HAPPY 101 AWARD

The other day, The Naked Redhead nominated The Quixotic Jedi for a “Happy 101 Award” because she thought it was “hilarious to do so”. This is kind of like a blogger chain-email thingamabob (I think). TNR was nominated by Alex over at The Tell Tale Blog, and QJ was named in her post. I think pingbacks are supposed to be involved here, but who knows whose are disabled and whose aren’t? The Quixotic nominated me. YAY!


Anyway, here are the rules of engagement:


List 10 things that make you happy. Do at least one of them today. Tag 5 bloggers that brighten your day.
For those bloggers who get the award, you then link back to my blog and create your makes you happy list.

In no particular order, the following 10 things make me happy.

1. Sunny Days.

2. Coffee.

3. Writing.

4. Friendship/Unconditional Love.

5. Surfing/The Ocean..

6. Driving.

7. Independence.

8. Uncensored Laughing.

9. Friends that become Chosen Family.

10. Music.


1. Sunny days in Vancouver are precious. Whether it’s cold and a foot of snow on the ground, spring rains, or warm, there is something special about it that puts a spring in your step. Waking up slowing in the morning knowing that everyone outside your apartment is going to be in the same mood makes the days easier to deal with.

2. 6. (1) Coffee, Driving, Sunny days.– Enough said right? Not much more gets better with this combo unless its driving the strip to Long Beach, Tofino to go surfing.

3. Writing – I’ve been blogging for as long as I knew what a diary was. It was a way to vent and express myself without judgment. Writing about random things, sticking the Ipod in my ears, and losing myself in a heat of the moment, emotion thought that has to be written down right then! Some people run, hike, workout etc, as stress relievers, I write.

4. Friendship and unconditional  - WIll try and articulate this another day.

5. Surfing/The Ocean - If you’ve never been to the ocean, and/or surfing, you’re missing something totally spiritual and magical.

Spiritual in the way that while you’re losing yourself in while watching the waves crash and slip back out, you’re free. The ocean doesn’t judge you, doesn’t compete with you, and the time that passes with the freedom is something else.

Look at the faces of anyone who’s just returned from holidays or spent a blissful day near water, the stress in their faces are gone and people look at peace and happy.

It is to be said with surfing. To sit on a board in the ocean with Mother Nature, waiting for her to send you a swell to pick you up and drive you into the shore. Or simply swallow you whole and force a saline cleanse on you, spit you out with a smile on her face while she fades back into the deep with a taunting whisper that says…..NEXT!
Either way, whatever you chose to do, sit on the beach or play red rover with the ocean, it’s not until you’re relaxing at the end of the day with that sun/wind kissed face and silently appreciate what peace is or could be.

6. Driving – Nothing beats an open road, music blasting, sun out… It’s simply peaceful.

7. Independence – I’ve never lived with a spouse. And although I would enjoy it, I also enjoy not having to answer to anyone, not cleaning anyone else’s mess.
And knowing being female, I’m strong and smart enough to do small repairs around my apt, fix my own car, plaster things if need be etc..

8. Uncensored Laughing – I love when something so unexpected makes me laugh so suddenly and hard from the belly. It’s the best, when in a world of forced politeness, some people are still capable of being true and letting go. It’s a very attractive thing to hear someone laugh like that.

9. Friends that become Chosen Family – After my folks passed away my siblings virtually become like strangers to me. They had absolutely no interest in keeping close. They went about their business and always seem annoyed that they had to deal with me. I was ashamed of them for their behaviour and embarrassed that maybe it was ME they didn’t like and were secretly having gatherings behind my back…. That was not the case and I learned my siblings are selfish people. My closest friends and their families opened their hearts and homes to me so I’ll never be alone again. They accept me for who I am, I can be myself, and that’s how it should be.

My friends are my chosen family and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve learned much from them and their family dynamics.

10. Music – I love losing myself in music. All sorts. I wouldn’t say I have a type I like best; I let the music find my mood. With that I’ve learned to appreciate many different styles for the many different layers of my onion.

Below list of bloggers I’ve tagged that makes me happy.

The Quixotic – But he already tagged me..
http://www.quixoticjedi.com/

Red at The Naked RedHead
http://www.thenakedredhead.com/

Peter Shankman at Haro and Shankman.com
http://shankman.com/

Georgia at In the State I’m in
http://georgiaisyourfriend.blogspot.com/

Jesse Tucker at Making Music
http://jessetucker.squarespace.com/

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and two one more for good measure
Jen Lancaster at Jennsylvania
http://www.jennsylvania.com/

Michele Hickford at Do I Need To Slap You?
Although she isn’t currently blogging, she’s an amazing woman who has changed
My life in many ways from her blog and book.
http://muleos.blogspot.com/