What I’ve Learned From My Toddlers Favorite Book About Happiness

What I've Learned From My Toddlers Favorite Book About Happiness

One of my toddlers favorite books is That’s When I’m Happy by by Beth Shoshan and Jacqueline East. If you’re a parent, you know kids will read or watch the same thing over and over and over (and over!) again and never get tired of it. This book is one of Jeffrey’s main go-to stories.

It’s one of my favorites too, which is good since I have to read it so much. It has a great message and Jeffrey loves to act out some of the pages (hugs and kisses freely given?! I’m in!).

Text from the first page of the book:

“There are some days when I’m very happy…
and there are some days when I’m a little bit sad.

But now, on those days
when I’m a little bit sad…
I try and find my way back to being happy.”

I love love that idea. “I try and find my way back to being happy.”

The story goes on to talk about things that this little bear does with his mommy or daddy that make him feel good. Simple, easy, everyday things. Like picking up leaves or looking at the stars or reading books.

We all need to take a note from this smart little bear and practice finding our way back to being happy.

What simple things can be done when you feel sad? Sometimes, it can take a lot of perk our mood back up but ya know it never hurts to try something simple and easy first. You never know what easy thing will take your mind off of your sadness or anxieties and make you smile. I think the important thing is to not just do these simple things to be happy, but to remember why you are doing them. Sure I could sit and read with my son but if I don’t take the time in my mind to marvel at his wonder of recognizing pictures and letters in the book, if I don’t take the time to enjoy holding him and his joy at hanging out with me while he’s still young, it’s not going to make me as happy.

Do something simple to find your way back to being happy but be mindful of it so that it makes the largest impact possible.

Here’s a short list of simple things that I can try to do to find my way back to being happy:

-wrestle with my guys
-think about what I can do to make my life abundant and full now
-read (alone or with my son)
-do some free writing
-go out for a coffee date
-go for a walk (with or without my camera)
-work in my art journal
-dance party
-take a moment to be mindful
-hug my family

♥Kendra

Share:What can you add to your list of simple things to be done when you need to find your way back to being happy?

 

02/14/2014
Like a Bird, Lists, Mental Health Wellness | Tagged , , , , | Thoughts

Your Story Is Important, Too

*Disclaimer: I feel very passionate about being 100% real and honest on my blog. That means I will sometimes be sharing personal experiences that might be a trigger for some of you reading it. Please be aware of that before reading the below post (and any posts on my blog).

Your Story Is Important, Too

Sometimes, I sit down to write here in this space and think, “What the hell am I doing?”

Sometimes, I feel like I haven’t suffered enough to write and share my story.

What?!

Yeah. That makes no sense really. I’ve had depression for almost my entire life and I’ve been dealing with an anxiety disorder for about half the time as well and have also gone through postpartum depression and lots of ups and downs in my life.

I have a story to tell. I have my experiences and pain and feelings to share.

Sometimes I feel like my story isn’t worthy or important enough.
I’ve never attempted suicide, I’ve never been in an inpatient program, I’ve never had a major crisis that I had to call a hotline or anything like that.

I have had suicidal thoughts, but have never wanted to act on them.
I’ve had thoughts of self harm but haven’t acted on them since I was a young teen and even then, it was minimal of digging my nails into my arm.
I do have panic attacks that make me stop breathing and I think I might die from the pain sitting in my gut.
I have days with my depression when I can’t get off the couch and just want to sleep.

Is my story not important just because I’m suffering in a different way than others? Of course not.
My story is important.
That’s what I’m trying to remind myself every time I sit down to write about it.

That’s why I’m writing now, to tell you that your story is important too.

Just because you aren’t suffering the same as someone else, doesn’t mean you aren’t suffering and that your story doesn’t count. It counts, it’s worthy, it’s important.

It’s your story and you need to share it. Others need to hear it, to know that there is someone out there who feels the same.

You think you don’t need to share or shouldn’t share because your life doesn’t suck as much as others? Trust me, there are others who feel the same and are out there screaming to themselves, wondering if they are the only ones. Share and say, “It’s not just you.”

♥Kendra

Share: Start telling your story, now today. Write about it in the comments below, or write a blog post and share the link below.

Write your story on Medium and submit it to my new collection: You Are Not Alone

 

Like a Bird

02/11/2014
Like a Bird, Mental Health Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Thoughts(1)

Getting Distracted From My Purpose

November_25__2013_at_1240PM

I get distracted from my purpose and plan by the bullshit of real life…by the fact that my health insurance is shit and that it costs too much money to get myself healthy than it fucking should.

I get caught up in thinking about money and food and all the things i should, could or have to be doing when I don’t really have to be doing anything I don’t fucking want to be doing, right?

Right.

Fuck life.

I create my own life,
my own day
my own happiness.
My joy is mine and I control it.
I own it.
I want more.
I want this.

I want to let go of all this bullshit and just live without the worry that I’m going off the damn deep end.

♥KendraThis post is part of my Free Write Friday Series. Sometimes I just need to get the thoughts and words out of my head and into this space. And so I free write. I invite you to join me on Friday’s when you need it. Please link up in the comments below.

 

02/07/2014
free write | Tagged , , , , , | Thoughts