Looking For My Rainbow

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton

Where is this month going and how did we go from winter to summer? Not that I'm complaining, the weather in Chicago has been beautiful, gotta love it! This month has been flying by, as the saying goes, "When it rains, it pours..." in my case it's finally pouring all sorts of good, and I'm hoping to see a rainbow in my horizon very soon.

 

The theme for March for The Happiness Project is all about work, another fitting month, with all that's going on in my life right now. 

• Launch a blog: I think I'm one step ahead with this blog. My next step is to create a website, but I'm still trying to fine tune the details of exactly what this website will be all about. 
• Enjoy the fun of failure: There are plenty of times I definitely have felt like a failure, especially when I don't get a job. You really doubt yourself and your abilities, but if you don't fail, you don't learn. I've learned to look at failure as life lessons, to learn what you can from it, to better yourself, and move on. It's the only way to get over it.
• Ask for help: This is something I'm not always good at. I'm the type of person to take on the world by myself. But these past few years, during a job search, I found it really doesn't hurt to ask. I've asked for job leads and referrals and no one every says no. And by putting myself out there, I have gained a part-time job and other opportunities I can finally use my skills towards.
• Work smart: With an internship, part-time job, job interviews, and freelance projects on the side, I'm getting back into the swing of a busy, full day, kind of life. Trying to juggle everything and doing things I need to get done is a balancing act. I'm figuring out how to manage the hours in the day and be where I need to be and do what I need to do.  
• Enjoy now: I've always said, "Play now, work later." When I'm not busy working or looking for work, I've learned to enjoy every moment and the free time because I know I won't always have it. I know work will come but in the mean time, I will play in this beautiful weather!

How do you handle the pouring rain in your life? 

Getting Unstuck

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck

Lately I've been feeling stuck. For every small step forward, I take a step back, and end up in the same place going nowhere. I try really hard to not set my heart on a job, because when I get that dreaded call or email that someone else was hired it is a little crushing, especially when you think the interview went well and really like the people who potentially were going to be your boss and coworkers. I was really hoping for this job this time and hoping to move forward. It seemed to be everything I am looking for in a job, planning events, meeting people, and even a little traveling. But again, this is just not the road I am supposed to be on at this time in my life. 

And for now, I am thankful that I at least have something to "fall back" on and taken the part-time job, but it really feels like a step back. The few hours I do work feels like the longest hours of my life and leaves me restless and unmotivated, which is never a good thing. But for now I will stick with this opportunity even though I am already looking to what's next. I will remember to stay strong and carry on.

Any tips on how to get unstuck?

Remember to Love

"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves." - Victor Hugo

I guess it's only fitting that the resolution for February for The Happiness Project is to Remember Love. This chapter of the book focuses on love within a marriage. Since I am not married or in a relationship, I will remember to love my family.  It seems like an obvious choice, but sometimes it's not always so easy to love the people closest to you all the time.

• Quit nagging: I don't nag. I don't have anyone to nag. But you know who does nag? My mom! I'm sure we can all relate and I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate being called a nag. Mothers can't help it though. It's part of being a parent. The lesson here is to remember that our moms only nag us because for the most part they do know what's best for us.
• Don't expect praise or appreciation: I am very much like the author of the book on this one. I want that gold star when I do something good. I want that acknowledgment, I blame this on being a first born trait, of course that rarely happens. Sometimes people are too focused on what's not getting done, they fail to notice when something does get done. Like the author, I need to remember to do things for myself because it makes me happy not for the gold star.
• Give proof of love: This is one I could really work on. Of course I love my family and know I could show it more. Going to figure something out this month.

Will remembering to love my family bring me a little closer to happiness? I know I could always work on being a better sister and daughter and when we try to be better people for the sake of love everyone wins. 

 

What are some ways you can remember to love?

