Happiness is catching!

[Celebration]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x48476

interesting post in health

:)

[Kind of Blue]

1. Hi, Itsjustme!

Heard it on the news this morning and it just, well, made me happy just listening. In a strange way, I thought back to one of my classmates in high school. Being my slap happy self, out of nowhere she says to me, "You're always so fucking happy." Oh, my goodness, I hope wherever she is that this news reaches her. Better yet, I hope she really got some happiness along the way. As a matter of fact, I'm gonna send her some right now. Thanks for posting :)

[Celebration]

2. I love the laughing Buddha

Laughter is so healing. I loved the class clown types in school, even though sometimes the teachers didn't. They made sitting there all day bearable. I also liked "witty." I tried so hard to be witty, instead of just smart. My timing was just a little off, LOL.

For funny movies, I like the Christopher Guest ones-- eg, Waiting for Guffman.

Once at an informal talent show at work, I did a standup routine, and just had a ball. Maybe that is my next life.

Of course, true happiness isn't really about laughter. It's an outlook and way of being. A good start is getting chakras flowing without blockages. And that is why "happiness runs in a circular motion."

[Kind of Blue]

3. "...true happiness isn't really about laughter. It's an outlook and way of being."

I so agree with that. One August over 10years ago, we had a fire in our house and a day later had to go back and gather what we could. It was so sad with everything just laid out all around outside and then it started to rain. There was no spring rains and the summer months were sweltering. It was just unbelievable that on the day we started to piece our lives back together, the rain came down in buckets. It was so ridiculous that we burst out laughing and started singing. We laughed so hard people driving or walking thought we were crazy. From utter sadness to joy, I think the Universe was telling us to snap out of it. We started to count our blessing and were gladdened by what survived the blaze and not what we'd lost. Yeah, laughter sometimes has a way of putting things in perspective.

BTW, I love the Laughing Buddha (or Happy Hotei as my husband calls him). Got 2, one with a bunch of kids all over him and another with his arms thrown up in glee. :)

[silverweb]

6. Counting blessings is a great sanity saver.

Years ago, when my life seemed composed of unbearable stress from one end of the day to the next, I started listing things. I'd make two columns on a sheet of paper (this was before personal computers!). I'd list the things that upset me on one side and things to be grateful/happy for on the other side.

Before too long, it became apparent that no matter how stressed or upset I was feeling, the "good" side was always much longer than the "bad" side. That was when I really started learning how to cope. There's a great deal to be said for an "attitude of gratitude."

[Celebration]

9. Equanimity

That's what you must have. I could use a lot more of it.........

"evenness of mind under stress. equanimity suggests a habit of mind that is only rarely disturbed under great strain <accepted her troubles with equanimity>. composure implies the controlling of emotional or mental agitation by an effort of will or as a matter of habit <maintaining his composure even under hostile questioning>. sangfroid implies great coolness and steadiness under strain <handled the situation with professional sangfroid>."

My husband talked me into driving downtown with him to his office today. As it turned out, there was a marathon, and getting downtown was a real challenge. It was kind of funny to me, because every which way we turned there was another cop car redirecting us. This was 26 miles of winding around every midtown and downtown street, and all were blocked. My husband was unamused, and finally his demeanor started to get to me. I told him to stop complaining long enough for me to strengthen my aura. Finally I told him that his complaining loudly would not get us downtown any faster. Anyway, I really had to energtically brace myself so that his mood wouldn't rub off on me. He is generally a bit calmer but he felt some time pressure I guess.

[MorningGlow]

4. Several years ago

I kept a scrapbook of all the scientific "discoveries" that reinforced what we've known all along. My covenmates used to call it the "Duh! Book. I'm not sure where it is now, but this story would definitely qualify for inclusion! :D

[silverweb]

5. Oh, I'd love to see that scrapbook!

I've had the same "duh!" reaction to so many "news" stories over the years, but never thought of collecting them.

What a great idea -- and what a great name, the "Duh! Book" -- LOL.

When you find it, maybe you'll share some of the "discoveries" and stories in it?

[MorningGlow]

7. I'd be happy to!

After I posted, I was thinking about it, and I have an idea of where it is (our guest room/magic room/catchall...which could be good...could be bad, considering the clutter! :rofl:). I also recall that I started it so long ago that most of the early items were cut out of the newspaper instead of printed off the Web!

[silverweb]

8. Wonderful.

If you want a new project(?), maybe think about transferring it to your own website or blog. I don't think I've ever seen or heard of one with the kind of content you describe in the Duh! Book.

It would be a new phenomenon -- and clutter free and dust free! :D

[MorningGlow]

11. Good idea!

I have a Web site and a blog--and I've had the blog for a little over a year and never did anything with it. Hmmm...!

[silverweb]

10. OMG, my new favorite song!

Someone in the original thread posted in the Health forum tossed out a few lines from an old Donovan song.

It sounded vaguely familiar, so I went looking for it and it fits perfectly with the original article, and I LOVE that it's sung as a round.

So many of Donovan's old songs are coming back to me now and I'm loving the trip down memory lane -- especially now that with President-Elect Obama there's new hope and optimism for us and for the world, and so many of those old happy-hippy-dippy songs I loved have renewed meaning.

So here's my new most favoritest song! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cGWTAe3M6U

Happiness Runs

Little pebble upon the sand
Now you're lying here in my hand,
How many years have you been here ?

Little human upon the sand
From where I'm lying here in your hand,
You to me are but a passing breeze.

The sun will always shine where you stand
Depending in which land
You may find yourself.
Now you have my blessing, go your way.

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.
Everybody is a part of everything anyway,
You can have everything if you let yourself be.

Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.
Everybody is a part of everything anyway,
You can have everything if you let yourself be.

Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.
Everybody is a part of everything anyway,
You can have everything if you let yourself be.

Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.
Happiness runs, happiness runs.

Why ? Because.
Why ? Because.
Why ? Because.
Why ? Because.

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.
Everybody is a part of everything anyway,
You can have everything if you let yourself be.

You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.
You can have everything if you let yourself be.

[Celebration]

12. agreed, an awesome song

Funny thing-- I had never heard it before my daughter started singing it, from Episcopalian church camp.

[silverweb]

13. It would be a great camp song.

I loved "campfire songs" when I was a kid, especially the ones sung in rounds, and this is definitely a great "feel good" song.

I've started a list of other "happy-dippy-hippy" tunes to get my days started right. Next up, Simon & Garfunkel's _59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)_!