Living well

"Living well is the best revenge"-George Herbert

I really believe that living well is something that really has nothing to do with wealth and everything to do with happiness. I know that I live well, not just because I have my basic needs met but also because I've managed to find something happy about every day. I think living well is finding joy in every day things. I may go through difficult things but as long as I can find something happy about it, I consider myself to be living well. For this reason, I'm all about the happy, no matter what happens to me! 

If I could change one thing about the world

The singer Eric Clapton was born today in 1945 and he sang a song called "Change the World." It got me thinking about what I'd do if I could change one thing about the world. I think if I could change something I'd give more hugs to people. It's one of the things I'm proud that I do well. Anyway, here's to hugs and changing the world.

 

A meal is best shared!

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." Virginia Woolf
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/virginiawo107352.html

This quote got me thinking about how nice eating a good meal is. My family always made it  a thing to eat dinner together every night and we stuck to that tradition even if it meant we ate later at night in some cases. Anyway, I think one of the best meals I've had was this Chinese Peking Duck dinner my family had one New Year's Eve. We'd gone on vacation to Vancouver and this Peking Duck was really good, so good I can't describe it adequately in words. Afterwards we still had a lot of food left. (I don't know what it is, but dinners at Chinese restaurants always seem to come with enough food to feed a small platoon.) So we took the rest back to the hotel and on the way we saw a homeless man and we decided to leave the package of food with him instead.  I think food is best when it's shared! Happy eating everyone! 

Wise quote for today

"To succeed in life, you need three things: a wish bone, a back bone, and a funny bone."-Reba McEntire

I like this quote because I think life is better when you wish for things. I've always felt that it's lovely to have something to hope for. I think hope makes us stronger and helps give us a strong backbone. Plus, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't laugh at least once every day. I figures as long as I have hope, laughter, and strength in my life, then things are going pretty well.

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rebamcenti457608.html

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rebamcenti457608.html

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rebamcenti457608.html

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/reba_mcentire.html

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/reba_mcentire.html

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/reba_mcentire.html

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/reba_mcentire.html

Something I found comforting when I wasn't feeling the greatest

I'm a big fan of gospel music and so when I was feeling under the weather recently I couldn't help thinking of this song called "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" sung by Lauryn Hill. I just like the lyrics and it helped me feel really encouraged and comforted. Regardless of my beliefs in a higher power, I like the song because it reminds me of how I am loved and how much people who love me watch over me and how much I love people. It also helps me focus on how much I want to get better so I can help people.  All I know is that when I sing I think of the people I love and with them and God in mind I can't help but sing and be happy!

A quick note for Saturday!

I want to wish everyone the happiest of Saturdays! I send my love to all!

Elton John song for Friday-because it's fun!

As Fridays are days for celebrating and because it's the singer Sir Elton John's birthday I thought I'd share one of his songs that is my favorite. It's called Benny and the Jetts. I just think it's fun! Happy Friday everyone!

Hooray for Quincy Jones

A while back I posted about a man named Quincy Jones who's dying wish is to have a comedy program on HBO. I found out today he's going to get his wish! I'm inspired by him because he keeps helping people laugh despite his personal health struggles. I can't wait to watch it! For more information see the clip below.

Why I love my friends

"Love is being stupid together."- Paul Valery
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

My friends and I have had a lot of fun together and I think part of the great thing about having friends is that even being slightly wacky is more fun with them around. It doesn't matter if it's something little like establishing inside jokes that are only understandable to me and my friends, or giving hugs to random strangers for the joy of it, or walking around a parking lot looking for a movie theater that is in fact right in front of us but we're too busy talking to notice. I love my friends so much because we can have fun and share things like that. If I could wish something for everyone I'd wish that everyone had at least one really close friend. They're the best thing to have-even if it's just for the sake of having someone to do something stupid with! To end, let me say that I love my frieda ever so much!

Things that make me happy while being sick in bed

I'm all about trying to find happiness in every circumstance including when I'm under the weather. So here are some things I'm happy about even when I'm not feeling great physically.

• I have a comfy bed to sleep in.
• I can watch a disaster movie and be glad I'm not on sinking ships or experiencing horrid national disasters.
• I can make myself beans on toast. (I realize I can make beans on toast whenever I want but there's something especially nice about it when I feel sick.)
• I can do a bit more sleeping than usual. 
• I can be happy that I'll feel better soon!

Don't worry be joyful!

