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Choosing Happiness

jennifer · June 30, 2014 · 35 Comments

My brain is so full right now, I’m not sure what to write. Yet I know I need to write.
Right now I’m experiencing some extreme highs and lows in life. I know things will all even out in the end, but it’s like being on a roller coaster ride that just doesn’t stop.
I’m not a fan of roller coaster rides.
And so I continue to push forward, stay positive, and be thankful it’s summer in Maine.
beachtherapy
Beach therapy always helps.
It also helps to choose happiness. Because I’m happy. I can only let things bring me down so much. Because for all the things that bring me down, there are even more things that lift me up. Really great things.
So today I share with you two great posts I’ve come across recently that are worth a few minutes of your time to read.
The first one is from Time and is about the seven key choices happy people make every day. I can attest to all of them, though I could definitely be better on the last one.
Read: 7 Things Happy People Choose to Do Every Single Day
The second post is by my good friend and blogger behind The Mom Cafe, Chris Carter. She writes about the innate traits women have that bind us together in sisterhood. It is beautiful and reminds me of how thankful I am to have such a supportive group of women in my life (real and virtual!).
Read: It Takes A Good Woman To Know One: TToT Women’s Edition
Of course, when all else fails, a dance party is clearly in order.

Will you choose happiness today?

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Divorce, Life beach therapy, Chris Carter, happiness, sisterhood, support, Time

Comments

  1. Janine Huldie says

    June 30, 2014 at 7:04 am

    I happen to love summer and the warm weather, so I, too, choose happiness every time during this time of the year. And also loved Chris’s TToT article and great share 😉

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 12:17 pm

      Chris’s article is great. Even when things aren’t going my way, it’s hard not to choose happiness in the summer!

      Reply
  2. Alison says

    June 30, 2014 at 7:39 am

    I’m glad you’re choosing happiness, Jennifer, because life is too short for the flip side. May your summer be HAPPY!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 12:20 pm

      I agree, Alison. And I plan on making this summer as happy as possible!

      Reply
  3. Alexa says

    June 30, 2014 at 8:28 am

    It’s hard sometimes… especially for those of us who are, generally speaking, happy people. When life gets us down, the only way to survive, in my opinion, is to choose happiness. Even when it’s hard to do so. I loved Christine’s post, and I bookmarked that article, but haven’t read it yet. Think I’ll do so now.
    love you girl.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 12:21 pm

      I agree, Alexa. Even when things seem to be falling apart around you, there is always something that will make you happy. You just have to look for it. Definitely read the article on happiness. It’s great!
      Love you too!

      Reply
  4. Chris Carter says

    June 30, 2014 at 8:41 am

    As soon as I saw your post title, I knew it was the perfect title for YOU. Making that choice despite all the adversity in your life is what defines your character. Your strength will fight for it. Your integrity will win that fight every damn time. No matter what harsh cold waves threaten your shoreline- you are the kind of woman that will anchor your heels in the sand and never ever let them take you under.
    “And I continue to be astounded by witnessing women rise through the wreckage.”
    You. Astound. Me.
    And you KNOW you were one of the BIGGEST inspirations behind that post.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 12:26 pm

      Sometimes I’m not even sure how to respond to your thoughtful comments, Chris. This means so much to me, as does your post and your friendship. I can’t thank you enough for your love and support. *tears*

      Reply
  5. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

    June 30, 2014 at 11:34 am

    I needed to read this today. This past week has been full of lows…some good memories and reminiscing too, but a lot of sadness. Hope you are having some better days!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 12:28 pm

      I’m glad my post lifted you up a bit today, Michelle. Another reason to be happy! I hope your days are better too.

      Reply
  6. Lynn says

    June 30, 2014 at 12:03 pm

    A great reminder. I wrote something similarly themed today– must be in the air!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 12:29 pm

      We need the reminders every now and then. Looking forward to reading your post, Lynn!

