“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
Omar Khayyam
I woke up this morning and had a tiny moment of panic. 365 Days? What in the world was I thinking? And then Yoda’s voice rang in my ears, “Do or do not. There is no try.” And I remembered what I wrote in the ending of yesterday’s post, “If not, why not? If not now, when?” and I smiled to myself. When is now. And I have written about mindfulness, taught it, mentored people in living mindfully, how about now I actually do it? And then I remembered that I only have to be concerned with this one singular moment, as Omar Khayyam wrote, “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” In the end there will be 365 posts but today, and every day, I only have to do one. And as I said yesterday if all I can manage is a picture and a quote with a line or two that will be enough for that day. Furthermore what I am doing right now, in this moment, is establishing a practice. Get up, take care of the dogs, make my coffee, sit down at the computer, and before I bring up my e-mail or Facebook or anything else I will write my happiness post for the day, and in doing so I will not just be getting the post of the day done I will be starting my day on a positive note. Win-win. And so today, I am here, in this moment. The Experiment, Day 2.
So today, again, is very simple, it is having morning coffee. Sometimes, often in fact, I think that the happiest moment of the day is when I have the pugs all taken care of, coffee made, and I sit down and take that first sip. Oh heavens! It is divine! I make my coffee in a French Press so it is very strong. I use Starbucks French Roast beans and grind my own. They are black and oily and fragrant. I use a little Sugar in The Raw and some half and half. And for some time now I have been using what has become my favorite mug. It is a giant! bright sunny yellow mug (It will hold the whole French Press worth of coffee!). It truly reminds me of sunshine, it is just that perfect yellow. And I bought it for $3 at the grocery store. I have some beautiful, and what were, for me, expensive mugs that I have bought over time, but my giant yellow grocery store mug is my favorite mug. That first sip when the coffee is hot and sweet and creamy is bliss, but I will keep sipping it sometimes for 2 hours or more while I work and I get as much pleasure out of the last, now cold, sip as I do the first. Morning Coffee makes me happy. And that’s me, Day 2!
Making morning coffee…
See how easy this is? It doesn’t need to be a thousand word blog post, just a few thoughts, or a single, simple, happy thought, and I would love it if you would leave me a comment, wave at me, as I said yesterday you can simply put a smiley face, but most important of all, use this space to record your own happy moment. Start the day by writing it down. And then share it with us here, in this project. When you write something down it becomes more powerful. When you share it, it quadruples in strength. And you can leave comments after people’s comments if someone has moved you. This is a search for happiness community. We’re here to help each other.
I am going to leave a link at the bottom of every post back to the first post which was the introduction to this experiment so people understand what it is, why it is, and what the rules are. Now I’ve shared mine, what about you? I can’t wait to hear from you!
The Experiment ~A 365 Day Search For Truth, Beauty &
Happiness: Day 1 ~ Introduction To The Project
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda
I did a 365 daily photo opp. I woke up thinking how on earth will i get to day 365 so many times! Encouragement from friends and family and random strangers really helped me throughout the year. And i did it. So are you blogging 365 days in a row? I may try that. Or at least once Effys blog along is over I may try 52 weeks of blogging. Sounds so like something i would do. Kudos to you! I have been there. It is so rewarding in the end!
Thank you so much Liv, I really appreciate your encouragement and support. It means more than you could possibly know. How thrilling, a 365 day photo opp. You must have been over-the-moon when you finished it. I hope you will share some happy moments here with us. I’d love to hear from you again! 🙂
I too love my quiet mornings sipping on my tea.
“Happiness is inward and not outward; and so it does not depend on what we have, but on what we are.”
Henry Van Dyke
hugs,
Margaretha
Thank you so much Margaretha honey, I love the quote, it is a good reminder. And again I am so happy you are here with me, it gives me the courage to continue on.
Sending you much love and “three kisses.” 🙂
Maitri
Autumn has arrived. Over here in Belgium we are having a magnificent little indian summer. My garden is covered with all kinds of mushrooms. They come early this year. They make me happy… as I imagine little dwarfs living in them… they might exist only in my imagination. But they live with me in my garden, in my little paradise… ???
Ah Claudine, it sounds so beautiful, I would love to see Belgium. And as I said on FB your mushrooms are truly magical and I imagine gnomes and fairies and all kinds of magical creatures in your garden. Enjoy your little paradise, I’m so happy you have it…. 🙂
I have a french press
just like yours, and do agree
first sip: nirvana!
xo
ka
My happiness moment today was yard sailing with tom, and finding three darling handpainted “soup” bowls from italy for $1 each, glorious! i picture grapes, nuts, or even floating flowers
xo
Ah yes dear Ka, that first sip of hot strong coffee, nirvana indeed.
And what fun that you and Tom went yardsaling! And you got lucky, the bowls sound glorious! You’ll have to text me a picture! I loved seeing your petunias!
Another day of happy things, coffee (& French Presses, the BEST coffee!), yardsales, and beautiful bowls. Let’s find more bits of happiness tomorrow!
M.
Likewise for me, I so much enjoy my first cup of Jasmine Green tea made from tea leaves. It’s a perfect start to my day!
Joan
xo
Oh Joan it sounds like a perfect start to the day indeed. And isn’t loose leaf tea the best? Thank you for sharing with us here, I’m so happy to see you… 🙂
I’ve wanted to do 365 days of “something”, photos, art, writing, blogging. But I can never seem to pick a thing. If I do pick a thing, I find I can’t stick to it. Life, I forget, I get lazy. All of the above.
