I'm happie -Janie

I decided to greet everyone I met when out walking. It was a beautiful day which made it easy to smile. Some people greet you with enthusiasm, or at the least, pleasant surprise. It's the ones that don't who intrigue me.
Being generous to them, they might be miserable for good reasons or feel unwell perhaps. When I have been depressed in the past I have avoided others and struggled to face people. What I fear the most is that some people are just downright miserable. Where I live it is usually older men who can't smile and greet others nicely. It makes me happie to interact with people and get a smile or hello back.
However I am lucky enough to live in a village, in town where hundreds of people pass by it wouldn't be so easy to greet everyone- if you did people would think you're barmy. Other rules apply so it is even harder to raise a smile in city folk. How would you get a smile or positive interaction in this case? Let us know your thoughts.

Today's "happie". A new experience -Jen

My "happie" today is that I took a Pilates reformer class for the first time.
I have tried Pilates before, but with Pilates reformer you use a bench with various equipment that adds resistance to build stronger core and tone the body.
This was an exercise that suited me very well as it was low impact, but you could definitely feel that you've had a good overall workout afterwards. Everything just feel that little bit tighter..
I think that if I keep this up alongside rebounding exercises, it will be really beneficial for my lymphoedema, as stronger, healthier muscles will help to move the lymph fluid around the body quicker.
I am already looking forward to going back for more!

Todays happie:

• Doing something I haven't done before.
• Working out, feeling my body getting stronger and healthier.

• 
  .

I'm officially a "Happie" -Jen

A perfect day at home for me would be a warm summer's day, waking up to birdsong and having breakfast outside, pottering around in the garden, the kids playing and then getting together for a picnic lunch on the lawn.
I love growing my own vegetables and making family meals from home grown produce.
We also keep chickens who supply us with gorgeous tasting eggs.
Maybe I'd make a quiche and a salad, perfect picnic food..
In the evening we would have a BBQ and invite some good friends and the perfect day wouldn't end until after the stars were decorating the midnight sky.
It's nothing extravagant or expensive, and it doesn't even take any planning. its just one of those days that just "happens". But for me it's "just right"..
And I think that it's days like that you remember when the sun isn't shining..
A day like this, is for me a "happie". Something that adds to the "Feel good bank". And I think we need to make more of an effort with the "happies" in our life's.
And that is why me and Janie has taken it upon ourselves to start registering what our "happies" are, and also collect friends and families "happies". Please add your contribution in the "comments box". We are hoping to create an inspiring log to add a little happiness to everyday life.

Happie noun  /'hap.i/ Someone who tries to see or create a positive situation in everyday life.

• Making an effort to lay a beautiful dinner table.
• Take the time to notice the beauty in a stone you found on the beach.  
• Keep a photo in your purse that makes you smile every time you see it.

happie noun /'hap.i/  Something little that makes you feel effortlessly good inside.

• Stop and listen to the beautiful birdsong.
• Feel how good the spring sun feels against your skin.
• Lay in the grass and spot the shapes of the clouds.

An other of my favourite "happies" is walking bare feet on a sandy beach early in the morning whilst the sand is still cool, but the dawning sun gives a promise of a beautiful warm day.. Put your best sundress on!

Happiness -Janie

We've been thinking a lot about happiness recently, Jen has been doing the most thinking as usual but I saw a hypnotherapist recently who told me I should do one thing every day for myself.
So we plan to start writing little dots of happiness. Hopefully it might give you something to think about. If anyone has their own "moments of happiness " please, please share them with us.

To kick it off, this morning I was walking the dog when I heard some beautiful bird song. I stopped and spent five minutes gazing up at the tree the noise was coming from. I never got to spot the bird but it brightened my day. It would be so easy to forget so recording it here will remind me. Keep looking for happy stuff, it is out there.