer, mellower. Even
though it’s not cool yet, I have already had my first pumpkin spice latte. I’m
going to try Wendy’s new <a href="https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/wendys-pumpkin-spice-frosty-rcna103695" target="_blank">Pumpkin Spice Frosty</a>. I have a <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fortnight-in-September/R-C-Sherriff/9781982184780" target="_blank">September-themed book</a>
on hold at the library (of course I do) and I’m dreaming of ways to enjoy the
fall season’s simple pleasures and everyday adventures. Perhaps I’ll extend The
Summer of Kathy (however, I’m not calling it “The Fall of Kathy”—that just
sounds scary)…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>How was your summer? What plans do you have for fall?</i></p><br /></div></div>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-82949964991491689472023-09-01T09:15:00.005-04:002023-09-01T09:15:42.343-04:00Rabbit Rabbit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0gz8C1j-wb7lXN5sQvwxrATqjgAmLcOEUR1QRO-btjfLxNGqCEYYWEwUv6p-PLEI_YOB8pPMKkbaSoOPnNkyUMl3IhhptZRye4FgilBRnTzeix6unix3kP3PKwfaSOMoe3Xzwe9_OLKe_-jpw7J3QaoYatiWbMICrvstLezmaJVwFv8TNOsTyRNxOKqP/s6016/ierc-KH-H7dOwFbE-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6016" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0gz8C1j-wb7lXN5sQvwxrATqjgAmLcOEUR1QRO-btjfLxNGqCEYYWEwUv6p-PLEI_YOB8pPMKkbaSoOPnNkyUMl3IhhptZRye4FgilBRnTzeix6unix3kP3PKwfaSOMoe3Xzwe9_OLKe_-jpw7J3QaoYatiWbMICrvstLezmaJVwFv8TNOsTyRNxOKqP/w400-h266/ierc-KH-H7dOwFbE-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@ierc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">ierc</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/KH-H7dOwFbE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">And just like that, it’s September. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">There’s an old tradition that saying the words “rabbit
rabbit” before saying anything else on the first day of a new month will bring
you 30 days of good luck. Though I’m not especially superstitious, when I woke
up at 4 a.m. this morning, I whispered, “rabbit rabbit.” I could use a little
good luck. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m looking forward to <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2021/09/suddenly-september.html" target="_blank">September</a> and all it’s pleasures,
though there will be one notable sad milestone to navigate—my mom’s birthday.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’m grateful that Hurricane Idalia passed by without doing any
damage to us personally, though many others can’t say the same thing. However, some
of the most powerful hurricanes have blown through in September (<a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2022/09/safe.html " target="_blank">Ian</a>, <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2017/09/this-post-brought-to-you-byelectricity.html" target="_blank">Irma</a>),
and I won’t really relax until hurricane season is over in November.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">For now, I’m happy to watch the light change, to check my
weather app for any change in dew point and humidity (a vain hope in September,
usually, but I can dream), and to enjoy the fact that fall is coming. Even if
it’s not a “traditional” fall, it should usher in some change, even if it’s
just in décor. I love decorating my house and front porch for fall and will be
getting the decorations out of the attic soon. A simple pleasure I look forward
to all summer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>What are you looking forward to in September?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This <a href="https://www.farmersalmanac.com/rabbit-rabbit-35150#:~:text=%E2%80%9CRabbit%20Rabbit%E2%80%9D%20Origins%20And%20Tradition,%E2%80%9D%20or%20%E2%80%9Cwhite%20rabbit.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">Farmer’s Almanac article</a> explains a bit of the tradition
surrounding “rabbit rabbit.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-7534864670701801232023-08-25T07:30:00.001-04:002023-08-25T07:30:00.135-04:00Small Is Big<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_8aUE1hIs2SiWMTrbYQO2i7KxaMptEdZXwt8GI5tOPlx4lPpSQG7VaQ-ZPABkZ06Akm3NQw97H1LbpMSFvzfAAzKpQpNxtCuUZBVjgiCM1eLXqn2aGtBUAhuy7J5d4pjWNDjAHnNfh6gjifcyw6BJT9bbsZr0LnssHgSMPdeTxj9NU9L6OMHZYGX4NGB/s3670/Frog%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3670" data-original-width="3055" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_8aUE1hIs2SiWMTrbYQO2i7KxaMptEdZXwt8GI5tOPlx4lPpSQG7VaQ-ZPABkZ06Akm3NQw97H1LbpMSFvzfAAzKpQpNxtCuUZBVjgiCM1eLXqn2aGtBUAhuy7J5d4pjWNDjAHnNfh6gjifcyw6BJT9bbsZr0LnssHgSMPdeTxj9NU9L6OMHZYGX4NGB/w333-h400/Frog%202.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small, cute thing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Over the past 14 years of writing posts for Catching
Happiness, I’ve returned to one topic quite a few times.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Baby steps. Tiny habits. Happy little things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Small is big.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This week I was thinking about writing another post on this
topic, but decided not to. I stand by what I wrote in the past! Instead, I’m
compiling a Link Love from my own archives. Here are a few Catching Happiness
posts about the glory of the small (click the title to read the entire post):</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2019/04/thinking-small.html" target="_blank">“Thinking Small,”</a> I talk about breaking through resistance
by taking the smallest “next step” possible. I concluded, “Big dreams and new,
improved habits are made up of many tiny steps. A happy life is made up of
small, simple pleasures and everyday adventures—the cup of tea, the walk with
the dog, the movie night with your spouse or best friend, the work project done
well and turned in on time. Thinking small can make a big, big difference.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I invented a new word in <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2019/04/the-power-of-little-things.html" target="_blank">“The Power of Little Things.”</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">One of my first posts about the power of small was <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2011/05/just-call-me-tortoise.html" target="_blank">“Just Call Me a Tortoise.”</a> In it, I praise the practice of taking baby steps: “The
beauty of baby steps is that if each small step is solid, you’ll find yourself
making steady progress. You’ll be less likely to stagger forward then backward
in fits and starts. In this way, you will go slower to go faster.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I listed a few small things I love, with pictures, in <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2019/04/the-beauty-of-small.html" target="_blank">“The Beauty of Small Things.” </a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href=" http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2011/06/painless-progress.html" target="_blank">“Painless Progress”</a> describes the Japanese concept of <i>kaizen</i>.
