What do you dread?

Many hate paying taxes. But, perhaps, this is just a perception problem.  Maybe we should be thankful we get to pay taxes.  Yes, I said thankful.

Do you think I’m crazy?!?  Are you wondering if I’ve gone stark, raving mad?  Why in the world would anyone be happy about paying taxes?

Well, I want to prove a point.  I want to show you that happiness has a lot to do with the way you see things.  If you can look at something just a little bit differently, you can often change your whole perception of the situation.  This can have a dramatic impact on your happiness.

A Poem that Turns Things Upside Down

I ran across what I’m going to call a poem this week that really challenges our perceptions.  I think it has circulated around the Internet a bit so maybe you’ve already seen it, but I hadn’t and I believe it has tremendous value so I’m going to publish it again.  I’m not sure where it came from originally.  If I did, then I‘d definitely give proper credit.  Here it goes:

I am thankful for…

…the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

…the taxes I pay because it means that I am employed.

…the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

…my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

…a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means that I have a home.

…the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

…all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.

…my huge heating bill because it means that I am warm.

…the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear.

…the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.

…the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.

…weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

Your View Determines Your Happiness

Can you see how your view of a situation matters immensely?

I can certainly get upset and mad that so much money comes out of my paycheck every couple of weeks to pay my taxes.  However, what would that get me?  It would only leave me feeling irritated, frustrated and defeated.  None of these have anything to do with happiness.  On the other hand, I can choose to look at the situation in a positive light.  I can be grateful and happy that I am gainfully employed and that I have the good fortune of earning enough money to support my family.

Here’s my point.  How you interpret your life is your choice.

But, I can tell you that your happiness depends on the way you decide to go.  If you are unhappy, disgruntled and disappointed with your life, you can turn things around by reexamining and reevaluating your view of the situation.  A new choice equals new happiness.

This is an incredibly powerful idea.  I guarantee that you will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar in your life.  If you always go around, “Woe is me.”  No one is ever going to pay you any mind.  After all, who wants to hire, marry, work with, live with, befriend, promote or hang around a person that is unhappy and self-defeated all the time?

Smile.  Be grateful for what you have.  Don’t worry about what you lack.  Choose a positive outlook and interpretation of your life.  You will feel happier and your opportunities will grow.  Even if they don’t, you benefit by choosing to be happy.

You see you can either go through life as an old sourpuss dreading the next thing around every corner or you can choose to be happy.  It is that simple.  Which do you prefer?  I’m thankful I have to pay taxes.

Photo: Copyright PhotoXpress.com

I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful life.  I hope your holidays are filled with excitement and enthusiasm.  May all your wishes come true and may your home be filled with the wonderful sites, sounds and smells of the season.

I’d like to remind you that each day is truly a gift.  Be present in the moment.  Drink it all in.  This is sweet time.  Soak it into your memory.  Let it penetrate you down to your soul.  May it be as grand and enjoyable a holiday as you’ve ever experienced!

Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.  ~Calvin Coolidge, 1927

To all my wonderful readers, thank you for all your support, encouragement and comments!  It has been a great year.  I am truly blessed.  I hope in some small way that I have also blessed you.

Three Awesome Christmas Articles for Your Enjoyment

Here are three articles that will help you refocus so you can ponder the wonder and mystery of Christmas appropriately:

• The Most Unbelievable Story Ever Told
• Round John Virgin, Mother and Child: The Magic and Mystery of Christmas
• The Joy and Wonder of Christmas

Merry Christmas to All!

Photo by D’Arcy Norman

Thanksgiving is a day set aside to help us reflect on all that we have to be grateful for in our lives.

It is incredibly easy to get bogged down in all the negative news flying around on the Internet and on the evening news, but today we need to stop and remind ourselves of the good things in our lives.

Mindfully and intentionally practicing gratitude is a powerful thing you can do for yourself not just today, but every day.

A Few Resources to Help You Practice Gratitude

Thanksgiving Day is often full of warm feelings and joy, but how do we carry those positive emotions forward into our everyday living?

You need to give yourself the gift of gratitude.

