Happy Thursday

I wish everyone the happiest of Thursdays and an even happier Friday to come! I send best wishes to everyone now and always!

A cure for seasickness

“A sure cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree.”- Spike Milligan

I saw this quote and thought that even though it is a bit silly, it still is technically sound advice. Anyway, I hope that wherever you are reading this, that you are not suffering from seasickness and I send you my very best wishes now and always.

Friends make all the difference

I saw this clip of a little boy in a karate class who felt he couldn't break a board with his foot like he was asked to do. However, with his friends cheering him on and after a few tries, the boy was able to break the board. After he does this his friends go wild cheering and hugging him and I couldn't help feeling good watching it. I wish everyone a very happy Tuesday.

Memorial Day

On holidays my instinct is to wish everyone a "Happy [insert name of holiday]" but it seems very wrong to wish people "Happy Memorial Day".  Perhaps though, the thing to be happy about today is that people are willing to protect each other, even if it means protecting people they don't know well. Sometimes I feel like if more people made it their business to protect and love each other there wouldn't be a need for fighting. As it stands, because it's Memorial Day I remember my Grandpa who fought in World War II. He survived the war and went on to help raise a family, start a business and died at an old age. He was a good man and I'm glad that he was my Grandpa. 

Joyful Joyful

It's the singer Lauryn Hill's birthday and to celebrate it I thought I'd share a song she sang that makes me feel happiest. It's actually from a movie called Sister Act II but there is such joy in it and I felt I had to share it today because it always makes me feel happy to watch it. I wish everyone the happiest of Sundays!

The luckiest

I heard this song called "The Luckiest" today by a singer called Ben Folds. I like it because it makes me think of all the blessings that life has shown me and continues to show me. I feel very fortunate that I have so many things in life for which I am thankful. I'm always grateful to have a lovely family and great friends. I also think that one of the best blessings to have is to be able to love and be loved.  I feel so lucky that I have so many people to love and that I've always been loved and that I can spread love in return.  To that end, I send love to everyone.

Beauty in the rain

It's the singer Bob Dylan's birthday and this made me think of a song he sang called "A Hard Rain's gonna fall." Although the song isn't all that positive, somehow it gives me peace to hear it because it symbolizes to me how music can help make difficult things seem better and more bearable.  To me, this shows even in difficulties, something positive can always be found.  Anyway, if you're reading this, I hope you had the happiest of Fridays and I wish you an even happier Saturday to come.

I'm glad to have glasses

Today in 1785 Benjamin Franklin announced that he had invented bifocals. This fact got me thinking about how great glasses are. I'm forever grateful to be able to see well and that I can read more because I have glasses. Plus, they are a nice fashion statement and they help me feel smarter. I find I've gotten so used to wearing glasses that sometimes even when I don't have them on I still feel like I'm wearing them. It's funny how they almost feel like a part of me. By increasing my sight they've improved my life and have helped me be more effective as a person. Even if you don't wear glasses,  I hope you have (and/or can find) many tools in your life that help you live life to the fullest!

A happy bear

I saw this clip of a bear who looked like he was dancing and just genuinely seemed happy and somehow it made my heart feel good to watch it. I figure sometimes even bears can feel so happy they have to jump around to show it! To all who read this, I wish you the happiest of days.

Happy Tuesday!

I just wanted to write and wish everyone a very happy Tuesday and even happier Wednesday to come! I send best wishes and much love  to everyone!

A public service announcement about boxing with a minion

If this Monday has been difficult and you now feel like letting of steam in a boxing match, I'd suggest avoiding fighting with a Minion, it seems (at least from this clip) that it would be an even more frustrating experience! If you've had a difficult day, know that each tomorrow brings the possibility of something better to come. I send you best wishes now and always

Singing that makes me want to stand up and cheer

I saw this clip of this woman rehearsing to sing in the movie and as you can see in the clip below, she got really into singing it and had such passion in her voice that it really made me want to stand up and cheer for her somehow. I just like seeing people get all enthusiastic about doing something they clearly love to do and that they find passion in the doing of it. Although the woman in this clip is clearly emotional, I felt like I could hear a lot of joy in her singing and it did my heart good to hear it. If there's something that you want to do and you're passionate about it, I hope you can always find the joy in doing it.

A great walk for Epilepsy

I just got back from the Epilepsy Foundation New England's Walk for Epilepsy which was really fun for me because  this year I was able to represent the organization I work for and provide information to people enrolled in Medicaid about how they could get assistance from us if they were having trouble getting services through Medicaid. To me, it always feels nice to be able to do things that can help people.  Plus, this event was especially nice as I was able to see my friends I met through the Epilepsy Foundation and listen to a DJ play fun music and I was really pleased that over 1,000 people came to the walk and helped raise money for programs that help people with epilepsy! All in all it was a really good day.

On a side note, if you live in Massachusetts and are on MassHealth and need assistance getting services please contact the My Ombudsman office at 855.781.9898.

Pilgrim

It's the singer Enya's birthday today and I like her music and especially a song she sings on one of her albums. The song is called "Pilgrim" and when I listen to it, it gives me a lot of peace. It also makes me think of people who have to travel far and how I like to travel. If you are reading this and traveling somewhere, I hope you get to your destination safely and if you're far away from your home, I hope that you have an equally safe journey home.

Funny joke for a Thursday

Just because I felt like it  I thought I'd share this joke that made me laugh. I with everyone a very happy Thursday and an even happier Friday to come.

