I rolled out of bed early yesterday morning to face the week ahead and promptly noticed that I felt “off”. My stomach was a little uneasy and I felt like the room was darker than it normally is. I pulled myself together, hopped into the truck and headed to work.
By the time I got to my desk I realized that the upset stomach had to do with the fact that I was sad. About nothing in particular at all. The reason for The Sad is common to all women, thanks to those cyclical female hormones.
I tried to think of the underlying reasons that had brought out the sad but that only made me sadder (Complete with watery eyes and sniffles). While I actually do have some things to be sad about, I have far more things to be thankful for. And while there is nothing wrong with validating your feelings, there is also nothing wrong with acknowledging them and then moving on. I decided that the best thing I could do for myself was to list some things that make me happy.
It worked. Let me share a few of the things that I jotted down.
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Graham’s freckles. And his quick wit. And how he hugs me SO TIGHT.
Nathan’s eyelashes. And the way his face beams with delight when you ask him for a hug.
Emily’s curls. And her big blue eyes. And her lisp. (“I’m going to put my bookth in my purth.”)
Lists.
It’s March. I now drive both to and from work in daylight and it makes the days that much better.
Taking photos. Editing photos. Sharing what I know. Pretty much anything photography related.
Reading a good book.
That Tamara has given me my own coupon code to get a discount on every. single. purchase. at La Coquette Boutique. Also! I won a $50 gift card she was giving away. I teased her that she rigged it, but nope. The random generator chose my order.
Sunshine and fresh air.
Morning snuggles with my munchkins.
Cookie dough.
Friday night “cheat night” (Nachos/pizza/random Appy Of The Week).
Scrabble/Words With Friends.
Speaking of friends, each and every one of them/you who has ever said a kind word to me. Words of encouragement make my heart fly.
Laughing so hard that I cry and can barely breathe. (See: last Saturday while watching ballet with Amanda. Girl is funny.)
Whatever the exact opposite moment in time from Monday morning is.
***
There’s much more but I have things to do and books to read and sleep to chase. What makes you happy?
Wonderbar! Your kids are awesome. I think I need to make one of these lists, instead of my to-do list. Yep. Good plan.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..You Spin me right ’round… =-.
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Awesome list! Just think, you can start looking forward to summer, while we head into Autumn (with Winter looming). Although having said that, it’s still extremely summery here right now! But anyway, you have SUMMER coming SOON and I know that makes you HAPPY!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..Moroccan Meatballs =-.
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I feel like I’m in a better mood just by reading that! I’m in kind of a blahhh mood this morning, so maybe listing a couple of my own will help me…
-My husband, and his unwavering support for my photography, my photography dreams, and even for my [expensive] photography equipment.
-Sweet smelling Scentsy wickless candles that fill my room with awesomeness.
-A fresh shower
-The snow dripping off our roof, which in turn tells me that SPRING is coming.
.-= LauraRad´s last blog ..Scentsy Splendor =-.
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Have you seen any of Tim Hawkins’ stand up comedy? Either Full Range of Motion or I’m No Rockstar will make you happy, I PROMISE.
.-= Stephanie Parnell´s last blog ..2 1/2 months =-.
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I woke up happy. It could be because it looks like it will be SUNNY here today, or because I woke up to a clean kitchen and happy kids, or because I finished a great book right before I fell asleep (The Curious Incident of the Dog and the Nighttime) or because I’m going to a brunch this morning, or all of the above.
.-= Danica Grunert´s last blog ..Awake =-.
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That is a great list! And I know exactly the sad of which you speak. Next time I’ll battle it with a list just like this.
Right now, my favourite happy thing is the Blinc mascara I ordered from Tamara. LOVE it.
.-= Kami’s Khlopchyk´s last blog ..Embracing (sort of) Winter =-.
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Tamara Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Thanks Kami! I’m so happy that you love it!
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visiting with friends
the sunshine (which we saw yesterday with BLUE skies!)
capturing the little moments with my camera
a client calling to tell me that the photos I took of her baby moved her to tears.
my girls
my husband’s day off tomorrow for which we have nothing planned
my organized bedroom
.-= Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..Weekly Winners-Shots of our daily life Edition =-.
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Good idea! Here’s what’s making me happy today:
–Getting my baby to smile at me
–I heard birds chirping this morning (spring is coming!)
–Just hired a cleaning lady, and she’s here now making the house shiny again
–Two new magazines and a book in front of me, just waiting to be read
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..What To Do On A Snow Day =-.
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I make lists like this too and you’re right, it DOES help!
Theo calling me Mom. Not Mommy, not Mama, just Mom. As in, “Here Mom. Put away.” I pretend I don’t like it but it cracks me up every single time.
A clean house–which we have for the moment! Yeah!
A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.
Snuggle time with my two boys.
Teh Interwebz.
YOU.
XOXO
.-= samantha jo campen´s last blog ..Parent: 1 Child: 0 =-.
