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HAPPINESS HAPPENS MONTH

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Once upon a time, a real group called the Secret Society of Happy People decided to dedicate a day to the pursuit of happiness. Members of the society wanted to let happy feelings linger inside them every day. In 2000, the Secret Society of Happy People expanded the celebration to Happiness Happens Month in August.

Power of Positive Thinking Hardcover – April 1, 2012 by Norman Vincent Peale  (Author)
Power of Positive Thinking

by Norman Vincent Peale  (Author)

Happiness is a choice. Remembering happiness does not mean you are problem free. That kind of life doesn’t exist. As the Stoics of Ancient Greece observed, happiness is all about the quality of your thoughts. Happiness is not a destination, but rather a life-long pursuit. Joy can be anywhere at any time. Don’t limit yourself to searching for pleasure. Enjoy everything and anything that makes you happy. Oprah Winfrey said it wasn’t until she learned to be happy that good things started happening to her.

Man's Search for Meaning Kindle Edition by Viktor E. Frankl  (Author), Harold S. Kushner (Foreword), & 1
Man’s Search for Meaning Kindle Edition

by Viktor E. Frankl  (Author), Harold S. Kushner (Foreword)

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
― Abraham Lincoln

Need to get happy? Try out this playlist to lighten your day!

If you struggle with finding happiness, you can learn to be happy. There is plenty of helpful advice available to guide you in the right direction. Reading self-help material is an excellent place to start. Here are a few published works you might want to read to help you in your pursuit of happiness:

Meditations: The Philosophy Classic (Capstone Classics) 1st Edition by Marcus Aurelius (Author), & 2 more
Meditations: The Philosophy Classic

by Marcus Aurelius (Author), & 2 more

Most of the best “how to be happy” books and videos boil down to variations of the Ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism (not to be confused with the modern use of the word). The essence of stoicism is this: no matter what is wrong with the world in general, and your life in particular, you can choose to be happy if you learn how.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”
-Viktor Frankl

HISTORY
The Secret Society of Happy People started celebrating happiness with “Admit You’re Happy Day,” on August 8, 1999.

HOW TO OBSERVE
Notice more happy moments and share them with others. Use #HappinessHappensMonth on social media.

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NATIONAL DAY OF UNPLUGGING

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On the first Friday in March, National Day of Unplugging, kicks off a 24 hour period from sundown to sundown, to unplug, unwind, relax and do things other than using today’s technology, electronics, and social media.

Look around the average American household. Smartphones, computers, gaming systems, and smart TVs may not fill every nook and cranny, but gradually these devices are taking up residence and bandwidth in our homes and brains. According to Pew Research, the typical American family contains approximately 5 connected devices. Media, friends, entertainment, education, work, and more are all at our fingertips. The amount of information available to us is at an all-time high and the amount of connectedness goes with us everywhere.

Disconnecting or unplugging from all the digital static offers us an opportunity to reset. It also allows us to make more human connections with the people around us. Digital connections lack the tactile essence of the real world such as sounds, smells, and touch. Eye contact, for example, lacks depth in the digital world. In-person, however, we gain a sense of someone even if we don’t know what it is yet.

Another benefit of unplugging is better sleep. When we push away from the computer, put down the smartphone, and turn off the computer, we’re more likely to stretch our legs. Going outdoors into the fresh air, we might actually get more natural exercise causing our bodies to sleep better.

Other things about unplugging that might surprise you are that you’ll find more time to do the things you keep saying you have no time to do. For example, reading that book or visiting with an old friend, cleaning out the closets, or hiking a trail. What’s on your list that National Day of Unplugging will help you get finished?

NATIONAL DAY OF UNPLUGGING HISTORY. HISTORY

Members of the Reboot Network founded National Day of Unplugging to encourage others to have a more unplugged life. 

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDayOfUnplugging

It’s pretty simple really. Make a plan with a friend or two ahead of time. Turn off the smartphones, computers, personal assistants, gaming systems, and televisions. Start your day by singing in the shower. Read the newspaper. Meet a friend for breakfast. Go to the library and use the Dewy Decimal System. Have a conversation uninterrupted by a notification. How else will you spend the day? Make sure to sign the Unplugging Pledge, too!

Take a break from technology and use #NationalDayOfUnplugging to post on social media the day before to spread the word.

Safe Timed Lock Box, Phone Lock Box with Timer Unplug from Phones,Video Games,Social Media,Snacks&Cravings,Self-Control Lockable Storage Box, Phone Locker Time Locking Container for Better Habits#NationalDayOfUnplugging
Safe Timed Lock Box, Phone Lock Box with Timer Unplug from Phones,Video Games,Social Media,Snacks&Cravings,Self-Control Lockable Storage Box, Phone Locker Time Locking Container for Better Habits
Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers #NationalDayOfUnplugging
Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers
UNPLUG Ultimate Adventure Bag -1680D Heavy Duty Waterproof Travel Duffel Bags for Camping, Motorcycle Dry Bag, Waterproof Bags for Boating, Waterproof Duffle Backpack,Tactical Duffle Bag#NationalDayOfUnplugging
UNPLUG Ultimate Adventure Bag -1680D Heavy Duty Waterproof Travel Duffel Bags for Camping, Motorcycle Dry Bag, Waterproof Bags for Boating, Waterproof Duffle Backpack,Tactical Duffle Bag
Unplug: Raising Kids In a Technology Addicted World #NationalDayOfUnplugging
Unplug: Raising Kids In a Technology Addicted World

Expressions of Gratitude

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The definition of gratitude is being glad that something has or hasn’t happened; that something or someone exists; experiencing thanks. I started practicing gratitude about more than 15 years ago.  I have refocused on it after suffering a burst aneurysm in 2013. 

Being thankful on a regular basis improves our relationships, sleep, general well-being, and health.  Science has shown that there are many benefits to being grateful, and these are just a few.  Despite being a very simple exercise, when performed on a daily basis, it can have profoundly transformative results.  The habit of identifying things for which we are grateful each day creates new neuropathways in the brain, the more we practice being grateful (or, for that matter, anything we focus on).  For the brain, this process—known as neuroplasticity—is comparable to physical exercise.

Eventually, being grateful becomes a habit, which leads to a more optimistic perspective in general, especially during difficult situations.  We can be thankful for every moment as a chance to develop, learn, and discover a new way of being in the world, but we cannot be thankful for horrible things like this pandemic.  This is resilience.

Observe the abundance of creativity, ingenuity, and kindness all around you.  We are pushing ourselves to discover new ways to thrive rather than just survive.  The question, “What do I actually need?” is becoming more and more common.  What is most crucial?  We’re talking to loved ones about our deepest emotions and recognizing what matters most in life.

For 30 days, I want you to locate at least one item for which you are thankful every day.  A new habit takes around 30 days to form.  Don’t worry if you skip a day; just keep going.  As you write it down, acknowledge and experience the emotions it evokes in your heart.  Although you can do this at any time, it helps you sleep if you recall these things before bed.  Join me if you want to express your gratitude. Share to Social media using #Jen’sPerspectiveGratitudeChallenge .

This is my challenge