How to get unstuck in glorious technicolour

Posted by El on Sep 3, 2010 in Minkle | 4 comments

What do you think? If this made you smile, please hit the RT or Facebook share button as you head out the door. It will make me smile (and your friends will dig you for being such a kindly sharer.)

Have a fabulous day

How to live the champagne lifestyle, without earning another penny!

Posted by El on Sep 2, 2010 in Get stuff done | 4 comments

Yesterday was the first day back in school for my girls. My eldest was especially excited. I came downstairs a little before 7am to find her all dressed and breakfasted!

So we’re hanging out, doing our thing with the epic Wizards of Waverley Place on in the background. As an aside, do I need to worry that I’m actually starting to enjoy Hannah Montana?!

But back to Wizards and my ears were tickled by a line from one of the characters:

“Keep acting like something you want is already happening and a lot of the time it does!”

Sounds a bit like that thing a good friend of mine talks about: building a compelling future.

I would love to have been a butterfly on the window ledge when the show’s producers met to discuss that script. Do you think they plan these gems as a nod to the parents?

So anyway, it got me thinking. What would life be like if every day you acted out the part you wanted?

I want to be a size 10 thin bean (UK sizes I might add!) with a midriff to rival a 16 year old. Having grown three babies, can I act that part and really expect it to come true?

What about my dreams for this place? I want it to be the place you come to when you need a smile. I want adoration and lots of laughter. I want gazillions of fans falling over themselves to leave a comment and hit the RT button on the way out the door.

What would happen if I started living that role? Would my words be magically elevated to something more worthy of the attention?

And what about you? Who do you want to be? What would happen if you just stepped into that role and started to be the person you want to be?

But of course, I kind of got to thinking a bit more. It’s a cool philosophy. I rather quite like it. But what happens if you take it a bit further? What if you want to be a millionaire with the champagne lifestyle?

Want your cornflakes covered in cream and your eggs free-range? What stuff paints ‘millionaire’ for you? Can you live that life right now without earning an extra penny?

Maybe it’s just because I’ve enjoyed a lovely day but looking around me right now, I can’t help but think that there isn’t really a whole lot more I could wish for.

If I were a millionaire, how would my life be different? How would yours?

My biggest bug bear is the insane hours The BFG has to work. The rubbish he does on a daily basis is one of the things that drives me. I want to succeed so that he can spend more time with our children.

During my stints as a supply teacher, we’d be like the proverbial ships. He’d work when the rest of us slept and looked after the children when I played school teacher. It wasn’t a lot of fun but it’s what you do isn’t it? What other option did we have? Me working full time with the children in child care?

I am fortunate, I know that, so I shouldn’t complain. Yes, I’ve been known to moan and grumble about my three but I also love and appreciate the time I’ve had with them while they’ve been little. They’re not perfect, whose kids are?

But I have to believe that this way we’ve juggled it has helped them become the happy children they are today. (And yes, they are fast asleep in bed as I write this so they are most certainly happy children right now!)

But I have a little challenge for you. I challenge you to make a list of all the stuff that would make this the best life you could possibly have. Where would you be? Who would you be with? What would you be doing?

You can’t undo the past (so don’t go thinking about imagining away the scary mother in law or annoying habits of your significant other) or manipulate time. We all have things that we’d rather rewind but work with what you have right now.

What can you do right now to step into those shoes and start living that dream today?

Go on … tell me about it. You know you want to.

Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

5 reasons to be thankful, even as summer ends

Posted by El on Sep 1, 2010 in Happy Dance | 11 comments

As the long, hot Summer draws to a close (yeah, OK, I mean that very poetically. There was nothing long or hot about this summer!) I was reflecting on the new school year about to begin.

Small children starting a new adventure. Bigger kids moving on to the next chapter. And you and me. Maybe it’s a throw back to my days as a teacher or just because I love the opportunity for fresh starts, but September always excites me.

Today though is the last day of the holidays. The day before the next adventure starts.

Just between us, I’m feeling a little bit blue. Not what you want from the happiness blog or refreshing honesty? Let’s opt for the latter. Anyone who tells you’re they’re totally happy 100% of the time is deluding someone.

As an antidote to the blues and before we move into this next bit, will you take a moment to remember the things that have made you smile so far?

In no particular order, here are my five reasons to be thankful. Will you add yours?

1. Friends

I count myself as very privileged to have met some wonderful people over the last few months. And better yet, a core of these lovelies have become really great friends.

Much of what excites me about the months ahead is thanks to my friends, their encouragement, love and, in some cases, a willingness to jump on board the El Excitement Train and join me in joint ventures.

2. Fresh air

So the summer has had its wet moments (read: days and days of rain!) and I mentally grumbled at how much time the children spent indoors instead of living outside like I wanted us to (who am I trying to kid? I moaned about it out loud enough of the time too!) But it hasn’t been all bad. We have the beach just a five minute walk away and after getting a bike at the start of the summer, I’ve been enjoying lots of lovely outside stuff, even if I have got rained on!

What about you? Are there places around you that you are guilty of taking for granted. What’s fabulous about the stuff just outside your front door?

3. Family

Whoever penned the immortal line about blood being thicker than water but boiling quicker wasn’t wrong. I’ve witnessed some spats over the last few weeks. But I’m also very aware of how important it is to be thankful for my children, parents, siblings and of course, The BFG. They all totally do my head in sometimes (go on, be honest, yours do to) but my world would be a duller place without them.

4. Fun times ahead

Having accidentally ended up with three things all starting with the letter F, I couldn’t resist continuing along the theme. Thinking about a new school year, I’m very excited. It’s a bit like that fabulous Monday morning feeling on Smarties. So one of the things I’m taking time to be thankful for is my wonderful brain and the way it conjures up all manner of fun treasures.

