December 13, 2012
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If It Makes You Happy…
I read this quote on Pinterest months ago.
I have literally been rolling this around in my head for months. Trying to decide if I think this is a true statement. (It also reminds me a Sheryl Crow song, but that might be beside the point. You know the one? “If it makes you happy, It can’t be that baaa-aaa-aaddd”. There is also a line in that song that has always puzzled me. It goes like this “Put on a poncho, played for misquitoes, and drank till I was thirsty again”.)
I get the part about doing things that make you feel happy. Alive. Things that are fun for you and bring you calm and joy.
But doesn’t it seem really self-centered? What about doing more of what you know will make others happy? Isn’t that where true happiness comes from?
Could be that I am over-thinking it!
But hey, that makes me happy, so its all good!******************************************************************************
Jeremy and I had an awesome 25 hours together this past weekend. I think Sunday may have gone down in the history of “The Jeremy & Audrey marriage” as the day when we did the most NOTHING we had ever done in a day. My sister and her husband had the kids on Saturday from about 2 PM on and we picked them up on Sunday about 4 PM.
We slept in Sunday morning. We made and ate some breakfast. We watched some “Duck Dynasty.” We hung out on the couch doing not much of anything. We crawled back into bed. I made some whoopie pies that turned out awesome. We just hung out in the house ALL day until it was time to go get the kids. It was so much fun!
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We also went out for dinner on Saturday evening. I choose the restaurant that I wanted to go to based on the fact that I was super hungry for some perfectly steamed vegetables. Yeah, not the normal criteria for choosing a restaurant.
Who cares about atmosphere or price or entrees…all I was after was some perfectly steamed broccoli. And guess what? I got it! It made me much happier than broccoli should ever make someone.
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And while we’re talking about food…I found a new favorite meal at our local coffee shop. The veggie quesadilla. It comes with the soup of the day and chips and a mint and it was totally ah-mazing!! I will definitely be back for that. It was one of those times I was super happy that I branched out from my norm.
Most times, venturing away from my favorite meal at a particular place ends in disappointment. But for once, my sense of adventure got me somewhere good.
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Sorry. Still not done with the food theme.
Yesterday I made cake balls for the first time. Doesn’t that just have such a nice ring to it? Cake balls. Say it once more.
Seriously? I know they are shaped like balls and they have cake in them, but how about calling them “Heavenly Bites” or “Cake Poppers” or even something random like “Melties”.
I feel like almost ANY other name would be an improvement.
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These verses have been my theme lately.
(Philippians 4: 6 – 9)
Do not be anxious about anything,I)’> 7 And the peace of God,K)’> will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.M)’> will be with you.
I have been reading them every morning. God knows I need this right now.
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Jeremy and I talk about this statement sometimes.
“The right thing is seldom the easy thing.”
I just hate it when it applies to my life and makes things harder for me!
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Our middle child, who is in 2nd grade and is struggling with reading, stayed up until 12:37 AM on a school night to finish a book we had gotten at the library that day.
Apparently, part of the problem has been that I have not gotten him the right book. Once he is interested, the reading problem seemed to largely disappear. Now I am on the hunt for more books like the one from the library.
Side note: I did tell him that staying up past mid-night on a school night was NOT going to be allowed. And then I bought him a clock for his own room so there would be no excuses.
But dang! I was proud of him for reading that book!
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Counseling is going good. I am learning some things about myself. Enlightening things.
But it is not easy. I think maybe I need a “live-in” counsellor for a month or two.
Wait! Maybe I already have that? The Holy Spirit. I keep reminding myself “I CAN do all things THROUGH Christ, who gives me strength!!”
Between me and Jesus and the counsellor and the Holy Spirit…I feel hopeful that progress will be made in my heart and life. Aside from me being in there, it just might be the “dream team”!
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Everyone has blind spots in their lives. E.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. The more I am around people, the more I am reminded of this.
Being the analytical person that I am, I naturally pick out contradictions between what people say and what they do. Or between what they say one time and what they say another time.
I am sure those who around me notice my blind spots too! I think sometimes God allows us to have blind spots because we are just small humans and we can only work on so many things at a time. Once we get one problem addressed, then He will show us the next one we need to work on. I like to think of it as mercy.
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This is the week of Christmas programs. Three of them, to be exact. All on different days.
Oh, joy!! Nothing like sitting in a crowded, stuffy room peering from a distance and trying to pick your child out in the crowd.
Yeah. Really puts me in the holiday spirit.
Maybe I shouldn’t have written that. I sound like a hater. I really am not Scrooge.
Shelf Elf can testify to that!
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I will leave you with something that I think is funny.
It fits all of my criteria to score high on the “funny-ness factor scale”.
1) Slightly inappropriate.
