Late Getting Up

I slept in really late today, even though I didn't go to bed late. I had some intense dreams again, which tends to be associate with me sleeping a long time. The only dream I remember, though, is debating with some people who was better, Britney Spears when she was first becoming popular, or Christina Aguilera. I defended Britney and said she seemed a lot nicer than Christina Aguilera and it didn't matter to me if she was not that intelligent. I liked that Britney Spears had bipolar, like me.

When I did get up I ate oatmeal and talked to my mother. We went into Wheaton to see the fair, but there weren't many crafts there:-( She bought me and my brother some food afterward, which was nice of her. It rained here all last night and morning, I guess, but I didn't hear any of it. I'd like it to rain again because I love the rain.

For now I will probably try to finish reading The Silver Chair.

A Happiness Manifesto -- Notes

From: http://www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com/manifesto.html
A Happiness Manifesto

* To be happy, you need to consider feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.
1. Doing activities and thinking things that make me feel good (happy, content, enthusiastic, etc.)
2. Getting rid of things that make me feel bad (depressed, lonely, anxious, angry, etc.)
3. Doing what feels right in my life (volunteering, caring for animals, being helpful and generous, buying environmentally-friendly products, etc.)
4. Growing through my happiness project, art, writing, learning more about people, reading

* One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.
(Be generous and kind as much as possible, while also showing people how happy I am and my successes at increasing my happiness)

* The days are long, but the years are short.
(Try to spend my time wisely so my ordinary days go more quickly and seem more full and appreciate the time I have)

* You're not happy unless you think you're happy.
(Be comfortable with the fact that I really am happy when I feel positive and uplifted -- don't overthink it)

* Your body matters.
(Exercise, good diet, taking medications and my vitamins, etc.)

* Happiness is other people.
(Social bonds such as marriage, family, and friendship greatly contribute to happiness)

* Think about yourself so you can forget yourself.
(Try to understand myself as well as possible so it's easier for me to be less selfish)

* "It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light."—G. K. Chesterton
(Try to focus on good things in life and laugh a lot)

* What's fun for other people may not be fun for you, and vice versa.
(I like a lot of quiet and childlike activities and creative activities, but dislike bars/loud parties, etc.)

* Best is good, better is best.
(Keep trying to improve myself and my abilities)

* Outer order contributes to inner calm.
(Keep my house in better condition and clean regularly)

* Happiness comes not from having more, not from having less, but from wanting what you have.
(Be content with my life)

* You can choose what you do, but you can't choose what you like to do.
(What I like to do isn't what everyone else likes to do and that's okay)

* "There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy." —Robert Louis Stevenson
(Being happy improves both my life and the lives of people around me)

* You manage what you measure.
(Make concrete goals/resolutions to do on a regular basis that is measurable -- eating habits, exercise, writing, art, volunteering, friendship contacts, relationship with Michael and family, cleaning, etc.)

5 Gratitudes

1. My mother buying me food again today.
2. Ice cream with chocolate cake.
3. Painting the background of my new painting and being pretty satisfied with it.
4. Finished reading The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
5. Getting the beginnings of anxiety under control