I have never had French pressed coffee! When I was a kid, my Grandma would make it in a stove top perculator. Definitely a different flavor from when it’s made in a Mr. Coffee type machine.
Ah Lisa, I understand the 365 day thing. I undertook a 365 days of mindfulness series here on this blog years ago and I got through a good bit of the year but then my house fire happened and that was the end of that. I intend to keep on keeping on with this even if somedays, as I said, it’s just a picture and a quote or a few words. I feel like I’m writing my way to a better life, and as I write so often, “If not now, when?” Indeed! Onwards and upwards. It’s wonderful to see you here honey, and yes indeed, I can’t drink Mr. Coffee coffee, it just tastes like flavored water to me. To each her own! 😀
Maitri your coffee sounds absolutely delicious!
My favourite moment is listening to the little robin singing outside my window, especially at dawn and at dusk. He sings his heart out while all the other birds are quiet.
Much love to you and all the pugs. x
Hello Jenny dear! How lovely to hear from you, and OH, your little robin! How lovely. I want to wash all my birdfeeders and get them filled now that fall is here again. I love watching the birds come and go at my studio windows. THAT makes me very happy.
Love to you too, the pugs send puggery kisses, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
I have two favorite mugs one is bright red and other is a dome shaped bee hive with a fat little bumble bee sitting on the handle. A gift from my daughter, Cora, reminding me every morning of my morning starts with my grandmother, Corky (Cora)’s morning greeting- I’d knock at about 5 am and she’d answer, “Who’s that knocking on my door, could it be my lovely Bumble Bee, arriving for her cup of tea?” Eventual, I heard the bumble bee story it was years before I realized what a gift it was…so now I start each morning remembering!
Oh Barb what a lovely memory! I love your bumblebee story, what a special mug I know that is! And oh my, memories of grandmothers. My little Irish Catholic grandmother, tiny and round with wild curly hair, was my most beloved person in my childhood. She died in 1977 and I miss her still. Cherish those memories. They are so precious… 🙂
My happy moment and late in the day. I flew into Spain this evening after dark. As we began our descent, I looked out and saw the moon above the wing of the plane. It felt as though it was shining there just for me. It really was my happiness moment for today ?
Oh my gracious Moira, what a picture you paint! It nearly made me swoon! Flying into Spain, after dark, the moon, did you take a picture? I hope you did, that will be a lovely memory you won’t want to forget! I’m so glad that you had it…. 🙂
I did take a picture, Maitre. It’s one I’m going to keep so that I always remember that lovely moment xx
I loooove French Press coffee, and I really like Starbucks brand. The flavor I like is Veranda (blond). Oooh, that first sip with Original Coffeemate Lite is scrumptious. It makes me happy.
Marge honey, isn’t there just something SO special about that first sip of coffee in the morning? Pure bliss! Yours sounds wonderful. I like to think of you enjoying your cup of coffee. And there’s always another one tomorrow! Yay! 🙂
Sometimes happiness comes from a small victory, like managing to shower AND wash my hair, after not being to pull myself together for days… 🙂
Oh sweet Victoria! I KNOW that struggle so well! For these last several months of terrible depression it has sometimes been a WEEK before I could make myself shower. I have been so shocked by this. And accomplishing it is HUGE. I hope for better days ahead filled with peace and ease. I love you honey, you are always in my heart… <3
I had a wonderful talk with someone I met in a group online who has an anxiety disorder too. It really helps to talk to people who understand and we help each other.
Yes Sheila honey it is SO important to have friends who understand and the online world has been my saving grace! I’m so glad to have met you here. I hope you have a good day today honey. I am sending you love and a gentle warm hug… <3
Happy Solstice dear Maitri and sisters! I was planning on feeling really great this weekend but tooth issues (I know right?!?) got to me. Time to go take another antibiotic which is finally helping. Wish I could post a picture of my coffee mug but I don’t know how.
Anyway, I just came here because I’m anxious “behind in my life” voice yelling in my head. This is a safe place for me, any page that Maitri makes.
LOVE & HUGS
Oh Denise honey you are so sweet and I’m so sorry that you are struggling. These kind of days are so hard, and yes, come here, know that I am with you in spirit, holding your hand, wishing you days of love and peace and ease. I hope today is a better day. And good luck with your tooth. I have been having tooth issues for weeks myself. And this website helped me a LOT! http://www.healingteethnaturally.com/ I’m having little if any pain at all. Oregano oil was a big help, there’s lots of info for that online! Good luck and keep me posted how you are doing! Hugs… <3
I can almost taste the coffee in that big yellow mug. It’s amazing how much pleasure such small things can give us.
Oh yes Cathryn, oh yes! I am just at the beginning of my journey with this project but already I see all kinds of little things that are spirit brighteners and it is so lovely to be awake and aware enough to see them! I hope you have had some lovely happy moments and sweet pleasures today (and ALL the days too!) 😀
Hello,waving at you – from my part of the world (Europe). Lots of luck on your 365 journey. I did a year of daily creating from september 2015 until september 2016 (missed only one day, because of illness). Support from people doing daily blogging and/or daily art really helped. I hope you find your tribe too. *waving*
Hellllooooooo Corinne honey!!! 🙂
I have done a year long project once before and got a good ways into it but then my house burned down and that was the end of that. I’m looking forward to going the distance with this one. I hope you’ll come back and share some happy moments with us! I’d love to see you here. Thanks so much for stopping in today! I’m waving back at you too! 😀