Inner peace. I’ve been experiencing a lot of fear and grief-y feelings after my husband left for an unexpected work trip for several weeks. Being alone with a toddler in a new town/home is definitely rocking my sense of safety and security but I’m reminding myself of my inner reserve of strength and joy that is not dependent on outside circumstances. When the world doesn’t feel safe “out there” happiness is inner peace. 💗
This is so true - in theory. But, sometimes really, really hard to put into practice. I hope you are finding ways to settle in to your new community...
This, though, suggests an eternal striving for happiness (and then only having the pleasure of enjoying it by looking back...) rather than 'being' happy. Like, now.
It's so important to find our moments of bliss (clutching a yellow crayon, sitting by the river watching an elk emerge from the forest, dancing late at night at a Latin Festival... whatever it is that catches you by surprise and you realize that yes, this is it, this is happy) and treasure them.
I think what annoyed me a bit about the process of creating this post was that it became about the process - about striving - rather than just doing. Tannis commented that the words were unnecessary - I think she may be right. So... at some point I'm going to get out a big piece of paper and some yellow and see what happens next....
As a writer you felt compelled to write but maybe the concept can’t be conveyed in words, albeit yellow words. I think you were on the right track with the colour. How about a yellow blob radiating out - thinning to nothing? Or with a wavy border? Not a sun. Just a feeling.
I think you have hit the nail on the head... I do default to words, as if the colour/image itself can't convey enough.... Ok - I'm on it. "Not a sun. Just a feeling." Love that :)
Happiness is: An internal wellspring of joy and gratitude that sometimes manifests itself in dance, or ear-to-ear smiling, or champagne toasts, or sloppy kisses, or ecstatic yelps, or sometimes even in exuberant scrawls with a yellow crayon. Oh, also in happiness-focused substack posts.
Inner peace. I’ve been experiencing a lot of fear and grief-y feelings after my husband left for an unexpected work trip for several weeks. Being alone with a toddler in a new town/home is definitely rocking my sense of safety and security but I’m reminding myself of my inner reserve of strength and joy that is not dependent on outside circumstances. When the world doesn’t feel safe “out there” happiness is inner peace. 💗
This is so true - in theory. But, sometimes really, really hard to put into practice. I hope you are finding ways to settle in to your new community...
Happiness is gratitude for good moments, good friends, good views and colors— like yellow crayons!
As I remember it--and hope I'm not foggy--happiness is defined at a life's end ... Love what you're doing.
This, though, suggests an eternal striving for happiness (and then only having the pleasure of enjoying it by looking back...) rather than 'being' happy. Like, now.
It's so important to find our moments of bliss (clutching a yellow crayon, sitting by the river watching an elk emerge from the forest, dancing late at night at a Latin Festival... whatever it is that catches you by surprise and you realize that yes, this is it, this is happy) and treasure them.
I think what annoyed me a bit about the process of creating this post was that it became about the process - about striving - rather than just doing. Tannis commented that the words were unnecessary - I think she may be right. So... at some point I'm going to get out a big piece of paper and some yellow and see what happens next....
Out of curiosity, what colour is your happiness?
Pale blue though I recently painted some cherries in watercolor that came out better than expected. Will send a photo via email. xo
As a writer you felt compelled to write but maybe the concept can’t be conveyed in words, albeit yellow words. I think you were on the right track with the colour. How about a yellow blob radiating out - thinning to nothing? Or with a wavy border? Not a sun. Just a feeling.
I think you have hit the nail on the head... I do default to words, as if the colour/image itself can't convey enough.... Ok - I'm on it. "Not a sun. Just a feeling." Love that :)
Happiness is: An internal wellspring of joy and gratitude that sometimes manifests itself in dance, or ear-to-ear smiling, or champagne toasts, or sloppy kisses, or ecstatic yelps, or sometimes even in exuberant scrawls with a yellow crayon. Oh, also in happiness-focused substack posts.
Yes, yes, yes to all of this!!
I laughed at the bit where you didn’t even care enough to write the whole phrase.
Happiness for me is realizing how much I appreciate my experience of life. Figuring out how to be pleased with what is here, now.