So, almost immediately (lets call it a Latin American immediately, it was probably 25 minutes 8 hours) after I posted my little ditty yesterday, I came across this: 21 Simple “Non-Spiritual” Things that make for Daily Happiness.
So the first thing you see is a happy young Paul Newman. Which is fine, but for me it was really about his nipples.
Have I written about the weird fascination I have developed about men’s nipples since I had the cancer cut out of me? No? Maybe? I dunno, but it is this bizarre thing that I noticed shortly after coming home from the hospital and watching Netflix… It is one of those feelings like one might get when they become fascinated by a car accident, rubbernecking their way past it all attention focused on the crash and not on the road in front of them.
So, my first thought was Nipples are a “non-spiritual” thing that makes for daily happiness? I don’t think so?
But I read on, and decided I had to try it out and here are my observations:
1. Touch water. Which feel good type thinks telling a fire sign that they should play with water to feel better is obviously a narrow minded water sign… I played with fire, sat with the family in front of it while drinking warm turmeric hot chocolate.
2. Sweat once a day. I did, enjoyed it too! 😉
3. Eat real food. I ate a small piece of my fudge pecan pie, because it is that good.
4. Support, subscribe, read a good magazine (print or online) that’s better than you are—with a hot drink of coffee or tea and a little sunshine and quiet. I don’t believe that anything is better than anything else, it is not even a matter of degrees – shit just is so this one pissed me off because who or what the fuck is better than I am and to its contrary, what the fuck am I better than? So, in lieu of this better than shite, I picked up a favorite book.
8. Work in an office, or live with, a dog. I have “Flash aaaahhhh ahhh Savior of the Universe Gordon Boba Fett [redacted last name to protect the unborn].
9. Breathe in and out, slowly, once a day. Thankfully, I have to do this or I can’t get out of bed.
10. Never eat while standing up, or driving. I rarely eat in these situations, though I might want to consider no longer eating at my desk because that is how I consume massive jars of peanut butter.
11. Never cell phone while talking, or walking. I hate it when people do this to me, seems only fair.
12. Hike. I walk, on occasion.
13. Stop obsessing about one’s own happiness. I don’t think I obsess about this, though it would be nice to feel less of the angry ennui.
14. Put on a favorite song and sing it out, like we mean it. Yes, during most commutes home.
15. Pick up trash in the street. I try to do this every day, try – don’t always – but never saw this as a way to feel less grumpy.
16. Watch a movie and eat a little too much ice cream/pop corn/vegan ice cream/edamame/nuts. With peanut butter!
17. Put a few photos of loved ones around. I do this, in many ways.
18. Be honest. an important value I hold dear.
19. Sleep more. My fit bit helps me keep tabs on this. Interestingly enough I find that on the night I have time to drink turmeric milk (with or without hot chocolate) I tend to sleep really well.
20. Write. this. here. meh.
21. Meditate. Ever since I became inspired to teach my son to meditate I have had to do this every night. He loves it, we usually play some you-tube videos for this, but I stay with him for a bit and play along.
And… just because I love to self torture, here are my reflections on how I tried to fight being grumpy the “elephant journal way” with the suggestions not listed above (regurgitate much elephant journal?):
4. Friends – phew, this is hard – I have two days worth of texts from friends that I have to reply to because they want to do something for my birthday.
5. Sunshine. Arizona.
7. Flirt – I work in a school who would be my main contacts, that is just creepy.
8. Dress well. I have played dress up all week. It helps.
11. Relax. Give in. Hardest. Thing. Ever.
