Author Topic: Happiness challenge  (Read 165530 times)

Dicey

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #450 on: April 20, 2021, 09:54:02 AM »
I applied to be part of the ADNI study years ago. So long ago, I thought they'd forgotten about me. I finally got a call and I've been going through the screening process. Today is my first in-person interview and the beginning of a long series of tests. I'm nervous and a little excited, but if doing this helps anyone, anywhere escape Alzheimer's, I'll be ecstatically happy. 

Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer's_Disease_Neuroimaging_Initiative

oneday

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #451 on: April 20, 2021, 11:07:17 AM »
congrats @lazycow that is quite an accomplishment (both the menu and the family, lol)


@Serendip having the house to oneself is glorious, glad you are enjoying that :)

@nessness d'awww

@Dicey so awesome!

Today on streaming, I heard a cover tune by one of my favorite guitarists of one of my favorite tunes from another well-loved band, and it was fabulous!

nessness

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #452 on: April 21, 2021, 11:30:42 AM »
I love the time of year when I can comfortably sleep with the windows open. A flock of wild turkeys has been roosting in the trees behind my house lately and I love hearing their "gobbling" sound.

I'm also feeling really relieved about the Chauvin verdict.

Freedomin5

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #453 on: April 21, 2021, 03:41:03 PM »
It’s been warmer and sunnier this past week. I’ve enjoyed spending time outside. The cherry blossoms are blooming.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #454 on: April 21, 2021, 03:52:01 PM »
Our entire yard is lit up with spring, and we have vegetables growing in our raised beds. A few from seeds! I am not even remotely good at this type of thing, so I'm inordinately pleased with myself.

Also, a good run this morning, without needing gloves or a jacket, but not yet being too hot. Spring is perfect for running.

oneday

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #455 on: April 21, 2021, 05:24:19 PM »
An IRL friend sold her house today, and it's such great news because she's going through a tough time in her personal life. It made me happy that she had this "win".

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #456 on: April 21, 2021, 09:34:15 PM »
Tried going for a hike with a friend today and we had to crawl/walk/laugh/fall through snow at points but most of the trail was clear and lovely.

Also received my tax info back from the bookkeeper and I owe less than I anticipated..unbelievable!

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #457 on: April 21, 2021, 10:54:03 PM »
I love the time of year when I can comfortably sleep with the windows open. A flock of wild turkeys has been roosting in the trees behind my house lately and I love hearing their "gobbling" sound.

I'm also feeling really relieved about the Chauvin verdict.

Oh god me too. A relief for sure.

I am happy because this is finally starting to sink in:

https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/overcoming-the-need-to-be-exceptional/




MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #458 on: April 22, 2021, 06:44:00 PM »
Wow, @Morning Glory - thanks for sharing. That was a thought provoking read.

deborah

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #459 on: April 22, 2021, 08:10:05 PM »
Yesterday I sat for three hours with my father as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He was holding my hand firm while we were both glancing at a digital photo frame of pictures of his life. The good times washed over me, and the bad times washed away. I am really happy that we had this really special time together while he’s still alive, and can actually recognise me.

nessness

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #460 on: April 22, 2021, 08:57:18 PM »
Hugs to you @deborah , that sounds both difficult and lovely.

nessness

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #461 on: April 22, 2021, 08:58:40 PM »
I started a new role at work a few weeks ago and have been struggling with it, but I got a nice compliment from a co-worker that made me feel like maybe I'm doing better than I thought.

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #462 on: April 22, 2021, 09:02:25 PM »
My pension rollover credited to my IRA account today so now I can graduate to the next net worth thread, and I no longer have to worry about it getting lost.

Freedomin5

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #463 on: April 23, 2021, 05:52:12 AM »
I sat outside today while DD played with some of the neighborhood kids. Growing up, I never had friends who lived walking distance from where I lived. I’m glad DD has several friends in the neighborhood.

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #464 on: April 23, 2021, 06:05:06 AM »
I had an old coworker contact me yesterday about getting together for a hike. We made arrangements for next week!!! Previously I would have said "yeah that sounds great, let's do it sometime". Now I have learned to suggest a specific date and time, which works so much better.

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #465 on: April 23, 2021, 09:09:00 PM »
@deborah --so glad for you that you were able to share that special time with your father. I can't imagine how meaningful those moments must have been for both of you and sounds like it brought some peaceful resolutions..that's all we can wish for. Sending care.



Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #466 on: April 23, 2021, 09:14:03 PM »
Today was a mixed bag of a day--but I am happy to have a partner who is cooking me dinner and he's also planned a zoom night with friends for my birthday in two days. It's not something I would think of, but he did it last year too and we actually had a lovely time.

Freedomin5

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #467 on: April 24, 2021, 04:41:30 PM »
I love the time of year when I can comfortably sleep with the windows open. A flock of wild turkeys has been roosting in the trees behind my house lately and I love hearing their "gobbling" sound.

I'm also feeling really relieved about the Chauvin verdict.

Oh god me too. A relief for sure.

I am happy because this is finally starting to sink in:

https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/overcoming-the-need-to-be-exceptional/

What an excellent article! My happiness today is that I had the opportunity to read this.

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #468 on: April 24, 2021, 05:20:34 PM »
I love the time of year when I can comfortably sleep with the windows open. A flock of wild turkeys has been roosting in the trees behind my house lately and I love hearing their "gobbling" sound.

I'm also feeling really relieved about the Chauvin verdict.

Oh god me too. A relief for sure.

I am happy because this is finally starting to sink in:

https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/overcoming-the-need-to-be-exceptional/

What an excellent article! My happiness today is that I had the opportunity to read this.

I was reminded of that article when I got a B on a quiz in my grad class that I shouldn't have taken. I was not in the least bit upset. I am happy because the class is almost over.

Today's happiness is a bunch of fresh green onions that my son picked.

mspym

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #469 on: April 24, 2021, 05:58:12 PM »
@deborah I am so pleased you had that time with your dad.

Today's happiness was just realising that I am happy today. No reason, just feeling really happy with my life right now.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #470 on: April 24, 2021, 06:50:30 PM »
I have zero green thumb, but I managed to grow spinach from seeds, and they are huge & beautiful & ready to be picked for salads. Hurrah!!!

Also, despite 15 year olds being occasionally (ha) very snarky, sometimes we have the most delightful conversations.

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #471 on: April 25, 2021, 08:48:09 AM »
Loved that article recommendation, I bought their book School of Life: An Emotional Education and it is quite wonderful as well. I've found it's good to lend out to friends who are struggling and who request an easy to digest resource.

I've been reading "Possum Living: How to Live Well With a Job and (Almost) No Money by Dolly Freed (written when she was 18yrs old) and while it's a big of a classic in frugal living, it is also NOT how I want to live (angry-ish and eating turtle soup!)

..but I found this follow-up article and I'm happy that Dolly created a life which she enjoys and has great people in her life, isn't that all we can wish for :)

https://abrahamson.medill.northwestern.edu/WWW/IALJS/Williams_FindingDollyFreed_PossumLiving_6Jan2010.pdf
« Last Edit: April 25, 2021, 08:50:49 AM by Serendip »

nessness

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #472 on: April 25, 2021, 09:10:28 AM »
My brother is visiting! I haven't seen him for a year and a half due to neither of us wanting to fly during Covid, but he is fully vaxxed now so flew out for a visit.

oneday

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #473 on: April 25, 2021, 09:47:19 AM »
@deborah that sounds like a deeply meaningful moment and a memory to treasure.

My happiness this morning is that I had a dad worth missing.

lazycow

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #474 on: April 25, 2021, 06:06:00 PM »
@Serendip thanks for the Dolly article! She is such a fascinating person. I have been hunting for her book for years.
@deborah that is truly beautiful. So glad you got to experience that time with your dad.

Today is overcast and cool. I have nowhere to be, so am still in pjs, having my third cup of tea and doing a jigsaw puzzle in front of the heater.

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #475 on: April 25, 2021, 06:59:50 PM »
Loved that article recommendation, I bought their book School of Life: An Emotional Education and it is quite wonderful as well. I've found it's good to lend out to friends who are struggling and who request an easy to digest resource.

I've been reading "Possum Living: How to Live Well With a Job and (Almost) No Money by Dolly Freed (written when she was 18yrs old) and while it's a big of a classic in frugal living, it is also NOT how I want to live (angry-ish and eating turtle soup!)

