Way to Happiness

Hi Everyone

I have just finished reading a blog article about ways and how to make yourself happy, satisfied and feel contented with your life.

Not that I am desperately finding a way to happiness that I had to read that article to guide me but then it was worth reading simply because it was there for me to read. And the article mostly concur with the way I think about the state of being happy but I do not totally agree on the ways to seeking happiness it proposes.

I find it can be amusing to add arguments to the idea, agreeing and countering what is put forward by the writer. If I were to have friends here with me surely we would have a lively and humorous discussion that will have us in stitches, knowing there are some jokers among us, and babble away to no end.  Since I don't have anybody to chat and to laugh with so I just quietly write.

The article says some people need considerable material possessions and the presence of other individuals to make them happy which is wrong, though for each person happiness and contentment is subjective.

By right, it says, the power or the will to seek happiness is within oneself and many people overlook that fact. If you know the way you don't need to have much money or need others to help make yourself happy.

The article then goes on to share five ways to finding happiness.

The first is it suggests you to allocate more time to yourself. In short it says in the past you might be bogged down by work and you are also so worried about the future which makes you feel that you have missed on something in life. Try doing what you have never done before like watching the movie alone in an empty cinema (what a weird  person), which can bring forth the feel-good factor in you.

I agree, but not sitting alone in the cinema he he. Experience something out of the ordinary, like joining a fun run, can make your day.

Secondly according to the article is to talk good and praise yourself.

Not to the extent of glorifying yourself, I hope.

It says praise yourself every morning, think about your pluses and also some minus to gauge your self-worth. That way you can improve your self esteem and hence become  more cheerful.

Hey hey hey no. You may terlajak thinking that you are so good and clever and terus become delusional, be very careful . . .

I think the author means that you shouldn't be like a peacock if you are not. Peacock has beautiful feathers so it doesn't matter for it to strut around to show off and be proud and feel good about itself.

I think he means you be honest with yourself just like the kingfisher below, if she feels the blue is beautiful, though  not as beautiful as the peacock's why not spread the wings out and feel good about it too.

The third way is to pamper yourself.  It suggests that you dress up and be smart and polished even though you are not going anywhere or attending any function. Do not be stingy to have yourself pampered at the salon.

Do the dressing up and apply make up everyday so that it can become a habit and you will feel nice about yourself as now you have good image at all times.

Ahh all dressed up and nowhere to go ?. . . What a disappointment.

And for the housewife when all dressed up they are happy to sit pretty only. Why spoil the make up and the nice dress toiling in the kitchen. Pay the amah to do the cleaning and washing up in the kitchen. The husband may not be happy ha ha.

And when the men are smartly dressed up and look handsome . . . your guess is as good as mine. Of course he feels happy getting all the attention . . . ahem.

The article says dressing for yourself ok.

Well back to the article.

The fourth way is give yourself a treat. Eat out at your favorite eatery. When your tummy is happy you are happy too, it says.

I think everyone will agree with this one. The only drawback is that when you are happy you tend to forget the amount of food that goes into your stomach . . . and when it is over you may not feel happy after all . . .

The fifth and the last recommendation given to make you feel happy is that you go on a holiday no matter where the destination. Take a few days be away so that you can be relaxed, mind and body. Do not think that you need many days and a big budget to have a holiday . A short  holiday at  nearby places will save you from spending much and of course from the hassles and haste of travelling far.
Travel far if you have the budget and if you think it can make you happy . . .

(Experienced traveler can identify the famous places pictured below)

But small budget cause less headache and you remain happy longer, right? So consider the the advice in the article that you can opt to go to nearby places for your holiday.

If you insist on going to the first world country you can see happy people but you might not be the happy ones . . . this I say . . .

Go around take pictures and be happy

Feel happy gazing at the moon, just go KLCC at night.

Reading lighthearted material itself can make you happy. But real happiness takes more than that . And whose wise words are these? Shakespeare's ?

"I always feel happy

You know why?

Because I don't expect

anything from anyone!

Expectations always hurt.

Life is short . . .

Be happy . . .

And keep smiling . . .

That's life . . .

Feel it, Live it, Love it and
Enjoy it !"

Cheers . . .

Bye . . .

School Holidays

Hi friends

I have not been blogging for some days.

It was that, the school holidays.

Not that I'm a school kid as you know I left school decades ago, though I still write and think and act like school kid sometimes. Am still upbeat about the school holidays haha.

Remember there is always that little girl in every woman?

The children came to stay for a week. They . . .fresh bubbly honest and in simplicity. A joy to have them here. Everything enlivened. All vitalized ha ha. Their laughters and giggles were contagious. The house became so alive and noisy but the noise was lovely. They made me feel young again.

It felt so good be surrounded by happy children. All four girls. Though it was quite hectic having them around but I didn't mind at all. Their chatters and laughters made my day.

To entertain them took some thinking and planning.

Well now we are living in the material world, give them what they want and your problem is solved. Give them gadgets and they will sit there engrossed with whatever they are on that there will be no complaining and whining. Easy.

But nope. Not with me. There were better things.

I also put some responsibilities on their shoulders. The elder girls helped me with the laundry and simple works in the kitchen. They also helped to bathe the little one. In fact they were good at it.

We had time for more interesting activities together when works had been done with.

I can't help thinking about my younger days. Holiday or not the days were the same except you did not have to go to school. Going for trips? Going places? No such thing. May be just once or twice to the cinema. It was considered a luxury in those backward days. At other times it was all about helping our parents with their kampung work.

When my own children were schooling school holiday was quite a tough time for me and hubby as we were working parents. Just like my grandchildren especially when they were younger stayed with their grandmother in the kampung. Or sometimes the grandmother came over. In the later years their school holidays were occupied by attending sports camp and taking part in tennis tournaments as they were quite serious into sports.

For these girls what a pity there was no holiday trips to resorts and no theme parks this time. No sports camps, nothing. But coming to stay here with me was just as good. The surrounding area provides lots of fun and learning experience to inspire and to enrich their young minds.

Keeping them happy and entertained got myself entertained too.To be so much involved doing things together has strengthened our relationship. And they seem to like what I like. That was a good thing.

Bored with crafts and scrabble we went out. Took them to the pool or to the beach for a swim or we just went out for walks and looked around sort of a  take-photo outing . Let them appreciate nature.

See the strong tangled roots of the mangroves.

The beach morning glory still a beauty even with close petals.
.
Let them see the vast rambling sea at the coming of a bad weather.

Let them feel the strong breeze in their hair and on their faces.

Looked up at the flock of birds blown by the winds (?)

The sunset a joy to watch.

And as the children like to say  . . . and many more!! heheh.

All are good feeds to their minds.

May they have feelings of gratitude and hence healthy minds . Become happy people when they grow up.

Picture of joy ( old picture)

Bread dunked into milo also nice

Play bubble a must

Crafting together

Swing before a swim

Beach morning glory closed their petals in the evening

The island 

Take a look  up there

Found a stranded kitten

Reflection 

Time to go home

Now its back to normal. They have left. They are now visiting their other grandparents. Well they are not mine and mine alone . . .

At the time of leaving the goodbye hugs were silent . . .

I will cherish those happy moments.

Bye . . .