I was thrilled to participate over at A Beautiful Ripple Effect last Friday. The question Carolyn Rubenstein poses: What are the 10 Things That Make You Happy? I have so enjoyed this series and I'm thrilled to have been included.
In case you missed it (and because we're on Spring Break and my creative time has been cut to ... um ... zero) this fits into my quick-and-done formula for the next couple of weeks!
1. My view
Every morning I am greeted by an incredible view of Lake Ontario. Some
days are dreary, some are spectacular, but every day greets me with a
huge expanse of water and sky. I know anything is possible.
2. My children
They are really remarkable. To have four individuals so completely
different from each other, but to have such strong character traits, is
exhausting and stimulating. Watching them grow, guiding them through
their choices, laughing with them every day, is more than I ever
dreamed possible. It is a privilege to be their mama.
3. My morning routine
I wake around 5AM to a steaming cup of coffee and all the goodness to
be found on my google reader. I sit in the silence, the room
illuminated by the computer screen and absorb all kinds of wonderful
words and images from all kinds of creative and thoughtful people from
all over the world.
4. Hockey
It never occurred to me that I would spend so much time in a hockey
rink. I spend hours upon hours in rinks watching practices and games.
It is one example of being pleasantly surprised by the unexpected joy
we find in hockey.
5. Order
Inasmuch as I can appreciate the unexpected, order makes me happy! When
the stars align and everything has been picked up and put in its place,
order restored. It is a rare thing, but it fills me with joy when it
happens.
6. Silence
My life is generally chaotic with the comings and goings of the kids
and friends, music playing, cellular phones ringing and beeping, the
laughter, the fighting, the crazy. I really enjoy the rare moments of
silence.
7. White Peonies in my garden
This is the year that I’m going to get my act together and plant an
impossible number of white peonies in my garden. Right now I have a
few, but not enough. I’m going to make sure that the view out every
window includes white peonies.
8. Summers at the beach
For two weeks each summer we head to Cape Cod where our kids enjoy the
familiarity of the same location and the wonder of changes from year to
year. I can measure their growth by how their interests change and
their explorations become more and more independent.
9. Words
I love words; I use them as décor, as tools, as a method for
communicating simple and complex thoughts. I love watching them form on
paper, on the screen, carved in stone, in conversation.
10. Photography
I have always had a camera in my hand. I used to think I took pretty
good photos, but over the last year I’ve put more of an effort into
learning the art of light and angles and can really see that my shots
are not just lucky, but consistently good.
So there you have it. My top 10 Happy Things. What makes you happy? Blog about it and leave me a link so I can see!
(I have to say how delighted I was to receive THREE e-mails regarding this post, two from ladies I have never met. It takes a lot to send a note to a complete stranger and I was thrilled to hear their thoughts and welcome them here to my blog. I hope to live up to their expectations!)
