Idiots

Sometimes it is nice to get cross at someone.  I was reading a really stupid article today and it made me think that the author was such an idiot.  I was showing Ian who said, yes, he's a tosser!  Do I want to be grateful for silly journalists?  No!!! But I'm grateful I can have an opinion and choose to say what an idiot he is!  I won't mention his name, because that would be mean...  And there is something nice about knowing that there are silly people out there!

Gratitude = Happiness

A few weeks ago I attended a short course (1 hour) at work on Making the Most of your Day – Time Management.  I was intrigued.  How much information could be imparted on this subject in one hour!  I was incredibly sceptical.  However, I found it was excellent – actually, I keep upgrading my assessment as time goes on.  This guy had some really good things to say and I have changed some of my work behaviours.  Plus, I’ve noticed some “errors” of my colleagues!  Anyway, the point of this post is not about this particular course, it’s about one that I wasn’t able to attend on Happiness.  I might have attended but it wasn’t held at my location.  So today I was looking at the powerpoint presentation for the course.  One of the slides was called ‘Positive Correlations with Happiness’ from work that Christopher Peterson had done.  There were a couple of items made me think!   Everyone can guess that level of income doesn’t actually make you much happier, neither does education or intelligence.  There is a moderate correlation between happiness and religiousness –it makes sense because potentially having something to believe in increases positive thoughts about life and the world.  Maybe the reason it doesn’t have a larger correlation is because religious people may also find it sad that others don’t share their view etc.  Another moderate is number of friends and level of leisure activity (no mention about level of fitness).  Some of the items that have a large correlation are things like: being employed (this has significant implications in times of high unemployment); sexual activity (!) and self-esteem.  The one that most surprised me was Gratitude!  So the more ‘gratitude’ you have the happier you are likely to be!  See, I knew there was another reason that people are asked to think about things they are grateful for!  It literally makes you happier!  Grateful to the people at work who put these things out!  And I CHOOSE to be happy! 

Machine that is changing my life

OK.  The elliptical trainer is amazing.  I would recommend it to anyone wanting to get a good piece of exercise equipment!  I went for a jog on Saturday - my first for some time.  The lungs were feeling great, but the knees were BAD!!!  So grateful that I'm able to keep fit on the trainer!

Is anything possible?

Anything isn't possible, but life does have possibilities...  My friend Pip shared the painting called White Doors on Facebook and it has really given me pause for thought.  There are always possibilities in our lives, or different paths (I'm being deep again).  But I do like this picture!  Grateful to Pip for posting!

(White Doors was painted in 1905 by Vilhelm Hammershoi)

My relationship

Probably the most important relationship in my life is the one that I have with Ian.  I think that the kids are probably the most important people to me, but somehow my relationship with Ian is more important than my relationship with them.  Maybe I'm being pedantic with semantics, but it's an interesting distinction.
Today I attended Glenn's funeral and it made me really appreciate my continuing relationship with Ian and how important it is for me to ensure that we nurture this.  And we'll be on our own this weekend - so that will be fun!  Grateful for time spent alone with Ian!

Confidor

Last year our Azaleas had 'lace bug'!  A very common problem, and one that can be fixed by a spray, or a couple of sprays, of Confidor!  Well, I followed the instructions, and I really thought that perhaps the lace bug had the better of my azaleas.  But I was wrong - and happy to be so.  This year we have the most beautiful azaleas in the yard.  They make me smile every time I go outside (they're in the front and the back!!).  It's lovely!  So grateful for Confidor!

My artistic photo!

In the backyard

Another backyard view

The Azalea I see every time I come home!

Live Life

It's been a very weird week: A marriage breakup, followed by the death of one of the girl's friend's parent.  Both events completely unexpected.  I feel a bit like my life has been tilted somewhat.  I know that lately I have complained about a few things - my job, my furniture, the fact my knees are stuffed for running, my weight (cause I like sugar!) - but really, what is my problem!  In reality I love my life!  I have people who love me, and I love.  I still dream and I can see the good in things.  I'm so lucky - I know that I've said this before, but I AM!!!  So I'll give whatever support I can to my friends at this time, while acknowledging that I am also sad!  And RIP Glenn...

