Happy birthday to my brother

It's my brother's birthday and it made me think of how much we both really like the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  For whatever reasons, our favorite part for the longest time was this part where these knights start yelling NEEE to annoy people. I guess because we thought it was funny, my brother and I would go around the house yelling Nee to each other for a while. We still answer the phone to each other like that sometimes. The only reason I still like doing it because I think it's nice that people can laugh and be silly together, even as adults. I hope everyone has someone to be silly with, whether it's a family member or someone else. Anyway, I wish my brother (and everyone else who was born today) a very happy birthday!

Believing the best of people

"I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble."-Rudyard Kipling
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rudyardkip161758.html


I like to find something good in everyone. What I like best about people is that everyone has good qualities and finding out about the good things about people increases my faith in humanity and in the good things that people can do. When I sometimes feel down about the state of the world, I think of these good things that people do on  a fairly regular basis (like smiling or holding doors for others or just generally being nice) and thinking of all that gives me hope for the future. As long as people can (and do) keep on doing good things for themselves and other people, the future looks better to me. In that sense, I think we have a lot to be hopeful for.

Some potential New Year's resolutions!

I saw the video below today and as it's almost þhe New Year, I feel it is appropriate for posting here now. I thoughthought it might be helpful for thinking up resolutionsome early, just for the fun of it!

Happy Wednesday!

Congratualtions! We"re halfway through the week!  I hope you had a happy Wednesday and I wish you an even happier Thursday!

Love keeps the cold out

"Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrywadsw164714.html

As the weather is cold where I am, this quote seemed appropriate! Wherever you are now, I hope you're with people you love.

Home is the nicest Place to be for me

"Home is the nicest word there is."- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/lauraingal320585.html

I very much enjoy being home and with my family, especially during the holidays! It really is the nicest place to be for me. No matter what happens, I know I can  always find my way home, to a place where I belong and that is always a comforting thought for me.  That idea makes me hope that wherever people are, that they can always find a way back home, too. It's one of the best places to be!

Happy Holidays!

To all who celebrate, I wish you all a very happy Christmas or Hanukkah! I also wish you and your family great joy now and always!

Best things about Christmas!

For me, the best things about Christmas are:

• Christmas crackers! (Christmas crackers are small tube shaped packages that when two people pull apart, out comes usually 2 paper hats, a silly joke and small toys.). My family usually uses them at Christmas dinner.
• Carols! Christmas is one of the few times when it's socially acceptable to sing in public! Plus, I've always liked carols.
•  The Queen of England's speech!- Every year the Queen (of King) of England gives a speech on Christmas and because my Mum is British we always listen to it.
• Christmas cards! -They're colorful and fun and at the very least it's nice to get something in the mail that expresses love and isn't a bill!
• Christmas trees- I very much enjoy decorating them
• The fact that I get to spend more time with my family!-This is the best thing about Christmas because I love them!

Funny Christmas Joke

As it's almost Christmas and I feel like it's a time to laugh and be happy, I thought I'd share this joke:

• Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs. 
  "I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE... 
  I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE... 
  I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE..." 
  His older brother leaned over and nudged the younger brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Gramma is!"

( joke source: http://www.coolest-holiday-parties.com/funny-christmas-jokes.html)

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope this time of year brings you much happiness (and the presents you want!) 

Happy Thursday!

I hope that everyone had a very happy Thursday and I wish everyone and even happier Friday! Don't forget to smile today!

First snow

As it's the first day of winter, it got me thinking about how the first snow of the winter season always gets me feeling good. I guess it comes from growing up in Michigan which always gets snow in winter. As much as I do get tired of cold weather rather quickly, I don't think I'd feel right living someplace where there wasn't any difference in seasons (in terms of weather). Anyway, I always like the first snow because it's so white and so clean looking and it just feels special. So, when I saw this video with little kids (and some animals) reacting to snow, it really made my heart feel good. I also thought it was kind of funny that the video was sponsored by a cruise ship company. I guess the logic is that people will want to go on a cruise after watching the video to avoid any snow. Even if I'll end up complaining about the cold and snow come mid January, I still wouldn't have winter any other way but snowy!