If you aren’t accustomed to practicing gratitude often enough, and most of us are not, then here are some resources that will help you to get into the right mindset.  You can use them as often as necessary.

• Be Grateful Because We Are So Incredibly Fortunate!
• Living Life To The Fullest On A Fine Fall Evening
• 7 Things In My Life That Fill Me With Gratitude and Joy
• I Wish Money Could Buy Happiness
• Avoid The Pitfall Of Comparing Yourself To Others
• 7 Reasons My Life is More Fulfilling
• Mindfulness: The Art of Living in the Present

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Carry It Forward

I wish you the most enjoyable Thanksgiving you can imagine.  May your day be full of love, gratitude and joy.  May you be surrounded with family, food and tons of good football.  May you carry the good feelings of this day forward into the rest of your life!

Photo by marksdk

I’ve been writing a lot lately about money, but the accumulation of wealth can be a false yardstick for success.  As we’ve seen in our economy, money comes and goes.

True happiness or joy in life needs to be built on a more solid foundation.

How we judge success really does determine our happiness.  Picking the right things will give us a sense of contentment, joy and peace regardless of circumstances.

False measures of success will steal our happiness

Often we get distracted pursuing things that ultimately don’t matter.  Yes, it is fun to have nice things, but you can’t let yourself build a life on what is temporary.

Let me expand on this by naming a few of the false measures of success and explaining how they are shaky ground for true happiness.

1.  Job, career, business

Work consumes a good portion of our lives.  It is therefore very easy for it to become the measure of our success. 

It doesn’t matter whether you work for yourself or for someone else, your current situation is subject to change.  Look at all the layoffs and business closings that have occurred lately.

If your measure of success is based on your title, earnings or the fact that you own your own business, then you might want to reexamine your life just a bit.

I’ve learned time and again that these situations change in the blink of an eye.  No matter how secure you think your work situation is, it can disintegrate without notice.

Men especially seem predisposed to getting a lot of their self-worth from what they do for a living.  Yes, work can be satisfying and provide some significance, but we need to be sure it isn’t all we live for.

2.  Money

Money cannot buy joy and contentment.  It just opens up your options.  There are plenty of rich people that are miserable.  Happiness is a choice.

Nevertheless, many people want others to think they are rich whether they really are or not.  I guess they believe it makes them look successful.

They live over-inflated lifestyles supported by credit cards and other forms of debt.  However, contrary to popular belief (and the commercials) the truly priceless moments in life cannot be bought.

Money is fickle.  As I mentioned above, it comes and goes.  How many times has Donald Trump been broke?

Believing that you will be happy when you make or save more money is a fallacy.

3.  Possessions

We often seem to think that we will be happy when we get a bigger house, a nicer car or new furniture.

Yes, these things do sometimes make us giddy for a bit, but once the newness wears off, then we have to buy something else to renew the high.

There will always be something to buy and someone else will always have something a little better or newer or fancier than you.

Most of us eventually realize that while possessions are nice to have, they are not a source of true happiness.

Don’t measure your success by your toys!

4.  Social status

I have a harder time relating to this one.  My social needs are pretty modest, but I know there are many individuals that measure their success by their number of contacts.

Of course, there are many of life’s circumstances that effect how others feel about us.  Public opinion can turn on a dime.

Relationships can change based on marital status, job changes, financial means or a myriad of other factors.  Popularity in the eyes of our acquaintances and colleagues can fade quickly.

A better way to judge success and be happy

There is a better way to be happy rather than relying on temporary, external measures of success.

Here are my suggestions:

1.  Choose happiness and success

First and foremost, I believe that if you want to be happy and successful, then you have decide to be.  You have to make it happen for yourself.

Happiness in life really is a choice.  It is all in the way we arrange our thoughts.

What lens are you going to use to see your life through?  You get to pick.

Make the best of what is offered to you.  Choose to see things in a positive light.  Choose to have a good attitude and better things will come your way.

Your life is usually going to measure up to your expectations.  Expect less and you’ll get less. 

