HealthandHappiness

It doesn’t take much to give yourself a break from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. Everyone should try to have fun and unwind ever now and then.

This past weekend my husband had to go to Nashville for his class. He has to go every month except November. Anyway, this time we decided to stay an extra day. Not only did this allow us time to do something together as a family…we went and saw a movie…but it also made the trip easier on me health wise.

When we go up on Friday night and come right back Saturday after his class, I hurt terribly. Riding in the car for four hours is tough on someone with fibromyalgia. I always want to go though because otherwise I lose almost two days of the weekend with my husband.

Staying the extra day gave me time to recuperate a little. It was fun just being away from home also. A weekend getaway isn’t much, but it’s enough to give a little downtime that is certainly needed.

If you get the chance, go for an overnight trip. It will brighten your outlook!

I am honored to announce my publication on the Unsent Letters blog. All writers should check the blog out. They are accepting submissions for blog posts and anthology consideration. Authors are paid for their work, and receive a byline and link to the website of their choice when chosen for the blog.

You can write letters to other people, pets, or yourself. I chose to write to myself this time. I really needed a pep talk, and it turns out this one helped in more ways than one!

Click here to see all about submitting to Unsent Letters. And click here if you’d like to read my letter, Never Give Up.

My husband made it home on Christmas. It was late when he got home, but he was here. They weren’t supposed to be done with storm duty in time, but they were released early. I was so happy when I found out.

He’s been in the Army, and now is an electrical lineman. Both these occupations require travel and time away from home. It’s not fun, but I’ve learned to live with it. This would have been the first Christmas he wasn’t home though, so I’m glad things turned out differently.

Sometimes the unexpected blessings are the best ones! Be thankful for every blessing you receive.

Let there be light!

The sun is shining here today! I am so glad. All these gloomy days in a row really get to me. There are only so many head and body aches I can take! I hope the sun sticks around for a while.

It’s cold out here, but that doesn’t bother me. My spirits lift just seeing the sunshine.

Are y’all like that? Do you feel better when it’s pretty and sunny outside? Or do you prefer rainy days? I know some people like dreary days. I might if they didn’t cause pain.

I might just have to take a walk today! Get out there and really enjoy this respite!

Sometimes holiday events are stressful. While it would be nice if all families got along, the reality is quite different. If you are part of a dysfunctional family, the holidays aren’t always fun.

Setting some rules for yourself before venturing to holiday events might help. Getting yourself geared up and preparing your psyche, is sure to go a long way toward making the holidays easier.

Here are a few ideas that might help:

Determine that you are not going to be goaded into a fight with any of your family members no matter what outrageous things they say. I know this won’t be easy, but you can do it for one night. Turning the other cheek really does work in these instances, because the other person won’t know what to do if you don’t spar back.

Get plenty of rest over the holiday season. A well-rested person is less likely to snap at others. If you aren’t tired, you’ll be better able to overlook remarks from others.

Skip events all together that are sure to cause problems. It’s better to avoid the situation than cause undue stress for everyone involved. Schedule something else the same night so you have a plausible excuse that won’t hurt feelings.

Think up interesting things to talk about beforehand. Make sure the topics are ones enjoyed by all involved at the gathering. Have your list and be prepared. It will make the whole night go smoother.

As you can see, these are simple tips that might make the holidays easier. Use your imagination, and creativity, to come up with ways of reducing the stress at holiday events. Everyone will appreciate it.

Never give up! I told everyone about entering the short story contest a while back and not winning, or even making the semi-finals. I told of finding out about all the problems I still had and everything I needed to work on. Well, I’m doing that. I am going to enter the next short story contest.

This post is about not giving up with something bad happens. That rejection hurt. I worried that I would never get it, or ever win anything. Not so!

I am proud to say that I had two poems that were picked for a contest recently. The poems will be featured in a book that will be available through online booksellers. I also won $20.00.

This is very exciting, and it proves you should never give up. I could have stopped writing all together after the last short story contest. While poetry is different, it was still putting my work out there and facing rejection again. I am so glad I overcame the fear and did it! It just goes to prove that you should always keep trying.

If writing is something you love, never give up. No matter how many rejections you get, keep writing!

Be sure to drop a toy in the Toys for Tots basket this year. I’m sure with the economy being so bad they will really need our help! I can’t imagine a child with no presents for Christmas.

I know presents aren’t the real reason for the season, but they do brighten a child’s world. Seeing your child’s face light up on Christmas morning when they get a present is a wonderful feeling. If I can help someone else give his or her child that, I certainly will.

It doesn’t have to be a big gift. A child with very little, appreciates everything. I know this from personal experience. Do what you can and know that it is worthwhile.

Do you feel better when your house is clean? I sure do! It smells better, the floors look great, and everything is in its proper place. When all of this happens, I feel calmer. Having things organized helps my mind relax. I’m not worrying about things being out of place, or something getting lost. It’s so much less stressful.

Of course, I do have OCD so maybe that has something to do with it. I only have a mild case thank goodness, but it’s enough to cause problems. I try my best to leave things where my husband wants them, but it’s just not possible sometimes. I HAVE to move the object somewhere it looks better, fits better, or is out of sight. I just can’t leave it where it is. I actually feel stressed seeing it.

We have learned to work around my idiosyncrasies.

I straighten up the house almost every day, and clean thoroughly once a week. How often do you do it? Do you have OCD? Does the state of your house have any effect on your mood?

Do you remember playing in the rain when you were a kid? I sure do. It was lots of fun and something we weren’t allowed to do all the time so it was even more of a treat.

Jumping in puddles, dancing in the rain, and just running around were all big fun back then. When was the last time you played in the rain? It hasn’t been that long for me. I’m still a kid at heart.

I often jump in puddles and splash my husband and son. This doesn’t always go over too well with them. They have learned to expect it though. If they think about it, they stay far away from me when it’s raining. Sometimes they’ll even join in the fun!

Do you revert to childhood on occasion? It really is fun. You should try it sometime!

Would you like to do something for another person that would really make a difference? Do you want to spread some happiness around? If so, read on!

One great way to spread some happiness around and really make a difference is to visit nursing home patients. Nursing home patients love company. They especially like children and pets.

Talk with a local nursing home in your area and see if they allow non-relative visitors. Find out the times and rules, then go visit. Take books, cards, or board games with you. Patients in nursing homes get bored. They will be excited if you play some type game with them!

Talk to your children about the patients. Explain why they are in there and how to act around them. Show your children they don’t need to be afraid, that the patients just want a hug most likely. Teach your children about helping others by visiting nursing home patients. It will be a valuable lesson.

Some nursing homes have pet days. See if you can bring a puppy or kitten to the next one.

This is just one small way you can spread some happiness around. You are sure to receive some hugs, thank yous, and smiles for your efforts.