Today we learnt that we really need to get rid of something before it’s completely worn out. My daughter has been telling me for weeks that she needs a new chair for her desk and I kept saying ‘find one you like online and I’ll get it for you’. She couldn’t decide. This afternoon she called me upstairs laughing that she’d nearly fallen through it! She was in the middle of doing homework so I gave her an old chair that I used for my desk when I was her age (and I’m 35 years older than her). OMG I can’t believe that the chair is 35+ years old, and not really used for anything other than dumpling clothes on in our bedroom.

What to do with the old chair

Monty is currently looking after it in the upstairs hallway until we can work our how to get rid of it. The clutter starts to build after clearing it yesterday…. 😂.

Having a lie down before dinner

I didn’t have any plans for dinner this evening other than thoughts of making myself something and not worrying about anyone else, ha ha. So, I took some time out, had a lie down on my bed and downloaded Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat (recommended by a reader helenps that popped by my site today, thank you. You are my 200th follower 😊).

“Remember, happiness is the absence of unhappiness. It’s our resting state when nothing clouds the picture or caused interference. Remember, happiness is your default state”

Mo Gawdat, Source for Happy

In chapter 1 of the book the author says to pause and write down the things that make you happy. I though I’d share my list of the first things that immediately came into my head. I’m sure I could have made a longer list but I only gave myself a few minutes:

I feel happy when:

• I take time out for myself *
• I’ve finished work for the day
• I’m writing in my journal *
• I’m inspiring others through writing, coaching or just listening *
• I’m having a laugh with the family
• I’m singing *
• I’m listening to audio books *
• I’m reading and learning about a topic of interest
• I’m walking
• I’m eating tea and toast, tea and chocolate*, or tea and biscuits
• I’m with true friends
• I’m talking to my family or friends on the phone *
• I’m listening to music from one of my personal playlists *
• I’m dancing with my husband on a dance floor or just in the lounge *
• I’m hugging my girls *
• I’m listening to a meditation track *
• I’m sunbathing anywhere as long as I’m not being interrupted
• I’m decluttering and organising *
• I’m watching a ‘feel good’ movie *

Mo Gawdat then says to highlight the ones on the list that, if you were forced to prioritise, would make you the happiest. So, I marked them with a star as above. He said that this would be a useful exercise in a later part of the book.

After listening to some of the first chapter, I decided to get up and get a takeaway because I felt that we all deserved it.

When I got back the others had laid the table and we ate as a family. My husband had downloaded Frozen 2 so we enjoyed that together. It wasn’t as good as the first one but still good.

Enjoy the weekend everyone! I will be decluttering and clearing more space.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra