aha

from time to time i hear people use the phrase "aha moment". truly the only person i really think of when i hear that is oprah. so i avoid using it. but i must confess...i do think it some times. i don't say that is an aha moment. it is more like if experience some kind of clarity of thought i think "aha".
well today i realized i had an aha moment. for the past few months i have been trying to shed this winter weight. my question is where did it come from. it all started with a picture.
at thanksgiving 2012, celebrated at donner lake house, a bunch of went for a walk. as always is the case phones were present pictures were taken and loaded instantly to the internet. i got a couple cool shots of my friend samantha. and then i saw a group shot that included me. wow, i thought, i look for a lack of a better word fat. well at least fat for me. after that all bets were off.
thanksgiving became pretty much (again for me) an eating fest. and to be perfectly honest it was super fun and i enjoyed every bit. well the fun continued through christmas, new years and well until feb.
so here we are months later and my ah ha has come. that's why eating fest began. it was super fun and i am glad it is done.
oh and amazingly enough i end this blog post once again while in donner. (note: i started writing this weeks ago) and i am eating twizzlers. there is something about this place that kicks that part of my person into gear with treats. thankfully this time it is not thanksgiving so it is non stop food fest.
aha.

not written by me but i love it!

22 Things Happy People Do Differently

Posted: October 31, 2012 in Attitude, Happiness
Tags: happiness

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This article is from Chiara Fucarino. Enjoy!

Photo by Rosie Hardy

There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves.

The question is: how do they do that?

It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they …

1. Don’t hold grudges.

Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your wellbeing, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.

2. Treat everyone with kindness.

Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.

3. See problems as challenges.

The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have.

There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.

5. Dream big.

People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.

7. Speak well of others.

Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.

8. Never make excuses.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.

9. Get absorbed into the present.

Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning.

Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.

11. Avoid social comparison.

Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.

12. Choose friends wisely.

Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.

13. Never seek approval from others.

Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.

14. Take the time to listen.

Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.

15. Nurture social relationships.

A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.

16. Meditate.

Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.

17. Eat well.

Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.

18. Exercise.

Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.

19. Live minimally.

Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.

20. Tell the truth.

Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.

21. Establish personal control.

Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed.

Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.
If you’d like to see more posts like these, follow my blog or share with your friends below! Thanks!
Kris

just turned 48

i am so grateful that all has come to me and so with that i need to set goals for my 48th year.

be the best wife i possibly can be...as my friend julie just said to me, don't sweat the small stuff
two yoga retreats by june 2014
make a plan of direction for my organizing business
do more to give back to those who need help - practice that through yoga and my organizing business
make time for friends and family...really make specific time for this.
take a fun trip to a place i have never been
strength, flexibly, stamina, nutrition

ok, i think that's pretty good. i got my work cut out for me.

shopping diet

ok, i am one week in on my shopping diet. how's it going? it's hard. even for me. i don't consider myself a big shopper but as we know, soon as we decide to stop doing something...bam, we want to do it. amazing that they're things i don't "need" but i want - yoga pants, watches, furniture. shopping is just so easy now...maybe too easy.
for now it's just a reminder that for 30 days i am just not doing it.
so far so good.

wednesday - happy birthday to me

tuesday

monday

the next few days are post to me...reminders to me that age is a number and that turning 48 is no big deal.

game on

it has now been almost two months since i decided to get my act together and really get in shape. sure i always practiced a lot of yoga but that was it. and of course the holidays didn't help. let's just say i had way too many treats and i was feeling pretty lumpy bumpy. as i look forward on the calendar towards my retreat, i realized it was time to get rid of those lumps and bumps. as they say in mexico, adios!
i also hit a new time new low low - not fitting in jeans, seeing photos of myself that i'd rather not see. that was my bottom.
i am slowly crawling out of that place. occasional moments of doubt appear - aka jeans still tight. but  i know i am moving forward.
i added a skin regiment and a new haircut. that always helps.

as my friend anne told me. it is a slow process but with patience it can happen. i turn 48 in a few days and i am counting on feeling good! so long Doubt Family.

i went to a party recently and met this guy who says he does a variety of cleanses. he currently is on a 30 day facebook cleanse...which as you can guess means no facebook for 30 days. that of course got me thinking.
i am now two days in to my personal 30 day cleanse of no shopping. sure i need food, and household essentials but i don't need clothes, items for the house, etc. so far so good. of course i noticed a couple things immediately - don't open catalogs. don't open emails from retailers i like.
of course there are a few dates coming up where i would give gifts (aka shopping) but me being me...those were taken care of months ago! the only stumbling block is my anniversary. i had been going back and forth as to what to get my husband with no luck. and maybe that is the answer. i don't need to buy him stuff to celebrate our time together. instead, i am taking him out to dinner and making him a card. perfect. problem solved.
i know this is one cleanse where for sure i am going to feel lighter at the end. yay, no extra bills!
happy May!

thursday

if you read this, you know that occasionally i like to acknowledge what i am grateful for in my life. here goes a quick list right off the top of my head...

my husband
my girlfriends
my good healthy
the endless possibilities of the day ahead
that i believe in something great than me - a higher power
things that make me smile, laugh
dogs
when i get an email/phone call from a stranger wanting to hire me for work
my mom is in good health so she can travel to see me
the sun shining in my sun room right now
my down blanket...love it
seeing the light lit on the dvr...means a good show is being recorded and when i watch it, i can skip through the commercials
the coffee pot grinding beans and preparing the coffee
new hair stylist
sleeping through the night
the beauty of san francisco
my little car that takes me everywhere so easily - easy to park, economical on gas, and saves me from taking public transit
movies
sing a long on the radio music
strawberry trident gum

i think that is a pretty good start to the day.
thank you.

still working on it

i am hosting a yoga retreat june 22-29. this means i have 7 more weeks to get myself in stellar condition. i began this trek a month ago - more yoga, cleaner diet, and fitness classes. oh and i started a skin regiment to reduce fine wrinkles and age spots. since i am at the half way point i am thinking i should be looking different. but in my eyes, i don't. now i will say that my clothes do feel looser (love that) but visually i don't see a difference.
for now i have to think that my eyes are playing tricks on me. it's an illusion...it's all an illusion.
7 weeks.