365 Ways To
More Joyful Days!
This year I
have decided to offer something a bit different. I have created a calendar
featuring a photo and a painting for each month along with a quote for each day
that you might like to consider. There is also something you might like to try
each day. Each day I have included some music featured on my blog: Music That
Means Something. It contains songs that have had an impact on me or inspired me
in some way. You might like to listen to them too.
January:
1. 1. “Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven
where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us
know they are happy.” Eskimo Proverb
Something To
Try:
It can be
very helpful to have a theme to focus on for the year ahead. This year I am
focusing on giving and receiving. It is important to be able to do both. Having
this theme in my mind this year will help me to be more giving and more
gracious when I receive things. This can include gifts, feedback and life
experiences.
Last year I
focused on acceptance. It really helped me to understand that we need to take
the rough with the smooth. Things that we experience that feel uncomfortable
can really teach us new things. Sometimes the things that we think haven’t
worked out well actually alter our lives in a new and exciting direction.
Music:
Listen to some music by Swedish House Mafia~
Don’t You Worry Child
2. ‘Don’t you
worry, don’t you worry child, see heavens got a plan for you.’
That is such
an inspiring lyric!
2.
“Happiness is acceptance.” Unknown
Something To
Try:
See if you
can think of your Top 10 All Time favourite Songs. It is harder than you think
but can be a very rewarding experience.
Music:
I first
listened to it while stuck in a huge traffic jam and found it so uplifting.
3. 3. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it
complicated.” Confucius
Something To
Try:
Write down
three things you feel grateful for. I do this daily and it really helps me to
appreciate the wonderful life I have.
Music:
Listen to
Marc and the Mambas, In My Room:
I used to
listen to this over and over again as a teen all alone in my room!
4. 4.“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within
yourself, in your way of thinking.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Something To
Try:
How about
doing something creative like drawing a picture, writing a poem or doing some
craft? You don’t have to be an expert, just have a go and see what you can
create!
Music:
Listen to
Song 2 by Blur:
I love this
song, I find it totally exhilarating!
5. 5. “I’d far rather be happy than right any day.” Douglas Adams
Something To
Try:
Why not cook
yourself something delicious from scratch?
I am no
chef, but I love making my Christmas cake every year. I enjoy getting the
ingredients, combining them, baking them and then eating them!
If you cook
a lot, why not try and cook something you have never tried before? It is good
to try new things. There are a lot of recipes available on The Internet so why
not have a look and see what you can make?
Music:
Listen to
Bob Marley,
Two Little Birds:
Every time I
feel sad and think of this song I realise that ‘every little thing’s gonna be
all right!’
6. 6. “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise
grows it under his feet.” James Oppenheim
Something To
Try:
Read a book
recommended by a friend.
It can be
tempting to stick to reading books that you know you will like but it can be
very interesting reading something different. Ask a friend or family member for
their suggestion on a book for you to read. I was very moved by The Tattooist
of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. It tells the true story of Lale Sokolov who was
sent to the concentration camp. It was recommended to me by a friend and I am
so glad I read it.
Music:
Balrog
Boogie~Diablo Swing Orchestra:
they are a
fascinating group of musicians and I would love to see them play live!
7. 7. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Aesop
Something To
Try:
Give people
compliments today and see their reaction. Put thought into the compliments you
choose to give. What is it that you value most about the person you wish to
compliment. Try and reflect that in the compliment you give them. People really
light up when someone notices and appreciates them. You can really make their
day and knowing that can lift your spirits too.
Music: Did
You Hear The Rain? George Ezra~
George has a
magnificent voice and this song is wonderful!
8. 8. “Your work is discover your world and then with all your
heart give yourself to it.” Buddha
Something To
Try:
Write
someone an email or a letter. We have very busy lives and so often we start to
lose touch with the people we care about. Think of someone you care about and
write to them. You could send them a postcard or a card, anything to remind
them you care.
Music:
Lloyd Cole
And the Commotions~ Perfect Skin
I played
this song repetitively when I first heard it. It is lovely.
9. 9. “It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving,
but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Something To
Try:
Watch a
comedy or a film that makes you laugh. Laughter is so important, it helps us to
forget our cares and stops us taking things too seriously.
Music:
What an
amazing cover this is. I love Siouxsie’s voice and her style!
10.
“If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.” Proverb
Something To
Try:
Try meditating.
Close your eyes, sit comfortably and focus on your breathing. Let thoughts come
and go, as you become aware of them, gently let them go and re-focus on your
breathing. Try this for 5 minutes and see how you feel afterwards.
Music:
David Bowie:
Fill Your Heart:
This is a
beautiful song with inspiring lyrics.
11.
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow. It only saps today
of its joy.” Leo Buscaglia
Something To
Try:
Where is
your favourite place? Where do you most like to be? Close your eyes and really
visualise that place in your mind. You can do this whenever you want to have a
happiness boost!
Music:
Vicious~ Lou
Reed:
There are so
many wonderful Lou Reed songs I cold have chosen but this one is my favourite!
12.
“If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll
never enjoy the sunshine.” Morris West
Something To
Try:
We all learn
from mistakes. See if you can remember something that went wrong but actually
turned out OK.
Music:
That’s
Entertainment ~The Jam:
This song is
so powerful and legend has it that it took Paul Weller a few minutes to write
when he got back from the pub one night…
13.
"Life is a journey, and if you fall
in love with the journey, you will be in love forever." Peter Hagerty
Something To
Try:
Do an
everyday task mindfully. To do this fully focus on the task you are doing
without concentrating on anything else. Do the task slowly and carefully. If we
work mindfully we are focusing on the present and our results are better. We
worry less and feel more content.
