Monday, February 6, 2012

Share 'what makes you happy' for a chance to win a Kindle Fire!




(this is a thought provolking post about how to be happy)

The first time I laid eyes on this room, it made me happy. In a giddy sort of way.


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Tamara asked me which room I wanted lunch in and when I stepped into this one, it was a no brainer. I had to have it!


Rustic meeting elegance in this way really spoke to me. That barn wood wall drew me right in. But knowing that the entire building wasn't decorated like this made me appreciate the barn wood even more. The space wasn't overpowered with rustic, but rather, the rustic was highlighted.

Surroundings I adore actually bring me happiness, or should I say, a high I can appreciate.

However when BlogHer asked me to answer the below question, it forced me to penetrate a little deeper.


Deep huh? :) Let's stay in decorator world for a moment.


I wanted to make a new desk for my office but I didn't know how. I had so much to learn!  And naturally I made lots of mistakes along the way. But I eventually figured it out.



Once this thing was actually standing and didn't keel over within an hour, I couldn't believe I accomplished what I had! The feeling I was left with was an overwhelming gratefulness towards myself that I stuck it out and didn't quit.

It's steps like these that help me accept where I currently am. Because I kinda think that's the key to happiness. Being happy where you're currently at.


Loving and accepting myself just the way I am with all my quirks attached is the ONLY way to live.  But accepting yourself as is takes practice. It's all too easy to wish you had more or could do more. But where would you be then? You still would have lots to learn. So... what's the rush? Why not enjoy the ride?

My life is far from perfect. The to-do list is far too long, and my wish list even longer. I belt out the work of two parents and fall short daily. I allow the stress to bite me and can pout like the rest of them during a long rainy month.

But isn't that part of the ride up? Imperfection allows me to learn new things. I have friends that can help mentor my son. There will always be a to-do list and ways to  de-stress. And a heavy rainfall can actually highlight a good DIY project indoors.

Flip it around! Make it all good!

Peaceful moments, quality friends that offer support, family that loves you back, a warm home, food on the table, paid bills, those factors all play a part in our happiness. But I truly think the most important part is, how YOU feel inside of YOU.


Accept you for who you are, then watch what happens. Maybe you can't change the entire world, but you can most certainly change your own. :)

What do you think the secret to happiness is?
How can we become happy if we aren't? 


Feel free to share your views over at BlogHer's main Happiness post  HERE

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Kindle Fire! 

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31 comments:

  1. Ahhh, Happiness... fulfilling the best of who you are.

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  2. It's a secret ? I think if you have a quiet confidence at the end of the day that everything you touched ,saw,heard and created was in love, you are happy ♥

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  3. really got me thinking now... I am constantly wanting to be better, do more... BE more. As I accepted clinical depression, it made it easier to manage. Letting go of the 'fight' to be better has been a sobering journey of self acceptance. I am so much better now than I was, but as the dark weight of depression lifts I find myself greedy to grab more life. More than I can handle; more than I can 'be' or 'do'. So the spiral of not being pleased with myself starts over again.
    I am thankful for what you wrote about accepting where you are 'now' and not being in a rush, because I guess we never really do 'arrive'. Things will always be added to the 'to do list', and our character is always changing and growing. Happiness IS accepting and loving and appreciating where you are at at THIS very moment.
    Thanks for the post!

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    1. Jess, I'm going to read your reply every time I want more for myself too. It's hard to slow down when you're on a path. But also necessary if you can't keep up! Loved your thoughtful reply.

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  4. True happiness is accepting everything for exactly what it is.

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  5. Happiness is great health, financial stability, family and friends.

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  6. By really knowing and discovering who you are. Not who you think you are. Not who you are for your fmily or friends. But who you truly are inside. No masks, no pretense, no invisable boogie men. Just who you are. Knowing who you are makes figuring everything else out simple.

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  7. The trick for me is finding something in every situation to be grateful for. Not always easy, but it seems there is always something. It gets my mind off the trouble, and looking for the positive. Have been working on a family gratitude journal, it sits on our table for anyone to add to it. I'm looking to change the attitude of my family to one of gratitude, and I'm starting to see results. :-)

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  8. This was so well written. It was like reading about myself, and it gave me new good thought to think about. I agree we have to remind ourself, about beeing happy for what we got right now, and work well and use time to work for what we want.
    I also find myself in what Jess says in her comment, like spiral, and I have to pull myself back, and remind me about whats important, and pick my battles carefully.

    I also want to say, I love your blog, and your great ideas!! I hope you don't mind, but i'm planning on starting/redoing my own DIY blog. And this is with inspiration from you and many other good DIY blogs from USA. Because here in Norway there are no really good DIY blog, whitout all the talk about family,dinner,friends,fashion.. A little is okay, buI want an blogg with most ideas for new prosjects...

    You do great work!!!!! hugs from Gunn (sorry for bad english) ;p

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  9. I think happiness, by default, only lasts for a few moments. But you can try to be TRULY HUMAN in everything you say, think or do, with you or the others. And that will give you a permanent sense of fulfillment and well-being. My tip: on my wishlist I don't put things, I just put feelings and experiences.

