From Ottawa with love (and happiness)

I am of two minds about the happiness campaign. First of all, it seems to me that I live my life constantly grateful about everything that surrounds me. When I wake up in the morning it is with a happy anticipation for what the day will bring and thankful that I have yet another day to enjoy. On the other hand, we all face challenges that at times shake our positive appreciation of life and that is when “counting our blessings” kicks in. Second, I have a problem prioritizing my list. As soon as I decide on something, I have a guilty feeling about the rest. If I say that “seeing” or “hearing” are more important than my husband or my children, what does that mean? That they are further down my priority list and thus, not as important? But I know that they are essential to my life, just like seeing and hearing.

I did my list anyway and I don’t mind sharing it with the others who are participating in the campaign…

1. Seeing
2. Hearing
3. Feeling
4. Being in good health
5. Being able to move freely
6. Being able to think
7. Having a husband that loves me
8. Having the love of my children
9. Being independent
10. My brother
11. Having my children independent
12. Wonderful grandchildren
13. Having daughters-in-law that are good mothers and good people
14. Having daughters-in-law who put up with me!
15. Waking up in the morning
16. Eating
17. Doing things well done
18. Being able to make decisions
19. Going to the bathroom
20. Being able to dance
21. Enjoying what I consider a privileged life
22. Good friends
23. Having work
24. Being able to help people
25. Being able to do my artwork and feeling great when one turns out well
26. Looking forward for the day
27. Having my house
28. Eli phoning me
29. Talking to my sisters-in-law
30. Reading a good book
31. Working in the garden
32. Mowing the lawn
33. Looking at the garden
34. Having breakfast reading the Economist
35. Planning things
36. Seeing the grandchildren on Skype
37. Looking at the trees against a very blue sky
38. Reading in the garden
39. Listening to the birds
40. Weeding (up to a certain point…!)
41. Having a beer after weeding
42. Preparing the outdoors for the day
43. Barbequeing
44. Having friends sitting around
45. Indulging my friends
46. Sitting down with a Scotch at the end of the day
47. Recappping the day with my husband
48. Planning a trip
49. Being supportive
50. Planning a dinner with friends
51. Appreciating the rain and thinking that it will be easier to move my plants
52. Showing my artwork to the grandchildren
53. Showing my artwork to friends
54. Having lunch with a good book
55. Putting things in order
56. A clean house
57. Preparing a nice meal
58. Making plans and carrying them out
59. Looking at photos
60. Reminiscing
61. Giving presents