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Things I’m working on…
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Why Not You? Why Not Now?
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The Quest for Happiness: Unlocking True Joy Within
Let’s get real for a minute: we all want to be happy. It’s like this never-ending chase, right? We work our butts off, chase success, and buy all the fancy things, hoping that somehow it will make us feel content and joyful. But here’s the kicker: as we get older, we start realizing that happiness isn’t a one-size-fits-all kinda thing. It’s actually something that comes from within us, from our own values, passions, and relationships.
Take me, for example. I hit my fifties and finally decided to escape the corporate grind by starting my own business. I thought this would be my ticket to peace and happiness. But boy, was I wrong. Instead, I ended up recreating the same stressful environment at home. I had chosen a business based on what I thought would bring in quick cash, not what I truly cared about. I was stuck doing mind-numbing tasks and selling products that didn’t align with my values. It was soul-sucking.
That’s when I started reflecting on my life and what truly brought me joy. I always had a passion for creative outlets like writing, acting, and art. But I never thought of pursuing them seriously because I thought they were just hobbies. Well, it was time to change that. I immersed myself in the world of content creation, learned from those who were already doing what I admired, and started creating and sharing my own work. And you know what? It was freaking amazing. The feeling of accomplishment I got from doing what I loved was on a whole other level.
Now, I’m doing something I’m truly passionate about and making money from it. I feel incredibly lucky to have turned my love for creativity into a viable career.
The road to happiness isn’t a walk in the park, though. It takes some serious soul-searching, reflection, and trying new things. You gotta figure out what activities light you up, what values guide your life, and who supports and nourishes you. Then, push yourself out of your comfort zone and believe that you can actually make a living doing what you love.
Here’s the bottom line: happiness isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. And the first step on that journey is figuring out what truly brings you joy. It may take some deep thinking, some courage, and a willingness to explore new possibilities. But trust me, it’s worth it. Once you start living a life that aligns with your passions, you’ll see a whole new world of fulfillment and happiness open up before you. So why wait? Start your journey today and create a life that makes you truly happy.
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CREATING CONNECTION THROUGH AUTHENTICITY
So, I just read this awesome article about ditching our “perfect” masks and being real with our challenges and triumphs. It got me thinking, why not try it out? The more authentic we are in our relationships, whether personal or professional, the deeper those connections will be.
Now, let me tell you about my imperfect, true self. Brace yourself, because I have a tendency to laugh so hard that I pee my pants. Yep, I find everything hilarious. People say I should be in the audience of a stand-up comedy show, laughing my head off. I don’t discriminate – I laugh in good times and bad times. I’ve even burst into hysterics at weddings and funerals. Even in the most stressful situations, when everything has hit the fan, you’ll catch me chuckling at life’s absurdity. I believe the only thing we can control is our attitude, so why not find humor in the ups and downs? Life’s like a roller coaster – throw your hands in the air, cackle, and maybe even have a little accident.
Here’s a crazy fact: despite my terrible grades in high school, I got nominated for valedictorian. It’s a wild journey from being voted “most likely to be the first female president” and giving speeches in sixth grade to barely scraping by in high school. My academic performance took a nosedive after my dad’s suicide when I turned 14, and it took years to recover. But here’s the thing – I’m forever grateful to the teachers and mentors who saw potential in me, even when my grades were horrible. They continued to support, push, and recommend me for opportunities.
Let me take you back to my awkward kid days. At the ripe age of nine, I wrote a play called “The Silent Indian Girl.” Funny thing is, I’m not Native American and I’m definitely not silent (aside from when I’m asleep). As a child, I spent a lot of time hidden away in my room, reading, writing, and feeling incredibly self-conscious. You won’t find many pictures of me from those years – I was always doing something weird with my face to avoid being captured on film. If there were smartphones back then, every picture of me would’ve been deleted or discarded. That play was my way of expressing my feelings of being different, awkward, and unheard. To my surprise, my fourth-grade teacher read it and recommended that we stage it for the entire school. Not only did I direct it, but I also cast myself as the lead (so much for being silent). It was a moment of realization for me – writing and sharing our deepest fears and truths can be powerful, impactful, and bring us closer to others.
Okay, brace yourself for this one. I had to wear a back brace for scoliosis. It all started after I took a yoga class with my aunt and thought I broke my rib cage. Turns out it wasn’t broken, but I did have a severe case of scoliosis. The options were surgery or wearing a back brace for years to correct the curvature. I chose the brace, thinking I could take it off occasionally. Boy, was I wrong. The first time a boy asked me out to the movies, I excitedly ran down the stairs without the brace… and my mom promptly sent me back upstairs to put it on, tears and all. It led to some tough experiences, like being stood up for prom or dumped in a school trash can. But it also taught me empathy and gave me plenty of laughs during those crazy teenage years when I thought the world revolved around me. At the time, it was hard to appreciate, but now I’m thankful for how the brace shaped me as a person.
Now, here’s a not-so-secret secret about me – I worry way too much about how others perceive me. I absolutely admire people who embrace their quirks and don’t give a damn about what others think. I’m like a magnet to those funny, out-there individuals because deep down, I want to be like them. But I’m often too scared and critical of myself to fully join in the fun. If you’re the kind of person who dances like nobody’s watching, sings a little too loudly, tells outrageous jokes, and lives without fearing judgment, I want to hang out with you! I owe it to these fearless folks to let go of my perfectionist tendencies and embrace my true self, so I can truly appreciate their awesomeness.
So, there you have it. I’m imperfect, I laugh until I pee my pants, I struggled in school but still accomplished great things, I was an awkward kid, I wore a back brace, and I worry too much about what people think. But you know what? I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s all part of what makes me, well, me.
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Change your habits and you change your life! Learn how to micro-step!
I’ve set a goal to live a long, healthy, and active second half of my life. Micro-stepping is a cool new technique I’m using to build a new set of positive lifelong habits that will help me achieve my goal! I thought I would share it with you here @BeautyBrainsBubbly. Let me know if you try it and how it works for you.
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I’m fine. Things are fine. That’s fine.
“I’m fine. Things are fine. That’s fine.”
Sound familiar?
That is the answer of someone that has at the very least phoned it in and reached the point of utter complacency or at its very worst someone who is the farthest thing from fine and inside is seething in a pool of anger and frustration.
And I catch myself saying it all the time. But what I’m really saying is “I’m fine like the glass octopus hiding in the mid water zone.”
I’ve succeeded in becoming almost invisible. I’m nearly see through, I work hard to make it appear as though I’m not even here, I let life travel through me, past me, unimpeded so that nothing reflects back.
Tricky, huh? Being transparent is like the ultimate hiding technique, except for one tiny detail – every experience it’s had weighs heavy in its gut and casts a mile-long shadow.
I have these crazy dreams though.
Alright, check this out – every time I wake up, I have three images etched in my mind. First, it’s the Wizard of Oz. Then, you got plankton. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder, there’s a mental picture of me holding my ear that I seemingly sawed off using dental floss. Yeah, I probably should skip “go,” forget about collecting $200, and seriously consider checking myself in at some point. But maybe, just maybe, there’s a complete nutjob of a meaning hidden in there somewhere.
So, here’s my interpretation of the deal with old Oz and give an honest assessment of how I’m REALLY doing, okay? I’m “fine” as I’ve been diving into all these books lately that talk about how we’re the architects of our own lives. And you know what? I too have built a dreamy vision board with positive affirmations plastered all across the top and pictures of wonder woman, dreamy travel destinations, a slim yogi bending in impossible ways, and even a fat stack of cash hanging right above my bathroom sink. The funny thing is, I can barely read those affirmations without my glasses – and let’s be real, I barely wear ’em. So, most mornings, I just squint at that board and think, “You know what? Screw it.” And then, well, let’s just say I take care of the real business of life because hey man, ‘I’m totally unequivocally, fine!”