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I’ve been doing some “things I love” lists too for the same reason as you. The whole count your blessings thing really does help when one is feeling blue. Unfortunately, I’ve had to make A LOT of those lists lately. Damn hormones…
ps – I love lists too. And yeah, my son’s lashes totally rock too. Thing is, he inherited them from his dad, not me.
lol
.-= Nenette´s last blog ..omg, crepes… at the forks! =-.
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-how I feel AFTER I work out
-lipgloss
-curry
-COFFEE
-a good book read late into the night
-the laughter of little ones
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Listing the things you love is awesome. I haven’t done that in a few weeks, and should really do that again soon.
No surprise here, but I’ve loved the Olympics. It’s been an amazing 17 days, seeing my city go absolutely crazy with fun. I also love coffee. And Roll up the Rim to Win at Tim Horton’s. And deep conversations. And sleep. Mmm… sleep!
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..Let your red heart show =-.
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finding the happy is really the only thing to get me through the bad. I’m glad you’re finding it too!!!!
.-= alimartell´s last blog ..The One About the House. Well, the first one about the house. Because YOU KNOW there will be more. many more. =-.
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It’s amazing, but I’m feeling downright cheerful after only banking 3 hours of sleep last night. Drinking coffee at 9:30pm? Not highly recommended. But hey! It was the coffee you left, and I totally thought of you while I was drinking it, and that also made me happy.
.-= Kerri Anne´s last blog ..Paint By Numbers =-.
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Is there ANYTHING like sunshine to lift your spirits? I cannot believe how desperately I wish for spring and summer now that I live somewhere with a real winter.
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Great list. Amazing photos. It’s that time for me too and WHAT A FREAKING JOY IT IS. Complete with meltdown, yup, par for the course.
I hate those sad days when you can’t help but blubbering, and you can’t figure out why. Being a woman is FUN.
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LOVE your happy list..I have not been here in a bit, your kids are just getting even more beautiful!! Wow…
My hubby calls the gym my “happy place”
How sad
When the twins nap at the SAME TIME, that makes my heart sing.
When Cole tells me I look pretty, that’s right up there.
Good friends…I have not had many but in my new community I am making some fantastic friends….again happiness.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Apple..how you make life easier… =-.
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You know what consistently makes me happy? My daily chai latte. I know that it should be a “sometimes” food, but it just relaxes me and makes me happy. I make them at home most days because it’s easier on the budget and they’re just as good as from a coffee shop.
Also, Benjamin’s smiling eyes never fail to make me happy. Even when he is trying to look mad, his eyes twinkle at me and it’s just like we have a special little secret or something. It’s hard to describe, but we just “get” each other. I had no idea that I would enjoy having a boy so much until I got one.
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Emily’s curls kill me! So cute!!
My family makes me happy, especially my boy, my pudgy boy. Also all of my pets make me happy, and music, can’t live without music. Trees make me happy too, and the smell of Spring coming.
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I am very crabby so it was good for me to read this.
Things that make me happy:
sunsets over the city and the view from my apartment
daffodils
compliment from my boss
8+ hours of sleep
my nephew holding my hand
my boyfriend kissing my forehead when I lay my head on his chest
the kindness of strangers
.-= Sizzle´s last blog ..This is me speechless. =-.
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Sweet list. Glad I made you laugh.
Here’s a few from my list:
Pizza Hut for dinner.
A visit from my momma.
A momma who folds my laundry.
Karenna’s funny use of the English language.
Yay for happy!
.-= Amanda Brown´s last blog ..See Bumpa Run =-.
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Today? Nothing. Today I am dying of the black lung, waiting to hear if it’s the H1N1. Not coughing up a lung would make me happy. Having Olympics to watch on tv instead of boring daytime talk shows would make me happy. Sorry to be a downer. I like your list.
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Our Watchword Evermore Shall Be The Maple Leaf Forever =-.
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-spring flowers in bloom on my kitchen table
-a latte fetched by my husband pre night shift
-uncontrollable giggles from my boy
-perfectly groomed eyebrows
-an afternoon nap
.-= Mama in the City´s last blog ..Advice Needed Please! Traveling With A Toddler =-.
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I love a lisp…okay, let me carefully restate that…I LOVE A LISP ON KIDS; I realize a lisp on an adult is annoying.
That’s awesome – listing your blessings.
Count your blessings, count them one by one…
smooch
.-= OMSH´s last blog ..Your love is like a drug. =-.
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Look how long Emily’s hair is getting!
It is amazing what a change the sun and some 40 degree temps can make in my mood. The fact that we have RAIN forecasted instead of snow means that winter is almost over! And that makes me happy! I know it will still snow again, we’ll still have cold temps, but we’re on the other side of it. Summer is closer than we think!
.-= Kristabella´s last blog ..A Small Treat =-.
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I love your list!
I’m cheered by
-coffee, strong, sweet, creamy drunk while
-reading new emails and reading blog updates
-the smell of horses, hay and leather at the stables
-riding with friends who have opened their hearts to people and animals who badly needed someone to care
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