Take a Walk

Today Robi, Flannery, and I took a walk to the park to see my friend Rachel's son play a little soccer.  If you've never seen three year olds play soccer before, I have to tell you, it's pretty adorable.  Kind of chaotic and confusing, but really cute.  

Did I mention she's smitten?

Rachel's new baby Roane (okay, she's really like 7 months old now, but, still, that's pretty new, right?) was there, too, and Flannery was just smitten.  She got to "hold" Roane a few times, and was so attentive and gentle with her.  It was sweet to see a glimpse of how Flanna would be with a little one around.  She wants more than anything to have a little brother or sister.

Agh, the things that pull at my heart.  

Annnyway.  The thing is, that walk, that un-rushed time strolling to and from the park--brought me exponential amounts of happiness.  Maybe it's that it combined so many things that bring me happiness:  my family, experiencing nature, chatting with those I love, visiting with dear friends.  But really, it sort of surprised me that such a simple thing brought me such a happiness boost.  

So, if you wanna get happy, just take a walk.  

Even better, take a walk with folks you love.  

Even better, take a walk with folks you love to go visit other folks you love.  Seriously, if you do that, you just might enter the death spiral of gladness.  

Flanna crossing the "troll bridge" with Daddy-O

those eyes!

The dads

a little soccer action

my little monkey

F wanted to wear her hood backward.  Y'know, all the cool kids are doing it.  

Roane & Rachel

sweet sweet sweet 

What's your favorite place to walk to from your home?  Who do you enjoy walking with?  Go forth and get walking!  (and let me know if it makes you happier!)

Walking Home from Preschool

Yesterday afternoon, we had the best walk home from Flanna's preschool.  The azaleas were in full bloom, so we stopped and talked about which were our favorite colors.  (I like the purplish-pink ones best.)  Then we ran into our neighbors who had happened upon an amazingly tame baby squirrel!  It was so sweet and kept wanting to sit on our shoes.  Finally, it seemed to go back to its mama (thank goodness!)  I had never seen a squirrel that close before, and it was so cute to hear our sweet little neighbor saying, "Baby skurl!"

The tilted head pose is getting a little out of hand.  :)

Please excuse the blurry iPhone pics.  It was too exciting to focus!

I'm so glad we walked home from preschool that day.  Had we been driving home from preschool, we would have never made the wonderful connection with our neighbors over the tiny squirrel.   So many times when I'm walking somewhere, I'll stop and say hello and chat a bit, and actually make a connection with the people I'm passing.  But when driving, I'm much less likely to do so.  I usually just wave and keep on driving.  When I consider the friends I've made during our time here, I realize that most of them are folks I saw regularly during walks to and from the park or school.   Walking places is such a superior experience in every way to driving for me, and I'm so hoping we won't give up our "walkable" lifestyle when we move to the big city this summer.    


What do you love best about your lifestyle right now?

Get Moving

Yesterday, my hubby was kind enough to give my daughter her bath and put her to bed while I went for a nice long walk on Duke's East Campus. For those of you who aren't familiar with Duke's Campus, there's a track around East Campus where people walk, jog, run, bike, walk their dogs, and just generally move.

It was such a happiness boost to get out in the fresh air, to see the trees blooming, to walk fast and hear the gravel crunch beneath my feet at each step, to breathe deeply and feel the strength of this healthy body I'm blessed with. It was a wonderful way to not only get my endorphins flowing with some exercise, but to also experience nature a bit, as well.

Hooray for wonderful husbands, beautiful days, and the ability to get moving (and happy!) every now and then.



How do you squeeze exercise into your life? Or, maybe you're better at it than me, and it doesn't feel squeezed in--if so, how did you get exercise to just come naturally?

The Restorative Walk and What Babies Teach Us

About once a week or so, I'm trying to post interviews with amazing and insightful people who inspire me! This week's focus is Emily.

Emily was our daughter's nanny for a while, and was such an amazing partner for us in caring for Flanna! From the moment I met her, I knew that she was the right nanny for us, and I've never had another caregiver who's ever come close to her in the intuitive and thoughtful way she treated our daughter. Emily has a spanish degree, lived in a yurt once upon a time, has compassion for all living things, is a rescuer of animals, is married to a kind artist, is a doula, and is now a mommy to an adorable little son. She has a quiet confidence that I wish I had, and I was really thrilled that she agreed to answer my happiness questions! Here are her responses:


1. When you're feeling blue, what do you do to make yourself happier?

It depends on the shade of blue. Sometimes I like to take a walk...
actually, a walk almost always helps, but sometimes it's more
difficult to get myself out and doing it than others. If I'm stuck in
the house, I like to take a hot shower and envision all my stress
being washed out (or sometimes I imagine the water is irrigating me
with good vibes, if I'm just "down" for no identifiable cause). If I
have enough time to myself, I'll turn off the lights in the living
room and practice yoga by myself -- I don't turn on a dvd or follow
any routine, I just move and stretch until I feel better (or until the
baby wakes up).

2. What's a little thing that you do regularly that makes you happy?

I wove this little basket that hangs by my front door. It's my worry
basket. Whenever I come back home, I mentally leave my worries in that
basket. Sometimes I take a trip outside just to "put" my worries in
it! It helps that I think the basket is really cute, and I'm pretty
proud that I actually wove a tiny basket.

3. What's something you've discovered that you'd you like your
child to know about happiness?

Well, for right now, my son's the one teaching me about happiness.
He really knows how to enjoy the moment and how to let the upsetting
moments float on by. Once he's done crying, it's like it never
happened.. he can go right back to being happy, as soon as the
situation has improved. He doesn't dwell on that uncomfortably wet
diaper he had an hour ago. When someone is funny and friendly with
him, he enjoys their presence without guarding himself. When he wakes
up in the morning, he smiles and squeals and meets the day with
excitement. It truly is a brand new day for him, another opportunity
to play and explore and learn. I'm trying to wake up with that kind of
attitude, too.

----

I agree that kids are able to wipe the slate clean much more quickly than we are, and that we old folks should work toward that again. Also, a good walk does more for my happiness than a hundred dark chocolate Hershey kisses. I think that was one of the reasons I was so happy in Athens…we had such a walking lifestyle that I got exercise and sunshine and social experiences without really trying. Also, I’m super jealous of anyone who can weave anything. And while jealousy might not increase my happiness level, I do think the visualization of leaving my worries at the door is a great idea. Thanks, Emily, for your insights!



What have children in your life taught you about happiness?