An Englishman, Frenchman, Spaniard, and German are all trying to watch a street performer juggle knives. Unfortunately, it's such a busy day in the city, there are too many other people around to see clearly. Luckily, the juggler notices their plight and decides to climb onto a higher platform so the four men can see. As he balances a knife on his nose, he asks, "Can you see me now?" The four men reply one after the other, "Yes!" "Oui!" "Si!" "Ja!"

 Joke source: https://facty.com/network/answers/things/what-are-some-really-funny-jokes/3/

Patience

"Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy."- Saadi


Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/saadi_155337


In a way there's some comfort in the idea that things start out being difficult because dealing with difficulty shows me what I can get through because I have to get through things to move forward. Plus, when things get easier,  it feels especially good because I can know that everything that I had to do to get to things being easier was worth it. If you're reading this and you're struggling with something know that (at least it's my belief) things get better and trouble can make you stronger. I wish you the very best now and always.

Keep looking up!

Keep looking up! I learn from the past, dream about the future and look up. There's nothing like a beautiful sunset to end a healthy day. Rachel Boston
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/rachel_boston_584799?src=t_day

I hope that wherever you’re reading this, that you’re able to learn something new each day and because you may not be able to see the sunset today, I thought I’d share a picture of a sunset to brighten the close of your day.

Enjoy every moment!

“Life is short, and if we enjoy every moment of every day, then we will be happy no matter what happens or what changes along the way.” Gretchen Bleiler
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/gretchen_bleiler_904293?src=t_day

 To everyone who reads this: I hope that you had many moments to enjoy today and I wish you every happiness now and always!

My wonderful texting Mum!

As it's Mother's Day in the US I thought I'd share a fun story about my Mum. She really is lovely and very funny.  One thing I really like that she does now is text me. Although I love talking to her and seeing her, getting little messages now and then is rather nice because they're usually funny and very comforting. Plus, it's something I can keep with me and that's a great gift.  I wish all mothers a very happy day.

Always

The American composer and lyricist Irving Berlin was born today in 1888 and one of the songs he composed that I really like is called "Always" and it's about how someone is telling someone else they'll love them always.  I like the song particularly because to me, love is something that is "always". It's the beginning, the end and the middle of all things (at least to me.) If I could do one thing for everyone I'd give everyone a life with a lot of love in it. However, things being the way they are now, I'll settle for simply wishing everyone much love now and always.

Happy Friday

I wish everyone the happiest of Fridays and an even happier Saturday to come!

Happy Thursday!

I wish everyone the happiest of Thursdays and I send everyone much love now and always.

5 things I found joy in today

Today at work we watched a webinar about self-care and in the webinar the speaker mentioned how writing down 5 things about each day that gave you joy can be really helpful. So in that spirit, here are 5 things that gave me joy today:

1. I got to chat and laugh with a co-worker which always makes me feel good.
2. I had a nice lunch that I had cooked last night of chicken, rice and vegetables that tasted good.
3. I have rehearsal with the acapella group I’m part of which is always fun.
4. The sun is shining and it’s warm out and I was able to enjoy some time outside.
5. I was able to listen to some nice music on my way to work which made me feel happy!

I wish everyone the happiest of Wednesdays!

The best is yet to be

“Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.”- Robert Browning

I like the idea that the best things are yet to be. Although I do like living in the moment and finding the good things in the moment, I think it’s nice to have the hope that there can be better things coming in the future. In that sense, there’s always something to hope for. In that spirit, I wish everyone the very best now and always.

Happy National Nurses Week

“It would not be possible to praises nurses too highly.”-Stephen Ambrose
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/stephen_ambrose_347543


Since it’s National Nurses week in the US, I want to take this opportunity to send appreciation to all nurses. Due to various hospitalizations, I’ve been cared for by many nurses and they’ve always been really good natured and like they do for so many people, they helped me to feel better. So I say thank you to all nurses and I wish you all the very best!

A restful Sunday

"Well, there's nothing better than putting your feet up on a Sunday afternoon and grabbing a good book."-Chris Klein
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/chris_klein_491187?src=t_sunday

I like the idea of Sunday being the day of rest. I figure everyone needs a good rest day where they do whatever it is they want to do to relax. For me that does in fact involve reading a good book. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you have a very happy and restful Sunday.

What really happens to lost luggage

“The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage.”-Mark Russell

This quote made me laugh. Although I hope that if you’re reading this that you never lose your luggage, at least now you might have some idea where it went!

 I wish everyone a very happy Saturday.

Reading as exercise

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."-Joseph Addison
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/joseph_addison_104348

I love reading  and as this quote indicates, I find that my brain feels more exercised when I'm reading. I especially enjoy mystery stories and particularly ones by Agatha Christie. Right now I'm reading a book called "The Mirror Cracked From Side to Side." It's a murder mystery and I rather enjoy trying to figure out who did it! I wish everyone the happiest of Fridays!

Act now! Don't delay

"Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act that now, without delay."

When I first saw this quote I thought it sounded like one of those TV commercials selling stuff late at night but when I think more about it, I like the idea of acting now and not delaying. One thing I did to change my life a little today is taking more vitamins. I realize that's not exactly earth shattering but it's one move forward in helping me live better.  Anyway, if there's something that you want to do that can change your life, I hope you do it and don't delay.

Birds take selfies too

I saw the story today about a bird who decided he wanted to take a selfie using a traffic camera. The story made me smile so I thought I’d share the video here. Happy Wednesday everyone!