Monday, February 7, 2011

happiness

Did you ever think it's a little self-indulgent to consider your own happiness?

I certainly have. I'm not really sure where it stems from, perhaps in my people-pleasing nature, some teaching I have heard somewhere or the guilt ridden mommy thing that puts everyone above herself. I'm not sure.

I just finished reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. I kind of expected a book about self-improvement which would make me feel guilty and wanting to do a million things to improve myself. But I couldn't put it down, and although it is kind of about self-improvement, it really is about happiness. I cannot stop thinking about my own happiness and my struggle with it. Why do I feel like it's asking for the moon if I want a few moments to myself? Why do I feel guilty when I read or write, two of my favorite things to do? I haven't really acknowledged the importance of my own happiness and how that affects my family. I love the quote (her second splendid truth in the book) "One of the best ways to make myself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy myself." (Gretchen Rubin) It's an interesting paradox!

So I've been thinking about what makes me happy! (It's fun to do this, trust me.) I love the blog post on Gretchen's blog to get you thinking about happiness. What did you do for fun when you were 10 years old? This was our supper time conversation that evening and it was funny how Tim's answers were drastically different from mine.

What did I do for fun when I was 10 years old? I read books all the time and I wrote (journals, stories). One of my favorite activities was our writing contracts in my grade 4 classroom where we got to choose four writing projects to work on for that month. I loved to sing (school and church choir). I took ballet lessons and loved to dance, and I started piano lessons at that age. I also "played school" in the summertime with my sisters. I was the teacher.

What did Tim do for fun when he was 10 years old? He biked everywhere and loved biking, making ramps, jumping etc. Playing the drums in band (we didn't start band until grade 7 at my school), playing with fire...

What did you do for fun when you were 10 years old? Do you think that it might reflect some of your interests now? (It certainly does for me!)


I heard about "The Happiness Project" from the online book club at lifeasmom. They have a great format where you can post comments and discuss the books on her list, or books from your own list each month!

1 comment:

  1. When I was 10, I loved spending time reading "Little House" and spending time with my dad discovering parks and taking day trips with my family. Sometimes I think back on my childhood, and I miss it. Does anyone else do that? But at the same time I have great anticipation for the future.

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