Holly hocks and chalk a blocks, we are living in some challenging times! At every turn something new seems to be rising as a hurdle to calm and peace and happiness. I hate it when I'm feeling anxious or restless or even a bit scared of late. It's just not my norm. So, I dug out my reminders of how to stay at peace and keep magic and joy in the forefront of my mind. Maybe these can help you too.

Turn off the news! Right now this is my number one step to being calm and at rest. The news is so constantly alarming. You can argue that we can't hide and we need to know, but decide for yourself how much, and from what source, you will keep up. For me, when I'm anxious, reading news rather than watching news is my go to source. And I counter it with reading, or watching, an equal amount of something that makes me happy. (The South Pole Santa books are great smile makers. Just sayin . . . 🙂 )

Decide things for yourself. When you need to make decisions about things, do some research, ask some questions and then ultimately make your own decisions. Absolutely all of us have opinions about everything, but you know you best. You decide. (Text me and I'll back you up if you need it 🙂)  Everyone else can decide for themselves.

Say yes to you. I love yes. That and and are my two favorite three letter words. Yes has opened up so many things for me that it is my default answer to most questions. But . . . I have also learned that a no is sometimes also a yes. Say yes to you even if that sounds like a no to somebody else.

Do something you love.  Get out for a walk - maybe with a friend, maybe in nature by yourself. (My waterfall photo is of Chatterbox Falls. A beautiful spot in the Canadian wilderness.) Maybe you like to get in a hard work out or meditation is your jam. I know lots of people that seek peace in yoga. Arts and crafts are great. I love travel. Taking a class. Pickleball is all the rage (I'm personally horrible at it!) Pick what works for you.

Let down your guard and expect wonderful. For some reason, lots of reasons really, I found trust hard for a long time. It's hard and it's scary to be vulnerable. I still have to work at it. We all have those experiences that surprise us in a bad way. Outcomes that go sideways. Dreams that bust. Trusting and letting your guard down is tough. But it brings new friends, big adventures, fun opportunities, and good surprises in. Put down your walls and expect wonderful to flow in. 

And when you do have hard stuff hit try to trust even then. It's so hard, I know. But there's a good chance that hard lesson is going to lead to something great in the future. Sometimes stepping back is stepping forward. Or maybe it kept you from something even worse that could have happened. Who knows. I'm trying to remember to practice this whenever a setback hits. Something even better for me is coming right around the corner.

Actively choose joy. First thing every morning and last thing every night, I talk to the Universe about my day. I put out a loud request for a really great day and a big thank you for the one I just had. Even the tough ones. I look for the small things in a day - like a favorite song to sing along to, a funny dad joke that made me groan, the camelias blooming along my drive - there are lots of them in every day. I actively choose joy. (Oh, and choose kindness too. The two walk hand in hand.) 

Live in gratitude. This isn't new. You hear this from so many happy people all the time. Because it works!  I love gratitude! It's the best. Putting gratitude forward in my life; feeling, grateful and being thankful for the large and the small things, changed everything about my life for the better. For the best!

We deserve to be happy. Every single one of us. The pursuit of happiness is one of our fundamental rights. Choose it for you!

Oh Oh Oh - Jingle