“Kaizen is the process of continual improvement through small and incremental
steps. It started as a Japanese management concept and continues to be used in
business, as well as in areas such as psychology and life coaching. It reinforces
my belief that as long as you keep moving forward, even if by baby steps, you
will eventually get where you’re going.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Finally, in August of 2021, I was feeling especially overwhelmed.
(Kind of like now.) <a href="http://www.catchinghappiness.com/2021/08/something-small-or-nothing-at-all.html" target="_blank">“Something Small or Nothing at All”</a> was my attempt to find
inspiration and motivation to <i>do</i> something, anything. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Rereading these posts reminded me of what I firmly believe: baby
steps, tiny habits, small changes—and yes, happy little things—make a real and
lasting difference. Starting now, I’m reviewing what small habits and changes I
can commit to so that I can finish this year of loss in a stronger, happier
place. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">What are a few of <i>your</i> favorite small habits?<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-67468714385079188382023-08-18T07:30:00.001-04:002023-08-18T07:30:00.142-04:00A Monument to the Lost<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-ociZ-a4cexdToeP-BVS37dLYfPJnDEA5Mlq6E9BSbgvVKLJH_sx32vzEiIxOZAg1zu_RKAJYgmMpPMB24J0QimQ_J1VAahoUoAW9jqZaAqCpSBzFAelzsC9UPpWuBv2ZgUH7cCzTJvMrJEz-AxluloORCitJX1MvmRZte3A3aeP1pSWyrxU6Hqr73Kg/s5568/chuttersnap-cGXdjyP6-NU-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-ociZ-a4cexdToeP-BVS37dLYfPJnDEA5Mlq6E9BSbgvVKLJH_sx32vzEiIxOZAg1zu_RKAJYgmMpPMB24J0QimQ_J1VAahoUoAW9jqZaAqCpSBzFAelzsC9UPpWuBv2ZgUH7cCzTJvMrJEz-AxluloORCitJX1MvmRZte3A3aeP1pSWyrxU6Hqr73Kg/w400-h266/chuttersnap-cGXdjyP6-NU-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@chuttersnap?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">CHUTTERSNAP</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/cGXdjyP6-NU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“Sometimes the people you love leave you even when they
don’t want to and you shatter into pieces. You may not be able to find all of
those pieces again because when they left they took a few with them. It hurts,
but the pain eventually becomes bearable and even sacred because it’s how you
carry the people you’ve lost with you. And if you’re lucky you can one day see
that the hollow spots you carry are in the shape of their face or their hands
or the love they gave you. Those holes ache, but they are a monument to the
lost, a traveling sacred place to honor them and remind you of how to love
enough to leave your own marks on others.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>—Jenny Lawson,</i> <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250077035/brokeninthebestpossibleway" target="_blank">Broken (in the Best Possible Way)</a><o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930263311780001387.post-71336191079078507092023-08-11T09:18:00.000-04:002023-08-11T09:18:25.145-04:00This Week in Pictures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4T73todrP2C6YFrP1P2Ry_9bZU4cpyyL9wfrkzgLrJ9eUu5ymCfx39r5fP-pjao0cjZtK3rxi_LSu_yDynWpR4b-eUtAEZ0ddYTurqRy2o1mvF9CWuV9wSZM-wPSe9L3RrGSG908CTejSJjd-6cWE0gh19NzcpdNuMpTUhjlBS84nX6ZQeV-428lqE2u/s2783/Horses%20grazing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1837" data-original-width="2783" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4T73todrP2C6YFrP1P2Ry_9bZU4cpyyL9wfrkzgLrJ9eUu5ymCfx39r5fP-pjao0cjZtK3rxi_LSu_yDynWpR4b-eUtAEZ0ddYTurqRy2o1mvF9CWuV9wSZM-wPSe9L3RrGSG908CTejSJjd-6cWE0gh19NzcpdNuMpTUhjlBS84nX6ZQeV-428lqE2u/w400-h264/Horses%20grazing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses not minding the heat. Tank is second from right.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This week has been…hot. Luna and I usually walk our neighborhood’s
trail twice a week, but with temperatures above 80F by 7:30 a.m., 100 percent
