10 Minutes of Sun

With the weather slowly warming and the sun brightly shining, I've been heading outdoors. Since it's still chilly, I stay out for about 10 minutes. It's those 10 minutes that I leave the social media/email/text/worldwideweb world and focus on the simple things in life - fresh air and warm sun. Whether it's taking a walk with Christopher or hanging in our driveway blowing bubbles, basking in the sun seems to be a very happy time.

There are numerous benefits from hanging in the sun, but I'll name my top 3 faves:

1) The sun helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, which is needed for bone health and supporting our immune system.

2) Being in the sun makes us HAPPY! Rainy weather makes us feel blah and sunny weather improves our mood.

3) Sun = sleep. I'll vouch for that. Ever recall basking in the sun at the beach and feeling really sleepy? Getting the proper amount of sunlight every day helps us snooze.

Resources: 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2008/06/23/time-in-the-sun-how-much-is-needed-for-vitamin-d

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-little-known-benefits-of-sunlight.html

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5999/10-Healing-Benefits-of-the-Sun.html

Spring has sprung

I don't think I've ever looked this forward to spring. I'm feeling a sense of renewal, excitement and there's even a bit of pep in my step. Winter really got to me this year. I definitely suffered from S.A.D. (season affective disorder). Was in a funk, but who cares about that now because I am feeling back to my old self!

I don't need more reason to celebrate life other than to be happy with today. HAPPY SPRING!

I choose to be...

Enjoying the little moments

Recently, my mind has been on the topic of happiness. What defines happiness? What makes me happy? If I'm unhappy, what can I do to turn things around?

There isn't one answer. While I'm figuring it all out, I have learned to appreciate the small moments.

A few days ago, we had about a foot of snow. Schools closed. Our dojang was closed. CJ waited until the snow was pretty much done falling to go out and use the snowblower. We bought one earlier in the winter season and it was the first time using it. I wanted to see it in action.  While CJ was getting it ready, I opened the front door. Luckily, we installed a storm door, so we could enjoy the outside view without the cold getting in.

As CJ was clearing the driveway, Christopher was staring, watching him quietly and intently. As Christopher was watching CJ. I was watching Christopher. Time stood still. I was fully enjoying this moment. He was so intrigued by what his daddy was doing. The noise the snowblower made had him saying woo woo wow woo. He must've stood there for 10 minutes. For an 18 months old toddler, that's a pretty long time.

That little moment made my day.

Where to find happiness

A Rare Moment

Yearning for time for myself, I did something different this morning. Instead of the usual routine of making breakfast, putting away dishes, and turning on the morning news, I decided to try something new.

I made myself a hot cup of tea and waited for the sun to rise. I closed my eyes and took in 10 deep breaths, focusing on the energy going in through my nose and out through my mouth (Thanks Bikram Yoga!). I repeated my affirmations (Something new I am trying). I said all the things I was grateful for in my life right now (I should do this every day!).

Pure Julia time. No obligations. No looking at the list of things to do. The dishes could wait. I wasn't hungry yet. CJ and Christopher were still asleep. I was making myself a priority and making time for me.

I've always been able to carve time for myself whether it was to paint my nails, read a fashion magazine or watch a TV show uninterrupted. Today, I was slowing things down...way, way down. I can honestly say I lived in the moment.

I was just...being.

National Hug Day

Today is NATIONAL HUG DAY! Go out and hug someone!

THE 10 BENEFITS OF HUGGING

(www.nationalhuggingday.com)

1)    Hugs make us feel “happy”! When we hug another person, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with “happiness,” according to scientific studies.

2)    Hugs alleviate stress! Just as a good hug increases our oxytocin levels, it decreases our cortisol or “stress” levels.

3)    Babies need hugs as much as water and food! According to researchers at Harvard University, hugs help promote normal levels of cortisol necessary for child development.

4)    Hugs make us better students! Students who receive a supportive touch from a teacher are twice as likely to volunteer in class.

5)    Hugs improve our game! Scientists at University of California, Berkley discovered that the more affectionate members of a team are with each other, the more likely they are to win.

6)    A hug a day keeps the doctor away! A hug stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn regulates the production of white blood cells that keep us healthy and disease-free.

7)    A hug stops the bug! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon proved that individuals who were sick and received hugs had less severe symptoms and were able to get better quicker.

8)    A hugging heart is a healthy heart! Research from University of North Carolina showed that a good hug helps ease blood flow and lower cortisol levels, which in turn help lower our heart rates.

9)    A hugging couple is a happy couple! Couples that experience their partners’ love through physical affection share higher oxytocin levels.