Cherish Life

Sometimes when something bad happens, you become fixated on that one thing and "you can't see the forrest for the trees".  I was reading a review of the book that has just been released on Jim Synes' Life and he is basically quoted as saying: If you don't have cancer, cherish life; If you do, cherish it more.

I am grateful I don't have cancer, and I'm going to cherish life.  The rest will fall into place.

Tomorrow is going to be a lovely day and I can't wait!

ACT Election

I will be SOOOOOOOOOOO grateful when the silly ACT Election has happened.  All of the pathetic electioneering is driving me insane.  I honestly don't think either party will change very much.  I would vote liberal but I really don't like their education policy.  I would vote labor but they think they are invincible.  I am going to vote for a couple of independents!!!  Only a few more days to go!

Sunday relaxation

Had a lovely afternoon today and achieved almost nothing.  Well, I went on the "machine", and I purchased groceries for the week, but otherwise, not much.  SO grateful that I can spend time doing nothing and not feel guilty about it!

I also had a laugh about the saying below.  I just love it!!!  May my three beautiful children live by it!
  

Rain

I'm grateful for gentle rain.  I love the sound of our roof!

I'd just prefer no rain tomorrow so that we can fix one of the gutters that appears to be blocked.  Sigh!

3 Angles

I love a good laugh.  And so I was very amused when I realised that Rachel had changed my Facebook status when I'd forgotten to log off.  It was great - because of the spelling error.  Two letters mixed around can certainly change the meaning, and lots of people know that mistake.  Anyway, my status was:

"My children are truly angles - especially Rachel!"

My children really are wonderful, I could even say angelic.  I love the children they were and the women they are becoming.  So grateful for the three of them...

Tuesday already

Short week.  Thankfully.  Gotta be grateful for that!!!

Four leaved clover

When gardening today I found genuine four leaved clover.  And I don't think I've seen one for years!  I was very excited, but realised that a four leaved clover is actually a mutation.  Still, I felt very lucky!

Another walk around Canberra

I'm really enjoying walking around Canberra.  I hope to do a few more walks during the summer.  Yesterday we started at the base of Mount Taylor, walked up then across to Mount Arawang (which, I might add, isn't very direct), along the Cooleman ridge, up Narrabundah Hill (and it really is just a Hill!) and cross country to the top of Mount Stromlo.  It was 18km and we took 5 hours.  There were a couple of highlight besides the fantastic views of Canberra from various angles - the company, the eagle in the tree, the ruined telescope building at Mount Stromlo (Ian and I hadn't been there since the 2003 bushfires) and our Thai takeaway at the end (James, Ian and I inhaled the food while the kids just ate!).  So grateful for that Thai takeaway!!!

Tuggeranong from Mount Taylor

At the trig point of Narrabundah Hill

Destroyed by 2003 Fires - 1910 telescope building, Mt Stromlo

Beautiful little girls

I know three - and I'm not thinking of my own right now!  I love having access to O, L and C!  It's nice to have young nieces!  Natasha wrote in my phone: When you sing "now you're lost, lost in the heat of it all" and your baby cousin says "no I'm not lost in the heater" :')

In some ways this says as much about Tash as it does about the young niece!  But I'm grateful to have them around and I love them dearly!

All things new...

Revelation 21 is a lovely chapter of the Bible.  "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth", "and I heard a loud voice saying", "He will wipe away every tear, death shall be no more", "All things new".  Every time I read the words, I start to sing the lovely song based on this verse by Robin Mann set to the music from Robert Schumann ([Von Fremden und Leuten] Of foreign places and people from Scenes of Childhood).  It gives me goose bumps!  

The reason I mention this is that I was thinking about this verse and song when I was looking at the photos I took while walking between Pine Island and Point Hut, along the Murrumbidgee River.  It's a great walk and so beautiful - in a typical Australian landscape.  I'm grateful for the reminder that "God himself is here" and that "All things are new".

New Season of 'The Big Bang Theory'

Who thought of the idea?  It was absolutely lovely to use the 'machine that is changing my life' while watching the new season of 'The Big Bang Theory'.  I'm so grateful for people who can think of funny things and then translate that to a TV show.

Recipes - 21st Century style

I love that there are websites that people can post their favourite recipes!  Because then I can "search and find".  My kitchen smells great and I can't wait for dinner.  And if that isn't a positive benefit of the internet, I don't know what is!!!