"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy."-Leo Buscaglia
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl108583.html

My hope for everyone is that everyone can find something in their lives that is happy each day. So today's dose of happiness is this song:

Water cooler topics

I heard something today about water coolers being places where people in offices apparently socialize.  I have to admit, I have actually held a conversation by a water cooler at a place where I worked.  I guess there's something about food or drinks that helps people socialize. Anyway, in thinking about that, it got me thinking about fun topics to talk about by a water cooler. So if you're ever stuck by a water cooler with someone else, you could talk about:

• What was the last thing you Googled and why?
• What was the last thing you posted on social media?
• Your favorite halloween costume as a kid?
• If you could get a letter from someone famous who would you like to write to you?
• If you could go to dinner with someone famous who would you go to dinner with?
• What was the last movie you saw that made you laugh really hard? (It doesn't have to be recent-it can be from any point in your life.)
• What's your favorite board/party/card game? (it can be from when you were a kid.)
• If you could fly somewhere tomorrow, where would you go?
• What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?
• Why the heck are we talking by a water cooler? Want to meet up somewhere else more interesting later?

I can't help but love libraries especially human ones!

I love reading and so libraries are fun places for me to be. Naturally, when I read about a project where a nonprofit arranged for people with different experiences to be able to interview each other as part of a "human library" project, I liked the idea immediately. It was created to help people learn about each other in the hope of stopping stereotyping people. If you go to this website: http://humanlibrary.org you can learn about people involved. The library started in Copenhagen where people gathered to meet people with different backgrounds. I really liked the idea because to me there's nothing like a good book and or an interesting person to talk to!

If I get to be 107 I want to be like her

I heard about this woman that turned 107 recently and I had to share her story. Her name is Virginia McLaurin and she also recently visited the White House and danced with President Obama. She regularly volunteers 40 hours a week at United Planning Organization’s Foster Grandparent Program and is an advocate for the Latino Economic Development Center. This year she got to realize her dream of going to the White House and she was also able to meet the Harlem Globetrotters. I want to be old and dancing like her one day. As long as I can still dance and have fun (even if it's just in my head,) I don't think I'll mind getting older one bit!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Maggie and the Irish Dancing Minion

It's St. Patrick's day and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than watching an Irish dancer dressed as a Minion!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Live longer: laugh more!

"It'll keep you alive for another 10 years if you get yourself a laugh once a day: either provoke it, or look around in the wildest laboratory in the world, the public." Jerry Lewis
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jerry_lewis.html

People always seem to be going on about the secret to a long life well I figure laughter just as good a way to prolong life as anything else.  I saw this clip below about a man who was given a year to live and he still does stand up comedy. He's literally taken the laughter is the best medicine idea to heart and I can't help but love him for it. He wants to have his own 1 hour comedy special and I believe he'll do it one day. He's too funny not to do it!

Happy birthday to my sister

My sister is the best because she:

• Is someone to perform impromptu dance performances for our parents just for fun. (We got really into it to, practicing and everything.)!
• Makes great desserts!
• Has awesome fashion sense!
• Gives good advice in times of need!
• Has great taste in books and music!
• Is my sister and I love her!

Be like a duck

Funny quote for the day: (courtesy of the actor Michael Caine because he was born today.)

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/michaelcai140815.html

 "Be like a duck. Calm on the surface but always paddling like the dickens underneath."

When in doubt just keep swimming everyone!

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/michaelcai140815.html

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/michaelcai140815.html

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/michaelcai140815.html

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/michael_caine.html

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/michael_caine.html

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. Michael Caine
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/michael_caine.html

A great concert

Yesterday I sang in a chorus concert about Anne Frank's life. When I first started rehearsing it with the choir I thought it was depressing. However, last night somehow I did feel uplifted. In some ways I think Anne's diary is uplifting because despite all the people trying to stamp her out, she still survives in that diary and I think that's a powerful thing. Plus, I like the songs we sang. It wasn't an easy thing to sing about but it showed me how even difficult things can be really beautiful and good to do.

Why I like to have a "do whatever" day

I feel like having a "do whatever" day is rather therapeutic.   I can't seem to stay in bed all day (because I'd feel bad about it somehow).  However, I feel like "do whatever days" are days when you don't have any responsibilities and feel no obligation to do anything else but what you specifically want to do. Maybe it's my version of a day of rest or something but in any case I hope everyone gets a day at least once a week to just do what you want.  If only because it feels pretty damn good!

Come watch Polymnia Choral Society Sing on Saturday

I love singing which is why I joined Polymnia Choral Society in Melrose, MA which is having a concert today (3/11) at 7:30PM. The concert is to celebrate the life of Anne Frank. It's interesting because although I read Anne Frank's diary in school I never stopped and thought about what she might think if she were alive and knew that people were reading her diary. I know that at some point she was quoted saying she wanted to go on living long after she had died. I think that the most uplifting thing about Anne Frank was that she did live on. Heck, people still sing songs about her, as I will do tomorrow. She shows the pen is mightier than the sword and to me, that's definitely worth singing about!

