For a while now, my friend Lacy and I have been chatting on the topic of “happiness”. What is it? Where does it come from? How do we get more of it? What makes us really happy? What makes one person a “happy person” and another not? The questions are endless, but the research, it turns out, is fun! We have in no way become experts, but have learned one thing: Happiness is, among other things, a practice. So like anything else we want to do better, we must make it a habit.
Lacy has been 'practicing' for a long time now, and I feel she has a lot to share on the topic. So when I decided to start this blog, I asked her if she would do regular guest-posts to talk about it. I plan to make a habit of reading them. xoxo, Leigh
Hi All! I know it’s the exact wrong time of year to be bad seeing as Santa is making his list and checking it twice but I’ve been playing with the idea anyway. I love the freedom in it. That rush you feel when you know you should be doing something responsible like chores or sitting in a conference call but instead you curl up on the couch, glass of wine (or hot cocoa or hot tea…) in hand and dark chocolate on the most beautiful teensy tiny little plate just winking at you from afar and you watch or read something that will perfectly suit your mood.
The idea of creating space for yourself that would have otherwise been consumed by dutiful work is paramount for happiness in my mind. There’s plenty of time for rushing around, stressing out and giving to everyone else. What’s a stolen hour here and there to invest in nurturing the most important thing going… Y O U!
It challenges the idea of rules. Being bad is actually not bad at all… it’s brand new perspective to re write the rules so you can take care of yourself. I’ve found that I was the one self-imposing rules all along and I get just as much done in a day when I take time out for myself. Time for self, breeds productivity and that is doubly happy in my mind.
Go ahead, be bad!
Santa is sure to celebrate when he sees that you've left out some cupcakes and champagne, as Curly Girl would!
Lacy Young is a professional happy person. You can find out more about her on her blog.
So true Lacy! It’s taken me a while to figure that out, but I’m able to accomplish so much more when I take some time for myself too!
Thank you for the reminder. I don’t often get the opportunity to take time just for me and when I do, I feel guilty about it sometimes. That should be a New Year’s Non-Resolution for me…to take a little more time to cultivate some me time…and some me space too!
Absolutley agree! I am indulging in my guilty pleasure as I read your post….popcorn with lots of butter!!! Just me and my popcorn relaxin’, watching some mindless T.V. And enjoying it.
Ooh, I love the idea of being bad (sometimes)! Curling up with a good book and a glass of wine sounds like the perfect indulgence in ME but I don’t often have time to do it. *Sniff, sniff* But yesterday I found another way to indulge…while Christmas shopping for my loved ones, I bought a few pieces of prettiness just for me – you know, the ones with lace and ruffles that the whole world may not see but make you feel a little sassy just knowing they’re under there.
And I agree with Kristin – I’m going to make more of an effort to make time for me, and NOT feel guilty about it!
First, you’ve gotta check out Good Housekeeping’s January issue. They have an article on the link between happiness and clutter and of course I immediately thought of your last visit to CG Blog.
Second, one of my guilty pleasures is taking a bubble bath at night. I feel so wasteful of water when I do it because morning showers are necessary to get dressed, so that’s twice in a day that I’m bathing. But I love how relaxed and calm I feel when I climb in bed afterwards.
I’m also feeling the urge to bust some boundaries – so if that’s bad, then count me in.
Oh Summer is a girl after my own heart. My very favorite way to be good to myself is a bubble bath. I absolutely love the time to just sit and relax and soak.
Thanks for the happy reminder.
I keep dark chocolates in the freezer that are ALL MINE 🙂 Good thoughts, Lacy!