Cute bloopers

Sometimes when I just feel I need to laugh at something, I watch bloopers (videos of errors that actors in movies or TV shows have made while filming their shows or movies.) Anyway, today I came across one video that I thought was really nice, mainly because it involves a really sweet infant and it made me laugh. Happy Tuesday everyone!

On La VIe En Rose and spreading joy in any circumstance

The singer Edith Piaf was born today in 1915. This got me thinking about this woman who sang one of Piaf's signature songs called La Vie En Rose on a talent show. The woman, named
Rachael Leahcar, is legally blind and one of the judges on the show said something very interesting to her. He said that she didn't really need to see, that everyone felt something from her music and that she had a huge impact on people. It got me thinking about how there's so much people can do and so much happiness they can spread regardless of the circumstances or difficulties they might face. That's the beauty of joy!

To watch the audition click here.

Education is sweet

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."-Aristotle

Education is something that should be guaranteed for everyone. Even if it was difficult at times, having a good education has made all the difference to my life. I feel like I use the education I have to  do more and help more people. In that way, the good in being educated can spread a bit farther. The more educated people are the more good can be spread and that's why I love education. The things I'm proudest of learning are: reading, writing, and how to sing!

Love Train

I heard this song today called "Love Train" and it got me thinking about how cool it would be if people all over the world really joined hands and danced. I don't know if it could be possible at all, but it would be so cool. I just think dancing unites people in so many ways, plus it's fun. If I could get people to dance simultaneously in different countries all over the world, I think it would be really fun. Even if that never happens, I hope that you dance sometimes, just because it's fun!

Love is Christmas

I heard this beautiful song called "Love is Christmas" by Sara Bareilles today and it really touched my heart. I really like the lyrics that she sings:



"I don’t care if the house is packed
Or the strings of light are broken
I don’t care if the gifts are wrapped
Or there’s nothing here to open
Love is not a toy, and no paper will conceal it
Love is simply joy that I’m home
I don’t care if the carpet's stained we've got food upon our table
I don’t care if it’s gonna rain, our little room is warm and stable
Love is who we are, and no season can contain it
Love would never fall for that
Let love lead us, love is Christmas
Why so scared that you’ll mess it up? When perfection keeps you haunted
All we need is your best my love, that’s all anyone ever wanted
Love is how we do, let no judgment overrule it
Love I look to you, and I sing"

The song really is beautiful and it reminds me of how all that really matters to me during holidays is that I'm with my family, the people I love most. They bring me great joy. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, dear reader, I hope you find things in your life that bring you much joy as well. 

Things I know to be true

For me there's something therapeutic about writing down the good things that you know to be true about yourself. It helps put things in perspective. There's always things to improve on but sometimes it's nice to think of the things that one does well and be proud of that. I know that I'm proud of my smile, my voice, my hugs and my writing. Sometimes it helps to think of these things as it motivates me to work  harder on other things that aren't really my strong points. The gifts I have are things that I can now use to give more to others.The thing I'm most proud of is the love I have for people, Among other things, I continue to work on giving more love out, because it's one of the most rewarding things I have to give and it feels so good to give it!

Favorite Christmas Carol

I love Christmas carols and one of my favorites is the Christmas Song as sung by Nat King Cole. I like it because somehow reminds me of home, possibly because it's a fairly jazzy song and my parents always like listening to jazz music. Although when I'm away from my family and I hear that song it does make me feel homesick but I still like it because it reminds me of them. In that way it makes me feel closer to them and for me,  if ever there's a time to be/feel closer to family, it's during holidays. Even thought it's early I hope everyone has very happy holidays and that during this time you're with people you love.

Joy happens

"Joy happens to us when when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."-Marianne Williamson

I find that as long as I can think of the good things in my life each day, then each day can be a good day. Every good thing that happens to me does give me joy, whether it's that I had good food to eat today or a wore a nice outfit today or that someone held the door for me or I was able to give someone a hug. I think one of the things that gives me the most joy is giving and/or receiving a hug. I know I've written about this before but I can't express how much I feel that for the few seconds I give/receive a hug I feel like nothing bad can happen and I've never yet been proven wrong. Hugs show me how good things really are in my life because they are yet another symbol of how I can love and how I am loved and that is really a cause for joy. My hope is that everyone can find a little bit of joy in each day. In that spirit, the clip below always makes me smile and I hope it has the same effect on others.

