Choosing to be...Happy

My dentist always gives me a beautiful calendar with stunning nature pictures at the end of every year.  There are also inspirational quotes in the calendar which aren't attributed to anyone, but are nice to read.  The July 2011 quote really speaks to me:

Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.

This is confirmed by much of the current happiness research that is going on.  It makes me think of the movie Life is Beautiful.  You can choose to be happy no matter what your circumstances or situation.  I try to keep this in mind when I feel like indulging in negative emotions.  I know that it hurts me and it isn't good for anyone, but I still occasionally allow myself to wallow in anger and self-pity.

I can choose to be happy even when I'm feeling overwhelmed and it's hard to fit everything in.  I can choose to be happy even when things are going on at work that aren't easy to deal with or handle.  I can choose to be happy even when my kids are being difficult.  It is a choice of which course to take with each step.  Sometimes it's harder to choose the right course; but it's always more rewarding in the long run.

Christmas Eve 2010

The annual Christmas present wrapping extravaganza is nearly at an end.  I have one more present to wrap that just arrived; but I want my husband to get to see it and he is currently out with his father getting the fish for our Christmas Eve celebration.  Once he gets home and sees the adorable book we got for my nephew with his picture and name all over it, I can officially be done!  No, I didn't practice my 7 Ps:  proper prior preparation prevents piss-poor performance.  But it's not entirely my fault, today is my first day off for the holidays and we're finally on a break from all the kid's activities.  Although I still think I'm going to make different choices about how early I get started on Christmas preparation next year.  I just dropped the Christmas cards off at the post office this morning, so those won't be arriving until after Christmas.

My husband's mother is Italian and we celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes every Christmas Eve.  This is the first year that the celebration won't include the entire family.  When my husband and I first met, his grandparents (2nd generation here from Italy) were still hosting the event and it was large.  For the past four years now my mother-in-law has been hosting the celebration and it's gotten huge now that all the grandchildren are married and have children of their own.  So this year my mother-in-law's brother and his family are splitting off to do their own celebration.  I'll miss seeing everyone, but it will be much less hectic than it has been in recent years, and I'll actually be able to visit with everyone.  Traditions are nice, but sometimes they have to be modified in order to continue working.

Tomorrow is going to be the first Christmas since I got married (nearly 12 years ago) that will feel like Christmas did when I was growing up.  My parents moved 2,000 miles away from their families so Christmas was always just my parents and my brother and me.  It was very quiet.  We read our new books and took naps (when we were old enough to appreciate the idea of a nap!).  We live near all of our family which is mostly wonderful, but Christmas has never been as relaxing for me as it was when I was younger.  The way everyone's schedules worked out this year we'll be celebrating with my husband's family on the 26th, and with my family on the 28th.  So tomorrow will just be my husband and kids and me.  I think it will be one of the nicest Christmases I've celebrated in a long time.  We're going to make fondue and watch It's a Wonderful Life.

Here's to hoping that everyone's Christmas will be as relaxing and pleasant as mine!

Choosing to be...Grateful

I'm very grateful for my walk tonight.  I could smell the homey aroma of a fire burning in a fireplace.  The air was crisp but comfortable.

I'm also extremely grateful for the creek that runs through our neighborhood and allows me to feel like I'm out in nature in the middle of suburbia.

Choosing My Course

This is a new blog dedicated to keeping me on the right course as I journey through life.  I don't always make the right choices.  I frequently think along the lines:  "It's alright; I'm just going to eat this scone this once, then I'll stop".  (My increasing weight lets me know how well that's worked out!)

I judge others for making the easy and wrong choice, but then do it myself.  Of course I judge myself based on my intentions and others based on their actions.  This is a really unfair way to treat other people plus I end up selling myself short.  I've come to realize that if I want to be a better mother and a healthier and happier person; I need to be less judgmental and more forgiving while holding myself more accountable for the choices I make along the way.

I hope you join me on my journey and just maybe feel inspired to make the right choices for your course.