My Happiness

Two (ish) weeks ago I was having a conversation with my cousin, Jake. Jake is one of my ridiculously smart cousins whom I always call when I need more than just a vent session but advice snuck to me as well. Jake asked me what exactly it was that made me happy. My first response....obviously was Boston. He told me that was great and as a mom your children should make you very happy but then he prodded what else makes me happy. I seriously had to sit and think and I realized that so much of my own happiness is dependent on my daughter. Which is a good and bad thing. She should be at the top of the list but I do need to do things the sake of myself as well. I think as moms we sometimes tend to forget what made us happy before we had our kids.

So after that he challenged me to come up with some things that bring a smile to my face besides the obvious answer of Boston. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and without sounding like I am giving a church talk I want to challenge you to do it as well. On top of that Jake challenged me at the end of every day wrote down just ONE thing you have to be grateful for. I am never one to turn down a challenge so I have been doing that. The key point with his challenge is that you can't repeat things; it has to be something new every day. Even when I have had a shitty (sorry mom) day writing down just one simple thing that I am thankful to have in my life helps remind me that I have a lot in my life.

The thankful list is just in my personal journal and it's kind of private but I am glad I have been doing it. The things that make me happy list I have been working on and I decided to share a few of the things that make me happy.

•Boston (obviously)

•My family 

•Bubble Baths

•The New England Patriots 

•Cookie Butter from Trader Joe's

•Cardigans

•The Walking Dead

•Naps

•The smell of Vanilla 

•Sunny Days

It's been therapeutic for myself to put just a small list of things that bring me happiness. I don't know if this is something a lot of people do or just me but sometimes I focus on the things that suck in my life at the moment or make me mad/sad/angry that I block out the things that make me happy. I need to learn to kick that habit out. Focus on all of the good and forget the bad; if you succeed in doing this let me know how. 

Anyways.. Try making your own lists and not just because it's November and it's the one month we focus on gratitude but because it from my experience it really is good for your mental health.

XO:

Ashlynn&Boston

BRONSON

Pizza makes me happy, too.

Also, don't forget tomorrow we announce the second winner of $25 to Howie's Hobbies! Find out the deets HERE if you don't already know how to enter.