2024-04-19 14:31
Francis Barraud: His Master's VoiceAfter writing last month’s Happy Little Thoughts newsletter
(click here to subscribe if you don’t already), I’ve been thinking more… Read More
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Simple pleasures and everyday adventures
2024-04-12 12:30
I feel you, LunaSince it’s been full week, with the anniversary of my
mom’s death, a solar eclipse, and multiple errands and appointments, today I’ll
share with you this po… Read More
2024-04-05 13:37
Photo by Thought Catalog on UnsplashWhen things go awry, as they did for me last year, it’s easy
to let go of certain practices that bring you joy. I never stopped reading last
year&md&hell…Read More
2024-03-22 15:59
Recently we had some small dead trees cut down, leaving open
space we’ve never had before in our naturally-landscaped backyard. The fall of those trees
crushed the ferns growing beneat… Read More
2024-03-15 11:30
“Of course you will and can want more. You should
want more. But you should also spend time trying to want what you already
have. It’s slightly different from ‘practicing g… Read More
2024-03-08 16:06
Over the past couple of years, we’ve been supported by two
different chapters of Hospice, first with Carol and then with my mom. I can’t
say enough good things about Hospice&mdas&hell…Read More
2024-03-01 15:40
Photo by Jen Theodore on UnsplashIt’s no secret that I love a good list. In addition to
ordinary to-do lists, I make seasonal fun lists, list of books I want to read,
and more. I even… Read More
2024-02-23 15:23
Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash“The way we think about growth often has us laser-focused on
the end goal. Yes, we might be aware of the steps that it takes to get what we
wa… Read More
2024-02-16 16:01
Tomorrow will mark the one-year anniversary of my mother-in-law’s
death. This week I’ve been mulling over what I might write about her to mark
this milestone. I had no time to pr… Read More
2024-02-09 14:51
Photo by Harper Sunday on UnsplashSeven years ago, I wrote a post called “Treat Yo’Self: 25 Simple Pleasures to Brighten Your Day.” It’s time to update that list, and… Read More
2024-02-02 14:45
My decluttered office bookshelvesAfter a year in which I had little control over my time and even
less over my emotions, I’m planning to make 2024 a year for restoring and building.
I… Read More
2024-01-26 13:00
Tank on left enjoying his first day homeFirst off, I’m happy to say that Tank is doing well at home,
and I’m much relieved that he seems to be continuing to recover (and he&rsquo&hell…Read More
2024-01-19 19:20
Photo by Andrik Langfield on UnsplashHappy belated New Year! I’m mostly back from my extended
break after a productive, in-depth review of 2023.
As I wrote in December’s Happy L… Read More
2023-12-22 13:00
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a
few minutes…including you.”—Anne Lamott
Thank you so much for taking the… Read More
2023-12-15 21:48
My dog is on the nice list...usuallyFall Fun List update: I did
nearly everything on my list!
Decorate the house for fall
Burn fall-scented candles and
diffuse fall scents in my esse… Read More
2023-12-08 14:25
Image by Simon from PixabayI’m currently working my way through Susannah Conway’s free
Unravel Your Year workbook (no affiliation), looking back over the even… Read More
2023-12-01 14:13
Courtesy Positively PresentI was pretty haphazard with my participation in the
Gratitude Challenge this year. Some days it felt too hard to come up with
something to post. Not that I’m… Read More
2023-11-24 13:00
“There are many more
ordinary hours in life than extraordinary ones.
We wait in line at
the supermarket.
We spend hours
commuting to work.
We water our plants
and feed our pets.
Ha… Read More
2023-11-10 12:30
Me, lately. Photo by Jackson Simmer on UnsplashI’ve been feeling a bit scattered and all over the place
lately, and this Link Love entry is going to reflect that. Funny flight
attendan… Read More
2023-11-03 11:30
During this past hard year, another writer/artist whose work
has helped me manage my emotions and stay (relatively) positive and calm is Morgan Harper Nichols. I thought you might enjoy… Read More
2023-10-27 11:30
Photo by Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash“The scratchy truth of existence is that we learn more from
pain than pleasure. It’s just how we’re wired. It’s the pain that… Read More
2023-10-06 13:30
Photo by Nik on UnsplashAfter a busier than expected summer, I’m taking a short
break to rest and regroup. I’m still dealing with some issues related to my mom’s
estate and… Read More
2023-09-29 13:49
Paris in 2018Recently, I’ve bumped into the French term la rentrée
three separate times. First in a book I was reading, and then in a couple of
online articles. Many people in F… Read More
2023-09-15 11:30
Photo by Prince
David on Unsplash“Everywhere you look, you see people pursuing happiness as
if it were something they could capture and cage. But pinning happiness down
only destroys i… Read More
2023-09-08 11:30
Three of the the 36Even though the weather hasn’t gotten the memo yet, summer is
on its way out. Labor Day has come and gone, kids are back in school, and pumpkin
spice rules the land… Read More
2023-09-01 13:15
Photo by ierc on UnsplashAnd just like that, it’s September.
