"Become happier with these 8 simple tricks"<---- Look familiar?
This is what has been popping up in my inbox more and more and every time I receive one, I find myself feeling a little bit anxious. I start to ask myself:
Am I really happy? What should I do to become happier? Maybe if I do X and Ya little differently, I will be more content. What does it really mean to be happy? etc. etc.
Well...the definition of happiness is "a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy." wikipedia
I find it quite difficult to identify these feelings as I tend to always focus on the things I "NEED" to accomplish, and my self-imposed desire to strive for the next best thing. I never look back at the things I have accomplished and appreciate them. It's funny, because whenever I mention even a few things I've done, people tell me I have lived so many lives. I never really think of it that way, but it's nice to have it reflected back as a healthy dose of reality.
Anyways, as I was talking to my friend Camille tonight, the topic of bucket lists came up. I thought it would be fun to write a bucket list, but she said it depressed her to write things down that she may not be able to accomplish by the end of her life. DING DING DING. The light went off in my head and I suggested that we should make a list of all of the things we were proud of, the things we've accomplished, and the things we've seen. Maybe if we do that, we will both get out of our heads about the things we aren't currently doing or accomplishing and appreciate the things we've done.
Be more content, be proud, maybe even be a little "happier".
SOOOO -HERE GOES.
What I've Seen:
The Great Wall of China
China- Tanguu, Tianjin, Beijing
Philippines- Coron, Borocay, Manila
S.Korea- Every province
DMZ- Border between N-S Korea
Japan- Tokyo, Mt.Fuji at sunrise
USA: New York (most of Manhattan), Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, California (L.A), West Virginia, Tennessee (Memphis), Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio (Columbus), South Dakota, Colorado, Illinois (Chicago), Others I'm sure.
What I've done:
Dropped out of high school (not great) to pursue ballet (good)
Danced with Joffrey Ballet NY, Ballet Met (Ohio), Maryland Youth Ballet, St.Louis Ballet Company.
Lived in NY at 14 years old.
Started University at 17 with only a GED
Shot a gun in West Virginia (only awesome because it's so uncharacteristic)
Recorded with Tilly and the Wall (tap dancing on "O")
Graduated college with a 3.5 GPA and excellent recommendations
Moved to China to teach
Worked with Carr Workplaces (first big girl job, an accomplishment in the state of the economy)
Moved to S.Korea to teach
Cliff dove from 15 Meters (I'm scared of heights)
Snorkeled some of the most beautiful crystal waters (I didn't grow up near water---so BIG deal for me)
Hiked the major peaks in Korea
Hiked Mt.Fuji
Travelled solo in a foreign country (Japan)
Taught myself how to cook in a foreign country (cooking whole chickens with all body parts and looking at dead dogs in the market...all tricky at first)
Caught fish with my hands (never thought I would do it!!)
What I'm in the process of doing-
Learning the Ukulele
Studying Korean (although I'm so lazy sometimes)
30 day HIIT challenge
30 day alcohol free challenge
Getting more involved in Seoul meet-up groups
Changing to an all Paleo diet
What I want to do this year (I couldn't help myself)
Learn Korean more proficiently
Finish many exercise challenges
Stick to clean eating
Surround myself with inspirational people
Travel to Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore
Make arrangements to work in India
Masters degree
Be more consistent with blogging!
This is what has been popping up in my inbox more and more and every time I receive one, I find myself feeling a little bit anxious. I start to ask myself:
Am I really happy? What should I do to become happier? Maybe if I do X and Ya little differently, I will be more content. What does it really mean to be happy? etc. etc.
Well...the definition of happiness is "a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy." wikipedia
I find it quite difficult to identify these feelings as I tend to always focus on the things I "NEED" to accomplish, and my self-imposed desire to strive for the next best thing. I never look back at the things I have accomplished and appreciate them. It's funny, because whenever I mention even a few things I've done, people tell me I have lived so many lives. I never really think of it that way, but it's nice to have it reflected back as a healthy dose of reality.
Anyways, as I was talking to my friend Camille tonight, the topic of bucket lists came up. I thought it would be fun to write a bucket list, but she said it depressed her to write things down that she may not be able to accomplish by the end of her life. DING DING DING. The light went off in my head and I suggested that we should make a list of all of the things we were proud of, the things we've accomplished, and the things we've seen. Maybe if we do that, we will both get out of our heads about the things we aren't currently doing or accomplishing and appreciate the things we've done.
Be more content, be proud, maybe even be a little "happier".
SOOOO -HERE GOES.
What I've Seen:
The Great Wall of China
China- Tanguu, Tianjin, Beijing
Philippines- Coron, Borocay, Manila
S.Korea- Every province
DMZ- Border between N-S Korea
Japan- Tokyo, Mt.Fuji at sunrise
USA: New York (most of Manhattan), Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, California (L.A), West Virginia, Tennessee (Memphis), Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio (Columbus), South Dakota, Colorado, Illinois (Chicago), Others I'm sure.
What I've done:
Dropped out of high school (not great) to pursue ballet (good)
Danced with Joffrey Ballet NY, Ballet Met (Ohio), Maryland Youth Ballet, St.Louis Ballet Company.
Lived in NY at 14 years old.
Started University at 17 with only a GED
Shot a gun in West Virginia (only awesome because it's so uncharacteristic)
Recorded with Tilly and the Wall (tap dancing on "O")
Graduated college with a 3.5 GPA and excellent recommendations
Moved to China to teach
Worked with Carr Workplaces (first big girl job, an accomplishment in the state of the economy)
Moved to S.Korea to teach
Cliff dove from 15 Meters (I'm scared of heights)
Snorkeled some of the most beautiful crystal waters (I didn't grow up near water---so BIG deal for me)
Hiked the major peaks in Korea
Hiked Mt.Fuji
Travelled solo in a foreign country (Japan)
Taught myself how to cook in a foreign country (cooking whole chickens with all body parts and looking at dead dogs in the market...all tricky at first)
Caught fish with my hands (never thought I would do it!!)
What I'm in the process of doing-
Learning the Ukulele
Studying Korean (although I'm so lazy sometimes)
30 day HIIT challenge
30 day alcohol free challenge
Getting more involved in Seoul meet-up groups
Changing to an all Paleo diet
What I want to do this year (I couldn't help myself)
Learn Korean more proficiently
Finish many exercise challenges
Stick to clean eating
Surround myself with inspirational people
Travel to Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore
Make arrangements to work in India
Masters degree
Be more consistent with blogging!