THE TRANSITION 'R - 267/365

happiness

is found not

in comparing to what 'was'

but rather in exploring

the possibilities of what 'can be'

THE COVETOUS - 257/365

fulfillment is never found

when it is taken from another

THE BLISSFUL DREAMER - 204/365

there is a

difference between

'dreaming of happiness' and

'being happy'

one requires the eyes

remain closed;

the other requires accepting

what is seen when they are open

THE CHERRY PICKER - 126/365

"It's easy when you think about it...life is filled with a bunch of cherries just waiting to be picked - all I have to do is reach up and take one.

Of course they don't always taste so good which requires spitting that one out and taking another. If this happens too often I guess that's when life can become "the pits" instead of the bowl full of cherries."

My Reflection:

It's a curious thing when sometimes I feel like life is happening to me and other times I'm making life happen. I suppose that's the difference between feeling like I've got bowl full of cherries versus tripping over a bunch of pits.

Perhaps the pits are just part of eating the cherries and the sooner I accept that the more I'll enjoy one and not worry so much about the other.

Question:

How does your cherry tree grow?

Clay Ingredients:

Sculpey Translucent

Holtz Distress powder (black soot)

Dried Herbs (chervil leaves)

THE GOODY-2-SHOES - 123/365

"Are YOU okay? I want to make sure YOU'RE okay...don't worry about me ...my happiness depends on YOU. If YOU'RE happy I'm happy.

If you are sad I hope it's my fault because if it's my fault then I can do something about it....please tell me it's MY fault?"

My Reflection:

I've tried often enough to know that taking responsibility for another person's happiness is a sure way to end up with two unhappy people. While I don't want to cause another person to be sad, happiness is never found at another's expense whether it be theirs OR mine.

I'm beginning to learn that "happiness" is fleeting when it depends on the actions of others. Perhaps true "happiness" is simply a sense of "well-being" that comes from knowing I have the ability to choose how I'll respond to whatever life's circumstances may be.

Question:

How do you find "happiness?"

Clay Ingredients:

Sculpey Translucent

Holtz Distress powder (vintage-photo)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! - 87/365

HEALTH - HAPPINESS - PROSPERITY

THE DARK CLOUD - 84/365

"It will take just a second for me to blow that smile off your face. I feed off of your happiness which is no match for my dense, dark energy. So go ahead, bask in the sunlight for as long as you can because any moment now I'll be overhead."

My Reflection:

Sometimes I wonder how I can go to bed feeling great and wake up in a "bad mood?" Is The Dark Cloud there just waiting to descend during the night and suck up all of the positive energy? And why is it so unlikely that I'll go to bed in a "bad mood" and wake-up in a good one?

Maybe I just need to remember that clouds aren't as dense as they seem and while they may be hanging over my head in the moment, the sun is always shining somewhere else.

Question:

How do you deal with The Dark Cloud?

THE STARGAZER - 83/365

"Sh...just a minute...I'm making a wish. Okay, that should do it. But, I can't talk to you yet...I'm waiting for it to come true."

My Reflection:

Like The Stargazer, I wonder how often I disengage from the present to wish for something in the future? And besides, doesn't the present moment impact my future reality?

So, perhaps the next time I feel inclined to - "wish upon a star" - I'll remember that only the "reality" of today will make the changes I seek for tomorrow.

Question:

How do you make your wishes come true?

THE CHOOSER - 61/365

"Either I'm happy or you're happy and since I can't make YOU happy, I'm choosing to make MYSELF happy. Why not? You're not going to choose ME so I'm going to do it.

You don’t have to be mad at me for choosing myself. Why don't you just choose YOURSELF and then we'll BOTH be happy....sort of.”

My Reflection:

Choosing what I want to do is not always easy. Why is that? Am I so conditioned to please others that I’d rather disappoint myself instead?

Perhaps taking responsibility for my own happiness, involves the willingness to disappoint others without blaming them for my decision.

Question:

How willing are you to disappoint someone?

THE ANTICIPATOR 36/365

"I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. What do you think is going to happen huh...huh...huh? It's so exciting - just thinking about it is enough to send me over the edge. In fact, I don't think I want it to ACTUALLY happen - I think I'd just like to anticipate it happening...that's much more fun. Don't you think?"

My Reflection:

There's something about the anticipation of an event that can be more exciting than the event itself. Why is that?

Maybe things play out better in my imagination than they ever could in reality. Is that a bad thing? Should I keep my expectations low so that I'm not disappointed by the actual event? Or, am I projecting into the future too much and need to be more present? That's always the case so I guess I can count on that being an accurate statement.

There are times when I have an experience that is more than I could have ever expected and it always feels joyful. Like buying a lipstick and an extra one for free. How can I get that to happen more often?

Question:

Are you pleasantly surprised or regularly disappointed?

THE "trying to be" HAPPY FACE 32/365

"I'm trying, I'm trying really hard but "happy" just isn't showing up for me right now, I know I look like I'm supposed to be happy but I'm not always that kind of face. Sometimes I feel kind of blah....like now for instance...right now I feel blah.

If it's so important to you for me to look happy then why don't you do something to put a smile on my face? I can think of a number of things but it would be more meaningful if YOU thought of them. Otherwise, I'd just be trying to make myself happy and why would I want to do that?

My Reflection:

I know I'm supposed to be responsible for my own happiness - but what does that mean exactly? Do I make myself happy at the expense of others? No...that actually accomplishes the opposite. So, do I make others happy and then feel the joy from that? Well...that works fairly well unless the happiness of the other person is at the expense of my own.

Perhaps a clear definition of what "makes me happy" is a good place to start. I'm sure it's finding a balance between my own happiness AND the happiness of others and integrating the two in some way. While I do enjoy making others happy - I've learned that to exclude myself from that group is a dangerous way to go. Resentment can be the ugly bi-product of that choice and that's much harder to get rid of than disappointing others.

Question:

Who makes you happy?