I’m a little behind in my Happiness Project for this month. The baby, Madam Poopsalot, who is only 13 weeks old got her first cold and because she is a preemie and so young, it really hit her hard. It was really very scary (breathing issues and choking on mucous) so I have fallen off the project a bit. I’m happy to report that she is doing much better now and I’m back at it. So, for the month of February, I’ve missed writting about the following 3 weekly project Challenges…
Give Proofs of Love
Fight Right
Don’t Expect Praise or Appreciation
Give Proofs of Love
To me this means staying mindful and present and giving undivided attention. This is not an easy feat with a baby and a toddler. We don’t watch TV (don’t subscribe) and I think this has really helped my husband and I in keeping focussed on each other. However, we I have a long way to go. He’s actually really good at staying focussed on me. I’m a lucky girl
I really like this challenge. It really resonates with me and I think it would go a long way in not only making me happier, but in making Dr. CutiePants happier, which in turn makes me happier (see how it always comes back to me?!). One little thing that I am trying to do now to live this challenge is to start greeting Dr. CutiePants at the door with a hug and a kiss when he comes home from work, or soccer, or wherever he’s coming home from. Okay, actually, not soccer. I’m not that much of an evolved wife – he absolutely reeks after soccer (not very delightful)! If I can’t always get to the door (or I want to keep to my 10 foot radius) then I at least holler out a “hello”. This is much better than what I used to do, which is ignore him since I’m usually busy when he walks through the door. My toddler son gave me the idea for this actually because several months ago he stopped greeting Daddy at the door and would even sometimes tell him to “go away”! Poor Daddy! I figured that I better set an example. Kill two Happiness Challenge birds with one stone: Give Proofs of Love and Act the Way I Want to Feel.
Fight Right
This is an interesting one. Dr. CutiePants and I don’t really fight that much, and when we do, we are pretty respectful. Two things that I am really trying to do is to:
1) Put myself in Dr. CutiePants position and try and see his side.
2) Pick my battles. Some (most) battles are just not worth it and I’d rather focus on the ones that are important to me.
Don’t Expect Praise or Appreciation
This one deserves it’s own post (or several). I am the Queen of Self-Accolades. Fortunately, I think my husband finds this more endearing than irritating. It irritates me though and I need to dive down and figure out why receiving praise and appreciation from others is so important to me. On the flip-side, I get really stressed out if someone doesn’t feel appreciation from me. This is critically important to me. Another thing my navel gazing has made me realize is that if I express gratitude myself, then I feel less needing of it back. I’m not sure of the mechanics of this, but it seems to work for me. One little thing that I do is to express gratitude to the universe is to write “Thank you” in the memo line of all of my cheques. Even on annoying parking tickets to the City of Del Mar! It practically killed me to write “thank you”, but I am grateful to be able to write that cheque.
I am sooooo digging The Happiness Project. Hats off to Gretchen Rubin for her fabulous idea.
