“Many people spend their lives waiting to be happy. You may think, “if only I had more money,” or “could lose weight,” or you fill in the blank, then I would be happy.
Well here’s a secret: you can be happy right now. It’s not always easy, but you can choose to be happy, and in the vast majority of circumstances there’s no one who can stop you except for yourself.”
Here’s me this morning with beautiful Lesley Coulter, aka Lesbutt, aka Leswee etc. A rose by any other name and so on. Today’s blog is a collaboration between the two of us – Lovely Lesley took the photos and I just write something to go with them.
So I thought I’d start the blog with the quote you just read at the top. It comes from the Hungry for Change website, and it’s an article entitled 22 Positive Habits of Happy People. Number 4 on the list is to Express Gratitude for What You Have, and I find that every time I do my B&B Friday blog, indeed every time I swim, I find abundant reasons to express my gratitude for what I have.
Every point in this article makes a lot of sense, but today, for me, I am focusing on number 3 – Regard Your Problems As Challenges. “Change your internal dialogue so that anytime you have a “problem” you
view it as a challenge or a new opportunity to change your life for the better.
Eliminate the word “problem” from your mind entirely.”
Point number 9 says Live in The Present –
“Allow yourself to be immersed in whatever it is you’re doing right now, and
take time to really be in the present moment. Avoid replaying past negative
events in your head or worrying about the future; just savor what’s going on in
your life now.”
Surround Yourself With Positive People, says point number 12. Can’t argue with that. Nor would any of us 170 swimmers today.
Wake Up At The Same Time Every Morning, says number 10, as if it were written for the Bold & Beautiful community.
In the B&B we are well aware that no one person is better or more important than another. We like inclusiveness and embrace differences, which is where point number 11 fits in; Don’t Compare Yourself To Others.
And now I’m going to let pictures of lush seaweed and an assortment of marine life demonstrate number 16 – Meditate.
Yes, Exercise is also on the list, of course. Today’s exercise was executed in water holding 20.1 degrees. This must be considered balmy for a time of the year which is fast approaching winter. But I confess I’ll soon be donning my wetsuit and pop on a second swim cap as the temperature inevitably keeps dropping. Accept What Cannot Be Changed, says point number 22.
The following pictures of me with a parade of gorgeous men (flanked in some instances by some ambitious blog tarts), can and will be used to demontrate either Live Minimally…
or Establish Personal Control…. (ps. does anyone recognise the sandy specs found after today’s swim and modelled here on Dr John?)
or Dream Big…
or Nurture Social Relationships…
If you want to see what all these people look like in their glamourous but oh so casual evening wear, come to our monthly Drinks at Murray’s next Wednesday. Happy Hour prices for the B&B from 6.30pm 🙂
With an attitude of gratitude for all the things, and especially all the people that induce an irrepressable sense of happiness in me, signing off with love. Your Girl Friday blogger Anna.
17 comments
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
10/05/2013 at 12:41 pm
Special gratitude to Anna and the paparazzi – definitely smelt the roses today:)
lesbutt
10/05/2013 at 12:59 pm
Good photo-shopping work on our photo Anna!! We look 25!!
awesome! 😀
And good use of not-so-great photos from me hehehe
Oooh army man for real in a Onesie!! see guys you can look hot in one!!!
Little Sarah aka LSA aka HKTQ
10/05/2013 at 1:02 pm
Yes, the guy in khaki was such an ambitious blogtart – insisting on a pic with our Anna without even having signed in as a B&B!
Special gratitude to Anna and the paparazzi – defintiely smelt the roses this morning!
Great team work with Lesrose:-)
King Ewok
10/05/2013 at 1:24 pm
A lovely combination blog, just like a combination five spices crispy duck main dish from your favourite Chinese Diner.
Lesley stunning images,
Anna thoughtfully insightful as always.
The two blog princesses, beautiful inside and out, just like like a pork dumpling!
😉
Collie Dog
10/05/2013 at 2:33 pm
Hi Anna
Positive habit number 23 (as informed by my wife) Hug someone with nice Pecs & Guns. (Is she preaching to the converted-Anna?)
Elaine de Jager
10/05/2013 at 2:57 pm
What a lovely blog Anna and reminder to us all…The endorphins dropped a bit for me mid morning, was feeling a bit glum, read your blog and feel happy and lucky again! Thank you!
Emer Byrne
10/05/2013 at 2:57 pm
Lovely blog Anna. What a great way to start the weekend. E xxx
"Snorkles"
10/05/2013 at 3:07 pm
Gorgeous blog Anna …..reminding us all of some really good life messages.
Also top marks for the pics with plenty of men 😉 Fridays looks a good day to go swimming!
Slow Ian
10/05/2013 at 4:13 pm
I’m there every day!
Nurse J
10/05/2013 at 4:19 pm
Interesting Ted Talk.
Hoping our cuttlefish doesn’t get this big!!!
http://www.ted.com/talks/edith_widder_how_we_found_the_giant_squid.html
Lips
10/05/2013 at 5:04 pm
Thanks Anna!
Another feel good blog.. just what what we need after a week of hard work!
Lips
10/05/2013 at 5:09 pm
Oh, should have said Thanks Anna & Lesbutt!!
Magic Hands
10/05/2013 at 6:06 pm
Great blog Anna and Lesbutt,
Keep shining!
Dolphin Whisperer
10/05/2013 at 7:08 pm
I love your work ladies. 🙂
Ewokian leader
10/05/2013 at 7:25 pm
lips
your so thoughtless!!!
Simon
10/05/2013 at 8:48 pm
Thanks Anna and Lesbutt for enchanting the enjoyment of our day with your words and images
Cara
29/08/2013 at 11:00 am
You look really pretty lesbutt, good to see your doing well 🙂 xxx cara