Day One: List Ten Things That Make You Really Happy.

In the past, I have participated in a variety of 30 Day Photo Challenges, some have been themed ones (ie: The Sound of Music) and some a set list of specific photos to take on certain days of the week. And while I do find those quite enjoyable, they do get cumbersome on occasion to keep up with and keep track of.  Recently, I ran across a 30 Day Writing Challenge where each day you are given a specific topic, question or statement and you are to do some writing about that item.  I found this intriguing as it is a way for people to get to know you better, but it’s also intellectually challenging and stimulating because it makes you think and also helps you get to learn more about yourself (even to discover how crazy we really are!) 

So, I decided why not? Let’s give it a shot!  As a pre-cursor, it might not be 30 consecutive days for me since the holidays are fast approaching, but I figured since I had not blogged in quite a while I would try something different.  It may be interesting to some and others might quite frankly get bored and dismiss it.  But nonetheless, it helps distract my mind and thoughts and it challenges me to think and be more in tune to my surroundings and myself.  And, who knows, it might end up meaning something to someone somewhere!

Well, shall we begin? 

Day 1: List 10 things that make you really happy.

Wow, this is definitely a tough one!  There are so many things that make me happy, and some are dependent upon the day or event, etc.  So, it is always hard for me to precisely pinpoint certain things that make me happy overall, but I will give it my best shot. Actually, I think I will just choose a totally random selection with a brief description of each item – let me point out that these are in NO particular order, they are purely a random selection.  So here goes:

        The North Carolina State Fair – Should that come as a surprise to ANY of you?  One of the happiest times each year is when the State Fair comes to town.  I’ve gone every single year of my life, and it is just something that I love and enjoy.  I was asked recently why I love it so much, and to be honest, I couldn’t come up with a clear, definitive answer.  It’s just something in my blood, something I just do annually (several times during the course of the 11 day stay).  I love the atmosphere, I love the food, the smells, the sights, the sounds – maybe not so much the crowds!  But it just a place where I feel completely free and happy! 

Music – I absolutely love music.  Not a day goes by where I don’t have some type of music playing.  Whether it’s in my car, in my house or in my earbuds in the office, I am always blasting some type of music.  I will listen to nearly anything, so my playlists are completely crazy!  But music is in my veins as I play and sing (occasionally!), too.  But music has the ability to completely change our moods and our moments.  It is definitely something that relaxes me and makes me happy.  Without music, well, I just don’t know what this world would be like.

Diet Coke & Cheez-Its – Does life get any better?  (Yes! Of course it does…) But I just love to have a good Diet Coke and well, when you give me a box of Cheez-Its, it just gets even better.  Throw in some popcorn and fruit-flavored Tootsie Rolls, and I am just in hog-heaven!   I don’t know what it is about the combination, but it is just pure delightful to me.  (Hey, I told you this list was completely random!)

Getting cards/notes in the mail – To me, the best gift anyone can ever give me is a simple card or note (or even a nice e-mail these days).  Nothing cheers me more than to have something so simple but yet so meaningful.  Some of the most powerful gifts can come from words that others share with us.   It always amazes me how on days when I’m not feeling the greatest or am really struggling with something that is when I’ll get a simple “thank-you” e-mail from someone and they add in some kind and unexpected words.  That touches me immensely and can change my entire mindset.  And, let’s not forget to add how when some of your favorite celebrities “like” or even comment on a post you put on social media – I’m not even sure happiness would be the definition for that!  (PS: Lauren Holly, you are still the best for the comment you added on my Instagram picture!)

Making People Laugh – Even at times when I may not personally feel good, I always try to do what I can to make others smile or laugh.  We never know what is going on in others’ lives, so sometimes all someone may need is a simple joke or something to make them smile and laugh.  It may do them good, and seeing them laugh and smile, often can help ourselves, too!  So, I always try to find something funny and cheerful to say just to make people smile and laugh and attempt to lighten the atmosphere, too.

 Going to basketball games – I’ve always been an avid women’s college basketball fan and some of the most fun times I’ve had have been at various games.  I’ve been blessed to meet a variety of people at the games, individuals with whom I’ve been blessed to build cherished friendships with.  We have the best time just catching-up, sharing stories, laughing and just getting in to the games.  I always enjoy going to my basketball games to see my friends and to enjoy the overall atmosphere of the arena and the game itself.