Demand more from life by positively applying the talents and resources you have and you’ll find yourself getting ahead.

2.  Focus on the love you give and receive

True success is really about the relationships we build and nurture along the way.  Love is what makes life meaningful.

Most often when you read a story about someone with a terminal disease, where to they turn their focus during the last days of their lives?

Let me give you a hint, they generally don’t start working more hours or buy more possessions.

Dying people want to spend quality time with their loved ones.  Why wait until your days are numbered to do this?

Start loving more deeply today!  Measure your success by the love you give and receive.

3.  Give and help those that you can

One of the reasons that I want to be more financially successful is so I can give more.  I believe you have to be generous to truly prosper.

The more you give, the more you get in return.  Life is just richer and more fulfilling when you donate your time, expertise and money to help others.

Have you ever considered judging your success by how much you are willing to give?

I’m not talking about just charitable giving either.  Give your all at work.  Don’t be greedy.  Do a pro bono job once in awhile when someone really needs it.

Giving of yourself is a great way to open up a whole new avenue to happiness in your life.  You will likely find a deep fountain of fulfillment that you never knew existed!

4.  Tap into your spiritual side

I believe there is more to us than just flesh and bone.  Get in touch with your spiritual side.

If you have never explored this aspect of life, then now is a great time to do it.  Go find out what you believe.

You have a lot more to offer than what you might imagine.  Discovering and deepening your spiritual connection is essential to being truly successful in life.

There will always be a hole in your heart until you resolve this for yourself.  This is where the marrow of life truly exists.

Turn success and happiness into contentment and joy

Ultimately, when you pursue the right things in life, your feelings of success and happiness will turn into true contentment and joy.

You will be satisfied.  You will cease always longing for things that are temporary and inferior.  You will be wise enough to avoid common pitfalls that steal our joy.

I’m certainly not there yet myself, but I long for the days.

Where are you at on this journey?

Photo by dreamymo

Selfishness can cause us to cling to things and to be too demanding of others.  It often ruins relationships and complicates our lives.

Overcoming selfishness will lead to a simpler life if we can learn to let go of all the stuff we cling to.  It will also help us to get along better with those closest to us in our lives.

A successful life begins with overcoming selfishness

A successful or super-charged life is one full of joy, significance and contentment.  It is impossible to experience these things when one is excessively selfish.

Selfishness causes us to focus solely on our wants and desires.  We demand our way and miss out on the richness that comes from giving and sharing.  This causes our relationships with our spouses, kids and co-workers to suffer immensely.

Self-indulgence often also leads to the over-accumulation of material possessions.  We constantly seek happiness and fulfillment in our next new toy.  Of course, this is a fruitless pursuit that will quickly leave a person depressed, disillusioned and broke.

A selfish person will often find themselves bankrupt emotionally and financially.  This egocentric behavior often leads to divorce, debt and turmoil.

How to overcome selfishness and begin healing your life

It is never too late to beat selfishness and turn your life around.  The sooner you start, the sooner you will begin to enjoy a better life.

Here are some suggestions for overcoming selfishness:

1.  Admit your selfishness and be honest about it

Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without in himself.  ~ Henry Ward Beecher

The first step in recovering from almost any vice is to first admit it to yourself.  This can often be one of the hardest steps.

It isn’t easy for us to look ourselves in the mirror and honestly recognize we are grotesquely selfish.  Maybe it is self-preservation?

Admitting ugly things about ourselves hurts.  We all want to avoid pain.  Of course, which is worse, admitting being selfish or continuing to live so?

Conceding the truth about ourselves can be a great relief.  It will free you to let go and begin healing.  There is no other way to begin the process.

2.  Begin to give generously when you least want to

He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies.  ~ Tertullian

You have to start killing the monster inside that constantly clamors to get its way.  You do this by generously letting others have their way.

When you feel the most resistance to giving in, just do it!  Others may want your time, money or your agreement with them.  Give it!

As you do this, it will slowly become easier.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make the right decision in this crucial moments.

A circumstance will soon arise where you feel a strong gravitational pull to insist on getting your way.  Don’t fall to it!  Instead, see it as an opportunity to conquer your enemy.

