happ(i)ness
Hey friends!! Hope you’re doing well in life. If not, better days are coming!!!
I turned 34 this week and let me tell you.. the emotions that came with it were a little overwhelming! To start off my birthday, I got up and read my bible. Then I cried for almost 2 hours (on and off because I’m just a girl and I had to get ready for my day).
There were a few reasons for my meltdown (shoutout to Eve for eating that damn apple 🙄) but 75% of the reason I was crying is because I’m happy. Truly happy.
Throughout all of the mental health battles, I am still here.. I’m at a place of peace. I’m grateful. I’m happy with myself. I’m so proud of myself for how far I have come.
While I was laying in bed that night, the word happiness kept popping up in my head. Have you ever realized that “I” is right in the center of happiness? Coincidence, I think not! We’re at the center of our own happiness. Too often we look to everything and everyone else to sustain our happiness, but it’s no one’s responsibility but our own. Happiness is a choice.
It took me a while to get to this point. I credit it to a lot of God and a little therapy (but it’s definitely been more than a little therapy). Here are some things that helped me get to the place:
Practice Gratefulness— Get up a few minutes earlier than you normally would. You don’t even have to get out of bed if you don’t want, but just lay there and focus on 1 or 2 things that you are grateful for. Even if you’re just grateful for waking up, that’s a start.
Enjoy Sunlight— The Sun has so many healing properties. Just bask in it whenever you can. Don’t forget your sunscreen though!
Get Sleep— You need a decent amount of sleep more than you probably realize. I know there’s never enough time in the day and it’s sometimes hard to turn your brain off, but try a sound machine or the Better Sleep app.
Cry It Out— Okay wait.. don’t roll your eyes. I know a lot of people may see crying as a weakness but it’s not. It’s a healthy release of emotion. If you’re someone who doesn’t cry, maybe you should try it. My motto is to give myself a full 48hrs to sit in my feelings and on the 3rd day, come to a solution or be at peace with whatever it is.
Romanticize Your Life— We only get one! Buy yourself the flowers. Eat your favorite meals. Take yourself on dates. Stop waiting for others to do it for you! Remember, you are someone that you love too.
Moral of the story: Choose happiness every day!! If you can’t choose happiness for the day, focus on happiness for the moment. Sometimes that’s all it takes. A moment can turn into a lifetime if you let it.
Until next time; Be YOU. Do YOU. LOVE YOU 💜 P.S. keep scrolling for some birthday pictures!
Chapter 34: Episode 1 (cake & berries by @gla_mtreats)
