Ode to Joy (a video and a list)
Yes, another Muppet video made by a very close friend... if you have a minute, feel free to watch (and give it five stars, and all that jazz.)
Sometimes the best way to get happy is to remember what you have in your life to feel grateful for. Back when I used to hate my job (not the dog show, a previous job), if I had a really terrible day, on my drive home, I would force myself to find something to be grateful for. You know, like having a job to hate. Getting a paycheck. The whole "until I met a man with no feet" philosophy.
Let's give it a try, shall we? I present my own little Joy List.
(1) For the first time in a long time, I'm eating healthy and working out on a regular basis, and I'm actually getting my body back. When I say that, I partly mean "my respect for my body". There was nothing wrong with me (physically, ha ha) that couldn't be hidden with an empire-waist shirt and maybe a new pair of jeans. But that was a Band-Aid, and what I really needed was to work a little at getting to where I wanted to be. And now I'm working, and it's... working.
(2) Though the squirrels and I remain locked in an epic battle for control of the peaches, we actually do have peaches--and they're edible, too. They're sweet and juicy and absolutely the smallest peaches I've ever seen. If they weren't fuzzy, I'd think they were some other fruit. So even though every second peach has squirrel toothmarks in it, and there are nibbled-on peaches left all over the backyard (some cruel attempt at mockery on the squirrels' part), I'm still happy we have peaches.
(3) I have a wonderful family made up of dear people who are very smart and funny and artistically talented.
(4) I have an awesome little dog who loves me and makes me smile. Even if he's bored and kind of a pill this week, owing to the fact that the vet did an x-ray last week and discovered that there was a disc being compressed in his back, and ordered up a week of rest--which means, no jumping, even onto and off of the sofa, and no long walks or other exercise, and no going up or down stairs. Did I mention my house is on a hill? My house basically is a hill. We have lots of stairs. So Winston's actually contributing to my workouts by giving me a 20-pound weight to heft around. We go back to the vet tomorrow.
(5) Audiobooks. No, seriously. I am loving my audiobooks. I have a monthly subscription to Audible.com, where I pay something like $22 and get two downloads a month. Audiobooks are the perfect while-sewing entertainment. They're also good for the commute, although the ones with British accents tend to put me to sleep. ;-)
So that's my list. What's on your Joy List these days?
Sometimes the best way to get happy is to remember what you have in your life to feel grateful for. Back when I used to hate my job (not the dog show, a previous job), if I had a really terrible day, on my drive home, I would force myself to find something to be grateful for. You know, like having a job to hate. Getting a paycheck. The whole "until I met a man with no feet" philosophy.
Let's give it a try, shall we? I present my own little Joy List.
(1) For the first time in a long time, I'm eating healthy and working out on a regular basis, and I'm actually getting my body back. When I say that, I partly mean "my respect for my body". There was nothing wrong with me (physically, ha ha) that couldn't be hidden with an empire-waist shirt and maybe a new pair of jeans. But that was a Band-Aid, and what I really needed was to work a little at getting to where I wanted to be. And now I'm working, and it's... working.
(2) Though the squirrels and I remain locked in an epic battle for control of the peaches, we actually do have peaches--and they're edible, too. They're sweet and juicy and absolutely the smallest peaches I've ever seen. If they weren't fuzzy, I'd think they were some other fruit. So even though every second peach has squirrel toothmarks in it, and there are nibbled-on peaches left all over the backyard (some cruel attempt at mockery on the squirrels' part), I'm still happy we have peaches.
(3) I have a wonderful family made up of dear people who are very smart and funny and artistically talented.
(4) I have an awesome little dog who loves me and makes me smile. Even if he's bored and kind of a pill this week, owing to the fact that the vet did an x-ray last week and discovered that there was a disc being compressed in his back, and ordered up a week of rest--which means, no jumping, even onto and off of the sofa, and no long walks or other exercise, and no going up or down stairs. Did I mention my house is on a hill? My house basically is a hill. We have lots of stairs. So Winston's actually contributing to my workouts by giving me a 20-pound weight to heft around. We go back to the vet tomorrow.
(5) Audiobooks. No, seriously. I am loving my audiobooks. I have a monthly subscription to Audible.com, where I pay something like $22 and get two downloads a month. Audiobooks are the perfect while-sewing entertainment. They're also good for the commute, although the ones with British accents tend to put me to sleep. ;-)
So that's my list. What's on your Joy List these days?
Labels: list, on the web, stuff I like, winston
posted by Katie Alender at
8:22 AM
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6 Comments:
Running water in my house! Laugh if you will, I never cease to appreciate that. Let's see...the ability to buy organic produce if I feel like it; kids who are generally pretty good (and when they aren't, they come and apologize); a husband who loves me; a cat who finds me so tantalizing she drools all over me; a new pair of shoes that are comfortable (this is a huge thing, for me); and an unlimited supply of books to read, and flowers and vegetables in my garden, though I'd take your squirrels over our slugs any day (my cat won't eat slugs, but I'll bet she'd make short work of squirrels).
I have to do this every single day because I am sometimes so discouraged in my battle to get my work published and I have to remind myself that this is not the be all and end all.
Great list, Mary. Hurray for comfy shoes! And your cat might not eat slugs, but I wouldn't put it past Winston.
I'm happy for Door to Door Organics, which has allowed me to cut my time in the grocery store in half.
I am happy that gas has not gone up past $4.00 in my area.
I'm happy that we're having another kid, and I'm happy that this pregnancy is almost done.
And I'm happy that I get to stay home with my kiddo every day.
All in all, I've got a lot to be happy about. ;) Even though that doesn't prevent me from bitching all the time.
Well, bitching is an inalienable right, which we should be thankful for! ;-)
My buddy Winston in trouble again? That really stinks:0( I sure hate to think of him in pain of ANY kind, least of all back pain. Can you please let us know how the visit with the vet went?
Sweet peaches = yummy.
As far as the video goes: LMAO! I love Beaker. He's my all-time favorite Muppet. Even if he’s on fire!
I'm glad you love your family. If you have that, everything else can come and go.
rats, goggle ate my post from yesterday :(
jim henson was my alltime 'creative' hero, so this is a welcome treat!
as for slugs, what ducks thrive on! ;)
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