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Friday, October 30, 2009

How do you find joy and happiness?

Times are tough all over. People are struggling to make ends meet and are cutting their budgets to the bare bones.

Many of us, although we wouldn't necessarily admit it to anyone, are having difficult times. Sometimes it seems like all we think about is our budget and our bills. Our lives revolve around pay days and due dates. Tensions are high. The holidays are near. If you've got children, you're probably just beginning to stress out.

What do you try to do in your every day life to find joy and happiness?
With the holidays approaching, what are you going to add to your every day life to bring joy and happiness to yourself and those around you?

What are you doing? What is your significant other doing? What are you doing with your children?

Are there some things that you do with your family or with your significant other where you can spend time together, but not take a hit to the budget? What are your fun things to do?

Have you gotten more spiritual? Have the sacrifices that you have been making as a family or as a couple drawn you closer to your faith?


I think this is the perfect time to share our ideas before we get caught up in our holiday events.

I think it would be great if everyone would share their thoughts in a blog post and link back here so we can share it with everyone.

If we can offer some ideas that will help even one of us it will be more than worthwhile.

We are blog pallies. Together we are strong. Let's help each other out.

I'm not looking for a 2 sentence comment. I would like everyone to put some thought into this. I think it's definitely worth more than a few minutes of our time. Maybe it will help if we all consciously take the time to write a blog post about it sometime in the next week. Just be sure to remember to come back to this post to link up yours.

Please grab the code for the image HERE, include it in your blog post and be sure to come back to add the link to your Joy & Happiness Post to McLinky so we can all share our ideas.

Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

IF YOU SEE THAT MckLinky APPEARS TO NOT BE WORKING, PLEASE POST A LINK TO YOUR "JOY AND HAPPINESS IDEAS" IN THE COMMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AWARE OF YOUR PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MckLinky IS STRICTLY FOR 'MY JOY AND HAPPINESS' PARTICIPANTS ONLY.
ANY OTHER LINKS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT PREJUDICE!
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Lola's Diner
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13 comments:

BK said...

When I first read the title of your post, 'how do you find joy and happiness,' a quotation by Gandhi came to my mind. Gandhi said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." To me, I find this very true to a lot of extent. Some people are working hard everyday and earning a lot of money but they aren't happy. If they are to look into their priorities, as in what is important to them, they may find that it doesn't resonate with what they are doing. The conflict between the thought and action will bound to create unhappiness in them.

As for your questions, probably what I can share are some of my memories as a kid during Christmas. I remember there were always Christmas parties. My siblings and I would always receive presents. I couldn't remember what presents we received back then. But just receiving the presents bring us much joy and happiness as kids. For the adults, they were always happy when we were happy. Isn't that true? Maybe that is what holiday is about; spending quality time with family and enjoying each other company.

Diane said...

great quote BK!

lola, i'm glad you are thinking like this, despite your own current situation. and hopefully it will inspire others too as well. i know i'll be thinking about it...

A.Marie said...

Great Idea! I fully intend to do this; I just finished posting on my blog for today, but I am going to participate and post it on tomorrow's blog. How are you doing? Did you reach your goal of $250?

StaceyC4 said...

Okay, I grabbed the code and now I am thinking. I know that I have started going back to church and that has helped me a lot but other than that...I'm drawing a blank. I'm going to give it some thought, though and link it back to you!

Upstatemamma said...

Hmm Maybe I will work on a post later but for now. I try very simply to remember that this is my children's childhood and while I may be overwhelmed with bills - they are not and should not. They need me to roll around on the floor and laugh and tickle them - and when I do I find that I am having loads of fun.

I am Harriet said...

I find joy and happiness by...ummm...errrrr.....leaving comments for great bloggers.

If I had the moolah I'd leave a few bucks too.

Tracie Nall said...

I just recently blogged about how my daughter and I are knitting squares to send to Africa that will be made into blankets for AIDS orphans. Working on this all week has been such a blessing and such a great focus. I've noticed that am finding joy concentrating on what else I can slip into my package for the kid's Christmas packages instead of the usual chaos and anxiety that I feel thinking about getting ready for Christmas (and making sure that the present I get for Aunt S. matches with the one for Aunt D. and that no one will have hurt feelings etc)

On bill stress. It seems like it is always surrounding us. When I start to feel overwhelmed, I try to remember that I can't control it. I can't be sure of how much money we will have tomorrow (my husband is self employed, so money varies each day) and worrying about it won't do anything but make everyone around me miserable. I always remind myself "You can't control this. Set it down and move on" Do the best you can, and everything else is going to have to work itself out.

Tracie Nall said...

Oh yeah....Happy VGNO! Have a great weekend!

http://whereiwastoday.blogspot.com/2009/10/knit-square.html#comments

The link to that Square knitting post! It is helping me to find joy right now!

Carolee Hollenback said...

I'll try to get my happiness post done today!

Great idea- I have a good one, too!

Auntie E said...

It is true we do tend to get money stress out. I've learned a long time ago, not to let it get to me. I am seriously doing homemade gifts this year. My Sewing room is filled when things waiting for a home.
Not sure if I will join in on this Meme but, will love to visit those who do. I 'm trying to be less meme and get back to natural material.

Julie from JulieChats said...

We've had some difficulties in the last couple years, including my husband being out of work for 11 months. We really eat at home all the time now and I'm trying to make it fun by letting my daughter who loves to cook help out. When she has fun helping it takes her mind off some of the things that we just can't do as much any more. And I'm selling the kids old clothes on Craigslist to raise money for Christmas. Thought about consignment, but prefer to keep the $ for us, even if it takes longer to get it.

Just stopping by late to say Happy Halloween, Happy VGNO & SO Happy my DUCKS beat USC!!! :)

StaceyC4 said...

Hey! First, I'm still thinking on the whole happiness thing (which is sad, right?) and YEAH!! Yeah for you raising the money. I'm so happy for you.

JENIE=) said...

lemme just share with you for now what makes me happy..."blessed to be experiencing God's love" =) i am at peace!

am dropping by from Anne's VGNO and im glad to be here.

see you around?
hope u visit my blogs too
life round me N you
earthy me
at-a-blink
heartQUAKES

 
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