happiness manifesto

Lovely new Christmas tree ornaments from Pier 1. The baristas at my favorite coffee shop sharing their home-made applie pie with me. My friend the squirrel coming to the door and “asking” for nuts. Reading the just-arrived “The Gospel According to Coco Chanel” in the tub. Quiet time in front of a roaring fire in the evening.

An unexpected lunch-date with Paco as he finshed work early! Roller-blading with Paco and Max at dusk. Seedless satsumas at Yakima Fruit Market! Finding Mr. Potato-head figurine when we thought he was lost forever! Sitting outside in pajamas and heavy coats enjoying our Halloween lights just before bedtime. Watching “House” after everyone else was asleep in bed.

Really nice recognition from the IT Director for work I did on a Production problem yesterday. A huge box of school clothes for Max from Mom & Dad arrived including a really cool glow-in-the-dark skeleton ribcage shirt for Halloween. The “Draw Your Own Celtic Designs” book arrived! I finished my third scarf!

Max talked on the phone to me for the first time! The wonderful smells at Yakima Fruit Market; fresh dill, nectarines, pumpkins. More people sponsoring Max for his school walk-a-thon!.

A beautiful, light rain on the drive home. An incredible night out with my best friend seeing “It Might Get Loud”! Discovering (and registering for) a silk scarf class in October. Serendipitously finding a travel magazine about New Zealand in my favorite coffee shop!

A spectacular “Hudson River School” type sunrise. One of our neighborhood squirrels came calling for more nuts (he sat in the doorway staring at me as I was working at my laptop). A short facial and foot-care routine before bed. Listening to “Viridissima Virga” on the iPod nano before sleeping. Discovering a single-estate whole-leaf Ceylon tea at the local grocery store!

grateful for: a delicious cup of tea in the afternoon, the perfect pick-me-up. Wonderful lunch with Max at Third Place Commons on our way home from Juanita Beach. A couple glasses of champagne and quiet time with Paco after Max was in bed. The spicy smell of the climbing rose in the afternoon heat, even though it bloomed back in May. A spontaneous hug and smooch from Max for no reason at all.
physical activity: worked in the garden for over half an hour around dusk; my favorite time of day!

1. Get physical. Engage in half an hour of exercise three times a week
2. Count your blessings. At the end of each day, reflect on at least five things you are grateful for.
3. Talk time. Have an hour-long – uninterrupted – conversation with your partner or closest friend each week.
4. Plant something. Even if it’s a window box or pot. And, you must keep it alive!
5. Cut your TV viewing by half.
6. Smile at and/or say hello to someone you don’t know. At least once each day.
7. Phone a friend. Make contact with a friend or relation you have not talked to for a while and arrange to meet up.
8. Have a good laugh at least once a day.
9. Every day make sure you give yourself a treat. Take time to really enjoy this.
10. Daily kindness. Do an extra good turn for someone each day.

The theme of my life is “Do Something Scary Everyday” which is to say, live outside the comforts of confines (“comfines”) of what I generally think/do/say/live/read/etc, and the purpose of my life is to save all sentient beings (email me i you need more info on where that’s from). So I think “Happiness Manifesta” (“a” for girls) might be a good mission statement.