Bit of Happy #13: Always Remember

A photo taken by one of my family members; My Grandfather and I.

“Missing someone gets easier every day because even though you’re one day further from the last time you saw them, you are one day closer to the next time you will.”
– Anonymous

Losing someone you love is never easy. It can be just as difficult seeing someone you love lose someone they love. There are never enough of the right words to say. Never enough hugs or ‘Thinking Of You’ cards that can express your true sympathy. This quote, however, helped me find hope in my deepest despair. In my deepest sympathy of those I love.

Have you ever lost someone you love?

Share this quote with someone you love who may have lost someone close to them.

Bit of Happy #12: Spread the Happy!

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
-Buddha

This quote had me imagining…

The darkness of a cool night. (I’d say close your eyes and visualize this, but you obviously can’t read with your eyes closed… So, just picture this as you read it.) All of your surroundings are shaded with the dark blue of night. Shadows of black gather in the corners. And out of the darkness, a tiny light appears. A light so tiny that you are left wondering if it’s just your imagination. And then suddenly, it splits into two lights. Then three. Four. Five. You blink and rub your eyes, thinking you are just seeing things. The tiny flames are slowly coming closer, shedding light into the dark corners. Six. Seven. Eight.

Slowly you can begin making out distant faces – they are happy and warm. You can feel a sense of vulnerability as they approach. Should I open myself to them? Nine. Ten. Eleven. All of the candles are burning brightly. No one candle is burning more bright than the next. Twelve. Twenty. Forty. Suddenly, you can no longer decipher which was the original light. Fifty. Sixty. Seventy.  Closer and closer they approach, sharing their light with others along the way. Eighty. Ninety. One Hundred.

You begin to feel a pull. A tug at the corner of your lips. You’re smiling. The happiness is contagious. Someone greets you with a returned smile and holds their candle to yours. A flame sparks from their candle to yours as one and then slowly splits into two. A new light brightens. You can feel the warm glow on your face. Just this tiny gesture inspires you to share with others, and you begin lighting others’ candles with your flame.

Beginning with a single flame and having the power to share happiness with others. The power to inspire. The power to bring happiness. The power to hopefully have others share this flame with their friends, family and even strangers. Little Bits of Happy will become the single flame, only to split into many, many more.

Bit of Happy #11: Give Life Your All

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”
-Andrew Carnegie

Okay, so today’s quote comes with a fun activity! Well, it’s fun to me anyway. I made what is most commonly known as a ‘Bucket List.’ I’ve been building mine for many years now – long before the movie came out. So below is a list of all (well, not exactly all of them – some are a little more personal than what I’d like to share on the internet) of the things I would like to do before I no longer have that option. These are all goals. Goals that command my thoughts – that motivate and inspire me down to my core, my soul. So enjoy mine, but most importantly:

Share some of your goals. It can be a long list like mine, or just a few of them. What are some of the things you would put (or have) on your Bucket List?

Bit of Happy #10: Never Say Good-Bye

Little Bits of Happy’s First Quote Submission!!!!
Thanks, Amanda

For her senior dance recital, Amanda performed Peter Pan, starring as Wendy. Ever since fourth grade when Amanda experienced her first recital, she had a passion for expressing herself through dance. “The senior class at my dance program had grown really close, considering most of us have been dancing together for at least nine years,” she recalls.

From shopping to sleepovers, Amanda reminisces the moments she shared with friendships that will last a lifetime. “Most of all, our long dance rehearsals and fundraising efforts brought us together,” she says.

The last couple of weeks leading up to her last dance recital before leaving for college were very difficult. The group of girls grew even closer through their dedication to make it to Disney. This opportunity was a first for the Ballet School of Glyndon, and the girls worked relentlessly to make enough money to live this dream-come-true. Their hard work paid off, and reality hit as they were boarding the plane to Florida. Within hours they would be dancing in Downtown Disney. Amanda says, “It was a bittersweet moment. We knew that everything we did together could be our last before we went our separate ways.”

