Quest for Happiness [Day 24]

Today I want to share something that I wished I would have found earlier this month as I feel it would have provided me with a way to better track my happiness throughout the month. 

When I was in high school I worked at a local grocery store, it was a small one, only six cash registers (usually no more than three open at a time). It was an old store whose many clientele were elderly residents who'd been in the area for years. 

I had one customer, an elderly widower who began planning his shopping trips around my work schedule. At first I was a little concerned by his interest in me, but as his visits grew so did my respect for him. He had a sharp mind and a love of words and I think just wanted a friendly face to talk to. He would often bring me in his favorite quotes or words of wisdom, either photocopies or on handwritten scraps of paper. 

We had some wonderful chats, and he was one of the things that made it such a fantastic job. Once I moved on from my job there we lost touch, but I often think about him and hope he found peace. 

The below is one of the documents he gave me. It once hung on the wall in my bedroom to remind me to get happy but three moves in three years left it buried in a box of school paperwork until recently.  Some of the tips are a little silly or redundant, but the idea behind it is a good one and it represents many of the values and qualities I hope to possess.

We don't have a scanner so I tried to photograph the pages to share, but the font is hard to read on the printed pages so I don't know that it can be read from these pictures. Below is the content of the two pages in it's entirety. 

Suggestions on How to Live A Happy and Rewarding Life 

Take time to smell the roses

Take a nap on Sunday afternoons (I love naps!)

Drink 8 glasses of water a day

Never deprive someone of hope, it may be all they have

Be thankful for every meal

Don't be afraid to say "I'm Sorry"

Don't take good health for granted

Don't interrupt

Don't tailgate

Improve your performance by improving your attitude (Attitude is key, I need to remember that)

Wave at children on the school bus

Listen to your children

Leave everything a little better than when you found it

Leave the toilet seat in the down position

Keep it simple

Keep your promises

Be kinder than necessary (Like forming a friendship with your grocery store cashier!)

Take good care of those you love

Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out 

Wear outrageous underwear under the most formal business attire (This is one of my favorites!)

Vote!
Judge your success by the degree to which you are enjoying peace, health & love

Be a good loser

Be a good winner

Be romantic

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring & integrity, they think of you

Enjoy real maple syrup

Never refuse homemade brownies

Never give anyone a fruitcake

Remember other peoples birthdays 

Sing in the shower

Don't Nag (I have work to do on this one!)

Don't gossip

Don't expect money to bring you happiness

Be forgiving of yourself and others

Never give up on anyone; miracles happen every day

Say thank you a lot 

Say please a lot

Take your dog to obedience school.. you will both learn a lot 

Slow dance

Don't rain on other peoples parades (I love this one, unnecessary negativity is one of my pet peeves!)

Don't postpone joy

Stop blaming others, take responsibility for every area of your life

Take care of your reputation... it's your most valuable asset

Count your blessings

Whistle

Marry only for love

Call your mother

Do more than is expected

Be there when people need you 

Be someone's hero 

Support your community generously with your time and money

 

What are your favorite suggestions off this list? Do you have any other ideas for a happy life? 

Keep Smiling :)