A guest post from Kathy.
From time to time other voices join the conversation.
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I’m not a black and white, concrete sort of person. To me there are many shades of grey in most situations (I can play devil’s advocate while still talking to myself). So, for me to define happiness won’t be easy. This will not be a simple answer, get the kids settled, buckle up and hang on.
First of all what ‘type’ of happiness are we talking about?
Basic, vague, top priority happiness? This is the first level of happiness. And for me it has the most simple definition – a definition to which I have just one answer:
“For my children to have unconditional good health, for them to be safe and have personal happiness in their own lives” . . . myself and my husband included.
It’s all the other ‘types’ of happiness that I have too many answers for. To feel happiness in your life as a whole, the day to day simple pleasures have to be included. This, in my mind, is the second level of happiness. It can include everything from deeply emotional moments to simple, fun things.
Such as:
-Saturday morning sleep-in’s with my husband, and coffee in bed, watching the birds feed from our window bird feeder.
-Warm, dry socks!
-Hot chocolate on a snowy day, curled up in a soft blanket fresh from the dryer.
-Puppies
-Finding a $10 bill in your old coat pocket.
-Finding a card or letter in your mailbox not just your email.
-Your significant other noticing something you put effort into.
-The smell when you walk into a flower shop.
-First cup of coffee in the morning.
-Those private moments you sometimes get to yourself when all is quiet and no demands are being made.
-And puppies . . . and on and on . . . I could cover pages with this stuff . . . don’t temp me. (See Smiley Lady Ruth’s Giant List of Smiley Things).
I’m still working on a few of these, but I’ll get there eventually. Each day I try to teach a few to my kids so it will come easier for them.
As for my husband, he’s already found his own private definition of happiness. According to him, it’s a greasy hamburger . . .
Oh, the simple pleasures!
A bit about Kathy Shimmield:
I’m a mom of 3, married for 15 years to a lovely and very patient man. Two years ago I was laid off from my business development job and the year prior I had been laid off as well. Needless to say I didn’t feel confident in any job. I decided to go into business for myself making apps for the iPhone and iPad. I knew less than nothing about it and learned as I went. I hired a programmer with what little I had saved from my last job. My one rule was to never take out loans or touch my families finances, I didn’t want to take away from us I wanted to add to us as a family. It took a year but finally my first app ‘iMommy’ was launched and I’ve never looked back. I hope one day to be successful enough to help others find their path as well, but I’m still finding my own way through the woods. My path is more secure, but in this business there are no guarantees.
Follow Kathy’s blog and connect with her in Twitter and Facebook.