3.  Be patient with those who have endured your selfishness

That man who lives for self alone, Lives for the meanest mortal known.
~ Joaquin Miller

Even though you have admitted your disease to yourself and started to fight against it, don’t expect everyone else to jump on the bandwagon too soon.

Those around you have endured your selfishness for far too long to immediately believe it is over.  In their eyes, you may relapse at any time.

They are going to want to see a long track record of generosity, kindness and thoughtfulness before they are going to fully accept the new you.

Be patient with them.  Give them time to see that you are serious and committed to overcoming your selfishness.

4.  Keep a journal about overcoming selfishness

The unexamined life is not worth living.  ~ Socrates

Document your thoughts and feelings as you progress through this process.  Write down your triumphs and failures.

Go back from time-to-time and review what you have written.  This will help you to see that you really are changing to be more generous, kind and thoughtful.

It will also hold you accountable if you are not!

Conquering selfishness is a move toward a better life!

Selfishness is a roadblock to a better life.  Taking simple steps to defeat it will open up a whole new world for you.

It will simplify and improve your life in ways that you cannot even imagine.  Your relationships will grow more rich and loving than they have ever been.

You are a conqueror!  Go forth and live life to the fullest!

Photo by okreitz

Why is this?  There are a few that seem to be living with a deep sense of contentment.  What makes their lives different?  What are they doing to achieve such satisfaction?

These are the questions that I ponder regularly and intend to answer as I write this blog.  I named this site My Super-Charged Life, but I certainly haven’t arrived there yet.  It is a journey that I am on, not necessarily a destination.

What is super-charged living?  What does it mean?

Mary from Simply Forties recently wrote a guest post for me a few weeks ago.  In the opening paragraph, she mentioned that she didn’t know what “My Super-Charged Life” really meant to me. 

Frankly, I was a little shocked when I first read her statement.  Have I done such a poor job of communicating my purpose?  Apparently so!

It was then that I started thinking about writing this post.  I’m glad that Mary brought this to my attention.  It gives me a chance to address it and to reflect and refine the intent that guides my writing.

As I read my about page, I realize that over the last year, my goal for this blog has evolved, matured and clarified.  In fact, I think I’ll make some updates to the about page pretty soon.  In the meantime, let me dive into explaining some of my thoughts about Super-Charged Living.

Original intent of creating significance and joy still holds true

I still feel confident that my original narrative that I wrote over a year ago about Super-Charged Living is still valid.  In it, I emphasized what I believe are some of the key characteristics of a super-charged life. 

I wrote about things like excellence, continual learning, adventure and financial wisdom.  The rest of the key characteristics coincide with the categories I use to classify my articles on this site.

However, over the last year, I’ve come to realize the reason that I believe in striving towards these key characteristics is because they lead to creating significance and joy.  In other words, they make my life meaningful and fun.

I think this has always been part of my intent, but maybe I hadn’t quite grasped it before.  There are many things I’m still learning myself about Super-Charged Living.

Things to avoid when seeking significance and joy in life

Beyond having a clearer picture of what embodies Super-Charged Living, I also have arrived at some conclusions about what it is not.  What I mean to say is that some things may seem to characterize a Super-Charged Life, in reality do not.

I have realized that some who stumble upon my site might confuse Super-Charged Living with a jet set lifestyle.  They might think that I aspire to something that could be seen on The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

This is simply not true.  Super-Charged Living is NOT about:

• being overly selfish
• making rash, illogical decisions
• being completely and utterly irresponsible
• pretending to be someone you’re not
• or undisciplined consumerism

We all display some of these behaviors from time-to-time, but none of these will lead to a life of significance or joy.  In fact, they lead in completely the opposite direction.  Fame and riches are fine, but they are not central to what I’m striving for.

The journey toward Super-Charged Living continues!

Obviously, I have learned some things and grown over the past year.  It is amazing how this blog has been such a great teacher.  Yes, I learn from it probably even more than you do!