On the night before Amanda’s Peter Pan recital, her teachers gathered all of the senior dancers and gave each of them a card. Beyond the envelope was this quote: Never say good-bye because good-bye means going away, and going away means forgetting.

Even after her recital of Peter Pan, Amanda says, “It reminds me that I will never forget the friends and times I had at my ballet school, because I will never say good-bye to them. And they will never say good-bye to me.”

Photograph Submitted By: Amanda Wheeler

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Bit of Happy #9: Make a Promise

“Promise yourself to be strong – that nothing can disturb your piece of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all of your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as your are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievement of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.”
-Christian D. Larson

It’s hard to find the words to say after reading a quote like that. This one has left me speechless time and time again. The only valuable thing that can stand up to this quote is that I strive, every day, to live, breathe and dream the essence exuded through these words. This quote inspires me to make a promise to myself – its one of those Bits Of Happy that you should read every morning when you wake up.

It’s the perfect reminder to live your life as happy and as full as possible, while touching the lives others like a budding flower through cracks of gravel. Warm your heart with positivity and warm the hearts of others through your trust and confidence in them. Share your smile with everyone you meet; even the smallest gestures can be the soft rays of the sun in someone’s day.

Could you imagine what the world be like if everyone lived from this quote?

What’s one thing you can learn and take from this quote?

How will this quote change the way you live your life?

Click on the card below to print out this quote. Place it on your nightstand as a reminder to start your day with a new promise.

Bit of Happy #8: Free Yourself

“Let go of the things in the past, only then can you be free.”
-AMG

I wrote this entry quite a bit ago. And even though it isn’t quite accurate with where my life stands today, I still felt some of you may get some encouragement or insight out it it. It was a fun post at the time, so I decided to post it anyway. So here it is…

Heavy burdens and broken hearts of the past can weigh you down and keep you from flying free, from living life. This quote has been an inspiration in my life, over and over again.

Most recently, I was hurt by a very close friend of mine. Out of no where, he dropped into my life, and we more or less became instant best friends. We were both seeing other people at the time, so a strong friendship built naturally. I trusted him with everything I had. I never imagined either of us hurting one another. And when things moved to the next level as our significant others faded into the past, I was even more confident in those beliefs.

Long story short and lots of drama later, we ended with – he wasn’t ready for anything serious, and I was, well, nothing short of broken. Coming from a past of being hurt by total jerks, I never thought in a million years that my best friend – well, that we would end up the way we did.

But the point of blubbering about all of this isn’t even about my broken heart. It’s the fact that after that… I swore to myself that I would put my guard up and never, EVER let it down again. I was tired and done with opening myself up, only to be hurt. You know, the song with the lyrics: “This time, baby, I’ll be bulletproof” – Yeah, that was my life’s theme song.

Anyway, I met a guy this summer. Side note: I have a track record for terrible first dates and definitely never second ones. And by terrible, I mean either creepy, ignorant, ready to say ‘I Do’ or… I’m just not really feeling it. Well, this new guy was polite, down-to-earth, creative, intelligent and we both had a lot of common interests. Oh, and he’s pretty cute too.

Building, building.. (Man I am wordy today) THE POINT: I would have never even given this guy a chance if I’d allowed my past to hold me back. If I hadn’t set myself free from the last heart break, this prince-charming-of-a-guy wouldn’t have fallen into my life. I could have been curled up in my bed, crying the moment I actually spent meeting him.

That’s what’s funny about life.. Think – instead of hanging onto the guy that’s obviously bad for you, why not get out there and live in the moments you were supposed to live and run into the guy who is right (not literally). But really, if you even have a doubt that he’s not treating you the way he’s supposed to be, he probably isn’t. If your making up excuses in your mind for him – reasons why he isn’t treating you right – then he’s not the right one. I can promise you that.

I was reading “He’s Just Not That Into You” when I was not officially “dating” but being “exclusive” with my best friend. I hated the book. It was telling me everything I didn’t want to hear. That my best friend wasn’t right for me. I was so blinded by him and my misconstrued way of thinking that he was right for me that I thought the book was SO BEYOND wrong. If I just wait a lllliiittttllllleeee longer, then he’ll — stop me there. PLEASE!

