Take a handful, and call me in the morning!!!!

 

“The most thoroughly wasted of all days is 

that on which one has not laughed. ”

~ Nicolus Chamfort

I hope there are none among you who HAVEN'T experienced the euphoric gifts of a truly good laugh!  Did you know......

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
• Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
• Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
• Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Most days I'm able to get a good dose of this powerful medicine through the antics of the dog or cat or my grandson. But when I'm stuck in a funk, or caught up in the time and energy wasting obsessions of trying to change the past or project a future outcome, these are my two go to remedies. I hope they will provide you a few moments of blissful joy, too!!!  Enjoy!!

This week's daily posts about laughter are available on our FaceBook page: The 51% Project, click the link to enjoy them!


Have a great week!


Dorothy

Gratitude and Grace

“When you are grateful fear disappears

and abundance appears.”

~ Anthony Robbins

I was smack in the middle of an “I don’t have a thing to wear” moment, with most of the contents of my closet strewn across the bed and floor, when gratitude first entered my live in a conscious way.  Already late for work, I finally threw on a suitable ensemble and dashed to the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast. Standing in front of my open fridge; full to the brim with good, nutritional foods, sweet treats and a jug of clean water – it hit me:  While I was furiously rummaging through my closet FULL of quality clothing - cursing the clothes gods for my lack, and then there fretting in a kitchen stocked to extravagance, 1,000’s, no, 100’s of 1,000’s of women across the globe, likely dressed in their only item of clothing, had been on the move for hours, and would likely spend the rest of the day searching for something their family could eat. The image literally brought me to my knees.  It was an AH-HA moment that struck like lightening and has remained with me ever since.

I spent the next few days in hyper- conscious thought around all my good fortune and its contrast to the many who had so much less. Recalling how inconvenienced I felt when my car broke down and I had to rely on family members to transport me to and from my daily labors for a few days, I thought about the millions of men and women who awakened in the dark to start the long hours of maneuvering through the public transportation system to ultimately reach their work place (where they likely earned barely a living wage).  I recalled the fear and anxiety I felt when my Mom became ill and entered the medical system for the first time, and about the people who carried their loved ones for miles and days, in hopes that the visiting nurse in a hut in the next village might have something to ease their pain.  I thought about the many wonderful vacations I’ve enjoyed with family and friends, and then of all the people who, because of their circumstances, had never left the towns or villages of their birth, had never seen the ocean or a forest.

Gratefully, I resisted the temptation to sell all my material goods and run off to save a third world country, and instead came to this realization:  it is not for us to lord our good fortune over others, nor to discard the gifts we are given, but to receive, with gratitude, that which comes our way and share it, where we can, through compassion, kindness and love. 

That is what I’ve tried to do, in some small way, each day since that morning on my knees in front of the refrigerator. Since then I’ve been committed to being grateful everyday, thoughtfully finding and acknowledging (I keep a gratitude journal) the Grace in my life, the blue of the sky, the laughter of my grandson, the good fortune of having a safe car. And since I started my practice of gratitude, my life has become even more full of things and people to be grateful for and I am.

I encourage you to choose gratitude as your attitude this week – and see what happens. Then, please share your experiences here at The 51 Percent Project blog or on our FB page: The 51% Project.  Your stories keep us inspired, and encourage others’ as well.  Thank you.

Namaste,

Dorothy

We hope you are finding our daily Facebook posts inspiring.  If you missed this week’s offerings, please enjoy them below.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~ Melody Beattie

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the

highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

~ John F. Kennedy

“Gratitude is when memory is stored in

the heart and not in the mind.”

~ Lionel Hampton

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;

 they are the charming gardeners

who make our souls blossom.”

~ Marcel Proust

“We often take for granted the very things

that most deserve our gratitude.”

 ~ Cynthia Ozick

“Wake at dawn with a winged heart

and give thanks for another day of loving.”

 ~ Kahlil Gibran

A Grown Up Christmas List

As Christmas nears, many of us find ourselves caught up in the not enough time, too much to do, high dollar experience of the holiday season.  We hope this beautiful video will provide you a few minutes to pause, reflect and remember that the greatest gifts are not those grandly wrapped and placed beneath the tree, but are the intentions of the heart to make the world a better place for all humankind.

We thank  Kelly Clarkson for her beautiful rendition of David Foster's touching composition and Rob Pattinson for putting it all together in this wonderful video and add our hopes for the safe return of those fighting in Afghanistan as well.

We wish you and your loved ones much comfort and joy.

