Day 30: Happiness is . . .

The last day of the month. When I started this 30 day challenge, I had planned to use the concept "Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -- Alfred D. Souza as an excuse to go out and do photography then put up a daily post. I did take pictures everyday, but often it was with my cell phone camera. Things don't always go as you plan, but they always seem to go somewhere. It was a hard project because I began to realize that my happiness circle was relatively small. The simple things near me such as my husband, my dogs, and being out with my camera could easily provide for a happiness moment. That was OK, but I would think in the back of my mind that there were a few people reading my daily posts and I had to look around and see happiness in more places so my friends wouldn't get bored.

That was a good thing, I did find happiness in so many areas of my life.

To end this month, I will say when you find the laughter,laugh along with it.

In moments of joy, immerse yourself in it.

Happiness is a choice. No matter who you are or what is going on in your life.

You get to choose to find it and grasp on to it.

My little world of happiness often revolves around a few things. Each day those things keep me going and opening the door to more and more moments of happiness.

May you find happiness in all that you do.

I don't know what October will bring. I still have a few hours to figure that out.

Day 29: Happiness is . . .

This has been a hard day. There have been laughter and tears, rain and sunshine, music and silence. Today was Toni's last day at work. Happiness is that she was able to worker longer than anyone expected.

This image was taken on April 12th the day she learned and shared with me that the doctors said she had 3-6 months to live. I named it Where  Do We Go From Here. 

Five plus months have passed since that day. Toni is still with us. She is leaving the library. I hope that she can put her energy toward healing and living. I hope that she will have many moments of happiness. Special moments with her husband, children, grandchildren, and sisters and brothers.

This image is that same tree today. It has grown it's leaves and they are beginning to change colors. To see these changes is a gift.

Happiness is living each day to the fullest. Having friends who help you through the tough times. Cake to add sweetness to life. A husband to take you to lunch, run errands for you, and allows you to cry when you need to cry. 

Day 28: Happiness is . . .

A note of appreciation to the library staff on a box of donuts. Gotta love our patrons.

The realization that even though we are sick of the rain and cooler than normal temperatures, the spinach and lettuce in the garden loves it. Yummy healthy salad with dinner.

 And today most importantly, Happiness is no more stink coming from the ventilation system of my car.

 $169 dollars, a new air filter, a deodorizer and the removal of a mouse nest, cured the smell that has been plaguing me for three days. I do have to say that the new smell in my car is that of a woman I have never met and am not sure that I would like her if I met her, but it is better than the smell of dead rotting mice.

Happiness comes in crazy packages.

Day 27: Happiness is . . .

Knowing that the sun will shine again and until it does, there are photographs of past sunny days.

Happiness is taking a little time to go through the photographs of the last month and finding more that you love and want to play with.

Some days it takes a little digging to notice the happiness moments. Some days are so busy that you don't have time to take the picture for your post. You just have to go with the flow.

Have a happy tomorrow. May the sun shine on your day, and the light paint up your sky.

Day 26: Happiness is . . .

Being lost in another dimension while taking care of a task that requires elbow grease rather than brain power.

Yes, sometimes happiness is spending time at the sink washing the dishes. You feel the accomplishment of finishing but more importantly, you have those few minutes of down time from all the mental requirements of a day.

Day 25: Happiness is . . .

A fall day that reminds us that the world is a beautiful place.

Bee's Lunch

Beautiful Dragonfly

Laughter in the Garden

Where Summer and Fall Meet

What a glorious day! We had three deer wander through our backyard, I mowed the lawn, and pulled some weeds. These are the glorious moments of life and of living. Happiness is always available in nature.

Day 24: Happiness is . . .

Sometimes hard to see among what feels like thorns.

Saturday was tough. I wanted to print some photographs and things were not going right. By the time my husband walked into the room I was swearing in a fashion that could even embarrass a sailor. (Yes, librarians, at least this one, swears when frustrated).

John looked at the problem like a good engineer and it was discovered that I was printing on smaller paper than I realized and my border problem was because I needed wider paper not because the printer was messing with me.

Happiness is knowing that there usually is a solution and when you step back, or someone you loves looks at things a bit more objectively, you can find that solution and get the results that you want.

In all of this John reminded me that I was looking for happiness each day. I said sometimes happiness eludes you. OK, not in those words, I think I was still a bit more high keyed than that. But it is true, some tasks and activities feel like they are going against you. Those are just moments like the moments of happiness, we get to choose which ones to dwell on, to hold close, and to make our friends.

I am choosing to befriend the happy moments.

Dear Printer,

Thank you for the final print.

Love, Sarah


Dear John,

Thank you for being my calm in my silly storm.

Love, Sarah