The following 5 points are from Nic Marks and The Happy Planet. I have thrown in a few of my own examples.
- CONNECT. . . the most important cornerstone in our lives is social relationships. He says to invest time and energy with your loved ones. Keep building relationships.
- BE ACTIVE. . . the fastest way out of a bad mood is to step outside, go for a walk, turn on the radio and dance. Being active creates a positive mood. My favourite days are when I can start my day out with a half an hour biking, stepping, or whatever to get my heart going.
- TAKE NOTICE. . . be aware of the seasons changing, things going on around you and things going on inside you. Be aware. One late winter afternoon, I was picking up my small child from daycare. Rushing on the well worn foot path towards home, with him at my side, he stopped and exclaimed in his piercing voice, "Mommy, LOOK! The snow is sparkling!" Indeed, as he made me take time out of my busyness, and pause in my tracks I noticed that the new twilight was making the snow dance; the new appreciation brought a tear to my eye.
- KEEP LEARNING. . . be curious; learn all your life. Don't start to close down. It doesn't have to be formal learning, it can be picking up a new recipe or a musical instrument you used to play.
- GIVE. . . our generousity, our alturism and our compassion is hard-wired to the reward mechanism in our brain. We feel good if we give. You can take $5.00 and spend it at Tim's for yourself; however that same coffee and a doughnut brought to a friend will bring ultimately more joy.
Katherine Gregoire
