Happiness Is About Peace

Happiness Is About Peace

When I brush my teeth and wash my face in the morning I always listen to YouTube videos.  I had listed to a video from Stephan Colbert and the next video that played was his interview with Jada Pinkett Smith on The Colbert Report.  I don’t like/dislike her, but continued listening.  They discussed happiness and that Jada can say now that she is happy.  Stephen joked about her finally finding happiness at age 46. Jada said  "I really thought happiness had a lot to do with pleasure and I realize that happiness is about peace. I'm the most peaceful I've ever been in my life."  I liked this.  As most of you know, I deal with depression, pretty much all the time, and while I don’t think my definition of happiness is the issue (it is my MS brain not sending/using chemicals as it should,) but that being said, I think it will be helpful for me to rethink what happiness is.  I don’t have to be completely carefree, laughing, having the greatest time to be happy.

Pay Tickets and Do Good

Pay Tickets and Do Good

I just wanted to share this article - Indiana police department lets people pay for parking tickets with donations to local animal shelter.  I love this.  If you’re reading this you know that I love dogs and support dog/animal shelters.  How much better would it be paying a ticket if you were saving animals. . .or doing anything good?  

A lot of companies do good - whether it be donating money, volunteering etc. and it ultimately benefits them, with the press/publicity etc.  I’m okay with that. . .I say do good, help others and if it benefits you/the company, that is fine with me. The good is still being done.

Let’s Play Away Our Problems

Let’s Play Away Our Problems

I recently saw this article An artist built seesaws into the U.S.-Mexico border and invited kids to play on them and just love this.  No, I don’t want to argue immigration/politics with anyone, but I thought this was a wonderful.  Using play to demonstrate that while we are so very different, we are also so very similar is brilliant.  And hey, sometimes you just want to play. It just makes me think, wouldn’t it be great if we could use play to solve all issues.

I’m not Sick, I’m Brave

I’m not Sick, I’m Brave

I recently read this People article:  Selma Blair Says Son Calling Her ‘Brave’ Through Her MS Journey Is One of Her ‘Proudest Moments.’ Selma Blair has MS and has been pretty open about her MS and how it has impacted her.  She even walked the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party with her cane.

In the article she discussed her son and her MS and shared that he says:  ‘Mommy’s not sick. Mommy’s brave.’ I love that - so sweet and true.

Criticism, Overreacting

Criticism, Overreacting

I was listening to Pod Save America “MEGAN RAPINOE!!!” and as many of you are likely aware, she is a kick ass soccer player and  has been very vocal in her fight for women’s equality, particularly equal pay for women.  When asked if she would visit the White House if they won the World Cup she also famously said "I'm not going to the fucking White House."  Needless to say, on the podcast they discussed Megan’s “criticism/thoughts” on America, politics etc and I really liked her response. Ultimately she said that she didn’t understand why people get so angry at the criticism she has given - that through criticism we can learn, become aware of issues and ultimately improve.  Does anyone enjoy being criticized? No, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve really tried to embrace criticism and use the feedback to improve. And yes, I think there are ways that criticism can/should be given to be more effective - to be accepted/embraced rather than upsetting others. I don’t think we need to always handle people/situations with kid gloves every time we have criticism to provide though.  I do think we should be aware that how the criticism is given will likely impact how it is received, handled, etc.

When listening to Hysteria “The Creep Community” it was brought up how women often overreact - or at least are often accused of overreacting.  I like that it was said that it is okay to overreact and that “I would love us to all give each other permission to overreact.”  They were speaking to women speaking up when men do something that makes them uncomfortable (e.g. touches them,) but I really think this applies to all situations.  Yes, we all overreact, but also, I think much of the time we should just look at it as a woman reacting. Just because a woman doesn’t like something, doesn’t mean it is “over” reacting, she very likely just may be reacting and we should respect her feelings.

How We Choose to Remember Those in our Lives

How We Choose to Remember
Those in our Lives

I was listening to Dax Shepard’s podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert.  They were talking about the passing of her love.  While discussing end of life Dax said “I would refuse to disrespect what a beautiful experience this had been by measuring it all by the end” and I just really loved that.  I don’t think by any means that everyone shouldn’t remember the end/has to remember only the good of those who pass.  That being said, I agree with Dax - we are all complex people and if someone is in my life it is because they are “good” and it is okay to remember the good, not just “the end.”

I think this really touched me because someone I love dearly is much different later in their life than they were earlier in life, ultimately being “better/nicer” earlier in their life and I know that when they pass  I will choose to remember them as they were earlier in their life. I actually kind of already do this. . .I choose to think of who they were earlier in life, rather than who they are now. I realize that there may very well be some psychological learnings that would consider this “wrong,” but this is how I feel best and am best able to deal with the person as they are now.  I am not ignoring/blind to their faults, but I choose to look at them/think of them as the wonderful person they were for most of my life. . .not just who they are now.

Talking to Kids - Ugh . . .Puberty

Talking to Kids - Ugh . . .Puberty

There are many things that I know, not being a parent, I miss out on/will miss out on.  One thing though that I am happy to miss/not have to deal with is puberty. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with and navigate the changing bodies, attitudes, hormones. . .  I obviously have no experience in parenting, but I recently read This mother's description of her tween son's brain is a must-read for all parents and thought it would be good to share.  Many of you have children - some approaching puberty soon, some not for several years.  I like the idea of being very open with, communicating with children, even when it comes to uncomfortable topics like puberty.

This made me think of a podcast that I recently listened to.  They were talking about Pride month and were ultimately discussing wanting Pride events to be for everyone. . .including families/children and how to do it in a way that allows the LBGTQ community to be themselves, while also having it be family friendly.  I, as I’m sure many of you, have been to some Pride parades where I’ve seen some risque things. Much of it though is just more different than risque. They talked about how well kids handle things when you just talk to them and give them information.  They used the example of a man dressed in a pink fairy costume. A child might find that confusing/strange or ask about that, but for many children, especially young children, it can be as simple as just explaining - he likes pink, he likes fairies. That may be all that some kids need.

Once again, not coming from a parent, so what do I know, but it really made me think that sometimes maybe things are scarier or harder for adults to talk about than for the kids.  Maybe we (adults) need to just sometimes face the discomfort and talk to kids. Just my $0.02.