It just takes a smile

"It only takes a smile to make a day better."-Paulo Coelho

Smiles are really wonderful things. I always feel better when I smile. I hope that wherever you are and whatever is going on in your life, that you had a reason to smile at least once today. If not, then I hope tomorrow you will look for and find reasons to smile. It makes life better!

To be Inspired

"What inspires me? I am so inspired every day. I am inspired by thinkers. I am inspired by rebellion. I am inspired by children. I have been inspired by love."- Nikki Sixx
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nikki_sixx.html

It's interesting to me what people think of as inspiring. I know that I do what I can to put some love in the things that I do that I consider to be good. I hope maybe one day people will be inspired by me. I continue to work to be someone people can look up to. If I can be someone that people can see something positive in and something that they want to be like, then I know that the things I've done in life have been worth it. Love really is the ultimate inspirational thing in my life.

To be trusted

"To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved."-George MacDonald
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_macdonald.html

As much as it's really nice to be loved, I'm ever so glad I am surrounded by people I know that I can trust. I'm glad I can trust people to support me and also to call me out when I'm making mistakes.To me there is some love in trust and that's why  I hope that everyone has people they trust. 

Be in a state of joy!

"Remember that your natural state is joy."-Wayne Dyer


My friend Kimberley gave me this lovely box with little cards that have quotes that are happy on them. It really made me smile because although I write something happy in this blog every day, it's nice to have something small that's happy that I can carry around with me. There's something very comforting about it. I hope that wherever you go, you can carry something happy with you, whether, it's a card, a picture or an idea. Just because life should have a lot of joy in it! Happy Friday everyone!

Happy Thursday

I wish everyone a happy Thursday!!! Tomorrow is Friday!!! Hooray!! I hope everyone has a lovely day tomorrow and a really nice weekend!

I love karaoke

Tonight I went with some friends and sang karaoke which is something I haven't done in front of so many people. Before this I'd only done that with some friends at their house. It felt really good to sing in front of people, even if I did feel nervous. It made a difference knowing that I was among friends, I felt brave with them near me. Plus, my friends are really wonderful singers and what I especially liked was people listening to the karaoke got up and danced when people were singing. It was a lot of fun. I hope that if singing is something you enjoy, that you sing when you feel like it!

Happy Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone! You're one day closer to Friday! Keep smiling, keep laughing, keep loving and keep carrying on!

Tutti Frutti

It is the singer Little Richard's birthday today and I must say I really like this song he sings called Tutti Frutti. It always makes me want to dance and I just feel happy when I hear it. I'm really glad that there's music out there that really brings joy to people's lives. I think it's one of the many reasons I love music so much. Anyway, happy Monday everyone!

Lights in stormy nights

"The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights." Giotto di Bondone
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

If I could give everyone one thing I'd give them a friend. I don't know where I'd be without my friends, they've helped me when I was in hospital, they've been there on birthdays, on holidays, trips and any other important time in my life. I can't really thank them for all they've done except to tell them that I love them very much and  do all I can do be there for them if/when needed. I also intend to do right by other people so that they might feel that same sense of peace and happiness that my friends have given me. To honor my friends I want to do right by others and so because they've given light to my life, that light can spread and get through whatever storms may come. 

It feels so great to sing!

I just got back from singing at a holiday concert with Polymnia Choral Society and it was really lovely because we sang holiday music which I very much enjoy.  It's so nice to sing with people because it makes a song sound so much better. I just know that when I sing my whole self feels better. I like holiday concerts the most because everyone just seems extra happy to watch them. In any case, it was super fun and we have a matinee performance tomorrow that I'm very much looking forward too. Happy holidays everyone!

Happy International Sweater Vestival!

Today is International Sweater Vestival Day! I love sweaters. I just think it's nice to have something warm to wear that looks nice and just plain feels good! So today although I don't have a vest, I did wear a sweater, which I might add is nice and warm and fuzzy! 3 cheers for sweaters! To read more about the International Sweater Vestival click here.

Come rain or come shine

It's the singer Bette Midler's birthday and she sang this lovely song called "Come Rain or Come Shine." Although it's a romantic song by nature, to me it's all about how love should be. Love to me is "no matter what." That's how I want to continue to love people, without reservation or judgement, just love people. That's how I want to go through life. Come rain or come shine, I will love people now and always.