10)    Hugs let someone know you care without having to say a word! According to Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, we can identify love from simple human touch – imagine how much love a big hug can communicate!

If you want to be happy...

Happy Boosters

Some days, I feel like I have too much on my plate. I feel overwhelmed. I do a little bit of everything, yet nothing gets completed. Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like this! All the moms who look like they have it all together, you guys are just pretending, right? 

The holiday season tends to make this feeling grow exponentially. Some days, I wake up and I just know the day will be a blur - I go on auto pilot. No idea how I make it through the day. My body just moves and luckily a list of to do items helps me feel a little productive.

I'm still learning what helps me relax, focus and get in gear, but I have a few things that really do help me. I don't know if it'll help anybody else, but it works for moi.

JULIA'S LIST OF HAPPY BOOSTERS:

1) Lay down or sit tall, close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths (10 if I really need it).
I am amazed at how this works so well for me. It helps me relax and regroup.

2) Tell yourself to smile and have a great day. You gotta look in the mirror while doing this. Look at yourself straight in the eye and say, "Have a fabulous day, dah-ling! Smile!". If you know me, you know I have no problem doing this.

3)  Stretch. Oh, I love this one. You don't realize how tense you are until you start stretching your neck, shoulders, arms, back and legs. There's always time for a quick stretch.

4) Go on Pinterest or Youtube and find funny/cute things. If I'm in need of a laugh, I search for funnies and they always work! I always find something that makes me laugh out loud and laughing is an instant happy booster.

5) Take a cat nap. This is a new realization for me. I never took naps before. I didn't like naps. I didn't like having to sleep when it was still bright out. I felt like I was missing out on life. I'm over it now. If all the stars align and I'm tired and Christopher is napping, then I'll take a cat nap. 10-15 minutes helps a ton.

6) Make a list of to do items. If I didn't write things down or make notes in my cell phone, I would be lost. I meet so many moms who look like they never need to do lists. To you supermoms, I raise a glass.

7) Hide my cell phone. I have a love/hate relationship with cell phones. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, texts, emails, phone calls, Kakaotalk. At times, it is too much. I go through days where I leave my phone on my nightstand in the mornings and ignore the world for a few hours. It helps me focus on the simpler things in life.

8) Workout. I have never met a person who said they regretted a workout. Endorphins, baby!

9) Hugs and Kisses. If I need 'em, I'll get 'em.

10) Rant. Sometimes, you need to tell someone how stressed you are and somehow that act alone magically makes the stress go away.

Just one of them days...

Do you know that song? It's just one of them days, that a girl goes through. I won't lie. I struggled to get through today. I pushed myself through every single movement. It was a very BLAH day. I'm all about being happy, but hey, I'm allowed to growl every once in awhile.

My little booger saved the day. He turned my entire day around when I handed him a piece of construction paper and crayons. He ain't no Picasso (yet), but this mama is keeping her son's first drawing.

 

Now, I feel like:

 

 

   

Life is Too Short

Red Lipstick

AMEN!

Love Thy Freckles

The Power of Being Positive

I've always been an advocate for positive thinking. It's easier to be positive, happy and cheerful than negative, down and apathetic. Why is it that most people in this world love to live in their misery? I'll admit, I've gone through phases where nothing feels more comforting than to wallow in a pool of self-pity, but in hindsight, it was a complete waste of time. It must be the new year, but I am ALL about have a positive attitude and living life with the glass half full. Otherwise, why get out of bed? I've been VERY aware of my thoughts and attitude these days and in turn, I've been acutely aware of attitudes of my family members, friends and people I come across on a daily basis. One thing is for sure: there are FEW people out there who make it a point to wake up each morning and tell themselves today is going to be a great day. So, with that said, I am on a MISSION to turn people around!

I have various reasons for this mission, but the main reason is because I want my friends and family to live happy lives. I genuinely want that more than anything in this world. More than money, fame, and power, I sincerely wish for my loved ones to BE TRULY HAPPY.

Here are some quotes I'd like to share:


Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or
happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. ~Francesca Reigler

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change
the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

The only people who find what they are looking for in life are the
fault finders. ~Foster's Law

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on
harvesting Golden Delicious. ~Bill Meyer
To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have.
~Ken S. Keyes, Jr., Handbook to Higher Consciousness

The only disability in life is a bad attitude. ~Scott Hamilton

The best things in life are unexpected - because there were no
expectations. ~Eli Khamarov, Surviving on Planet Reebok

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can
alter his life by altering his attitudes. ~William James

Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently,
but life itself would come to be different. ~Katherine Mansfield

Positive anything is better than negative thinking. ~Elbert Hubbard

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~Maori Proverb