But I’m seeing the light. ‘New guy’ has showed me the light. Whether this new guy is the one for me or not, he has put a lot of things into perspective. One – He’s showed me how guys should and can treat a girl. Two – If he and I don’t work out, it simply wasn’t meant to be and someone else will come along. Three – Don’t ever allow your past to burden or impede on living your future to the fullest. Learn from it, be cautious of it (without a doubt), but don’t ever let it hold you back from living.

Bit of Happy #7: It’s Not Always What Meets the Eye

“The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or heard, but must be felt with the heart.”
-Helen Keller

Here are TEN WAYS to experience the best and most beautiful things in life:

1.  Put a smile on. Something as simple as smiling can warm your heart and inspire others to do the same.

2.  A little thought can go a long way. Send a ‘Thinking of You’ card or some flowers to a distant family member is the perfect way to raise spirits.

3. Reach out to those in need. Donate money to a charity, take part in a service project, volunteer at a local soup kitchen or other cause.

4. Offer a listening ear. Sometimes you don’t even have to say anything. Just listen to a friend, family member or co-worker’s hardships and show support.

5.  Take a moment. Watch the sunset, soak up your surroundings, breathe in the gentle breeze. Little moments like this can make you feel alive again.

6.  Forgive and move forward. Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but it will free your heart so you can find peace.

7.  Send a loving reminder. It’s the little things that mean the most – call a loved one you just to say ‘I love you.’ Giving and receiving love is the best gift you can give for free.

8.  Express your thankfulness. Showing others that you appreciate them and all that they do for you makes them feel good about themselves, and makes you feel good too.

9.  Lend a helping hand. Hold open the door or help carry groceries to someone’s car – the little time it takes to help others makes big impact.

10.  Show the Earth some love. Plant a tree or garden in your yard or community.

Bit of Happy #6: Flawlessly Flawed Prince(ss) Charming

“Love isn’t finding a perfect person. It’s seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”
-Sam Keen

By now, we know real life isn’t a fairy-tale. There is no prince charming galloping up on his white horse to save you of a broken heart from the last jerk. Love is messy. Love is imperfect – or maybe it’s just the people who are trying to love that are imperfect. Either way, life cannot be something that is flawless.

But I believe it is true love when two imperfect people come together in a perfect way. You are the indestructible team. The light in each other’s shadows. The courage to one another’s burdens. The strength to the other’s weakness. You fit – two pieces that become one single whole.

When I read this quote (which is by far one of my favorites!), I picture two people staring into the sunset, standing side by side, hand in hand. Ready to take on the world. No matter what challenges they are faced with. They are the unbreakable bond. The reason for getting up in the morning. The reason for existing. And as long as they have each other, life couldn’t be better. No matter the imperfections that exist… in each other, and in life.

That’s what I ultimately want out of life. What I want more than anything. My imperfect person…

Do you like this quote? Share your thoughts. Comment, comment, comment!

Bit of Happy #5: In My Eyes, You are the World

“To the world, you may be just one person, but to one person, you may be the world.”
-Brandi Snyder

From a small child’s devotion to their mother to an aging dog’s companionship to their owner, to star-crossed lovers’ hearts beating as one… this quote expresses the undying love that exists within the most precious moments of life.

You may never be famous or recognized by millions, but that’s not really a self-actualizing goal to have in life – not to me anyway. You can sit inside your money-stacked castle, but without one meaningful relationship – without love – you have nothing. It’s not about the volume of people you know, it’s how you impact their life. Whether it’s a baby you nurture or a soulmate you love to the end of time – even if it’s just one life – that relationship may mean the world to the other person… and to you. And if you really think about it… To have that kind of effect on someone, it’s nothing short of an honor. To be in someone’s life, through their happiness and hardships, and have that trust, your world becomes narrowed into that one person.

Tell Your Story.
Who is someone that means the world to you? Or someone you believe you are their world?