2) Could offend some people.
3) HILARIOUS!
4) It makes me happy!
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Comments (10)
You are fabulous! I love this post! Here’s a quote that my husband gave me recently. ”Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that, because the world needs people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman So, I’ve been thinking that without being selfish, what could I or do I do that makes me come alive? God created me to be a certain kind of person. So, with Him in our spirits, what makes us come alive? I think that whatever that is, it is also what makes me happy. Not selfish at all.
Haha! I love the picture!
Good post, Audrey…. loved hearing from you. your day with your hubby simply doing nothing sounded perfect!! so glad that counseling is going well for you.
God bless!!!
i like Richgem’s thoughts on doing things that make you happy. that’s a thing i wrestle with myself.
“The right thing is seldom the easy thing.” that’s so scary sometimes. like there are some things we are feeling we should (or should not) do, and it’s SO HARD to have to courage to do it, because it could cost SO much. And yet, tying in with doing the things that make you happy, sometimes the easiest thing also makes one miserable. there is just so much of life to be sorted out!!
I must admit..I read your title earlier today, and the song was in my head all morning. Haha! Glad you got some time with your hubby alone. Sometimes staying home doing NOTHING is much more fun than going out and doing something.
Happy Thursday to you.
i loved reading this. your sense of humor cracks me up.
your weekend at home alone sounds AMAZING and one i have to try to do with my man. such a good idea.
overthinking is something i can do. i’m sure i’m surprising you with that
. not! sometimes it makes me happy. sometimes…nuts. that whole quote sounds so glossy, i can offer understanding for different directions of intent…however… i think it’s a bucketload of crap.
wait. hang on! let me explain myself to death.
for me it ties into the statement you mentioned discussing with jeremy. “the right thing…” as well as this two sided truth that i just read this morning. “the blessings of God won’t just bless you; they will also complicate your life. sin will complicate your life in negative ways, in ways it should not be complicated. the blessings of God will complicate your life in postive ways, in ways it should be complicated.” oh boy. i’m loosing my train of thought here. and writing a book with no point. 
but what i’m getting at is the fact that The Word says…AND i’ve experienced firsthand, that sin is FUN for a season. it can be. and not only that, what makes me happy…changes. and one persons “happiness” can violate anothers. the “complications” of blessings and doing the right thing can have me rethinking happiness. okay. i lost myself in that i think. would make for a great topic over your new fav lunch IRL.
that cartoon is hilarious! happy…yes, HAPPY friday audrey! enjoy.
and i came back because i just had to mention the one thing that really jumped out at me—counseling. i am excited for you…and know from my own experience with couseling that it’s not easy. good. but hard good. somehow this is feeling related ^^^ to what i already wrote. haha. sorry. counseling hasn’t always made me happy…but it’s been for my happiness. that’s for sure.
funny. this was a topic in a recent conversation. there are alot of perspectives on counseling…and someone mentioned that we go to the dentist. right. i couldn’t agree more. sometimes i need some repairs. but other times it’s for cleaning and maintenance…analogy understood.
Love it all but especially the section on the blind spots. It’s scary to me to know I have blind spots. It IS easy to see other people’s blind spots, and sort of humiliating to know others can probably see ours just as clearly. Enjoy those programs – your view on them made me laugh! I love that kind of honestly.
hahahaha!! i had other things to say, but now i can’t stop laughing about that last pic!!!
if i only did what i love i’d shop. eat. watch tv all day..
) i mean, i do love other things too but yeah – - i think the quote is a bit misleading. i like the other quote i’ve seen around alot, instead of do what you love – love what you do!! to me, that totally changes it.
happy wednesday girlfriend. xo
AHA! I HAVE been missing things. I’ve been having a terrible, terrible time getting back into sync with xanga. It’s like my five month hiatus just messed everything up. Can’t write. Don’t remember to check my subscriptions. Don’t have time to read them when I do. Wait. I think homeschooling might have a lot to do with that, too.
Anyhow, the last couple of weeks I just kept thinking, I never hear from Audrey and I miss her so much. I was getting ready to write that on your fb wall and figured I’d come check first to see if I’ve been missing anything and …. here you are. Posting. And somehow I’m not seeing them. So here’s my way late, belated “hi, I’m reading this!”
I was way overthinking that first quote with you.
It’s one of the things I do best….the overthinking. Well, and maybe sometimes the doing what makes me happy. Which is probably why I’m sitting here instead of cooking dinner so it’s ready when the boys walk in starving after ice skating. Oops. Counseling? Hadn’t heard, but standing behind you all the way. If you need a cheering squad, count me in. You’ve also just made me starving hungry for steamed broccoli and there’s none in the house. Thanks for that. 
Hope you have a fantastic New Years!