If you want to come to the concert you can buy tickets online at: http://www.polymnia.org or at the door. The concert starts at 7:30.

Happy quote for the day

"A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose." Tom Wilson 

Read more at: http://mobile.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/tomwilson382040.html

I saw this quote and had to share it because it made me feel good inside. Keep smiling everybody!

Love is love and love is the best thing there is

I saw this beautiful video today and it made me feel so happy I had to share it. It shows how love has many forms and that everyone can love and should be loved. That's all there is to it!

Thought for the day

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."- William James
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamjam385478.html

So today, I hope you think of some nice things (even if it's just you ate a nice meal today or that you like the outfit you're wearing.) Most of all I hope that you feel less stress!

Happy phone calls/messages

Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone today in 1876. It got me thinking about happy phone calls and messages I've gotten or made over the years. Here are a few:

• One year my parents called me up on my birthday and deliberately left me the funniest birthday message of them singing the "Happy Birthday" song to me. It was so funny and I kept it on my phone for ages.
• When my cousin and other friends call me to tell me they've got engaged.  Those really are the happiest phone calls because they've allowed me to share in their joy and it really is a lovely feeling in every sense. I do a literal happy dance when I hear such news.
• When I found out my brother and sister got into the colleges they wanted to go to they called me. Education is the best thing to have and the fact that they were going off to study what they wanted to study an be where they wanted to be was a source of joy for me.
•  When I call friends out of the blue, just because I can, I like hearing how happy they are and hearing about how things are going. They all make me smile.
• When I called my parents to tell them I got the job I've always wanted, they said they were proud of me. It's not like they haven't said so before, but it's always nice to hear them say that. I've always wanted to make them proud because I'm proud to be their daughter.

These phone calls/messages make me happy that Mr. Graham Bell made the telephone. If only because he made a machine that can spread joy far and wide.

If I could go into space

So, I'm very proud of my Mum because she's in a study at Michigan State University doing exercises that someday perhaps astronauts in space will do as well. (They're testing out what would be most effective for astronauts to do to keep them fit and healthy.) Why am I writing about this now? I'm writing about it because the first woman to go into space,  Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was born today in 1937. It got me thinking about what I'd like to do if I could go into space:

• I'd like to be able to be weightless. (I realize I can feel that way in a pool or if I want to get all heigh tech-and get the resources to do it, I could go in one of those planes that simulate 0 gravity. However, being weightless in space seems so much cooler.)
• I think seeing the earth from up there must be really beautiful.
• I want to know what it's like to eat in space.
• I think it would be cool to exercise in space-if only because hopefully one day they'll do exercises my Mom tested out first. (I really believe my Mum knows best-at least in some things!) 
• I'd like to walk on the moon-if only to stick a flag in it with a Minion on it and because it looks fun!

The Rain in Spain

Maybe the rain in Spain doesn't mainly fall on any planes, but I can't help but like the song "The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly On The Plane). I like it because to me it's all about not giving up.  Plus, I like the movie/play it comes from called "My Fair Lady" mostly because I always like singing and dancing. (Everything's better with a song and dance.)  Anyway, even if you never sing or dance I hope you never give up on the good things you want to do  in life.  When in doubt, try again!

Fortune cookie wisdom for a Friday

I bought yummy Chinese food for lunch today and got this message in my fortune cookie that I thought was profound. Thus, I had to share it here. Happy Friday everyone!

Everyone is able

"We all have ability. The difference is how we use it." Charlotte Whitton
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

I think what I love most about humanity is that everyone has the potential to do so many good things. If you're reading this I hope that you do at least one good thing every day. Even if it's just something good for yourself like treating yourself to something nice like a haircut or a nice dinner. Whatever you decide to do, I believe in you and your ability to do something good!

Hooray for Daniel Craig

As it is the actor Daniel Craig's birthday, it got me thinking of this clip I saw of how he made a little kid's day by visiting him dressed as James Bond. I like hearing about celebrities that use their fame to do something nice for someone else. I realize everyone can do something random to be nice, but stardom makes it seem more special somehow.  Anyway, to see how James Bond can make a kid feel really happy, watch the clip below.

The best part of the Oscars

So, here is all I have to say about the Oscars being last Sunday, yeah, the outfits might have been pretty good, the speeches slightly entertaining, but what made it all so much better for me is that this year's Oscars included MINIONS! (See below.) I wish they'd host every year, just because.