Ok, I'm picturing myself on A HAPPY DAY: Barefoot. Tan. 110 pounds. Laying in green grass under a leafy tree on a hot, sunny afternoon. (No ants crawling out of the grass on me). Pink cotton candy in one hand, an icy can of Pibb Zero in the other. (No bees buzzing around the cotton candy). No phone. A pile of books stacked up beside me and all afternoon to read. A cool blue pool nearby. (No bugs floating in the pool). I can see my little dogs snoozing in a patch of dandelions and Tony casting a line from his canoe. Soon some lovely person will deliver a big plate of fresh pineapple and divinity to me for my supper, then my dapper husband and I will drive to town in our classic convertible for a movie, a round of Goofy Golf (no screaming kids on the course, of course), and a Cherry Limeade from Sonic. Ah, the perfect day.
My 110-pound days are long gone, I'm afraid, and the closest my husband has ever been to dapper was on our wedding day in his white tux with the bell-bottom pants and blue ruffled shirt (hey, it was the 70s). But the rest of my perfectly happy day is within reach. I'm a firm believer in being happy. Maybe that's why I like The Happy Book so much.
It celebrates what makes you glad. It teaches you with silly exercises to practice happiness so it gets easier to find. You can scribble thoughts, make lists, doodle and dream of the big and little things that make you smile. Skip around in it; there's no special order to it. As the book says, "Pick it up when you feel crappy. If your day has been just ridiculously, stupidly awful, no need to write in the book -- just read it."
One page instructs you to take $10 and spend it on something totally frivolous that makes you happy. You know those giant playballs at the grocery store? That's what I'd buy. I love those things.
Another page says, "Families are an intricate machine made of shared history, love, tradition, weirdness and comfort. Post your favorite family photos here." Weirdness, huh? Seems the perfect
place to post this odd-and-beloved picture of Tony. It always makes me snort:
Being happy is good for you.
The Happy Book is a good reminder of all the big and little things that are good in your life.
And we all need reminding.
Tell me in the comments what makes you happy.
YOUR WRITING makes me happy :) Loving the blog, loving the peeks at your store and goodies!
ReplyDeleteI agree with cupcake studio-You,your Dad, Dickerson's, has always made me happy! Just walking into your shop and looking(I'd rather be purchasing!)but looking always has brightened my spirits,Kudos to you,and I miss chatting with your Dad. Thanks for being a constant rey of sunshine in Topeka for all these years!
ReplyDeleteOh Kris, your art has been making me smile for years! I loved getting packages from you...I knew there would be a little something inside sketched just for me, or a story that would make me laugh out loud. You're one of those gals I wish lived right down the road!
ReplyDeleteMegan today in the car with licorice hanging out of her nose. We are so proud of her!!! My kids make me laugh out loud. :-)
ReplyDeleteMelissa Krug
So many things make me happy! Spending Spring Break with my granddaughter, Mia, tap dancing and clogging with my friends, shooting photography and digging in the dirt to name a few. The digging in the dirt will be happening very soon, I hope!!!
ReplyDeleteSusan