      Reply
  7. Katie @ Pick Any Two says

    June 30, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    YES, I WILL! I am facing some crazy deadlines this week, and it’s making my head spin. And yet I know that I can choose how I react to the stress. I don’t have to let it own me. A little dance party might be just what I need, actually. 🙂

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 9:26 pm

      Dance parties make everything better. That and the ocean. I’m sure of it, Katie. Good luck with your deadlines!

      Reply
  8. sisters from another mister says

    June 30, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    Life is all about choices … many of which we have no control over.
    What we do with the choices others make is up to our decision making … and you and me … we are doing ok with it all.
    Blessed with our children our wisdom and the choices we have made.
    I look forward to seeing where we go with it all … and happy to have friends like you …
    and we will conquer all.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      June 30, 2014 at 9:30 pm

      It’s amazing how things just keep coming at us. But we still have this. We will conquer it all and be better for it. We need to find a way to meet up some time soon. I need to give you a big hug in person, Nicole!

      Reply
  9. Tamara says

    June 30, 2014 at 10:19 pm

    I will!
    And I read that Time article and I loved it.
    Life is a roller coaster for me right now too. It’s like it hasn’t calmed down and people say it may never, but it’s not always like this – birth, death, graduation, etc. It definitely isn’t always like this.
    Mostly I’m feeling happy.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 1, 2014 at 9:18 pm

      My life can’t possibly stay the way it is now. That would just be insane. So I choose happiness and think about how things will get better. That Time article was great. And so true!

      Reply
  10. Lisa @ The GoldenSpoons says

    June 30, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    I am certainly trying to choose happiness! Some days, it’s easier than others, but summer definitely helps. I’m glass you are choosing happiness, too.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 1, 2014 at 9:20 pm

      There are definitely days where it’s easier to choose happiness or vice versa. I just try to remind myself that I do have a choice. When life gets overwhelming, it’s a nice reminder!

      Reply
  11. Tricia says

    July 1, 2014 at 8:36 am

    Oh yes to choosing happiness. I’m with you right now, on a roller coaster and the highs are lovely but the lows so so hard. But yes, we can all choose happiness. And that Happy song? It was on repeat here for a while and I think it’s time to bring it on back.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 1, 2014 at 9:21 pm

      How can you not be happy listening to that song? The words are great too.

      Reply
  12. Amber says

    July 1, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Beach therapy is awesome. I just got back from the beach.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 1, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      I think I’m going to be at the beach a lot this summer!

      Reply
  13. Bev says

    July 1, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    I love your positivity, it’s incredibly inspiring. I try most days to choose happiness…there are days when it doesn’t happen, but thankfully the majority of my days happiness wins out. I am going to check out those two other blog posts right now.

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 1, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      They are great posts. Where I’m at right now, I’d be crazy not to choose happiness. Sometimes things get so bad that you can only look up!

      Reply
  14. Eric Simonds says

    July 5, 2014 at 6:55 am

    In my practice, I meet a great deal of people who tie their happiness to money. I always describe it to my clients as a magnifying glass. If you are a jerk, money can make you a bigger jerk. If you are generous, money call allow you to be more generous in a variety of ways and if you unhappy, more money, typically, will just made you more unhappy…

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 5, 2014 at 7:24 pm

      Great perspective, Eric. It’s interesting to see how people define happiness. That’s why I found the article so interesting. It really has nothing to do with money. It’s the people in your life, the meaning in your work and the lifestyle you choose.

      Reply
  15. Alexa says

    July 5, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    By the list in the article, I should be one of the happiest people on earth. But, lucky #7 must play a tremendous role. That’s the one I lack, and it makes me grumpy!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 5, 2014 at 7:25 pm

      #7 is the one I need to work on too. Everything else is great!

      Reply
  16. Terry says

    July 17, 2014 at 8:48 am

    I think a lot of people don’t know that they can choose to be happy. They think they have to live in whatever mood or state of mind is thrust on them.
    Great article!

    Reply
    • anotherjennifer says

      July 17, 2014 at 9:29 am

      It’s kind of sad, isn’t it Terry? We all have choices, even when it feels like we don’t!

      Reply

Trackbacks

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