Wednesday, August 6, 2025

August is Officially Happiness Happens Month

What does this mean?

It’s a time to focus on the things that make us happy, appreciate the things that bring us joy, and experience happiness in the small things every day. #HappinessHappensMonth

Be as happy as you possibly can.

The Stoics of Ancient Greece found that happiness depends on the quality of your thoughts. Yes: only happy thoughts here!


Some people believe that you can only be happy once you’ve achieved everything you’ve ever wanted and that you can’t be happy if you have problems in your life. That’s faulty thinking. Happiness is a choice. Happiness is a life-long pursuit. You can find happiness in the darkest of places and times.

You can learn how to be happy if you’re not a naturally happy person. Take time in the day to journal (write down your thoughts and feelings, or draw, whatever helps you to communicate with yourself), or to meditate, to find that inner peace and figure out what makes you happy and what keeps you from feeling joy.

Block Print by Anne E.G. Nydam

For me, joy is waking up before my alarm goes off because one of my Rottweilers couldn’t wait one more moment to spend time with me and woke me by pressing their nose against mine. (Could be argued that they thought I’d stopped breathing and was checking for signs of life, but I prefer the idea of the good morning kiss.) You can see my beautiful furbabies on Instagram.

What brings you joy?



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Monday, July 14, 2025

Take Your Poet to Work Day!

So July's second post was going to be about something else.

But then I found out that Take Your Poet to Work Day, celebrated on the 3rd Wednesday every July, falls on July 16th in 2025!

I couldn't pass this up.
This is also why I am putting up this post one day early: so that you have time to prepare!

This one goes our to all the POETRY people in the A to Z Challenge - and everyone who follows and reads their work :)

If you don't know what Take Your Poet to Work Day is, now you will. It is exactly what it sounds like: people print and cut out pictures of their favorite poets, and take them to work on this day. It started in 2013, and now it has a whole big online following. People take all kinds of favorite poets to work to show them off. There is even a hashtag: #poettowork

It is a simple and fun thing to do, and a great conversation starter about literature and poetry!

So, which poet are you taking to work tomorrow?

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Happy Family Reunion Month!

       This month I'll be joining millions of you as we have various family reunions and gatherings with friends.   July can be a nostalgic time (as well as very hot!)  My family's gatherings will include our annual July 4th reunion with members of my wife's family as well as family gatherings from my side with my kids' families in New Jersey and a visit to my sibs in Tennessee (and maybe a drop-in on an old friend or two). 
 
       Many of you probably have similar things going on.  It's a wonderful topic to blog about.  Sharing pictures, travel stories and tips, genealogy ideas, food adventures, and so much more!  So much content for a blogger that it can provide a wealth of inspiration.

        What are you going to be doing this summer?  Do you have any family reunions in the future?  Do you like to blog about your personal life?