Of course, it hasn’t been just the exercise of reflecting and writing that has helped me learn more about significance and joy.  The greatest lessons have come from you, my readers.

You are a vast source of encouragement, insight and intelligence.  I truly value your willingness to join me in my journey.  I hope that along the way we can both find greater meaning and happiness in living! 

I hope we can find the keys to living a Super-Charged Life.  Thanks for indulging me as I took the time to make this clearer!

Are there any questions I can answer for you about Super-Charged Living?

Photo by Bitterroot

When I started Just Plain Joy, I wanted to create an outlet for exploring and defining a simple life. I decided I wanted to pursue a simpler life for several reasons – I wanted to save more money to invest in my child’s future, I wanted more time to spend on the things that matter most to me, and I wanted to reduce my impact on the environment.

The benefits of simpler living have been overwhelming – I worry less about finances, I spend less energy keeping track of my possessions, I have a greater appreciation for natural beauty, I am less concerned about status, and I’m enjoying life!

My 7 steps for achieving a super simple life

Simple has many interpretations. After careful consideration, I chose four concepts to define my interpretation of simple living:

• clutter-free
• debt-free
• organized
• green

Here are seven steps for achieving a super simple life based on these four concepts:

1. Simplify your home.

The first step to physically simplifying your life is to get rid of the clutter. Start with the room where you spend most of your time (or the one that is most manageable).

Then, move methodically through every drawer, desktop, shelf, and countertop and sort items into three categories – keep, toss, and recycle (these are items that will be given away, donated, or sold). If you are undecided about an item, ask yourself, “Do I love it? Is it useful?” If the answer to both questions is “no,” then don’t keep it.

The second step to physically simplifying is to get organized. Ask yourself, “Where is this item’s permanent home?” Everything you own should have a physical place.

2. Simplify your finances.

As a rule, we tend to spend as much as we earn (or more). To simplify your finances, spend less than you make. This is a basic debt-reduction strategy, but it also allows you to work less and spend more time doing the things that really matter to you.

There are simple strategies for staying out of debt – write down every single thing you spend money on, evaluate your spending habits, create a budget, identify a money management system that works for you, pay down your highest interest debts, create an emergency fund, and pay your bills in full and on time.

3. Simplify your virtual world.

It is easy to be sucked in by email, instant messaging, social networking sites, and online media. Technology can assist you in delegating everyday tasks, but it should not be allowed to overrule the more important things.

Clean out your inbox, choose one social networking site, and minimize your time online. Mastering technology will simplify your life.

4. Simplify your work.

First, stop trying to do it all. You may think you can respond to an email while you are on hold and in the middle of drafting a document, but when you multi-task you are not giving any activity your full attention.

To simplify your work, clean up your physical work space, limit your commitments, find an organizational system that works for you, and learn to delegate.

5. Simplify your day.

Managing ourselves from day to day is about prioritizing our values and goals. Before you decide how to manage your time, you have to identify what is truly important to you in your life. Then, using simple time management tools can help you control how you choose to spend your time.

Create a list of goals, establish a morning and evening routine, schedule time to relax, and leave your weekends unscheduled.

6. Simplify your health.

It is much simpler to stay healthy than to deal with illness. To simplify your health, avoid drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, fill your fridge with fruits and vegetables, stock your medicine cabinet with basic remedies and supplies, exercise regularly, and identify a doctor you can trust.

7. Simplify your philosophy.

Adopting a simple lifestyle can require a shift in thinking. It requires you to accept that what you have is “enough”, learn to let go of the need to be a superachiever, live in the moment, find simple pleasures, and define your identity by reflection rather than by consumerism.

Simple living is not difficult!

It is not necessary to tackle every area of your life at once. If you feel you could benefit from simplifying any of these areas, then I hope this article was helpful. If you are a parent, read about how to simplify your family life.

Joy is a new mom living in a small community in California. She blogs about simple living, budgeting, balancing home and work, and finding joy at www.JustPlainJoy.blogspot.com. She recently completed her PhD in Education and works as a Volunteer Coordinator at a state university.