As I pen down these words, it hits me – that little dude behind the green curtain? That’s me, trying to be the master of my own universe. And if I’m being honest, I’m doing a pretty lousy job “making things fine.” But hey, it’s not all gloom and doom. Like our glass octopus friend, I’m floating somewhere in the middle. Haven’t sunk to the bottom of the ocean yet, but I’m no fancy diamond-clad bikini babe leisurely swimming off the shores of the Galapagos Islands either.
If dreams have real meaning, and for arguments sake we should be writing them down, interpreting them, and utilizing what we’ve learned to make changes in our lives let’s look at how old Ozzy is doing so far.
Here’s a breakdown of my life aspects on a scale of 1-10. Picture it like this: one is an absolute disaster and ten is smooth sailing into the sunset, with a unicorn under my command.
Family: I give myself a 3
The family story is a long and winding one. Let’s just say there’s room for improvement, but I’ll spill the details down the road.
Love: 7
I’m docking three points for a past divorce, but I’ve been blessed with an amazing partner for the past nine years. Things are pretty darn great, but we could work on communication and my occasional moments of selfishness.
Sex: 7
We both value a healthy and adventurous sex life. Still, there’s always room for some added excitement!
Spirituality: 3
I’m not a church-goer and have some reservations about organized religion. However, I firmly believe in a higher power and treating others with kindness. I do make time for guided meditation each morning, though!
Career/Purpose: 2
Recently quit my job and am currently soul-searching for the next move. It’s not a rock-bottom situation because I’ve always worked hard, even in jobs I despised, and achieved some success. A little credit is due!
Friends: 3
I’ll give myself a generous rating in this department, even though I know I’m not the best friend. I struggle with small talk, forget to send thank you cards, return phone calls and can be a bit relationship lazy.
Body/Health: 5
I hit the gym hard five days a week, earning myself some brownie points. Unfortunately, my weakness for pasta and bourbon works against me. I might have to embrace some cellulite if I don’t change my eating habits.
Money: 1
If I keep handling my finances the way I do, I’ll be in the workforce until my last breath.
But hey, ‘that’s fine,’ right?
And in some ways, it is. It’s honest. So, while the list doesn’t have any unicorns flying through rainbows, and I’ve clearly got some serious work to do in each of these areas to get my scores up we’ll keep the vision board and pass on firing Oz just yet.
Speaking of strange creatures, have I been watching too much Animal Planet? It’s funny how a barely visible organism like Plankton (you almost thought I forgot didn’t you?) can drift aimlessly in a vast universe yet play a crucial role in life itself. Looking at my scorecard above, I wonder if Plankton is the symbol my mind holds onto to convince myself that even though my life may not seem like much, I’m still making a meaningful contribution to the universe. Ahhh…isn’t symbolism grand?
And what’s the deal with flossing my ear off? Watch the master of spin turn this into a positive message: Maybe I should ignore that persistent negative inner voice that starts jabbering first thing in the morning and doesn’t stop until I hit the pillow at night. It’s draining to listen to and hard to control.
Perhaps I should also keep some reading glasses in the bathroom, so I can read those affirmations every morning and shut down that little negative nelly.
Here’s the thing – I’m not okay with just being “fine.” I want to be more than that. In a nutshell I interpret this recurring dream as being about breaking out of the middle, embracing vulnerability, and swimming towards the top to improve my scores in all aspects of life. I’m determined to stop being my own harshest critic, accepting my past failures, and forging a brighter, more luminous future. I’ll share my journey here, and if I come across any helpful tips, tricks, or tools along the way, they’ll be here for anyone who wants to give them a try.
Let’s level up together, keep dreaming big, and leave ‘fine’ in the dust!
