Things for Today

Michael may be going home today so he can pick up my last happiness book from his library. I'll see him in a week. We will probably go to the wildlife center first to see animals and maybe walk down one of their trails. I'm going to return to re-reading The Chronicles of Narnia and then read the last book April lent me. I should paint borders around my paintings, too... It also would be good for me to clean the house a bit today. I'm still sleeping a lot. It may be that way indefinitely. I was dumb to buy half a season of Glee when the full box set is coming out later on. Maybe I will give away my first set or something. I'm still trying to get my mother to watch Glee; her brother really likes it.

Backgrounds of Friendships

From: http://www.tenthousandquestions.com/
The Goat and the Goose
Social psychologists say that you tend to make friends with people who are similar to you in their values and backgrounds. Do most of your friendships follow this pattern?

Which of your friendships cross cultural lines, challenge stereotypes, or otherwise defy expectations?

Most of my friends do have similar values, but there is more variety in backgrounds. My background is strange and confusing and a mixture of different social classes and backgrounds. Izzy and Mireia are two friends who aren't from the U.S. and have different cultures (Izzy is from Malaysia and Mireia is from Spain). I don't think either of them are "typical" of people from their culture, though. I'm sure a lot of stereotypes are challenged among my friends, but I can't think of any good examples right now. I think it's more subtle things... A lot of my friends do have a higher education level than their parents did, but that's pretty common. Because most of my values are the same with most of my friends I don't really see the friendships as "defying expectations" even if we are from different backgrounds.

Happiness Quotes

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

- Groucho Marx

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

- Buddha

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”

- Aristotle

“Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different.”

- Stacey Charter

“It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”

- Dale Carnegie

“Nothing can bring you happiness but yourself.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Happiness Project Questions

To help you identify changes in your life that might make you happier, answer the following questions:

1. What makes you feel good? What activities do you find fun, satisfying, or energizing?
Spending time with my family and friends, writing, drawing/painting, bike riding, watching my favorite movies/television programs/anime programs, reading.

2. What makes you feel bad? What are sources of anger, irritation, boredom, frustration, or anxiety in your life?
Arguments, insensitive comments, people leaving me/ignoring me, technology problems, dealing with difficult or unfamiliar people, getting evaluated in some way, physical labor.

3. Is there any way in which you don't feel right about your life? Do you wish you could change jobs, cities, family situation, or other circumstances? Are you living up to your expectations for yourself? Does your life reflect your values?
I feel bad that I don't work and that I haven't progressed more in my areas of interest. I also still have lingering bad memories of certain people and that torments me (It's difficult for me to let go of things). I wish I could work a job, but I know it's not really possible for me, at least for right now. Except for when I lash out at people I'd say my life reflects my values and what I view as important. However, I would like to stop using/consuming all animal products, but I haven't done that, and I think that would be more in-line with my values.

4. Do you have sources of an atmosphere of growth? In what areas of your life do you find progress, learning, challenge, improvement, and increased mastery?
I find like-minded people online that work at improving themselves in the same ways I do. Michael and I both are working on being more environmentally-friendly. My friend April and I are both working on happiness projects. I find the most learning for me has been through social relationships, though I think I slowly improve at art and writing through practice.

5 Gratitudes+1

1. Re-reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
2. Watching the movie Hounddog and not getting depressed due to it
3. Good communications with Amber
4. Not having to pay for my hospital stay 2 1/2 years ago (I got financial aid for it).
5. Going to the wildlife center with Michael
6. Having mostly positive emotions today, and having my more negative emotions quickly relieved