My Story…

When I was about 12- or 13-years-old, I volunteered at a nursing home in my hometown. I would run the arts-and-crafts and Bingo events, drop in and read stories to different patients, bring them down for their meals and just listen when they needed someone to talk to. There was this one lady in particular, Mrs. Havener… She was the sweetest lady and so grateful for my company. She had the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen, short-cut, fluffy white hair and a modest smile. Some days I would read to her, and other days she would tell me about her family who no longer visited (Later, I found out from one of the nurses that they were all deceased) and the memories of her life. Some days, I would bring her flowers or a ‘Thinking-of-You’ card and slowly her small window ledge that was once bare filled up with my little gifts. She cherished them. And she cherished our time most of all.

Every day I would walk up to the nurses station and one of them would say, “Mrs. Havener has been looking for you.” My heart just filled with – you know, that fuzzy / exploding-with-happy feeling in your heart. She would miss me on the days I didn’t come in. Sometimes my mom and I would stop in and visit – even on the days I had off just because I knew it would make her day.

One day, she took my hands into hers. I could feel the natural shake of her palms from old age. She looked into my eyes and her wise voice spoke, “I haven’t been so happy in years. And it’s all because of you. You are the sunshine in my days.”

It was shortly after that day that Mrs. Havener’s health started going downhill. The day I came in and the nurses didn’t say anything about her awaiting my arrival, I could sense something wasn’t right. I could feel the thick choke in my throat and the pounding in my chest. I took the dreaded steps down the hall to her room – I just wanted to turn and run the other way. I stepped inside of her room; her bed was neatly made, not a crease in the white bedding. Tears welled into my eyes – all of my small tokens that Mrs. Havener had cherished were removed. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. Never existed. The room felt cold. Empty.

One of the nurses stepped in and put a hand on my shoulder, “She went in her sleep last night. I’m sorry.”

I turned to look at her as a tear rolled down my cheek. “How do you do it?” I asked. “How do you work at a place where everyone dies?”

“Oh hunny,” she said, putting an arm around my narrow shoulders. “It’s not easy. But what I think of that gets me through days like this… is that these people need people like us. Otherwise, they would die alone. Her last days were every bit of happy because of you. Without you, what would her last days have been like? That thought is what gets me here every morning. We are the world to most of these people. Their everything. Keep that in mind, and maybe you’ll find the strength to come in tomorrow.”

And the next day, I did…

Bit of Happy #4: Live for Today

“Death is an absolute. And with each moment that passes, we grow nearer to our ultimate fate. Understand that life is slipping away from your hands. And you never know when tomorrows will run out. So learn to love the life you’ve got. Accept the inevitable truths that so often society teaches us to deny and ignore. Go out and live without your list of things to do tomorrow, and for one day, live as if it were your last… Because before you know it, that day will be your last.”
-Anonymous

I love the concept of living for today… of living one day of your life as if you knew it would be your last. That’s what really pulled me toward this quote – that very concept. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but I feel as though I’d find myself doing something crazy… like jumping out of a plane. But knowing – or well, believing that I have more days to live than only today, I tend pull back on the reckless feats.

And see, that’s the thing about this quote. It’s telling you to do the complete opposite. It’s telling you to not be afraid to step off the ledge, get your hands a little dirty, make the difference you’ve been waiting for… It’s telling you to stop waiting for life to happen, and instead, make it happen.

That’s the problem with life. We hold ourselves back. We think we have many days left in our life to do the things we want so badly to do… so we hold back experiencing. We hold back living. ‘After this happens, then I’ll be able to do this…’ – something I’m at fault for saying. But what if today really was my last? Could I truly say I’ve lived my life to the fullest, and that I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do? Could you?

Have you ever lived a single day as if it were your last? What did you do?

If you’ve never done it before, what would you imagine your last day to be like? What would you want to do?

Reflecting on these questions can really prioritize and bring forth what is important in life. The insignificant things that we tend to get caught up in will fade into the background.

Share your thoughts.

And remember: don’t just imagine what you’d do, get out there and live it. I can guarantee you that list of things sitting in front of you are some of the most important moments of your life.