More Summer Happiness

Yes, I'm still out of town. And probably taking a bunch more pictures. What can I say? I love memories like this, and summer is all about making memories. So this week I'm sharing a few more of mine in hopes that you will be inspired to make a few of your own.

This is what happiness is all about.

Happy summer!

More About Choosing Happy Things

After last week’s post, I’ve been thinking more about things that make us happy and some of the ways in which we can take control of our happiness. We’re all different, and I do understand there is a very distinct difference between clinical depression and just feeling blah due to life circumstances. So with that in mind, I thought I’d throw out some of my fallback ideas for when I need a little cheer.

1.       Exercise. High levels of physical activity release endorphins into your brain which are not only conductive to happiness, but also enhance creativity. So yeah, this is a big thing for me.

2.        Fresh air. There is something so calming and relaxing about being outside in fresh air. Granted, in Texas right now, walking outside is similar to walking into a pre-heated oven, so our outside time tends to happen in the evening and at night, but yeah. It’s still awesome.

3.       Retail therapy. Don’t laugh. Finding that something special can be a little like winning a big sports game to a person who likes to shop. And yeah, okay, money can’t buy happiness, and I totally agree that’s true. But sometimes the smallest, silliest thing can make a person’s day. For instance, last week I found a seashell lamp, and it was half off of an already inexpensive price. It was a steal, and I fell in love with it. Day. Made.  

4.       Time with a good friend. There is nothing, and no one who can soothe us the way our favorite people can. Sometimes that means a long distance phone call, or Facetime or Skype or an online chat, or whatever whatever. It’s about communicating with someone you love, and who loves you back. Someone who is a good listener, and who will—when needed—give you the gift of brutal honesty. Sometimes, we all need to be told to suck it up, and sometimes we just need to be allowed to cry.

5.       Create a sanctuary. Be it your bedroom, an office, or a space outside, or wherever. We all need somewhere that is specifically our special place, where we can go to chill and just veg for a while. This space should be comfortable and comforting, and you should enjoy it the minute you walk into it. And if ever you get tired of it, it should be something you can rearrange or redecorate and love all over again.

6.       Change your diet. Because the thing is, as much as we all love sugar and carbs, if depression is a chemical issue for you, changing your diet can make a HUGE difference. In fact, even if it’s not a chemical thing. What we eat plays a big part of how we feel, so it’s important to make sure we’re eating things that make our bodies happy.

7.       Yoga. Because stretching is relaxing, and being relaxed does a lot for a person’s well being. Also, you feel fantastic after you’re done.

So those are a few of my tried and true methods for when I’m feeling unhappy. Now I’d love to hear what you do when you’re feeling down.  

Spring Things

I don’t know about you, but I’m really quite relieved to say goodbye to February and usher in March. It’s like the light at the end of the long winter tunnel. Also, this spring I am looking forward to lots of things. Spring THINGS!

Like my cover reveal. Because I’ve been waiting to show that off for weeks and weeks, and now I finally can!

And blog tour and book launch planning, searching for contest prizes, stuff like that. Because I like to give things away, and I am ridiculously excited about the release of DESCENDANT and can’t wait to share it with the world.

And like spring break. Wherein we take our kids and drive a few hours to Galveston, TX, where there is a cruise port, and we board a ginormous ship and leave all our troubles behind for a week. (Yes, it’s a Carnival Ship, YES, we were scheduled to sail on the Triumph and had to change our reservation, and no, we are not nervous to sail on the Magic, because we’ve cruised before and we know that what happened a couple weeks ago is not something that happens often. It’s like flying on a plane. Crashes happen so rarely that when they do, it’s BIG news. But there are thousands of planes taking flight every single day.)

I am also anxious for spring flowers and planting season and sea turtle hatching season. (Oh my goodness, there’s a national beach near me where this is a seasonal thing and you can go watch the baby turtles waddle out to sea. True story!) And dolphins in the harbor and baby bunnies which show up randomly on my front lawn.

And Cadbury Mini Eggs, because, well, who isn’t excited about those?

Now it’s your turn. What are you most excited about this spring?