practice 'Happiness Manifesto' periodically

• reports are all done
• I feel love soften me slowly like a gentle thaw
• my wishes are coming true….without any nudgings or determined shoves from me.
• I can fit into my jeans that I bought 3 years ago
• that when I look into the eyes of my grown up children, I see humour, cheekiness and confidence.
• walking in the rain, with suburban gardens beautifully blooming.
• the smell of crushed lavender leaves always brings back good memories.

Am grateful for my amazing body
Am grateful for the support of family and friends through challenging times
Am grateful for the good luck that flows towards me
Am grateful for new friends
Am grateful for daily laughter and hugs
Am grateful for wintry sunshine

• happy that the garden survived over a week without rain, the lettuce are self seeding too.
  *had a wonderful time in Tasmania, touring on the back of a motorcycle. The views were simply awesome, the people chatty and helpful.
  *looking forward to German conversation classes again. Arrive home to jump, literally, straight onto the bicycle, pedal furiously for 25 mins, weaving through peak hour traffic to arrive sweaty and breathless but PUNCTUAL, one minute before 6pm. There are absolutely nocarparkspacesleft at this time, so is a good excuse to get the bike out.
  *am grateful that I organised myself to be chore free for the first two weeks of teaching. All planning done. Ahhhh.

*meeting new and warmly conversant people at a party
*my focussed energies on my exercise goals
*my large choice of exquisite shoes
*the flirty bit of eye candy at the shop, ^{grinning just thinking about him and our exchange}
*

*sweet sweet green grapes
*my optimism. (that resurfaces reliably, carrying positivity, hope and certainty, on wings that soar)
*reconnecting with an old friend,
*weekend wonders
*support from virtual friends, thanks Phil.
*LOL

*walking in windy cool weather
*finding ripe figs to munch on during the walk
*cosily ensconced inside fluffy doona with Daughter 1 while watching dvds and giggling at her sharp wit.
*rain, rain, great for the garden and the baby greens I planted
*embracing my sadness in goodness- not judging, just feeling ok with feeling ie letting it wash through me and away.

• went to Brunetti’s for a glass of thick Italian hot choc, bliss, then browsed in book-cafes at Lygon Street.
  *3 day long week end ahead of me: art gallery, movie, massage, restaurant/cafe and swim, run, cycle.
  *4 little girls and 2 little boys in my class have crushes on me. I feel like a mother duck with a brood when I’m out doing playground duty. They’re so sweet and shiny.
• Decided to visit Son 1 in Coffs Harbour at term break, I miss my oldest child. He laughs with life and it smiles right back at him.

• Eaten together: Lindt Chocolate and soft licorice.
• Had a total shit of a day….back to more comfort munching, never really eaten both together until today. Really really yum.

*for the fresh figs we collected growing in our neighbourhood.
*the bubbling conversation of my effervescent daughter.
*seeing daughter number two today YAY!!! It’s been a while….
*being asked and being able to give
*our in house German connection who patiently listens to me as I answer back in halting Deutsch.
*for little K who gave me a lighthouse smile when he discovered that he could indeed “read”. Such a precious moment, his smile was only 3 inches from my face, bursting all over me like a sunrise. Made me cry. I love my job.

*for good friends and shared food
*the smell of good brewed coffee
*for the occasional intense feelings of sheer joy that come to me for no real reason. I just feel intensely happy for a space of a few seconds several times a week. The type of feeling that creates lighthouse smiles.
*M’s thoughtfulnesses
*speaking German daily
*how the people here make me laugh