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  10. I thank you for these words of wisdom to live by and starting my day off with this post. "Flip it around! Make it all good!" ....great advice!

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  11. You know, I just wrote about this on Sunday. For me, it was about letting go of a deep, dark past that someone told me I should be ashamed of. Now it is learning to not let comparison steal my joy and to really be thankful for the blue skies, the apples in my fridge, my kids pulling on me - to revel in the details.

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    1. Acknowledging those simple little things really makes everything ok, doesn't it? I couldn't agree more!

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  12. Deep thoughts for my morning coffee.. What makes me happy and how do I achieve it? Every day I try to find one thing that makes me smile - simple things like the birds at the feeder, hearing the horse drawn buggies go by my house (we live in Amish country), the sound of the kids from the nearby day care centre playing in the park next to our house. And accepting that life changes and that I have to change with it. Acceptance is the key to my happiness.

    Thanks for making us think a little deeper beyond the DIY, the morning tasks and the clutter of the day.

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  13. Donna, great words, beautiful pictures....you.did.it.again! My best friend and I just had a conversation about being happy. Contentment is what we came up with...being content brings peace and joy. I try to change my perspective and find joy in all things. I have included the word JOY in my decorating to remind myself (and others)...like "Don't postpone JOY"..."find JOY"..."The JOY of..."
    Hugs from Iowa,
    Michelle at Pine Needle Hill

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  14. I too thought I could do it all...be everything to everybody!! Sigh! I fell to the ground and received a good dose of reality. I now enjoy each day and know my limitations. I am happy where I am at. And with who I really am. Hard lessons to learn...but worth it in the end.
    Hugs
    SUeAnn

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  15. This post really hit home for me too..I have given up the notion that I can do it all and of course right and the only one who can do it perfect..Once I let go a few years back I truly enjoy everything I do now..
    THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME OF THAT AGAIN..

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  16. On the deepest level, abiding in God's love is what brings me joy. The beginings of spring, friends, family, food, the beach, and junking also make me happy :)

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  17. I'm happy being me & not being what I think "others" might want me to be. I'm happy being a creative person, a giving & loving person and happy to believe that I'm not contributing to the disgraces of the world. Happy in trying to help the world in my own little way.

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  18. I love your post! Thank you so much for sharing. BTW I LOVE that desk!

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  19. That is awesome. Once when I was a kid, I went out in the garage to "make something". I found some wood, nailed it together, and painted it with some leftover paint I found. It was a side table in the basement bathroom for many years. I know now that it was actually made of some old nasty stuff my parents were splitting for kindling, and the paint was some reject stuff that they painted the garage with! Needless to say, it was a hideous piece of "furniture". The joy of art is often in the expression, not always the beauty of the finished "object". (It sure is nice when you get them both though!)

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  20. Happiness is either fleeting or forever, it's how you choose to live your life

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  21. I sure don't have happiness nailed down...
    (see that I did there? nevermind.)

    For me, a few years ago I sat down and really thought about what my me really happy. What do I long to do more? And, I made changes so I could.

    For me, it's time with family. So offer me this or that or a week with family, I'm taking the family time. You can't get back time. (Or, sleep, but that's another post.)

    You can make more money. You can *fill in the blank* later. But, you can't get back lost time with those you love.

    For me, knowing that is my key to happiness.
    (Okay, that and maybe some really cook cocoa with a hint of cayenne.)

    ~ Dana
    Cooking at Cafe D

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  22. Thanks Donna for a wonderful post....

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  23. Still trying to sort through my thoughts on those questions but wanted to let you know how spectacular I think your desk and accessories are. You have truly created a personalized home. Love it.

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  24. I guess I don't put much stock into happiness...as it is an emotion that ebbs and flows. One moment it's there and the next it can be replaced with another emotion. I think I see things from a "joy filled" perspective. I won't always be happy, but I can be joyful, thankful and faithful. I have many friends and a few family members who live with depression, happiness is not something they experience often, they can however know the joy of a hug, a random phone call or text from a friend or the companionship of a loyal pet. Donna, I think you've found joy through your faith and because of that, you can recognize blessings, even if they are very small and covered up with the daily grind...yes, you have joy and you share it well with us.

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  25. I love your desk and the old ironing board on it with a light attached you are so darn creative!!!

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  26. For me self acceptance wasn't a choice, it was forced on me. I have physical conditions that limit my abilities and time that I can do things so basically I do what I can, when I can. I had to just accept that and stop beating myself up about it. I am grateful for all that I have and that is a big focus of my life, just being thankful. I feel the happiness and joy in small things: my kitties playing, feeding the ducks on the pond, working on a project with my mom or spending time with my daughter. I don't feel sorry for myself anymore, I feel sorry for those around me who can't see what a gift it is to have what they have. Health, money, love, friends, family ... the list is endless. I am grateful for it all!

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  27. Couple photo "Liked"!!! I really hope they win. I just helped my friend move her stuff out of her home due to divorce; 3 kids, youngest is 12. Sad, so sad. I think I'm more distraught than she is. It's so sad to me. Love to see this couple so in love after all those years they have lived together.

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  28. I love grey paint color in the office - do you remember what kind of paint it is and the color ? plz - i heart your style

    take care grace

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