There’s an old tradition that saying the words “rabbit
rabbit” before saying anything else on the first… Read More
2023-08-25 11:30
A small, cute thingOver the past 14 years of writing posts for Catching
Happiness, I’ve returned to one topic quite a few times.
Baby steps. Tiny habits. Happy little things.Small is… Read More
2023-08-18 11:30
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash“Sometimes the people you love leave you even when they
don’t want to and you shatter into pieces. You may not be able to find all of
those pieces… Read More
2023-08-11 13:18
Horses not minding the heat. Tank is second from right.This week has been…hot. Luna and I usually walk our neighborhood’s
trail twice a week, but with temperatures above 80F by… Read More
2023-08-04 11:30
Part of my collectionIt’s been a couple of years since I compiled an official summer
reading list (see 2021’s here), but of course that doesn’t mean I haven’t
been re… Read More
2023-07-28 11:30
Photo by Ann on UnsplashEven when we feel sorrow, we can still feel joy—sometimes in
the same moment! And thank goodness for that. So while it’s boiling hot outside (at leas… Read More
2023-07-21 11:30
Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash“But as I have started down the road of understanding
self-compassion, I have found one—just one—affirmation that actually does work
for me… Read More
2023-07-14 11:30
If you’ve read Catching Happiness for any length of time,
you know I love to read. I do it to learn, to be inspired, to be entertained,
and to be comforted. Over the past few months, I… Read More
2023-07-07 19:08
Photo by Manda Hansen on UnsplashThis week, the U.S. celebrated the 4th of July
with barbecues, fireworks (or drone shows), pool parties, etc.
How did my husband and I celebrate?
We order… Read More
2023-06-30 11:30
Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash“If ever I am feeling sad … or lazy, or tired, or lonely I
just go outside pick a flower or two, bring it in, put it in a vase, walk
around the hou… Read More
2023-06-16 11:30
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash“After a breakup or a breakdown, be willing to feel the
emptiness and wait for the lessons. Stop filling all the spaces with busyness,
shopping, food… Read More
2023-06-09 11:30
In one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes, after George
Costanza gets fired from the Yankees, he receives a severance package equal to
three months’ pay. He decides he won’t work f… Read More
2023-05-19 11:30
Even though there is So Much to Do, I’m taking it slow,
allowing for extra rest and quiet time, easing back into “normal” life (whatever
that is). Since the end of January… Read More
2023-04-28 12:00
About six weeks ago, my mom’s Hospice nurse called to let me
know that they’d noticed a marked decline in my mom’s condition and that she
had stopped eating. In end-of-life… Read More
2023-03-24 12:00
Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash“We never know what’s ahead. Hope isn’t the white paint we use to mask our suffering. It’s an investment in curiosity. A recognition th… Read More
2023-03-17 11:45
Since I last posted on Catching Happiness, life has been so challenging it hasn’t seemed real. First, Carol’s condition took an abrupt downturn, and after a week of trying to sta… Read More
2023-02-08 14:16
Just dropping in to say that until further notice, Catching Happiness and the Happy Little Things newsletter will be on hold. My mother-in-law’s condition has deteriorated, and on top… Read More
2023-01-27 13:00
Me after watching one too many animal videos online. Photo by Cookie the Pom on UnsplashThis edition of Link Love is kind of a mixed bag, including a little bit of inspiration, a piece to ma… Read More
2023-01-20 12:43
Photo by Amador Loureiro on UnsplashThe practice of choosing a word of the year is meaningful to me, probably because words are meaningful to me. Since 2010, I’ve chosen a one-word the… Read More
2023-01-13 16:26
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash“I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble…… Read More
2023-01-06 16:28
I've seen this several places and it cracks me up!Welcome back! I hope you’ve enjoyed a peaceful and happy start to 2023. It’s been about as peaceful around here as it ever is (e… Read More
2022-12-23 13:00
Photo by Igor Rodrigues on Unsplash“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresis… Read More
2022-12-16 12:30
Photo by Rinck Content Studio on UnsplashDuring December, getting the mail is exciting. Will there be a card and/or letter from a far-off friend? Did someone send me a Christmas gift? Did so… Read More
2022-12-09 16:56
Welcome to Hogwarts Every now and then, you have to leave the real world behind and have a little fun. That’s what I did on Tuesday with my friend Mary. Ever since The Wizarding W… Read More
2022-11-25 13:00
In the U.S., yesterday was Thanksgiving, a day not known for its moderation. So if you’ve indulged in a little too much “festivity,” (and even if you haven’t) here ar… Read More
2022-11-18 19:50
Photo by Joanna Swan on Unsplash“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we shall tend… Read More
2022-11-11 16:08