 Christmas – The overall Christmas season brings happiness to me.  I just love all the decorations and lights, I love the smell of fresh pine and cinnamon pine cones.  I love the music as it is played, I love the ringing of the bells of the Salvation Army.  However, the reason for the season is what makes me happiest of all – JESUS!    I am often reminded of a song that my sister-in-Christ, Tabatha sings around Christmas called “Can You Imagine?” as it talks about God being willing to give His Only Son to be born in a lowly manger but who would end up sacrificing His life to be our Savior.  The song talks about wondering what God might have been feeling by seeing His Son endure all that He did during His life here on Earth.  The Christmas season brings up so many emotions for many people, but it is always filled with happiness for me by just spending time with my family and remembering the true reason why we celebrate. 

 Travelling – Simply put, I like to be on the go.  I don’t like to sit still very often.  Some may find that crazy, but even when I’m on vacation, I am still on the go – adventuring and exploring.  I love to travel and explore new sights or even re-visit places of old and find something different that I may have missed the first time.  I’ve not been to many places outside of the United States of America (except for the Bahamas and Canada, which I absolutely LOVE!) but I’ve been fortunate to visit a variety of places within the United States of America that are just amazing.  Nine times out of ten, you will probably catch me brainstorming some type of trip to any variety of locations.  I dream of returning to Canada and exploring more sights there, and one of these days, I will “cross the pond” and visit the European homeland. 

 Apples – Yes, call me crazy, but apples make me happy!  You just ask my co-workers what happens when I go to McDonalds and they leave the apple slices out of my Happy Meal – that equals a NOT happy Meredith!!!   And that is a very accurate assessment!  I do love apples – apple slices, whole apples, candy/caramel apples, the amazing apple chips from Smitty’s at the State Fair (wow!).  The only and maybe weird thing is that I really don’t like them cooked or baked, so that means I don’t really like apple pies or fritters.  I’m like that with a lot of fruits and vegetables – give them to me raw, not cooked, ha!  But yes, another totally random thing that makes me happy is apples!  Hey! An apple a day is supposed to keep the doctor away, too!  Apples should make you happy, too, if that analogy is really accurate!

 River Cities – This is another one of those things similar to the State Fair that I love but cannot explain to you why I love it and why it makes me happy.  But I have always loved and felt happiest in cities that are located along a river.  To me, there is just something peaceful and soothing about walking along a riverwalk or sitting on a bench staring out into the river.  It is interesting that some of my favorite cities are all river cities: Knoxville, Tennessee; Wilmington, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Montreal, Canada; they are all lovely cities that feature incredible riverwalks and places to sit and gaze at the peaceful rivers.  Happy times are spent sitting by the slowly moving waters and listening to the sounds that are made along the river banks and the city streets. 

So, there you have it, my list of the ten most random things that make me happy!  Ask me in twenty minutes and I might have completely changed my mind!  But what makes you happy?  Take some time to think about it.  You will be surprised how many little things that we don’t even often consider can truly spark something deep inside of us that draws up some type of emotion, particularly a happy emotion.  No matter what you are going through in life, try to find one simple thing that you cherish and enjoy, something that makes you smile or happy and hold on to that!  It will carry you through the storm.  Keep Calm and Be Happy!  

Year in Review (2014)

                                 

Missing airplanes, the Ebola outbreak, the rise of ISIS, rioting and police shootings – all were news headliners of 2014. With all this depressing news, it makes one ponder did anything good happen in 2014? While at times, 2014 did cast a dark cloud over the planet Earth, it did have some happy moments, as well. I came to the realization recently that I had not posted a blog in quite some time, and while a lot has been going on in my life, I decided that I should do a blog to recap 2014 since I failed to document much of anything that happened. So, here we go ...

