“Worrying is like a rocking chair…”

I’m sharing my Happy List with the hope that is will calm my nerves while I wait to hear back from the teaching program. I really want an interview and I REALLY want to be accepted into the residency program.

Back Story on Why I Need a Happy List

With the big move and my upcoming bout of unemployment, I am obviously stressed out to the max. My friend who is involved in her first year of “the teaching program” gave me some great advice today. She told me that when I start freaking out I need to remind myself this: “Worrying is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere.”

I really think that if I sit on my butt all day spazzing out about our future, I am just going to spin myself into a tizzy of cranky emotions.

Some super duper awesome bloggers awarded me with this Happy award! It’s kind of ironic with my wishy washy attitude the past couple of days. Here is how it works:
1. List 10 things that make you happy.
2. Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day. (I’m opening this up to everyone though!)

My Happy List

1. Mr. Bear and his amazing sense of humor. Any time I am feeling down I can always count on him for a dance move, little song, or even a funny face.
2. Christmas Music – It can pull me out of the darkest places no matter what time of year it is.
3. Cheese – Seriously. Nothing puts a smile on my face like munching on a big hunk of cheese.
4. Family – I have the greatest family and new family-in-law in the world. Loving, caring, sympathetic, funny, creative, beautiful – I could go on and on. I am so thankful and SO happy I have such amazing people in my life.
5. Laughing until my eyes are watering and my sides ache.
6. Tradition – There are so many traditions that we have in my family I could not live without. One HUGE tradition occurs on Christmas Eve. It starts with Christmas shopping for Gwen and Sadie (our pets) with my dad. At night we go to dinner at my Aunt Lyn’s house: think carrot soup, Christmas music, wine, stuffed breads, antipasti.  Next is the long drive home with my sister, mom, and dad, who usually sing Christmas tunes out the window.  Then we have a present exchange with my sisters (Lizzie and Tine). The night ends in bed with Lizzie and I in matching pjs and a funny dvd (usually “Old School”). This year Mr. Bear will be in the mix – which will allow us to show him our traditions and hopefully start some of our own.
7. Family dinners – This is pretty self explanatory for me. Food + Family = Yay.
8. Cooking – Duh. It’s a great stress buster. If I was rich I would sit inside my house and cook all day and night for all of my family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who would eat it.
9. Snow – I love the smell of it, I love looking at it, I love dancing in it, I even love eating it. I have yet to see snow this year and let me tell you – when I do – nothing will be able to bring me down.
10. And…OF COURSE… my friends. All of them. I have lots of friends, more than you would ever know. That is because I call lots of beings my friends – those you can and can’t see, those you can and can’t talk to, even those that bark at you. Therefore my “friends” include God (who I also call my family – He goes in both groups), Gwen (my parent’s dog), my blog friends, and Maryanne (my stuffed moose). It is so important to have people in your life who you can laugh and cry with, who you can complain to, who you can play dress up with, and so on. All of my friends make me happy!!!