..but I found this follow-up article and I'm happy that Dolly created a life which she enjoys and has great people in her life, isn't that all we can wish for :)

https://abrahamson.medill.northwestern.edu/WWW/IALJS/Williams_FindingDollyFreed_PossumLiving_6Jan2010.pdf

I love this. Need to add the book to my list!!

ETA I caught the double meaning of "possum" after I posted

Today's happiness was seeing golden eagles soaring over the valley.
« Last Edit: April 26, 2021, 05:56:13 AM by Morning Glory »

Dicey

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #476 on: April 26, 2021, 05:41:47 AM »
Loved that article recommendation, I bought their book School of Life: An Emotional Education and it is quite wonderful as well. I've found it's good to lend out to friends who are struggling and who request an easy to digest resource.

I've been reading "Possum Living: How to Live Well With a Job and (Almost) No Money by Dolly Freed (written when she was 18yrs old) and while it's a big of a classic in frugal living, it is also NOT how I want to live (angry-ish and eating turtle soup!)

..but I found this follow-up article and I'm happy that Dolly created a life which she enjoys and has great people in her life, isn't that all we can wish for :)

https://abrahamson.medill.northwestern.edu/WWW/IALJS/Williams_FindingDollyFreed_PossumLiving_6Jan2010.pdf
I'm experiencing a bout of insomnia and this article was a delightful distraction. Thank you!

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #477 on: April 27, 2021, 10:20:09 AM »
Glad you enjoyed the article @Dicey @Morning Glory @lazycow
I was inspired to track it down while reading the book and wondered if there was any updates on where life had taken her  (I bought an e-version of Possum Living on Google books since I've never been able to find a copy)


Currently I am so happy with my little studio room. We live in a townhouse and the top floor has a small room that is my designated art/creative space. I am cleaning it up, doing a deep organize and am loving spending time up here.

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #478 on: April 27, 2021, 03:55:58 PM »
Last night, dancing in the kitchen with my husband while our dog just stared in disbelief at the silly humans

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #479 on: April 27, 2021, 04:14:41 PM »
The feel of the cool breeze right before a storm.

lazycow

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #480 on: April 28, 2021, 11:28:26 PM »
Gloriously sunny autumn day's beach walk with daughter and dog. I wouldn't live anywhere else!

@mspym that's adorable. @Serendip I am sitting in my upstairs studio  as I type this. Hurrah to A Room of One's Own.

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #481 on: April 29, 2021, 11:50:30 AM »
We just hung up our first-ever hammock, in a shady part of our yard.  Wow — so comfy and delightful.    :)

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #482 on: April 29, 2021, 09:30:58 PM »
Yes, a room of one's own is a true luxury! @lazycow

Yesterday was a rainy day -- I spent the entire day lounging & reading (and felt no pressure to do anything else).
A super cozy day.

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #483 on: May 01, 2021, 03:12:49 PM »
I want a room of my very own, it's in the future plan but not here yet.

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #484 on: May 01, 2021, 09:40:43 PM »
Went for a chilly polar swim today--just a minute or two in the water but what a difference it makes!

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #485 on: May 01, 2021, 09:46:59 PM »
A nice long hike today with kids and dog, with lots of golden eagle sightings, followed by a pretty drive along the river.

oneday

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #486 on: May 02, 2021, 11:06:08 PM »
Read a really interesting book today.

Freedomin5

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #487 on: May 03, 2021, 01:49:16 AM »
My second attempt at making a new dessert turned out really well.

dougules

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #488 on: May 03, 2021, 03:06:52 PM »
My second attempt at making a new dessert turned out really well.

My addled Monday brain read this as "a new desert."  It was an odd mental picture.   

What did you make?

Metalcat

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #489 on: May 03, 2021, 03:46:45 PM »
I like the members of my orthopedic surgery team that I've met so far, and they have a lot of experience with my specific condition.

New doctors is always a pressure point for me, because I have a condition that few doctors are familiar with and those who are are usually misinformed. And in Canada, you can't shop around for specialists. You get who you get. The system won't pay for second opinions, and the system is the only payer, so I can't even pay out of pocket.

Anyhoo, it's a HUGE relief that they readily understood my condition and knew exactly why I refused one of the tests the first fellow recommended. He went back and spoke to the big boss, who is one of the top world experts on my injuries, and the big Kahuna totally agreed with me, and it was a productive learning experience for the fellow.