January and February

Hello, 2014 and hello, Winter?!?! Ugh, my least favorite season because I don’t like cold. And what greets us in January and February but none other than cold weather AND snow!! Growing up in North Carolina, snow is not something we are used to, so when the snow starts to fall, utter chaos breaks loose – people raid the grocery stores for milk and bread (that still baffles me!), traffic snarls AND people resort to abandoning their vehicles and walking home. The one good thing about having snow is that we get to make a Southern delicacy known as Snow Cream!  Most of my coworkers from the Northern states had no idea what in the world it was, but basically, snow cream is a version of ice cream that is made out of God’s gift of snow to us! Why waste the snow, right? So set out a bowl and collect some snow (or scoop it off a vehicle – nothing off the ground in case any critters turn the snow yellow!), add some condensed milk and eat – you can even add cocoa if you want chocolate flavored! Yummy!!! And when the sleds won’t slide on the snow (yes, I do have a Yankee Clipper even living in the South land), bring out your Dad’s old surfboard and use that to slide on – talk about a wild and fun ride! So even though it was a cold January and February, it was still rather fun to eat the snow cream and sled (though at 31, I think I learned that I can’t handle the sledding quite as well as I used to be able to!)

March

It wouldn’t be March without some March Madness, would it?  I always kick-start March Madness with a trek over to Greensboro to take in a portion of the Women’s ACC Tournament, and the 2014 tournament proved to be as exciting as it always typically is.  Sadly, I was only able to attend the Saturday games, but they nonetheless proved to be powerhouse match-ups with the typical “battle of the blues” between Duke and UNC, and a second match-up featuring NC State and ACC newcomer Notre Dame.  I was fit to be tied in who I was going to cheer for – I couldn’t go wrong, unless of course UNC won.  So, I decided NOT to wear any North Carolina team gear and go instead for the Irish!  Muffet McGraw led her undefeated Fighting Irish in to the ACC Tournament as the regular season ACC Champions and she also carried the banner of ACC Coach of the Year.  The two games we saw were complete opposites – Notre Dame dominated and obliterated the Wolfpack of NC State, whereas the "blue" game was a very heated match-up that featured an astounding come back from Duke to claim the win.  March Madness held true to its name because even the NCAA Championship game featured a battle of two undefeated teams – UConn and Notre Dame.  In the end, Notre Dame won the ACC Tournament and UConn claimed its ninth NCAA Tournament.  What a fun month of basketball!

April

   

We welcomed a warmer April and spring with glee!  And, what better way than to start off the climb of warmer temperatures and the blossoming of the spring buds, than with a trip to St. Somewhere with Jimmy Buffett?  I attended my first ever Jimmy Buffett concert in 2014 in Raleigh.  It was definitely an eventful time.  I don’t know what was more exciting – the actual concert or watching the people make literal fools out of themselves thinking they could actually swim like sharks in the grass?  He definitely puts on a great show, but the people are just so lost because of their extreme alcohol intake, it is almost pitiful.  So, it was a nice evening to spend in the tropics with ‘ole Jimmy and the Coral Reefer girls!   Then to make April even a little sweeter, why not take an actual day trip down to the beach for the day?  A ferry ride from Fort Fisher to Southport, walking the streets of downtown Southport, eating at The Trolley Stop and Paddy’s Hollow, as well as relaxing on the beach and watching a few weddings is a definite way to unwind and relax.  There’s nothing quite like the sound of ocean waves, seagulls and sand in between your toes.  Ahhh… spring has sprung and the fun had just begun!

"Somethin' 'bout a boat

Sittin' on the sea

Out there in the wind

Floatin' on the free

Take you 'round the world
Bring you back home

Gives a man hope

Somethin' 'bout a boat" 

May

May was a month of variety.  We attended the annual NC Agricultural Festival in Raleigh and took in a tractor parade.  The highlight for me was sampling a variety of North Carolina homegrown products and coming home with a three foot long bag of kettle corn popcorn – yummy!  For the Memorial Day holiday, we took a trek over the hills to Tennessee for the BBQ and Bluegrass festival in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Of course, we ventured over to Dollywood and spent a week roaming around the Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Townsend areas.  What scenic beauty awaits you in Cades Cove and I absolutely enjoyed my return visit to that area.  One big highlight was travelling to Knoxville to see Dolly Parton in concert in her home state at Thompson-Boling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!)  She put on an incredible concert, as she is by far one of the best music entertainers.  My favorite was when came on stage dressed in Tennessee Orange singing “Rocky Top” with the entire Vol Nation singing along!   Anytime you go over the hills to Tennessee, you are bound to encounter some scenic beauty and a slower pace of a whole different, yet relaxing lifestyle.