Photo by bella vita

It’s not having what you want.  It’s wanting what you’ve got.
~ Sheryl Crow

When Thanksgiving is over this year and all the hubbub dies down, will our lives be full of contentment and joy or will we make ourselves crazy striving to have just a little more?

When Thanksgiving is over, will we still be truly thankful or will we allow ourselves to slip into ungratefulness?

When Thanksgiving has come and gone, will it have just been a speed bump in the run up to Christmas?

When Thanksgiving comes this year

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.  ~ Buddha

On Thanksgiving, most of us pause, at least just for a moment, to be mindful of the riches in our lives.  We briefly give thanks for family, friends and comforts.  We count our blessings. 

We feast on the bounty of our harvest.  We gather together to say a prayer and to share our excess with loved ones.

For a moment when Thanksgiving is here, we remember the pilgrims that went before us blazing a trail into the promised land.   We think about our forefathers and the sacrifices they made.  We stand on their shoulders and feel proud of our heritage.

When Thanksgiving comes, we make our own annual pilgrimages returning home and to our roots.  We say thanks for how far we’ve come from our humble beginnings. 

When Thanksgiving is upon us, we are thankful.

When Thanksgiving is over this year

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Yes, we are normally pretty thankful on Thanksgiving, but what is going to happen the day after?  It seems that Thanksgiving has become just a rest stop for the race to Christmas.

We all know the day after Thanksgiving is the retailer’s delight.  The stores open earlier and earlier every year.  We go out in throngs shopping and trying to get a good deal.

We fight for parking spaces, wrestle for bargains and overspend our way to nowhere.  Isn’t there a better way to act when Thanksgiving is over?  Here are my suggestions.

When Thanksgiving is over…

• Let’s continue to be thankful for what we have.
• Let’s live within our means.
• Let’s pursue a simpler existence.
• Let’s spend more time with our kids.
• Let’s relish in the company of good friends.
• Let’s agree we have enough.
• Let’s treasure our freedom.
• Let’s be more content.
• Let’s smile and laugh more often
• Let’s stop worrying and live in the present
• Let’s demonstrate our patience
• Let’s offer forgiveness
• Let’s give a little more of our true selves
• Let’s be kinder to others
• Let’s live in peace
• Let’s set an example
• Let’s share with someone that really needs it
• Let’s save some for tomorrow
• Let’s remind ourselves we are blessed
• Let’s continue being thankful!

Thankfulness doesn’t have to end when Thanksgiving does!

I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God. ~ Helen Keller

We have so many things to be thankful for in our lives.  It is all in our perspective.  It is how we use what we have.  Why not go forward today living a little more thankfully?  Why not set an example for your family and those around you?  Why not try to truly live a few of the items on the list above?

What do you have to be thankful for?  How do you show it?

Here are a few other articles that you might find helpful:
Be Grateful Because We Are So Incredibly Fortunate!
7 Things In My Life That Fill Me With Gratitude and Joy
14 Benefits Of Simplicity That Lead To A Good Life
A Simple Life Is A Good Life – I Believe Less Is More

Photo by xybermatthew

“Happiness consists more in the small conveniences of pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Living life to the fullest is often found in the simplest pleasures of life.  Things do not have to be big, exotic, expensive, or complicated to be enjoyable.  I find that the deepest, richest moments of my life are brief times filled with common things combined in an uncommon way.  It is like a “perfect storm”.  All the perfect elements of a great life just seem to mix together into a wonderful moment.

I experienced this last night.  My wife and two daughters cooked out hamburgers on our patio in our backyard just after sunset.  It was a fantastically beautiful Fall evening.  The stars were out and a cool breeze was blowing.  We ate a very tasty, but simple meal and then snuggled up in a couple of chairs to stare at the stars.

My wife and I each had a kid on our laps.  There was just enough coolness in the air that we could cover up with a light blanket.  Sitting there in that chair with a warm and snuggly kid in my lap looking up at the twinkling stars and bright moon was heaven on earth!  A deep sense of fulfillment and thankfulness filled my heart.