humidity, and a dew point of 79, I decided not to. This is a picture of our house
“crying” this morning:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2litVk5ztPFZFvosAjTi5kRrrFJRmcG-p9dbqJwpboBWir1YNMHnLJ_6DELUmuHWD4N2cVhJrcYdz_c_IJVujdV2Bwfm3aZu9FJA7Juxt_6eWoE-aJkg4n64rTAMeerc0HHdAQXinU13odGJ56q6lUQX661WK9xJNNT1FGXiXxvx7O9sq1Cks8l5f7VgQ/s4079/house%20crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4079" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2litVk5ztPFZFvosAjTi5kRrrFJRmcG-p9dbqJwpboBWir1YNMHnLJ_6DELUmuHWD4N2cVhJrcYdz_c_IJVujdV2Bwfm3aZu9FJA7Juxt_6eWoE-aJkg4n64rTAMeerc0HHdAQXinU13odGJ56q6lUQX661WK9xJNNT1FGXiXxvx7O9sq1Cks8l5f7VgQ/s320/house%20crying.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Condensation on windows</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I haven’t done much, just what’s required to keep life from
imploding. I’ve been snapping pictures of random things for Susannah Conway’s
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvPWiyBNVvy/?img_index=1" target="_blank">August Break Instagram challenge</a>, including this nut:<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguj-SW-m4R7Ey6pBBsKqjV4pUdxxuS3U9iOYtrjw4bceY120fzFNhDIrbKKhuXZXbzzk6E9fSybauUc1wz7HAPfU_dUOF0gdls7e3HLl5KRYVSFxRJvSqbh0bOWh_UjdgSsxz9WTaKSbkiq7-RmC30BT5l_uPmoLTGAvJwTQp141dSnYbvHZA6jY3vn6b/s3080/Luna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="3071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguj-SW-m4R7Ey6pBBsKqjV4pUdxxuS3U9iOYtrjw4bceY120fzFNhDIrbKKhuXZXbzzk6E9fSybauUc1wz7HAPfU_dUOF0gdls7e3HLl5KRYVSFxRJvSqbh0bOWh_UjdgSsxz9WTaKSbkiq7-RmC30BT5l_uPmoLTGAvJwTQp141dSnYbvHZA6jY3vn6b/s320/Luna.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to play?!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I made a fresh tomato and feta pasta for lunch one day,
using basil from my herb garden:<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NuPfBgLKjIUJiUQHZG8gIQrkQkJxEngGrfoIF2PSDY_h5ijIFWzthZ73hqdsfhv3T1BXu6fTsE408uaR1_WA582zb78aHEM6me_Sx5hAXGdxjPMjj8Yqa13oa7R9_mlr0CNGUeM3ZWATYOJhq_7EEzogP0qYG8qLXC3IKerQir7opC9Pry4E5hlH0x4R/s3179/Lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3179" data-original-width="3071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NuPfBgLKjIUJiUQHZG8gIQrkQkJxEngGrfoIF2PSDY_h5ijIFWzthZ73hqdsfhv3T1BXu6fTsE408uaR1_WA582zb78aHEM6me_Sx5hAXGdxjPMjj8Yqa13oa7R9_mlr0CNGUeM3ZWATYOJhq_7EEzogP0qYG8qLXC3IKerQir7opC9Pry4E5hlH0x4R/s320/Lunch.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My energy and motivation come in fits and starts. I Do
Things during the morning and crash on the couch in the afternoon. When I think
too much or catch sight of something in my home that belonged to my mom, I get
teary. Like this key holder she used to have in her kitchen that is now in mine:</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQy6UGPPU16gixoR-jLL-_EWO9f8u0K-SdVmEvvEX6quaTkGOjbPMOStu2wVp_2jbAa_AwdYajUG7sTnjxBu634GiGFAqtWo4Cigdker1woYp8iOhLn3EO6xzLazE_CiPHqIelfWdYMTjwObRVIHHCSKuJymAfRFxX9j6udA-4G6ROPYz7taFoya2XnXD/s3334/key%20holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2818" data-original-width="3334" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQy6UGPPU16gixoR-jLL-_EWO9f8u0K-SdVmEvvEX6quaTkGOjbPMOStu2wVp_2jbAa_AwdYajUG7sTnjxBu634GiGFAqtWo4Cigdker1woYp8iOhLn3EO6xzLazE_CiPHqIelfWdYMTjwObRVIHHCSKuJymAfRFxX9j6udA-4G6ROPYz7taFoya2XnXD/s320/key%20holder.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse my scuffed up walls</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Even in an ordinary week, with a little bit of grieving, and
a lot of sweating, there are still bright spots. I’ve got the simple pleasures in
hand, but haven’t had many everyday adventures lately. Working on it!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Hope your week was full of simple pleasures and everyday
adventures!<o:p></o:p></p><script src="http://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Kathy A. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01499969787028085716noreply@blogger.com5