Tuesday, February 28, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 28


Find a small box.
On the top, write the Italian words "Tutto É Possible."
(Translated in English, this means, "Everything is Possible."
On a small piece of paper, write down a worry that has been bothering you.
Fold the paper in half and place it in the box.
Leave that worry to other forces and move on to this moment.
When you catch yourself ruminating on it again, remember that you've put it in the box and move on.

If you'd like more insight into this idea, you can read about it here.

Thanks for a lovely February, friends.

Get happy.

xo





Monday, February 27, 2017

The Smacksy February Good Things Thing - Day 27

The new journal I received for Valentine's Day.

Do you keep a journal?
You don't have to be a writer - just a person.
And you're probably already a person so you're on your way.

Even a couple of sentences a day can be a very good thing.

Grab an empty notebook, or open a new word doc, or write an email to yourself, or use the back of an envelope - it doesn't matter. Just get something out of your head and down on paper.

This page has some nice writing prompts if you'd prefer an assignment as opposed to doing a stream of consciousness.

Remember, it doesn't have to be a big, elaborate deal. Just some thoughts, written out.
It's excellent for your soul.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.




Sunday, February 26, 2017

Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 25

My softest t-shirt for sleeping.

This is one you will plan today and execute tomorrow.
You're going to wear your favorite piece(s) of clothing.
It doesn't matter if you already wore it this week.
What makes you feel the best?

Athlesuire wear? Sounds good.
That great sweater Nana knit for you? Glorious.
Storm Trooper costume? Go get 'em tiger.
Pajamas? Delightful.
The beautiful cocktail dress you only got to wear once? Perfect.
Swimsuit? Really? Ok, sure.
Fluffy spa robe? You know who you are.
Wedding dress? Naturally.
The suit that makes you feel like a boss? Boss.
Jeans and that hoodie that has the teddy-bear ears? Swell.
Softball uniform? Love that.
Birthday suit? Hope you work from home.

You get the idea. Grab that one thing that makes you feel comfy or confident or pampered or funny or hugged or sparkly. Wear it and enjoy.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Friday, February 24, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 24

A little treat for you.

You want to read more, you really do, but maybe you're busy. Or not a lot of time for reading. So, right now you're going to read a story. It's short but look - you will have done some real reading of something besides the news ticker at the bottom of the screen on CNN. A fast literature win.

Raymond Carver was a brilliant storywriter. I'm a huge fan of his style. The following short story is from his collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? You definitely have time for this super 
short story.

The script here is a bit small. You might need to throw on your readers or make the font bigger on your phone while you're reading.


























Get happy.
See you tomorrow.


Thursday, February 23, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 23

William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Let's get out of our heads a bit and feel some art.

This animation of classic paintings is gorgeous and clever.

Take it in.

Get Happy.
See you tomorrow.



Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Smacksy February Good Things Thing - Day 22


Today, we start with this Chinese proverb:

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.

I think you know what's coming next. No, I'm not sending you a fortune - I have higher goals for you. You are going to help someone. Big or small, help is help and there are just a bunch of different ways to go about it.

Hold the door open for the man coming in the door with packages.
Tip your waitress too much.
Bag your own groceries.
Read to a kid.
Read to your pet.
Send a donation to your favorite charity. I like Doctors Without Borders.
Listen to the story you've heard your dad tell a million times. 
Teach a friend to knit or DJ or change their oil.
Bring delicious coffee to your just-waking-up significant other.
Sing along when they are singing happy birthday to a stranger in the next booth. Applaud.
Do the dishes when it's not your turn.
Recycle.
Let the grey Prius merge in front of you. (Thanks!)
Bake brownies and bring them to that person you know who could use a brownie. You know the one.
(Save one for yourself.)

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.





Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Smacksy February Good Things Thing - Day 21


Let's make a quick call.

Call your mom and ask her how she's doing.
or
Call and make that doctor's appointment you've been putting off.
or
Call and order Thai food or pizza or Greek and give yourself time off from cooking.
or
Call and schedule that oil change.
or
Call and invite a friend with a dog to the dog park.
or
Call and dedicate a sappy song to someone on the radio.
or
Call your friend from college you haven't spoken to in too long.
or
You'll think of something.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Monday, February 20, 2017

Sunday, February 19, 2017

The Smacksy Happy Good Things Thing - Day 19 - Sunday Links


(When your kid puts all of his temporary tattoos on his tummy at once.)

A mistake is just a moment in time.

How to get stuff done after work when all you want to do is watch TV.

Ed Sheeran was looking for Irish dancers for his new video.