Small Steps

"It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen, and we find the reasons why, one step at a time. " - Jordin Sparks

Tagaytay, Philippines

Last day of the month, a couple weeks into The Happiness Project. I'm still working through this month's goals. I feel a little lighter and a little happier, but this may be because I got a job offer! A paying job! Now before I start jumping for joy, I'm still on the fence about the whole thing. I went and put myself out there and in return I got offered a job! Which of course is what I have wanting for three years now. This job is not my dream job and not in the field I'm trying to pursue. However, it is near my house and part-time so I can keep exploring what's out there. 

I'm on the fence because I don't want just a job or just a paycheck. I feel like taking this job goes against everything I've been preaching, but money is money. I did say I was going to explore open doors this year, and this door has definitely opened up. Is this a step I'm supposed to be taking? Is this a small step to something bigger?

Another reason I'm on the fence is because I have an actual job interview coming up, something more up my ally. What to do? What to do?

Anyone have advice for me on this one? 

P.S. I am especially over the moon ecstatic for my friend Karlie because she got to go home with her baby girl over the weekend!

Believe in Miracles

"All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired." - Martin Luther

A week ago I opened up Facebook to see all my high school friends  asking for prayers for a former classmate, Karlie. I learned that Karlie went into the hospital last Monday to be induced. It was decided that she would have a c-section but before she went in, she coded. It took 14 minutes to get a heart beat and was shocked 5 times! Both she and her baby girl, Mackenzie were put on ventilators. Her mom has been writing updates here. 

I am beyond words today because Karlie got to hold Mackenzie for the first time yesterday! Believe what you will but I do believe that there is a God and in the power of prayer. When I hear stories like this, how do you not believe in a greater power? I am in complete awe in what God can do and really is in control of everything.

A friend said it best, "if I ever loose my faith or doubt there is a God, I will think of Karlie and remember this amazing miracle." Sometimes it is hard to believe and trust that God is working when life gets hard, but my problems seem so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I know if God can work wonders with the matters of life and death, He can certainly take care of my small problems.

Do you believe in miracles?

Quest For Happy

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Another job interview that didn't turn into a job offer. Not going to lie, a little bummed about it, but I have learned to deal with it and move on. Another job  rejection that hasn't killed me, I'm still standing. Only a lesson to be learned to make me stronger. One thing that does keep me going is knowing that there is something bigger and better out there that will make me happy. 

I finally got my hands on book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Since I still have extra time on my hands, this is the perfect time to be on the quest for happy this year. It's not that I'm unhappy, I am aware of what makes me happy, at least I think I do... For sure number one on my list is to have some kind of income, but until I can fulfill this goal, it never hurts to start a new project. Who knows where it may lead? Besides, we all could use a little more happy.

I guess I will be making resolutions after all this year! January's first resolution is to Boost Energy by going to sleep earlier; exercise better; toss, restore, organize; tackle a nagging task; and act more energetic. 

• Sleep has not been a problem for me. I love my sleep, I get a full eight hours every night, but I definitely could go to sleep earlier.  
• Exercise better. This is one that will be a problem for me. I am not a fan of anything that involves any kind of physical movement. I have a gym membership that has not been used, ever, okay maybe once and it was not a pleasant experience. I do however enjoy going for walks. This I can do and manage, when the weather is nice out. It's just so hard to do in the cold, winter months. I know it's something I need to work on.  
• Toss, restore, organize/Tackle a nagging task. I have decided to combine these two because my never ending nagging task is to toss, restore, and organize. I have piles of stuff that needs to be organized, donated, or trashed. I am happy to say I started this task yesterday and have a bag of paper that is to be recycled. 
• Act more energetic. Not entirely sure on how to do this. If I get enough sleep, start exercising, eat better and healthier, and declutter, I should have more energy? Isn't that how this whole thing works?

Being halfway through this month, I have a couple weeks to get this going and really incorporate it into my everyday life. Will these small steps bring me more happiness? I'm hoping to find out. Stay tuned as I start this quest for happy. 

What can you do to be more happy?