Eight Women In A Living Room

... talking about happiness.
Sadly, we spent alot of time talking about clean homes.

I wondered, if 8 men were to talk about happiness, what theme would continually recur? Surely not tidy living rooms or spotless kitchen sinks.

Sex? Fishing? Job security?

And would they feel the need to spiritualize the quest for happiness? Would they need to justify the intentional pursuit of happiness so that they don't feel guilty or selfish?

Such good discussions went on in my living room tonight. I love book club night.

Things that bring me joy, satisfaction, and engagement:
1. A clean house
2. Conversations where I am an equal participant
3. Sunshine
4. A checked off to do list
5. Holding my camera
6. Fresh, clean bedding and shaved legs
7. Planning a holiday
8. Those 5 days per month where I perceive I'm having a good hair day
9. Having boxes on the calendar filled with fun events with fun people
10. Seeing God in action
11. Those rare occasions that I feel like I've connected with my kids

How about you?
When do you feel happy?

Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Helium balloons
2. Comfy shoes
3. Leftover ham

Shalom,

If You're Happy and You Know It...

As mentioned previously, from England, I have been reading The Happiness Project.
It is a type of Eat, Pray, Love sort of book, only Gretchen (the author) didn't get all self-indulgent and take off for a year. Her pursuit of "Happiness" and fulfillment and love and meaning and purpose took place at home. With her husband, two young daughters, extended family and job still firmly attached to her life.

She wanted to be happier.
So she researched happiness and went after it, methodically.

I can appreciate her methods.
They are so list-ish and chart-ish and goldstar-ish...
I underlined half the book.

Of course, because I'm a Christian, I know that that our purpose on earth isn't to be happy. It's to be holy.
So. OK.
But there's something to be said for being a happy Holy person, no?
Some of us struggle with putting on a happy face (regardless of Who is living in our heart.)  Gretchen was one of those people and she wanted to do something about it. So she identified 12 areas in her life that could be adjusted and she worked on it - one area per month.

I found the project fascinating. Inspiring. Do-able. (And maybe a little bit selfish?)

And, while I'm not pursuing happiness per se,  I am looking to live the life God called me to live with less fear, less guilt, less regret, less anger, more enthusiasm and more love.


So I think I may work on a Happiness-ish sort of Project too.
One with lists.
And charts.
And objectives.
And gold stars.

Will keep you posted as I muddle along...