And cappuccino foam cats.

Happy Sunday.




Saturday, February 18, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 18


Light a candle.
Make a wish.
(Who says it has to be your birthday?)
Blow it out.
Deep breath.

I hope it comes true.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.


Friday, February 17, 2017

The Smacksy February Good Things Thing - Day 17



Ready?
Turn up your volume.
Click here to listen to radio stations all over the planet.
Find new places on the map and click to listen.
The whole world is at your fingertips.
(It really is a big blue musical marble.)
I love this site.
Special thanks to Diptee for telling me about it!

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Things - Day 16


Remember when you were five-years-old and you would spin around in a circle until you got dizzy?
We're doing that.
Stand in the middle of the room.
Arms straight out at your sides.
Spin.
Spin until everything looks whooshy and different and you're dizzy but you don't fall down.

Spin again.

Again.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Smacksy February Good Things Thing Day - 15


Outside the theater.

Today we're going to do something a little bit different.
Mix it up a little.
As little as you want, but do something different.

Tonight I went to see a play. (A revival of Zoot Suit at The Taper. Excellent.) On a school night! Who do I think I am?

Other ideas:

Add a little cream to your usual black coffee.
Go to the movies alone.
Wear your bag on the other shoulder.
Walk the dog at a different time of day. Or try a different route.
There are a million TV channels. Watch a few minutes of one you've never seen before. (Syfy? Speed      Channel? Retirement Living?)
Type an email with your eyes closed.
Dress fancy on a regular day.
Write a fan letter to someone who would never expect one. (Your mail carrier. The lady in the bakery at Von's. Your dental hygienist.)
Listen to a Spanish radio station in the car.

You get the idea.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.





Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The Smacksy February Good Things Thing - Day 14


It's a simple one today, folks.

Change your sheets.

That's it.
Put clean sheets on your bed.
Then slip into bed tonight and experience one of THE best simple pleasures.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Monday, February 13, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 13


At Tina Nails, where I get the occasional pedicure, there is a small altar maintained by the Vietnamese women that are employed by Tina. The altar is set up on a shelf. It's filled with incense and candles, a houseplant, and a few small religious statues. Every morning, on their way into work, one of the technicians drives-thru McDonalds. When she arrives at the salon, she places a food offering to the gods - a fresh Egg McMuffin - on the altar.

I have a few little altar areas at our place. (No McMuffins there. Yet.) Today we are going to make our own altars. This is just a small shelf or tabletop in your home that will hold a few items that are important to you.This will be a spot where you can rest your eyes on a number of inspiring objects. When you are at your altar, light a candle and say a prayer or mantra or affirmation. Add new pieces to your altar when the mood strikes. This is just for you.

Need some ideas? Here are a few things that have made an appearance in my altar spaces:

David Bowie Saint Candle
A Blue Feather
Stone With "Faith" Engraved on it
A Mandarin
Vintage Toy Red Station Wagon
Pyramid of Keurig Coffee Pods
Sprig of Rosemary
An Ashtray From Hotel Barriere le Fouquet's Paris
Various Clay Figures Made by Bob
Tiny Jar of Mr. Rosenberg's Guitar Picks
Book of Psalms
Silver Dish of Sea Glass and Shells
Handmade Silk Tassel From Venice
Gold Locket
Two Small Ceramic Owls
Matchbox Filled With Miracle Dirt From el Santaurio de Chimayo
Limoges Box in the Shape of a Typewriter
Fresh Flowers
Photo of my Grandmother
Bottle of Chanel #5
Homemade Mix Tape of Elvis Costello's My Aim is True and Trust
Turquoise Glitter Christmas Ornament Made by Bob
Heart Shaped Ring Dishes
Fancy Matches
Jar Filled With Sand From the Beach Mr. Rosenberg and I Went to on Our First Date


Make an altar.
Get happy.
See you tomorrow.








Sunday, February 12, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 12 - Sunday Links


Moonlight from the front steps.

The artist's duty to contact the timeless in tumultuous times.

Legends offer wisdom about how they made it.

A map of the best things to see in every country.

And baby sloths having a conversation.

Happy Sunday.


Saturday, February 11, 2017

Smacksy February Good Things Thing - Day 11



Today we're going to ask a couple of people for a few moments of their time. Copy and paste the following into emails to a minimum of three separate people. Who are you sending this to? People that know you. Like, know you know you. Your mom, your best friend, your partner, like that.

Dear Nice Person,
I am hoping you will help me with a brief experiment. 
Will you please reply to this email with three adjectives about me?
Thank you!