                                                    

  

June

Hot fun in the summertime and nights at the ballpark are good ways to enjoy a lovely June.  In early June, we took in a Durham Bulls baseball game for a relaxing evening of fun and fellowship at the ballpark.  Celebrated Dad’s birthday on the 13th and then Father’s Day a few days later, as well.  I don’t think any of us ever envisioned that this would be my Grandpa’s last Father’s Day with us.  It was a year of new things for Father’s Day, as Grandpa even tried out Uncle Louie’s Harley – I don’t think any of us ever thought that we would see that happen.  But those are definitely memories that we will all cherish and hold dear now that he has passed.

July

Sometimes all you need is a day trip away with your family and even to take a walk down memory lane.  July was filled with fireworks for the holiday, but also a wonderful day trip to the beach with my parents.  We took a walk down memory lane and visited many of the sites I grew up vacationing at as a child.  A big highlight was being able to see the owner of the hotel we used to stay at as a child.  I always adored staying at the Sand Castle Inn in Kure Beach, and to see Mr. Teague once again made me realize how much I miss those days of simplicity of walking up the street by myself to go get hot dogs at the local station and not having a care in the world or worried about someone snatching me.  My, how times have changed.  But what a fun day at Fort Fisher, Wilmington, Britt’s Donuts and so many other places!

August

    

2014 was the year of concerts and August was the month of concerts.  One of the best concerts I ever have been to in my life was The Script and OneRepublic.  Our seats were eleven rows from the stage and both bands came down off the stage and throughout the crowd.  It was an unbelievable experience and an amazing concert.  They are two of my favorite groups ever and that concert totally lived up to all my expectations, if not surpassed.  Amazing!   Later in the month, we attended the REO Speedwagon and Chicago concert, which was an overall decent show even though I spent most of it feeling very under the weather.  The rest of August was either spent at the baseball park or at local beach music concerts throughout the area with my family.  August was a musical month, which always pleases me!

September

In the midst of college football season, we decide to take an early fall trip back to Tennessee to check out the fall décor.  That is one of my favorite times of the year to visit the mountains as so many areas are decorated in fall décor and the mountains are beginning to show their foliage, as well.  This was a much needed vacation due to the stress brought on our family by a two week extensive hospital stay and emergency surgery for my Grandpa.  Sadly, at the age of 95, he passed away on September 12th.  That was such a hard loss for me personally, as it had been so long since I lost a grandparent.  His memory will live on in our hearts forever.

October

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and yes, it is only October!  It’s time for the NC State Fair and I love this time of year more than most other things.  I was so fortunate to receive two first place ribbons and one second place ribbon in my scrapbook entries this year.  It was a fun year with way too much food ate, many rides ridden and of course goodies that were bought.  To top of October, Sir Paul McCartney returned to North Carolina and we made haste to Greensboro to see him in concert.  He never disappoints -- always a three hour concert that leaves you feeling on cloud nine.  Long live Sir Paul!

November

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!  It was a little difficult not having Thanksgiving at my Grandpa’s, but Mom, Dad and I had a nice Thanksgiving lunch in Raleigh followed by some shopping before returning home to spend time with some of my Mom’s family.  It was a nice, simple day spent with those who care about me the most.  Oh and yes, for what it’s worth, I did have a birthday this month, as well!

December

Put up the lights, it’s time for Christmas, but most importantly, it’s time to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  We were all decorated and ready for Christmas in November, but we still take time to go ride around and look at lights.  This year, we took a trip mere days before Christmas back to Tennessee (yes, that’s three times in one year for me!), but it was absolutely breathtaking to see all the lights on display there.  Christmas brought a new tradition of enjoying a wonderful meal by Mom at home.  It was the first time in my life that I had not been to my Grandpa’s house for Christmas, but new traditions were made in 2014 and I hope new traditions and adventures will be made in 2015, as well.