Photo by Simon Ray on UnsplashDon’t you get fed up with feeling helpless, that the world’s problems are too big to solve? This reminds me of productivity expert David Allen&rsquo&hell…Read More
2022-10-28 14:18
Do you ever feel not quite yourself? Like you’ve gone missing in your own life? Activities you used to enjoy leave you flat. You don’t feel like doing/eating/talking about any of… Read More
2022-10-21 13:20
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash“October is a fine and dangerous season in America. It is dry and cool and the land is wild with red and gold and crimson, and all the lassitudes of… Read More
2022-10-14 15:49
You’ve likely heard the news that earlier this week, actress Angela Lansbury passed away at age 96. Though Lansbury’s 70-year (!) career encompassed films, television, and theate… Read More
2022-10-07 13:41
Our walking trail buried under debris last week.We’re still cleaning up after Hurricane Ian: raking, bagging, putting away emergency supplies, etc., but we’re still so grateful t… Read More
2022-09-29 16:23
Our backyardTo our relief, Hurricane Ian turned east earlier than expected and made landfall south of us rather than directly striking Tampa Bay. And if you’ve seen the images coming i… Read More
2022-09-27 17:13
I was halfway through writing September’s Happy Little Thoughts newsletter when I had to drop everything and prepare for Hurricane Ian. The newsletter may or may not go out this month… Read More
2022-09-23 11:30
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash“I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its leaves are a little yellow, its t… Read More
2022-09-16 11:30
Short answer: meh. Longer answer: It depends on how you look at it. Out of eight things on my list (see original post here), I checked off four. With only one more week left of the summer se… Read More
2022-08-12 11:34
Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash“Our choice of where to direct our attention also affects our emotions and moods. If you habitually direct your attention toward things that upset you… Read More
2022-08-05 15:40
Every morning I tear off a page in my Positively Present page-a-day calendar. Recently, the message of the day was this: We all thrive when we’re in the right environment. It&rsq&hell…Read More
2022-07-29 15:46
Photo by pure julia on UnsplashAs I gathered the links for this post, I found a definite theme emerging: comfort. Whether it’s looking at (or listening to) lovely things or pondering w… Read More
2022-07-22 16:43
Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on UnsplashWhen I wrote “I’m not even going to try to guess what 2022 holds, but I am going to stay optimistic and open” in my first post of the yea… Read More
2022-07-15 11:30
From Fort Casey State Park--Mt. Rainier in the distanceI’m still sorting through the notes, photos, and impressions of my recent trip to California and Washington. I’ve always em… Read More
2022-07-08 20:22
One of the best ways to make ourselves happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past. Photos are a great memory-prompt, and because we tend to take photos of happy occasions, t… Read More
2022-07-01 11:30
Photo by Cody Chan on UnsplashAs you might have guessed, fun has been in short supply around here. The good news is my mother-in-law’s condition has improved a lot, and we are cautiou… Read More
2022-05-27 12:00
Photo by Anika Huizinga on UnsplashWhile I hope to start posting regularly to Catching Happiness again soon, I’m not quite there yet. To give you an idea of what’s happening, her… Read More
2022-04-26 19:46
Due to a family health emergency, I’m taking a break from Catching Happiness. Thank you for your understanding Read More
2022-04-15 11:30
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on UnsplashIn honor of National Poetry Month, today’s post is a poem courtesy of American Life in Poetry.Introduction by Kwame Dawes: Sometimes a poem a… Read More
2022-04-08 13:49
New property--Tank is on the leftThe barn where I board recently moved to a larger property a few miles away from the original location. It’s a couple of minutes farther from my house… Read More
2022-04-01 11:30
Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on UnsplashApril is National Poetry Month in the U.S., and almost every year I write a blog post to promote it. Why? Because since my teens, reading poetry has bro… Read More
2022-03-25 11:30
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on UnsplashI hate to break it to you, but 2022 is one quarter of the way done…or it will be next week. Time seems to have picked up its pace, racing forward… Read More
2022-03-18 11:30
But Men Must Work and Women Must Weep, 1883 by Walter Langley, Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash“‘Art is the highest form of hope,’ said pai… Read More
2022-03-11 12:30
Photo by Justin Ha on UnsplashEven though I love winter in Florida (so much less sweating!), right about now I need a refresh. My routines have become ruts. I’m caught up in reading ba… Read More
2022-03-04 16:17
Photo by Sensei Minimal on UnsplashLately I’ve noticed a worrying trend in myself—my tendency to overthink things has gone into overdrive. Around 2 a.m., my eyes pop open and my… Read More
