It rained last night – thunder, lightning and pouring rain, kind of rain! That warrants a happy dance because we are in the midst of a drought here in Chicago. I can’t remember the last day we had rain for more than a 5 minute stretch. It’s really the little things in life that bring on a case of the happies (I know that’s not a word, but I like it). I also know that this picture isn’t about rain, but we stayed there when we were in Tuscany and I did lots of happy dances because it was so beautiful.
When was the last time you did a happy dance? What precipitated it? I guess I am on a weather theme here. I’m of the opinion that it’s important to search out things that make you happy. Sometimes the joy we feel is because we have observed something that touches us. The trick is that we are often so busy that we forget to recognize those moments. How could you remember to notice the little things?
You can also actively create moments of happiness. Many, many years ago I took a class from a wonderful woman, Ruth Cowsert. She asked us to declare DSFY days. DSFY stands for Do Something For Yourself. At first I thought that I was being irresponsible declaring a DSFY day. I had two small kids and lots and lots to do!
I came to the realization that when we are depleted we have very little to give to other people. So, not only is a DSFY day important, it is necessary. It is a time to recharge your personal batteries. DSFY days or even moments often are happy dance experiences. Sometimes those happy dances are visible to the outside world and sometimes those happy dances are completely internal.
You get to decide what would be energizing or relaxing for you. It might be taking a long bike ride, reading a trashy novel, talking with friends, building something in your garage, listening to some great live music, eating something that tickles your taste buds, finding a pickup basketball game, doing a puzzle, jumping in the lake on a hot day, – you decide. The key is for you to choose what really would be a treat for you. It might be something you do by yourself or with others. What you choose as a DSFY might not be what someone else would choose and the only thing that matters is that it nourishes you, that it feeds your soul.
What will you do today that makes you do a happy dance? What choices can you make for yourself to create your own DSFY? I encourage you to stop what you are doing right now and think of at least one thing you could do that would make you happy. And, then make it happen!
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