Dorothy and Susan

Choose Joy!

Find Joy in Unexpected Places

 

Doro 2011                                       dorocards@gmail.com

  

During this time of harried days and frazzled nerves, with daunting To-Do lists, and time passing at full speed, remember that the choices you make today will determine how pleasant, productive or problematic the day will be.  You have the power to find and make joy.

We wish you Peace….

Dorothy and Susan

Cheeseburgers in Paradise and Other Simple Pleasures

I just want to live happily ever after,

every now and then.

                              -Jimmy Buffett

On the recommendation of a friend, I recently tuned into a satellite radio station dedicated to the music of Jimmy Buffett and friends.  Although I enjoy Buffet’s music, I’ve never been a Parrothead, or been to a FIN-land concert, or bought one of his CDs.  That may change. 

I realized after about a week of listening to this new genre, that I was definitely feeling happier.  How can you not feel cheery with steel drums and a Caribbean beat in the background of our life?  Although I don’t necessarily subscribe to all of Buffett’s views on life, I admire him for standing in his truth with no excuses. 

And the lyrics, not just Buffett’s, but also those of his musical friends, are mostly laugh out loud, did he really just say that, hilarious!!!!!  Laughter IS such good medicine!!!

Creating happiness is a many-layered choice, which can, should, involve more than just thought and action. Certainly, thinking happy/positive thoughts and acting in happy/positive ways goes a long way, but I’m finding that when consciously engaging the senses, slipping out of my usual routines, and consciously recognizing, and then eliminating, things I do that create an agitated state of being – most done out of habit or a “my responsibility” place - the work is so much easier and much more fun.

To this end, I made a few adjustments to my daily routine – simple, pleasant, satisfying changes that are having quite an impact on my happiness status:

•  I stopped watching or reading the news. 
•  I wore my “good” clothes and jewelry, because today IS a special occasion.
•  I bought a bunch of beach-scented candles.
•  I lined my tables and windowsills and shelves with my favorite rocks, shells, pine cones, leaves and pieces of driftwood.
• I didn’t engage with “glass half-empty” people.
• I bought GOOD chocolate and GOOD wine and flowers, three bunches. 
• I called friends who make me laugh.
• I read a Mary Oliver or Rumi poem everyday.
• I visited websites with beautiful visual offerings (my favorite: Heron Dance) every morning. 
• I said, “How interesting,” instead of “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”
• I listened to Buffett, Marley, Franti and Prine and Chapin, too.
• I wore perfume.
• I danced with my grandson, the dog, and myself.
• I signed up for a new class at the gym.
• I unclenched my jaw.
• I said thank you, out loud, before I turned off the light at bedtime.

You know by now that Susan and I share a belief that choice is the bedrock of happiness, right action, authenticity, and an honorable place in the world community.  And that we believe that by putting out just a bit more effort, just 1% more everyday, we can affect personal and, ultimately, global change to the better.  Who doesn’t want a happier life and a better world?

So, try something new this week, find what fills you; surround yourself with people and music and things that bring you joy. 

Peace,

Dorothy

Dorothy:  We’ve just passed the summer solstice, and although the days will now be shorter, the sun will be brighter and warmer for a while.  I’ve vowed to not miss a moment of it, to take every opportunity I can to be out of doors, to soak up every last bit of this beautiful, life-supporting energy I can and shine it out  to everyone I meet along my way!

Susan:  I enjoy changing up my regular schedule now and then by trying something new for no other reason than because it sounds interesting … and of course, might provide me with a new perspective on life.  Some of my recent favorites have been:

• Enjoying mornings completely by watching the day come to life, even if it means I need to wake up 30 minutes earlier.
• Having a second, or even a third cup of tea.
• Putting at least my feet in the sunshine for 15 minutes.
• Reading thought provoking, as well as, humorous literature.
• Wearing my favorite summer sandals even though I am just sitting in the back yard reading.
• Spending time with people who are intelligent, interesting, and progressive.
• Drinking bubbly on a week night!
• Taking a detour into a neighborhood across town to see how beautiful their gardens are.

Little changes can help break habits that no longer serve us well and allow us to look at our lives with fresh eyes.

Thank you for returning to The 51% Project blog!  Your support and encouragement is appreciated.  If you use Facebook - please visit our page there and click on our favorite links to find other sources of inspiration and happy making.  There are many people and organizations out there who share our mission to tip the scales for MASS HAPPINESS - see what they're up to, you'll be delighted we're sure.