HAPPINESS IS: Receiving The Happiness Award......

   

Oh My Oh My !!!
What a Blessing...

Dearest Sister Ann Marie has bestowed 'The Happiness Award' on me.
Please visit this dear Sister at http://franciscanlife.blogspot.com/

This is wonderful encouragement, to laugh at life and see the bright side of everything.

A friend of mine passed away recently from cancer.
Her name was Carole.
I went to visit her husband Michael yesterday to see how he was coping.
At first the talk was serious.     
Then he opened up and told me about his 6 year old grandson sitting beside him at the funeral.
The discussion there went something like this..
"Is Grandma in the box?"
"Yes, Sammy, she's in the box."
"What's she doing in there?"
"She's resting.  God let her come down from Heaven to look at everything."
"Can she see us Grandpa?"
"She sure can, she's looking at us through her photo on top of the box."
"Is she happy Grandpa?"
"Yes Sammy, see how she is smiling, she is very happy...
When all the singing is over, she will go back to Heaven."
We rejoiced together at how he was able to convey God's love to his little grandson.

Carole had chosen all the Hymn's and songs to be sung at the funeral and again at the crematorium.
Her last choice was, "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life!"

I can almost see Carole smiling as I write this.
So, in memory of a true Lady, who even at the end wanted others to be happy..
I pass on the Happiness Award.

I had to choose 5 sunny people for this.
It is to go to Bloggers who truly have 'Happiness' in their heart and pass it around to share with others.
As per the example of my friend Carole, they always look on the brighter side of life.

The choice was not an easy one.
As...you are all winners in my eyes!!

1.  http://livinitupinky.blogspot.com/
2.  http://kleiindehandvandepottenbakker.blogspot.com/
3.  http://therantingsofachristianhousewife.blogspot.com/
4.  http://cassandra89.blogspot.com/
5.  http://chattycrone.com/

LETS KEEP ON MAKING THE WORLD, A HAPPIER PLACE.

Beautiful Carole, a true Proverbs:31,  Woman.

Can You Pass The Love Test?

A LOVE LAB?

In 1986, Dr. John Gottman joined the University of Washington Department of Psychology and started the Family Research Laboratory


This received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health throughout it’s operation. The physiology laboratory, often referred to as the “Love Lab,” was where couples were screened, interviewed, and observed.


The Lab used video, heart rate monitors, and measures of pulse amplitude, jitteriness and skin conductivity. This information was coded using the Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) and techniques of math modelling to assess relationships and predict their pathways. The Lab combined a video data bank of hundreds of couples interacting at different time points in their relationship.

The data surveyed could evaluate whether or not couples had the love combination to sucessfully remain in a relationship together.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO UNDERSTAND THIS FURTHER.

Disappointments Bruise The Soul

Twelve Apostle Rock Stack, Victoria, Australia.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor foresake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.......Dueteronomy 31:8


Disappointments, Regret and Distress, all follow setbacks.
Whether losing a job, a relationship or a loved one,  they cause trauma.
And with that trauma comes physical, emotional and spiritual grieving.
No matter how prepared you are for the event, when it happens, a toll is taken.

Physically grief may cause:  Alopecia(hair loss), heart related problems (arrhythmias, hypertension)  thyroid, diabetes,  etc.

Emotional:  Depression, anxiety, weight loss, anorexia nervosa, early on-set alzheimers, etc

Spiritual:  God has left me, He doesn't care, I am being punished, etc

When you suffer a loss, no-one expects you to be a strong Rock.
Not even God expects anything of you.
In those times He holds, guides and carries you.
He is your Sheppard, the one who ever watches and never sleeps.

In the valley of dispair, His Angels keep guard over you.
Can you image seeing into the spiritual world and observing them?

Remember... after a storm comes the Rainbow.

                      

Caring OR Intrusion

There is a fine line between Caring for / about someone, and intruding where you shouldn't.

This fine line is known as BOUNDARIES

Now much can be written about personal Boundaries so I'll make that a discussion for another time.

The reason I am writing about this is because I myself am guilty as I am sure many of you who read this, may be also.

So how does it start?

Generally you are a caring person, one who enjoys giving of yourself to others. Now there is nothing wrong with giving, it is commendable. However, it should not be done at the expence of overstepping another's personal boundaries. 

In other words, don't assume the other person wants, or would like you to do something?  Ask them first, and allow them to accept or reject.

Caring is: * Treating others with kindness and respect. 

  *  Being sensitive to anothers feeling.

* Giving help when needed and when asked.

* Using empathy in a caring capacity.

Common sense needs to be used for when the help is needed without the asking, (as when a person is injured).  Or, when you should ask.

Not everyone likes to recieve help, especially those with a cultural difference.

  

Intrusion is: Giving what one may consider as extra care.

In other words, going beyond that which has been asked or that which is required.

By doing this,  personel boundaries for the other person can be overstepped.

*Quote: Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring.

All of which has the potential to turn a life around.

(Leo F Buscaglia)

*And the Bible book of Matthew 7:12.

"So whatever you wish others to do for you, do for them also."