Be the Change

At my university, all the freshman at the beginning of the fall semester they begin do a humongous service project. There are several things that go on, and it has been said it is one of the biggest service projects in the state. It's incredible! I got to participate last fall, and we all were given shirts that we were supposed to wear- so the people in the community would know that we were part of this organization. On the back of the t-shirt it says this:

"We need to BE THE CHANGE we wish to see in the world."

-Mahatma Ghandi

I find this very true, and very insightful to find our way of happiness in the world. I think that a lot of the time many of us just sit around whining or wishing that things would be different in the world, in our lives. We can change it- maybe not the actual situation, but we can change little things to make our lives better. We need to stop whining, moaning, groaning, wishing, and complaining, and get out there and change something. Our attitude, our situation, our position in things. Anything is possibly, Nothing is impossible. We can do what we can to make things better, and I assure you it is possible. 

I promise to do it.

Do you?

-gracie

Clean Clean Clean

I was thinking earlier about one of my absolute favorite movies: Ever After. The evil step mother in this Cinderella story said the following: Cleanliness is next to godliness. I know it has been said multiple times before, and by multiple different people- but think about in the context it is said. The evil, cruel, and manipulating step mother is telling her step daughter that being clean is like being most surpreme above all. Have we considered what it means to be clean?

I think it can mean that we literally should be clean. Not many people actually enjoy cleaning. I do, but it is actually getting around to it that gets hard for me. Me and my roommate are actually cleaning for inspection in our dorm room today. It is such a nice feeling to keep our room clean, and to just feel not gross. It's like after you've been sick for a while, and just couped up in bed- then you go and take a shower. It feels tremendously great, and you seem to feel so much better about things. It's the same thing.

I think that it is also good if we keep ourselves clean from gossip and cruel words. It is something that can happen without a second thought. It happens without us actually realizing that we do it. But it does hurt others tremendously. How do we expect to be happy if we do not treat others with respect and love, how are we supposed to expect to feel that peace and cleanliness? 

I just thought it was something of note. If we try to keep clean, and to remember that it means more than just being physically clean and tidy, we might find a bit more happiness. 

I believe it, anyways.

-gracie

Shrouded with the Dark Side

The title of this post seems a little dark, a little sad. Which is strange, because this blog is about happiness, right? Well, today I wanted to write about something that happened to a dear friend of mine that is the complete opposite of what should happen in day to day life. Something that we should all remember, so we can make the right choice.

The other day, my friend was at Walmart. She has Parkinson's disease, and she started having tremors. She went back to the car, and couldn't do anything. She was sitting there, with car door open for 45 minutes, having tremors. Nobody, nobody in those 45 minutes stopped to help her, even though she was obviously in need of some assistance. My friend told me she felt invisible. Like nobody cared. It's horrible.

Everyone needs help at one point, and how many times do we just pass them by?

Those who need help really don't deserve to be passed by. We are here so we can find happiness, right? That's why we do what we do each day, to find some sort of happiness. Well, why do we pass by those who can't help themselves? It's a horrible thing to realize that we do it each day. Because we do, even if we don't realize it. We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't see others, and don't see what we need to do to help them find happiness.

My challenge is for us to stop being so wrapped up in ourselves and look out at others. It will help you more than just thinking about what to do next with your own life. Reach out and touch another's. Don't shroud others with the dark side of life.
-gracie

Got it?

I was reading Pride and Prejudice today, and let me tell you, it's a wonderful book. I love it dearly. While reading, I came upon a passage that I found quite striking. I mean, it is very simple, but it is a good message. Here it is:

"Oh! You are a great deal too apt you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life."

"I would wish not to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak what I think."

Elizabeth is speaking of her sister Jane, and how she likes people in general. She says that she has realized that Jane doesn't see a fault in anyone, and that she speaks well of others. We have to not be too hasty to judge others, and give them the benefit of the doubt at times.

