Happiness is.... a verb?!

Scattering Lupines passed on the Happiness 101 Award to me. Along w/ that honor came the challenge to list ten things that make me happy. Truth be told, I was actually kinda surprised as one thing after another listed here (there are certainly others) are not really things at all! Seems things don't make me nearly as happy as doing things does!

Writing

It's my preferred means of communication. Tho' it's time consuming, writing gives me the satisfaction of wrapping just the right words around what I'm learning, feeling, doing, etc. .... before (key word here) sharing it --- & somehow, in that process of trying to help it all make sense to someone else, even I gain a better understanding of whatever it is I'm attempting to explain!

Giving

I love it. I just do. I especially love to give gifts & to surprise people w/gifts when they least expect it. I never ever feel like I give enough - & I continually want to give more. However - I do not like feeling like I'm expected to give.... as that takes so much of the fun out of it!

Sharing

Sharing is different from giving in that it involves taking. The process of "give & take"encourages relationship which, quite frankly, is what I believe we were created for! I honestly believe that everything God created & inspired, He did to communicate relationship ... with Him & with each other...& indeed I enjoy some very special relationships with some very special people that I really enjoy doing all of the things I've listed here with - namely my husband/best friend & my children - & those I've experienced enough give & take with to call my friends :)

Exploring

The more up close & personal that I'm able to explore creation/nature, the better I understand the nature of the Creator!

Learning

Which is one big reason why I enjoy homeschooling so much -- because, in turn, I learn so much that either I've forgotten or somehow missed out on the first time around. And learning leads to ....

Understanding

- and the more I REALLY understand after studying, exploring, researching, reading, writing, calculating, learning, etc ..... the better I feel like I know God ... and the better I get to know Him, the more I enjoy....

Worshipping God

...especially with music (When words fail, music speaks.) - & by allowing Him to work through me to the best of my ability - which involves sharing(!) and ....

Being Creative

in how I use my time, money, energy, & God given abilities to express what He has shown, taught, & done for me ... in hopes of introducing Him to others.

Resting

As much as I love "doing", I've learned that in order to do anything well, I must rest now & then. Rest is so refreshing & allows the time that's necessary for all that I'm learning & understanding to sink in & to reflect on how I might share some of that with others in personal & creative ways.

Caring

If I ever stop caring, I hope I die. Caring is what motivates me to do so much of what I enjoy(!) ... giving .... sharing ... learning, etc. I see people around me who seem to have lost their abilility to care about anything or anyone other than themselves & some who have even lost that (!) & that ..... makes me sad :(

*******

Now... I'm supposed to choose ten others to pass this award on to but I'm going to bail here.... However, if you've been inspired to consider what makes you happy, to the point of generating a mental list, consider yourself among the chosen & challenge yourself to write it down .. & share it. Who knows?! ... in the end you might have a better understanding of what you're trying to explain as well ...which in my case, the bottom line seems to be ....

Happiness is as happiness does.
(hmm...sounds like something Forrest Gump would say, huh?! :)


“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,
for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12


For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10