Music:
Oxford
Comma~ Vampire Weekend:
The band
always reminds me of sunshine.
14.
"Tension is who you think you should
be, relaxation is who you are." Chinese Proverb
Something To
Try:
Try
progressive muscle reaction. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Start by
tensing and relaxing your hands, then your arm muscles, then your shoulders.
Now tense then relax the muscles on your face and neck. Next tense then relax
the muscles on your chest, your back, work down the body tensing then relaxing
each muscle until you get to the toes and tense then relax them too. You can
also push your feet against the ground and then relax them. This is a great way
to relieve tension.
Music:
What Katy
Did~Libertines:
Pete Doherty
writes music like poetry.
15.
"You cannot judge what should bring
others joy, and others cannot judge what should bring you joy." Alan
Cohen
Something To Try:
Do you have
a small goal that you would like to achieve? If so why not write it down. When
you write down your thoughts you are more likely to commit to them. Once you
have your goal, work out the small steps you will need to take to achieve that
goal. Do you need anyone to help you? If so write them down too. You can write
down a date you would like to achieve each step by and this will help you to
review your progress. Good luck!
Music:
Billy
Idol~White Wedding:
I can
remember being obsessed with this song, playing it over and over again!
16.
"Happiness is not a station you
arrive at, but a manner of traveling." Margaret Lee Runbeck
Something To Try:
Close your eyes and think about a holiday
that you really enjoyed. Recall the sights, the sounds, the smells and tastes.
How did you feel when you were on this holiday? Visualising like this can be
very relaxing and enjoyable.
Music:
Babyshambles~Delivery:
Pete again!
17.
"You never regret being kind."
Nicole Shepherd
Something To
Try:
Do something
kind for someone and don’t let them know it was you. You could leave them a
little gift that you think they will enjoy, it will make their day!
Music:
Two Door
Cinema Club~What You Know:
This song is
fabulous!
18.
"Everything that irritates us about
others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." Carl Jung
Something To
Try:
What do you
think are your three best qualities? If you find this difficult, ask someone
you trust. It can be a real confidence boost to discover what other people
value about you.
Music:
Monochrome
Set~He’s Frank:
I adore this
band.
19.
"There is no stress in the world,
only people thinking stressful thoughts and then acting on them." Dr.
Wayne Dyer
Something To
Try:
Think of a
time when you were worried about something, but it turned out OK. We spend a
lot of time worrying about things that never happen or if they do happen they
are seldom worse than we think they will be.
Music:
Farmers
Boys~More Than A Dream:
I loved
these as a teen.
20.
"In the midst of movement and chaos,
keep stillness inside of you." Deepak Chopra
Something To Try:
Spend a few minutes in silence. It
doesn’t matter if there are background noises but turn off the TV or radio.
Close your eyes and enjoy the peace.
Music:
New Model Army~Winter
Another wonderful band.
21.
"Once you do something you love, you
never have to work again." Willie Hill
Something To Try:
Write down three things you love to do.
If you can, plan to do at least one of them soon.
Music:
Bastille~Pompeii
Such a good voice!
22.
"To be content means that you
realize you contain what you seek." Alan Cohen
Something To Try:
Write down three achievements that you
are proud of. When you look back on your life to date it is lovely to reflect
back on the things that you have done well.
Music:
Slaves~ The Hunter:
This band have energy and humour.
23.
"Look at everything as though you
were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will
be filled with glory." Betty Smith
Something To Try:
Try and think back to your earliest
memory. Spend time remembering what life was like when you were little. We can
learn a lot from children and the way they see the world.
Music:
Go Your Own Way~ Fleetwood Mac:
This song moves me.
24.
“What a
wonderful life I have had! I only wish I had realised it sooner.” Colette
Something To
Try:
Look in your
wardrobe and wear something you haven’t worn in a long time. How does It make
you feel?
Music:
Twenty One
Pilots~Ride:
This song is
so catchy.
25.
“If you want
to be happy, be.” Leo Tolstoy
Something To
Try:
Make a list
of 10 things that make you feel happy.
Music:
Bad
decisions~2 Door Cinema Club:
I love their
sound.
26.
“Be happy
for this moment. This moment is your life.” Omar Khayyam
Something To
Try:
Spend five
minutes listening to the sounds around you, what can you hear?
Music:
The
Killers~Mr Brightside:
Surely must
be on everyone’s play list!
27.
“Whoever is
happy will make others happy.” Anne Frank
Something To
Try:
Listen to
some music you enjoy, fully concentrate on it. Music can be very uplifting.
Music:
Ed Sheran~
What Do I Know?
So sweet.
28.
“In the end
it’s not the years on your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Abraham Lincoln
Something To
Try:
If there was
a film made about your life, who would you like to play you?
Music:
Snack
Family~Long Pig:
They are so
good live.
29.
“Of all the
things you wear, your expression is the most important.” Janet Lane
Something To
Try:
Write down 3
things you like about January.
Music:
Patrick
Watson~ Fred Is My Friend:
Incredibly
moving.
30.
“Be you. Do
you. For you.” Unknown
Something To
Try:
What is the
funniest thing that has ever happened to you? Remember the occasion and have a
good laugh!
Music:
Marc Almond~
You Have:
My hero.
31.
“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances
you miss when you don’t even try.” Jack Canfield
Something To Try:
Write down three things you are looking forward to in
February.
Music:
Steeleye Span~ All Around My Hat:
One of Mum’s favourites.
Look out for
February’s collection of words and pictures!
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