I found this video, and I think it is showing this principle very well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfeXxkbgCVE

Put on your glasses, and see the world, not yourself. I think we all focus on ourselves a bit too much. We have to realize that sometimes there are people who need help more than you need what you want. Don't judge others, just show them that you genuinely care. Got it? Hopefully so. Just stop and watch, and you will see what you need to do. It's a method to life.
-gracie

Pick up the Pieces

The other morning I was walking back to my room after a class and I noticed that a name tag on one of the dorm doors had fallen off. I ran into my dorm room and didn't think much of it. I walked out to go do dishes, and I saw one of the quietest girls on our floor stop, pick it up, and carefully stuck it back to the door.

Simple, right?

That one act of kindness made me think of something that really has helped me have motivation in life. She picked up something that was seemingly pointless, but it meant a lot. It wasn't in the way of other passers by, and the person that she did it for was most likely grateful. I think that we should all remember to pick up the pieces in our lives, and show others we care by doing the right thing, even if it is ever so small. Remember that there is more to life than what you want, and that we have to show the world we care. We live in the world with everyone else, it isn't all about us. Pick up the pieces to your life, and share the simple things with others.

It means a lot more than you might think.
-gracie

If not I have failed indeed.

1. Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”

But go and do something today.

’Tis noble of man to work and to give;

Love’s labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something helps others to live.

To God each good work will be known.

I love this song so much. It makes me want to go out and make everyone happy! When we help others, it tends to have a backfiring aspect, in that it truly helps you too. It makes you so much more content and at peace with yourself. Don't let them pass by, don't say "I'll do it later." But do it now! And help yourself to helping others!

-gracie

Take Control

It just hit me how much time we devote to technology. A lot of things are wasteful in spending all your time with. Such as Facebook or Texting. I am not saying they're evil or anything, but I do think we spend too much time using them.

Over the last few weeks I have cut my texting in half. It has made a tremendous difference to me. I feel so much more free. And I find more enjoyment in the more productive things I do, such as schoolwork and hanging out with friends. I have found it so much easier to have a conversation without pulling out my phone constantly. It has been hard doing this, considering I now live a few hours away from all the people I have always been around. But you have to move on with life, and meet new people also. Don't lock yourself to technology.

Facebook has become a virus, infecting a lot of my life. I open my computer and automatically, without thinking, log onto facebook. Even when I have no reason to be on at all. It is a good tool, something to be used to connect with people, to contact family, and to share ideas in business and other connections. But to be tied to it so much that it starts to become part of your life, rather than just something to check here and then, to see what's up with your friends, it is a problem.

Personally, I deleted facebook as one of my favorites. I will still visit it a couple times a day, but I am not going to keep it up as always. It is too distracting, and it controls you.

Free yourself from technology and take control of your life. It gives you so many more options to do things with your life. Just set yourself free. Try it. Trust me, you'll be happier.
-gracie

"I often surprise myself...."

I realized I have blogged in quite some time. I will do better.

I decided that it would be nice to be happier. Everybody wants that, right? And what do you know, looky here, that's what my blog is about! I have decided to write in a happiness journal each and every day.

I know, it's a bad photo, but that's the first page in my happiness journal. Each day I am going to write things that made me happy that day. Even if it is a horrible day, I am going to find one ray of sunshine. I decided to enhance my journal by writing a quote in it:

"Being happy is something you have to learn. I often surprise myself by saying "Wow, this is it. I guess I'm happy. I got a home I love. A career that I love. I'm even feeling more and more at peace with myself." If there's something else to happiness, let me know. I'm ambitious for that, too."

- Harrison Ford

I think he has it right. We are all blessed in some way or another with some sort of happiness. When we start to remember these things, we come to ourselves with peace. It is a great feeling. I love it ever so much.

I think it is a good idea to have happy journal, and to keep it close to our hearts. Make sure that we remember the little things. Make it a method. Keep it simple, and remember that there is ALWAYS a ray of sunshine. Shine it to the world and let them be happy too.

-gracie