And what will you do with this raw data?
Simply ponder it.
Are you surprised by the answers?
Flattered?
Disappointed?
Assured?
I think we all know that how we perceive ourselves can often times be different, sometimes vastly different, than how others experience us.
Just things to consider.

Also? I think you're pretty wonderful.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Friday, February 10, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 10


Today's thing will be a breeze for some of you, a real no-brainer. For others this will feel difficult, or sad, or silly - silly in this case might be covering up difficult or sad. You might write this off as woo-woo or ridiculous. I would disagree. I believe it's important.

I want you to find a mirror - over the sink in your bathroom or the bathroom at work, your rearview mirror in the car, or a pocket mirror you might have in your purse. If you're out walking in the world, a reflective shop window will do.

Look into the mirror - without judging your weird hair day or funky chin blemish or some wrinkles you earned by smiling.

Look into your eyes and out loud, just say, "I love you." Say it like you mean it, with warmth and acceptance.

That's it. Today, just do that. See how it feels.

I love you.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 9


Some of my girlfriends and I were recently talking about our favorite funny movies...

Today, I needed a laugh. Like, really needed a laugh. I thought maybe you could too. Below, are a list of links to some of my favorite funny scenes from movies/TV. These are scenes that make me laugh out loud every time I watch them. I hope these have a similar affect on you.

The Austin Powers three-point turn.

Bridesmaids food poisoning.

Old School and the tranquilizer gun.

Lost in America the nest egg.

Laverne & Shirley the diner scene - Betty Please.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 8


My friend Melissa, introduced me to Goddess Cards a year or so ago. They're not Tarot or fortune telling cards, per se. Each card contains positive messages about what you might want to focus on or perhaps what's going on in your life now that you'd like to highlight.

If you were here, in my living room, I would shuffle the deck and invite you to pick one to three random cards of your choice. Then, I would tell you their meanings. My friends and I have had an excellent time doing this. Going through the process invites interesting thoughts and conversations.

You are not currently in my living room (probably), so I have chosen three cards for you all as a group today. The cards and their meanings are listed below. These are some really good ones - because you're a good group. 

If you would like me to pick a card specifically for you, let me know in the comments here, or on Facebook if you'd rather. I will give you your own, personal, one card reading. 

I'm just swell sometimes.




This is just nice. Who doesn't love true love in whatever form it takes?


Guinevere - True Love: "The romantic stirrings in your heart have propelled the universe to deliver great love to you.”
Message from Guinevere: “Romance is not an outmoded concept-far from it! Romance is the time honored precept of merging with the Divine as it is manifest within another human being. Romance is also playfulness, which heralds springtime, flowers, and new life. You need not be in a partnership to evoke romance, however. You can manifest it for yourself through laughter, surrounding yourself with beauty, and indulging in luxurious treats. Romance is the life force of the universe, and it is a worthwhile goal indeed!”

Various meanings of this card: Your soul mate relationship has arrived or is soon arriving. There is renewed passion in an existing relationship. You are a very romantic person. Your romantic needs are not being met, and you must take steps to alleviate this. 




I've got a few things on my Could Use a Miracle list right now. How about you?


Mother Mary - Expect A Miracle: “Have faith that your prayers have been heard and are being answered.”
Message From Mother Mary: “Faith is the light that illuminates your pathway. Without faith, the future looks very frightening. That is why it is essential for you to take whatever steps are necessary to keep your mind and heart filled with faith. Please do not give up hoe on yourself or other people. Keep the candle of faith burning within your soul., as that one small inkling of hope can eradicate the darkness of despair. Be the light that eliminates someone elses gloomy hopelessness as well. For as you make others stronger, it strengthens not only yourself but the entire world.”
Various Meanings Of This Card: Let go of worrisome thoughts. Keep your thoughts positive. Notice and follow any Divine guidance you may receive. Pray. Engage in spiritual healing.


Weird to get two love cards in one reading but then again Valentine's Day is next week and everything. This one is about healing your heart. 


Isolt - Undying Love: “The love you have shared is eternal, regardless of the situation.”
Message from Isolt, Goddess of Undying Love:  “When it comes to matters of the heart, your help is here. It’s all around you. and also inside of you. Your inner wisdom may seem quietened by any pain that you feel. Yet, be assured that the healing you are undergoing is swift and efficient, and you truly are healing from the inside out. First, your heart must heal from it’s grief, loneliness, and any feelings of betrayal. 
This can take some time, so be patient with yourself. Treat yourself as you would any ailing person: with caution, gentleness, and tenderness. Next, get yourself out  into the world-not in a harsh fashion, but with outings to parks, forests, and such, which are essential to lightening your outlook. Nature is the great healer, you see. That is why I am frequently amidst the flowers and the trees. Although they may seem quiet on the outside, they are quite talkative when you breathe and simply ingest their magical tones in conversation. Spend time among the forest and the trees, as well as the plants and the animals, and you will regain your foothold upon this planet. You will revive your sense of spirit, and your desire to tread among the living once again. I promise you that your heart will mend, and that you will also help others in this fashion along the way.”

