practice 'Happiness Manifesto' periodically

I am grateful for:

1. Rocco, the fawn-colored French bulldog puppy, who is the bouncy four-month-old suitor of my 10-year-old dog.

2. Having money and time to see “in the next room, or the vibrator play…”

3. Having money and time to buy plays and read them.

4. This odd spring/fall weather.

5. Meeting a woman who just moved to my town who has a tough (but trainable) adult rescue dog. I hoped I gave her good advice: don’t quit, take it slow, and be patient.

• Dad’s visit, very comforting
• sun! Indian summer! and a few leaves still on the trees, especially the lovely gingkos
• basically well-behaved and friendly pooches, not too tricky to look after
• getting to see a number of friends before I take off
• clearing the last few pieces of Stuff

• feeling strong inside despite of physical weakness.

• music.

• sense of peace and well-being.

• faith.

I am grateful for:

- A day off in the middle of the week! Being a gov worker has its perks :)
- The nice date I went on last night. It’s so refreshing to meet somebody sane and intelligent, who can carry a conversation, and who has oodles of life experience, education and maturity, to boot!
- All things unconventional
- A guilt free existence
- delicious (and mysterious) Chinatown finds
- FINALLY finding Thai tea!!! I’ve been looking for this everywhere since a friend introduced me to it in France this summer, and in a stroke of luck, a good friend was out shopping and found a huge bag for me. It tastes just as I remember!
- my self confidence
- finding the rare funky art event in Ottawa. Tonight: Timeraiser

• Skipped lunch to indulge in my comfort food.:)

• a cold, soothing massage with a hot towel afterward and ginger tea.

• shared a tub of my favorite ice cream with a friend.

• Mahler symphonies on the radio, all month; Ivan Fischer w/ #2 (Resurrection), right now
• effort and the passage of time, bringing me closer to the next stage – page almost turned!
• good sleeping conditions, and spending time in a lovely house in a very pretty neighborhood
• the comfort of cash. Now, what to do with it?
• forcing myself to get out and find something good to eat

I am grateful for:

- Living the life I want to live
- Being single, and FREE, and able to do what I want
- Having supportive friends and family
- The thrill of doing something secret and unconventional…
- Discovering new things about myself
- My awesome, amazing yoga course: I love being immersed in yoga the way I have been (and will continue to be for the next 6 months!)
- My boring, uncreative, paper-pushing government job. For all my complaining, it is a job, and a good one, and it provides me with a regular paycheque, which is a lot more than some people have.

-the sunshine and gorgeous fall weather we’ve had the past few days
-raking leaves, getting exercise at the same time, and breathing in fresh autumn air
-my new art-minded friends in the neighbourhood, who make me feel happier in suburbia and make me realize not all suburbanites only care about what new curtains will match their sofa
-G’s smart mind and hot body…what an enticing combination! wicked grin
-good novels to gobble up
-the luscious time I’ve had off until my next contract begins at the end of the month
-a cool new screen divider (made in India) I bought at half price to close off the view of my messy studio from the living room

• Helping senior citizens acquire their code bill number @ MCWD even if I have to get another priority number while assisting them. The appreciative smiles on their faces make another hour in line worth it.

• Passing by a road familiar to me four years ago brings back nostalgia to a more happy, innocent and carefree times.

• On my way home, I chose another route. Instead of going home straight, I rode a jeep and made a turn uptown before going home.

• Thanks god for the invention of Decolgen. My sore throat and runny nose did not develop into a full-blown flu.

• Having siesta while my aunt and her friend are in the living room. The sounds of them talking and laughing comforted me. It made me remember a time in childhood when I’m sent to the bed early while the adults are playing mahjong. Their sounds lull me to sleep.

• a visit from my Aunt. It has been years since I last saw her.
• Peaceful shopping with my mother. We got along for the day.
• Seafoods! Scallops, blue marlin, bangus.
• bumping into an old acquaintance.
• I’m happy because a week has passed and I have not experienced physical weakness so I went to the hospital to buy more medicines.