I’m also exceptionally thankful for the opportunity I have to explore all these wonderful new things. It would be pretty rubbish to have loads of great ideas but not be in a position to do anything with them.

5. Hmmm, I ran out of stuff.

What are you thankful for? If it starts with an F, all the better but that’s not a rule. Just tell me what else you’re thankful for, especially as you think about the stuff you’re about to start.

Talk to me. Talk to each other. RT and Facebook like the post. Let’s get everyone talking so we can all do a happy salsa together.

And have yourself a fabulous day.

Image: EA / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A gorgeous cuddle to lead you into the weekend

Posted by El on Aug 27, 2010 in Smile | 15 comments

After the gloom of yesterday (and yes, I did indeed tease myself mercilessly later) I’m sitting here with a massive grin on my face because the lovely Shaun from Hostgator saved my smiles from apparent gloom. How then could I, as the smiling story teller and your hostess of happiness, leave such a sad, grumpy post at the top of my blog all long weekend?

I couldn’t!

So today, for your visual, belly laughing pleasure, I’m proud to present 10 awesome videos that will make you smile all weekend.

But here’s the catch: So far, I only have two. They’re my two favourites and they always make me smile. Hooray! Thanks to Steve and Jenn, we’re now up to 5. Would you help me out with a favourite or two of yours? Add a link in the comments and I’ll edit them in here later.

Oh, and if you think this is a quickie you’d be right. I had a whole smiley post here that was thrown forever into the ether when my blog fainted earlier this morning. Where it went I have no clue. But if you find it, please give it back, it was rather lovely.

In the meantime, why not enjoy this?

My first is a wonderful clip that never fails to force me to appreciate everything (and I mean everything) about life. Sure, my blog had a wobble but as Johnny said, it’s not horrible. Cancer is horrible. It’s just annoying. That sure told me.

And my second is for pure belly laughs. I love it!

So here we have a couple of wonders from lovely Jenn Jinright. Thanks Jenn (And if you haven’t already done so, go and check out her super, duper new relationship site Love’s Sugar And Spice. What a cool name eh? Wish I’d thought of that

And Steve Scott has a great little clip with a singing alien. Thanks Steve

So now it’s over to you. Add you favourites in the comments, I’ll stick them up here and let’s all go into the weekend with a smile on our wonderful faces.

Oooh, I almost forgot (because I said this once already in the ‘lost in the ether’ post.) The Happiness Report is out tonight. If you’re not already signed up, be sure to click here or on the report image below and add your details. It really is lovely. (And although yes, I am biased, if I told you it was rubbish, would you want it?!)

Warning: Sometimes it all feels hollow, but there is another way

Posted by El on Aug 25, 2010 in Connect | 3 comments

Hollow. That’s how I feel.

The squirming mess of bleary knot-wrangled unease has gone. Twelve hours later it’s been replaced by a sad sort of peacefulness. Bleary has given way to sheer exhaustion but it’s that kind of tired that feels better the empty side of a cup of tea.

Where are my smiling stories to lift and stir? Where’s the happy stuff to lighten your spirit? And mine. They feel like empty words right now. I feel morose with no reason I can give for feeling it.

I suspect this gloom will never find itself published. How can I? Where’s the twist at the end to make you smile? But it can sit in draft until the final ending comes. And then it will have its day.

Until then. Nothing.

What a load of poetic old clap trap! Could you read anything more desperate and sorrowful today? I feel like grabbing a time turner and going back and giving myself a good, hard shake!!

Because there’s a sparkle up ahead. A glimmer of conversation and loving connection. And that sparkle just blossomed into a great big dazzling diamond so it’s time to throw off the self pity!

It’s about finding the stuff that drives you and filling up on that. For me, it’s love and connection. I write for the empathy yes. But I also write for the comments, the connection, the love.

I call myself the smiling storyteller and the hostess of happiness but in truth, kindness and love are my currency. I want this place to be amazing because I want that connection with ‘the world’.

So who says an afternoon of uncharacteristic sadness must mar the whole day? Why can’t we re-write the ending? It’s our story. We can do whatever we darn well please. Can’t we? I dare you to disagree. Go on. What’s stopping you? Tell me I’m wrong and lets talk about it.

What are you doing today to start re-writing your story? The next scene? Your very next line?

As for me, I’m done with gloom so don’t be thinking about telling me to buck up. Don’t empathise and tell me we all have days like this from time to time. I know. That’s why this post had to be.

Because happy is more fully appreciated when it meets its nemesis. This is my nemesis but I’m done with it.

So what happens next? You decide.

Smiling Stories meet Tycoon Blogging. Whatever next?

Posted by El on Aug 25, 2010 in Get stuff done | 23 comments

Once upon a time, this place had a sister site. It was to be a smiling business dream. A place that attracted business folk interested in making the visitors to their websites smile.

It lived for just a small handful of days before it died a silent and painless death. Today is the day for that story.

I love this place. I feel honoured that you come here to enjoy my random ponderings and love the stories we share. It’s awesome! Put yourself in my head for a moment or two though. Feel free to gently nudge the excess ideas and random happenings to one side. We don’t need those right now.

How to smile all week, even if you live for the weekend

Posted by El on Aug 23, 2010 in Smile | 15 comments

It’s Sunday night. I’m soaking in a deep, hot, bubble bath. Downstairs, I smell dinner gently doing its thing in the oven, aided and abetted by The BFG.

Mmmmmmmm.

I can’t even spell how good this bath feels right now. It’s like all the muscles in my body are being given a cuddle by a warm, soft blanket of loveliness.