Various meanings of this card: Love from your romantic partner is eternal, regardless of outward appearances. You are healing from a breakup. You are healing from some other type of loss. Let go of an old relationship to make room for a new one. the love that you send into the world is an important part of your Divine purpose. Your deceased loved one is happy and sends you love. 

Let me know if I can pull a card for you.
Get happy.
See you tomorrow.


Tuesday, February 7, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 7


Hello!

Today we are going to be friendly and learn to say, "Hello!"
Pick a language that is foreign to you from the list below.
Click on the translated word.
Once on the translation page, there is an option to hear the word in the dialect you have chosen.
Practice out loud.
Commit it to memory.
The time will come when you will use it.
And that time will be terrific.


HELLO!

In Mandarin: 你好

In Russian: Здравствуйте

In Arabic: مرحبا

In Hindi: नमस्ते

In Korean: 안녕하세요

In Thai: สวัสดี

In Swahili: hodi


Get happy.
See you tomorrow.



Monday, February 6, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 6




This an easy good things, guys. 

Follow the live webcam above or click here. This camera is set up at Anacapa Island Cove near Channel Islands, north of Los Angeles. I like it with the sound on so that you can hear the surf and seagulls and the signal from the lighthouse. The camera changes direction every few minutes. 

Make it full screen and suddenly you live at the shore and this is your window. 

Take a few deep breaths. 

Get happy.
See you tomorrow.





Saturday, February 4, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 4



My friend Angelika is a concert pianist. She is a total badass in every way - especially when playing the piano. This is her killing Rachmaninoff for your enjoyment. Go about your business with this music in the background and suddenly everything you do feels a little more important. 

What's on your agenda? 
Eating an orange?  Most emotional orange ever.
Paying your bills? You're in a scene from a foreign film.
Boiling some pasta? That is some dramatic fettuccine.
Texting your mom? Do it with a flourish.
You get the idea.

Get happy.
See you tomorrow. 






Friday, February 3, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 3

Cootie Catcher, Current Location 

It's the final day of The SFHGTT Cootie Catcher.

Yay.

The bad news? I can not find The Cootie Catcher. Seriously? This is a small house. There are only so many places it could be and it is, so far,  nowhere. The only answer: Teddy must have eaten it. Mmm, delicious Cootie Catcher.

Never fear. The memory of The Cootie Catcher lives on as we continue with today's action item.

Pick a letter: L, M, N, O, or P.

Got one? Excellent. Now click on your chosen letter below. There is something there for you to read. Read it aloud because it will be even better. What if you're at work and surrounded by other people? Then definitely read it out loud. For extra credit, memorize it.

L


M


N


O


P


Get happy.
See you tomorrow.




Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 2


I hope you're not sore from all of the dancing you did yesterday. I have a little bit of party-neck from all of the dancing I had to do to try out songs for maximum danceability. I'm working for you people.


Day 2 - The SFHGTT Cootie Catcher Part B

We're now at the next level of The Cootie Catcher - the numbers level.

Grab a piece of paper and a pen.
Please pick a number from the photo above.
Got one? 
Fantastic.
Follow the directions of the corresponding number listed below.
Be thoughtful about it.
Don't be lazy - just do the thing.
Get happy.
See you tomorrow.


1  Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter D.

2 Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter R.

3 Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter T.

4 Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter A.

Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter L.

6 Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter J.

7 Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter G.

28 Please list five things you are grateful for that start with the letter B.





Wednesday, February 1, 2017

The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing - Day 1


February is finally here. This means two things:
1. We actually somehow managed to survive January. (Yay us!)
2. The Smacksy February Happy Good Things Thing (SFHGTT) has arrived.


Day 1 - We begin with the SFHGTT Cootie Catcher Part A

Yes, this morning, before coffee, I was on Youtube watching a Cootie Catcher tutorial (they have those) to make this happen for you people. This Cootie Catcher is handcrafted. This is how much I love you.

How this works:
Turn up your audio.
Pick and click a color.
Move your body.
Go where the rhythm takes you.
Get happy.
See you tomorrow.