“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be”-Abraham Lincoln

What makes you happy? Get out your journal and write down as many things as you can that make you smile, your heart sing, make you want to thank God that you are alive! Do it now.

“A Well Spent Day Brings Happy Sleep” – Leonardo Da Vinci

How are we spending our days?

Do we find time to do things that we enjoy, that challenge us, that promote connecting with others? For many years I was a stay at home mom. Although raising young children is rewarding it can be lonely and isolating (at the time I was living in Seattle and the climate probably didn’t help). I think I experienced some of my worst anxiety during those years. I would get myself out by working out at the gym, having lunch with friends, doing playgroups with other moms, joining a bunco group, becoming a Girl Scout leader etc.

We humans need: social interaction, mental stimulation, projects- things to do! We need a sense of purpose.

I think people who are alone a lot may be particularly prone to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. This group may include: stay at home moms, self employed people, any one who works from the home, retired folks, the elderly.

I would encourage anyone who is alone a lot during the day to get out and connect with others, start a project, a new hobby, join a club of some kind, do volunteer work- stay busy.

Then, at bedtime, your mind will think “time for a rest. I have put in a full day.” Good night!

“Not being able to sleep is terrible. You have the misery of having partied all night…without the satisfaction” Lynn Johnston

A good night’s sleep is such a gift. I wish for all of us: a calm, peaceful mind and blessed sleep.

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctors’s book-an Irish Proverb

Let’s not take ourselves so seriously.

Let us laugh! Even if we don’t feel like it at first. Laughter is healing. Laughter is joyful. Laughter is a good detox for the spirit and soul which will help us have a good night’s sleep…

If you are awake in the middle of the night with your journal, do this:

1. Write down something that puts  a smile on your face and touches your funny bone (a memory of some kind, a joke, something funny you saw in a movie recently, etc.

2.Put your journal down- make yourself laugh for a whole minute (or longer!). Now pick your journal back up and write down anything that comes out.

3. Think of a time when you were very serious and worried about something- and then consider the outcome (chances are nothing came of it). 99% of what we worry about does not happen. Think about how silly we human beings can be at times with all of our fret and worry… and then just laugh!