The moment didn’t last long.  That’s the way it seems to be with these “perfect storms”.  They come and go in the blink of an eye.  That’s why recognizing these moments  and drinking from them deeply is so important.  I am so thankful for our time last night.  It warms and enriches my heart right now just thinking about it! 

Don’t miss these moments as you carry on with your life!  This is where the marrow of true joy and fulfillment exists.  These fleeting times, when added together, equate to a life well lived! 

Stop waiting or chasing after something that may never come and start enjoying what you have right now!

Have you had a similar experience?  Please share it and let me know how you found happiness in simple pleasures.

Photo by JelleS

Recently at Marc and Angel Hack Life, they posted an article titled 70 Things To Do Before Having Children.  This inspired me to create my own list.  I agree that it is often easier to do some things before kids come into the picture, but life doesn’t end when you start a family.  On the contrary, you come to discover that your children open up a whole new dimension of living.

So, today I thought I’d share my list of 70 great things about having children!

1. Getting a goodnight kiss from a 3-year old.

2. Seeing their beautiful smiles!

3. Watching them pull up into the standing position.

4. Having a tickle-fest!

5. Christmas morning.

6. Easter morning.

7. Halloween night.

8. Coming home is always a celebration even when you’re only gone a little while.

9. Family hugs.

10. Going on a family vacation.

11. Taking them to the first day of kindergarten.

12. Watching them learn to read.

13. Being called mommy or daddy.

14. Looking at pictures from when they were younger.

15. Measuring to see how much the kids have grown in a year.

16. Hearing them laugh for the first and every time.

17. Throwing them a ball.

18. Feeling pride the first time they catch it.

19. Watching them perform in a school program.

20. Seeing them do things on the playground that they used to need help doing.

21. Experiencing their unadulterated excitement.

22. Getting swept up in their excitement.

23. Seeing the world anew through the eyes of a child.

24. Helping them catch their first fish.

25. Going camping as a family.

26. Hearing them talk about God.

27. Listening to them pray.

28. Having them remind you that you forgot to say grace.

29. Snuggling up to watch an animated movie.

30. Having them crawl into your lap when they are scared.

31. Watching them do something amazing like jumping off the high dive!

32. Hearing them tell you, "I love you, Daddy."

33. Sitting down to a family dinner.

34. Seeing a great report card from school.

35. Playing outside together.

36. Teaching them to ride a bike.

37. Watching as they get it and peddle away.

38. Teaching them to love chocolate.

39. Giving them more than you had when you were a kid.

40. Hunting crawdads in the creek.

41. Having "live performances" in your living room.

42. Seeing how adorable they look in their new clothes.

43. Marveling at their tiny little toes.

44. Finding a baby doll on the floor after they’ve gone to bed.

45. Kissing their little feet.

46. Carrying them around the house wrapped in a towel after a bath.

47. Seeing the joy a bubble bath can bring

48. Giving them their first childhood dog.

49. Reading their name in the newspaper.

50. Hearing that they look just like you.

51. Watching your parents become grandparents.

52. Listening to them sing, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".

53. Witnessing their first haircut.

54. Taking a picture of them without their two front teeth.

55. Dropping them off for their first sleep over.

56. Picking them up from their first sleep over.

57. Throwing birthday parties.

58. Hanging up the great picture of them in the living room.

59. Having your refrigerator covered with their masterpieces.

60. Spending an afternoon at the zoo.

61. Seeing your kids wearing shades.

62. Reading the book they love over and over and over again!

63. Eavesdropping when they’re playing alone in their room.

64. Building a snowman.

65. Going down a water slide together.

66. Blowing kisses from the car as you leave.

67. Seeing their beautiful smiles.  (did I mention this already?!?)

68. Teaching them the value of money.

69. Melting when they make you feel really good about yourself.

70. Having your eyes fill with tears because you love them so much.

Was there life before kids?

Whatever life I had before my children came along was nothing compared to the life I have now.  Yes, I occasionally miss the freedom and independence, but I would never trade my life now for it.  I love my kids!  They are beautiful and they make my heart sing.

What do you think is great about your life with kids?

Photo by Seeding-Chaos