Popular Posts

Monday, July 14, 2014

Pets and Happiness

#5-Pets are family too. 
(continued Happiness Topic)

1980-Growing up with Dobermans
Duke and Dublin-Family Pets
Over the years, I have read many articles written that concur, animals being raised as pets bring some of the happiest moments in our lives.

With that said, which kind of pets are the best to choose? And what distinguishes our pet choices?

People seem to know which pet is best for them,  but just in case you're wondering here is a bit on the popular two, for example:


1. Cats; I am definitely a cat person.  Even though my father raised my sisters and I with many large dogs, horses, goats, sheep, ducks, Guinea hens, chickens, pigs, and some farm cats over the years, the "Cat" as a house pet I enjoy the most.  How Cats Show affection.

I love cats because they are easy to take care of.  Rarely do you have to board them when you leave for a couple days.  They don't bark.  If they meow it is for a purpose like being hungry, the need of water, or expecting a litter change.  Cats don't take up too much room on the bed or the chair.  They can be a little hairy but not as much as dogs.  I love their purring sound and the fact that if raised correctly can be extremely loving.

Raising a cat is like, wherever I go, they are always near by and never do they bark at people who enter our home…meet Scotty (Gold & White Tabby) and Annie (Black & White Tabby).











               
          Rudy is the smallest dog, my mom's.
He is spoiled by my parents.
Jazzy is dad's mini-pin (with tags) &
Thor is her buddy!








2. Dogs-are also great pets.  My father is a huge dog lover.  He thinks dogs are the best companions because they are always in protective mode (barking is their job).  He and my beautiful mother love their little dogs like they did my sisters and me.  They are an important part of the family and can be very enjoyable but also sometimes annoying.  Upon prompting my husband and daughter believe the best things about a dog is that they are entertaining, a great companion, a protector, and they learn how to poop outside.  Here is our extended family of dogs.
Thor in this glamour shot is the best behaved
dog in the family!   He is my sister's dog.
This is Zeus.  He is my son's dog.  Zeus has
brought much happiness to his life.




3. Pets come in all kids of sizes and at unexpected times.  I remember one of my sister's fondest pets was a barn-yard chicken, named Leeza.  I doubt Leeza would have ever survived without the aid of my sister.  She loved and protected that little white feathered friend until the very end. 

When a person learns to love an animal, they bring a special happiness into the world that teaches more than without.  We learn about our love for taking care of something else, besides ourself.  This is good for everyone to experience.  







4.  I leave you with this image: I think of it as God's personality friends.  These beautiful blue butterflies really made my day on a trip recently to North Carolina. Just seeing them out in the wild with out a worry was so special.  All of God's creations are really amazing.

So, if you are not an animal person, I challenge you to at least meet one.  Animals are something to appreciate and draw happiness from.  

Blessings, SD  


Saturday, July 5, 2014

John Adams and his "Pursuit to Happiness"

#4 John Adams in video, a mini-series...


July 4th is a great time to recognize "Happiness" in other ways as I continue my research pursuit on the subject of "Happiness" this summer.  At this time of the year, I found myself sharing it with our 2nd president, John Adams, and a story of his political experience during the time of America's Independence.

If you haven't seen John Adams, the mini-series about 8 episodes long, it is worth a couple of days just to appreciate what the men of that time period did for our country and the commitment to its independence from Great Britain.

Watching the fireworks (Fireworks-2014) explode over a small Indiana farm town with my husband on a popular country road near by, gave me pause reflecting on how we celebrate this day, our countries 238 year birthday.  (Cook-outs, parting, boat riding, watching fireworks, parades, dancing, while this is all fun, instead...)

I challenge you also take time to become more patriotic.  I was never a huge history buff, but I have found as I get older learning about our American history is definitely worth time in my life.

Great places to visit may include:

#1. Williamsburg, VA
#2. Washington, D.C.
#3. Any local history marker in your area if not for anything else but to read about what happened in
      that space.  (In my home town, we have many.)
#4. Springfield, IL.-Home of President Lincoln
#5. Historical landmarks in the Carolina's.
#6. And of course exposure to different stories like the John Adam's mini-series provides.

My parents love sharing these historical places and stories with me and my family.  They bring concepts like the rights of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit to "Happiness"into perspective.  They provide a deep appreciation of what we stand for, what our country was built on.

Blessings, SD

PS.  For some inspiration,  here is an amazing recording of Max McLean reading our Declaration of Independence.   (It's about 11 minutes long.)



Thursday, July 3, 2014

Happiness is...

#3-Happiness is…

#1.  Spending time with people you enjoy.

Great day watching a football game at Western Michigan University-2011


#2.  Finding balance in everything you do.  
     (One exception-Love- just full throttle.)

#3.  Singing a song, playing the guitar or piano. 
       (Girls you got this!)




#4.  Becoming a parent.


My three amazing gifts: Terry, Katie, and Ben

#5.  Understanding your spiritual needs.

#6.  Baking chocolate chip cookies.  
     Nestles Toll House Chocolate Chips 
        have the best recipe, just saying.

#7.  Planting something and keeping it alive.

#8.  Taking pictures or being part of pictures representing    
       "Happiness". (At least I'm Happy!)


MGM Studios-2000-Spring Break



#9.  Adding a pet to your life.


Terry and his dog Zeus.

#10. Watching Ellen…  :) 
       (Sometimes absolutely, my favorite part of the day!)

Note to the Happy Students, Great movie out there to view…called "Happy" created by Roko Belic, http://vimeo.com/11335940 , researched documentary about "Happiness discovered around the world".   It has a lot to do with Positive Psychology!  More to come…Blessings, SD