This NEVER happens.
Normally when I meet a new doctor it's an enormously stressful process of me desperately trying to protect myself from them doing something that's dangerous. Hoping that they'll actually be able to do something to help me is usually a fantasy that I don't bother engaging in.

This team may or may not be able to help me, and there's a solid chance that they make me worse, but the amazing thing is that they actually KNOW that's a distinct possibility, and that for me is pure luxury.

I LOVE just being able to just trust experts to do their jobs properly.

Freedomin5

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #490 on: May 03, 2021, 06:42:55 PM »
My second attempt at making a new dessert turned out really well.

My addled Monday brain read this as "a new desert."  It was an odd mental picture.   

What did you make?

It’s a Chinese dessert called snowflake pastry. It’s like Rice Krispie squares, except instead of Rice Krispies, you use butter biscuits/crackers, and you can add dried fruit like freeze dried strawberries or dried cranberries.

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #491 on: May 03, 2021, 07:24:43 PM »
@Malcat ---that truly sounds like something to be happy about. Glad your meeting with the team went well!

@Freedomin5 --might have to try those, i just looked up a recipe. Looks like it could be a good hiking treat

Had a long walk with a friend today she's one of the only people I've been walking with and happens to be a great cook (and fed me a fantastic pasta salad afterwards!).
Just a nice connection

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #492 on: May 03, 2021, 07:51:41 PM »
Apple trees started blossoming and I got some asparagus from the garden. We accepted an offer on our house today but we get to be here for my favorite time of year.

Metalcat

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #493 on: May 03, 2021, 08:31:26 PM »
@Malcat ---that truly sounds like something to be happy about. Glad your meeting with the team went well!


It is!

Every time I see a doctor DH comments "I don't know how anyone with complex health illness who isn't a doctor themselves gets decent medical care" and I always reply "a lot of them don't"

I am really happy. It's such a huge relief to not have to anticipate fighting.

oneday

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #494 on: May 03, 2021, 11:30:32 PM »
Oh, wow, @Malcat that just kinda made my day, too!

dougules

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #495 on: May 04, 2021, 10:01:58 AM »
My second attempt at making a new dessert turned out really well.

My addled Monday brain read this as "a new desert."  It was an odd mental picture.   

What did you make?

It’s a Chinese dessert called snowflake pastry. It’s like Rice Krispie squares, except instead of Rice Krispies, you use butter biscuits/crackers, and you can add dried fruit like freeze dried strawberries or dried cranberries.

If it's what I'm seeing when I do an internet search, it looks pretty good.  Is it hard to make? 

Freedomin5

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #496 on: May 04, 2021, 03:52:11 PM »
It’s very easy to make.

Melt 50g of butter in a large nonstick pan.
Add 200g of marshmallows to the pan and melt the marshmallows.
Add 50g of dried milk powder and mix well.
Turn off the stove.
Add 220g of small biscuits. I use a specific type called 小奇福, but any type of sweet, buttery cracker/biscuit should work, like Maria milk biscuits.
Add in 40g dried fruit.

You can also add peanuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and other nuts/seeds, per your preference.

Sprinkle a large pan with milk powder. (I also line with parchment paper before sprinkling so it doesn’t stick to the pan.)
Flatten the snowflake pastry onto the pan to approx. 1-inch thickness. You can use a rolling pin but I just use my hands to press the marshmallow combo into the pan. Sprinkle generously with milk powder. Wait for it to cool. Cut into 1-inch pieces.

oneday

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #497 on: May 05, 2021, 09:08:42 AM »
Yesterday's happiness was freshly vacuumed rugs.

Today's is seeing the picture of the beautiful and delicious looking snowflake pastry, thanks @Freedomin5

Serendip

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #498 on: May 05, 2021, 09:25:08 AM »
We forgot our baby plants seedlings outside last night and my SO remembered/brought them in at 3:30am. Thankfully they all look fine after their cool weather exposure :)
 phew!

Morning Glory

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Re: Happiness challenge
« Reply #499 on: May 05, 2021, 12:49:31 PM »
@Freedomin5 those snowflake pastries look delicious!!! And what a wonderful partner you have @Serendip

We just found out that a friend of ours whom we haven't seen in a while will be visiting family next month near where my mom lives, so we are now planning a trip to be there at the same time.  She has a two-year-old daughter whom I haven't even met yet.