2022-02-25 12:30
Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash“This minute decide to never again beg anyone for the love, respect, and attention you should be showing yourself. Today, look at yourself in the… Read More
2022-02-18 12:30
Though like all registered American Quarter Horses, Tank turned another year older on Jan. 1, his actual foal date is Feb. 18. For reference, a 27-year-old horse is roughly equivalent to a 7… Read More
2022-02-11 17:25
Photo by Ahmed Zayan on UnsplashThe Internet can be a mixed blessing. It can entertain us, teach us, and keep us connected with our friends and family—and it can deal our self-esteem s… Read More
2022-02-07 19:07
The inspiration for the title of this blog postWell, kind of. I missed my normal post day last week because I experienced a depressive episode. I’d been working on a post about mindset… Read More
2022-01-28 12:30
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash“Hope isn’t the same thing as happiness. You don’t need to be happy to be hopeful. You need instead to accept the unknowability of the f… Read More
2022-01-21 12:30
Quick, tell me three happy things that happened this week. They can be small or large, they just have to be something you noticed and took pleasure in. Surprisingly hard, isn’t i… Read More
2022-01-14 12:30
Photo by NeONBRAND on UnsplashHow have the first two weeks of the new year been treating you? I’m finally taking a breath after a whirlwind last couple of weeks of 2021, another year I… Read More
2021-12-31 12:30
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on UnsplashWell, folks, we made it. 2021 is winding down. I hope you have a happy, peaceful, and safe New Year’s Eve. Here are a few words of wisdom to see the o… Read More
2021-12-24 12:30
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash“When you drive past other people’s houses, all the windows look brightly lit and all the faces look happy. But of course that happens when anybo… Read More
2021-12-18 14:11
Photo by Kolby Milton on Unsplash“I am willing to allow more joy into my life.”—Monday yoga class affirmation. It’s easy to feel joy when everything is going the… Read More
2021-12-10 12:30
Photo by Boris Dunand on Unsplash“Order your gifts early,” the headlines trumpet! If you don’t, you might not be able to give the perfect gift and you’ll disappoint y… Read More
2021-12-03 14:32
That headline sounds a lot more exciting than the updates I have for you warrant, but I do, indeed, have updates.2021 Gratitude ChallengeThough I didn’t post every day, I participated… Read More
2021-11-19 17:42
Photo by Hanna Balan on UnsplashI’ve been more stressed and anxious than usual the last month or so, and with the holiday season approaching… All the yoga, barn time, and bubble… Read More
2021-11-12 12:06
Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on UnsplashDoes it feel like the world has become a darker, scarier place? It does to me. In a recent conversation with a friend, we discussed, jokingly (wishful… Read More
2021-11-05 17:45
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on UnsplashPracticing gratitude is a time-tested way to boost happiness. That’s one reason why I look forward to Postively Present’s annual Gratitude… Read More
2021-10-29 12:00
Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash“Happiness occurs when you forget who you’re expected to be. And what you’re expected to do. Happiness is an accident of self-acceptance… Read More
2021-10-22 14:16
I ran some errands this week. It was very exciting. If you’re like me, you’ve been putting off errands, or ordering stuff online, or just doing without, because The World is Awfu… Read More
2021-10-15 15:03
Photo by mrjn Photography on UnsplashLast week we had a problem with our home’s sprinkler system, and while we were trying to get it fixed, we had to shut off the water to our house fo… Read More
2021-10-08 19:56
Photo by pure julia on UnsplashIt feels like it’s been a long, long time since I had something to look forward to. Sure, I’ve had the occasional outing or simple pleasure, but th… Read More
2021-10-01 11:30
Octoberly isn’t a word, but I think it should be. Doesn’t it sound sort of fall-ish? As October creeps in, I’m enjoying the way the light falls through the trees, the adora… Read More
2021-09-24 11:30
A couple of weeks ago when I went to add some kitchen scraps to our backyard compost pile, I came upon this: It’s not unusual to see a volunteer tomato or cucumber (or whatever… Read More
2021-09-17 14:00
Tank on the trailOnly five days until the calendar says it’s fall! It may not feel like fall here in Florida for another month or two, but I’m already contemplating fall simple p… Read More
2021-09-10 14:05
“We have the capacity to build happiness into our lives with humor, concern for others, and gratitude. Of course, we can’t do it all of the time. That self-expectation would driv… Read More
2021-09-03 14:38
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash“September days have the warmth of summer in their briefest hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn.”—Rowla… Read More
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