In Search of Happy

/ Katie

I’ll post 2023’s short story theme soon – hopefully by Monday. And I’ve got some good, exciting things on the horizon, creating-wise. But y’all, I’m just struggling.

I’ve wanted 2023 to be a fresh start, but 2022’s parting blow combined with everything that came before combined with some noisy construction combined with my general anxiety combined with this new fear I have that things will fall apart if given the opportunity (wait, that’s still anxiety, isn’t it?), it’s all got me distracted and frustrated and really out of sorts. I’m just sad. I’m sad, and I’m stressed, and I’m worried. Not sure what I’m worried about, but I am.

So, for today, I’m going to read, drink some tea, try to focus on resting my mind and my heart, and think about writing and short stories and such tomorrow. In the meantime, you can do me a favor:

Send me some recommendations for happy-making things. Your favorite books, movies, and music, board games and card games that make you smile, activities that always leave you feeling better, little moments you try to take for yourself – whatever makes you happy when you need it, leave it in a comment below. Because I need all the help I can get.

I know things will be better soon. I just hope soon means soon.

25 thoughts on “In Search of Happy”

  2. Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes. It is actually a children’s book. My friend gave it to me because she said when she saw it, it made her think of me and that I would like it. It may be a children’s book, but it is a powerful story of hope and strength and resilience. As a writer, I think you will appreciate it–it is engaging to the point I could not stop reading it until I had finished it.

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  8. I just found your blog, and I enjoyed your short stories from last year. I look forward to this year’s new challenge. I recently started writing again. I am sorry your past year has created stress, and I hope your year will the the peace and joy that you seek.

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    • Thank you for reading and for commenting! And welcome! It’s normally a lot more joyful around here. 🙂 I’ll be posting the new short story theme on Monday, so check back. It’s a fun challenge and a good way to keep writing consistently!

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  11. Hi Katie,
    You don’t know me but I found you via one of Ann Marie’s newer stories. She was a great encouragement to me a few years back as a new story writer & blogger.
    I too am always looking for friends who are writing, hitting and solving problems of writing and encouraging each other. Then I was sorry to read that you’re in need of things that might make you smile.
    In case you’re interested, I write most feel-good short stories that might leave you feeling better about life and people. I don’t write horror or erotica so if you like I could send a few links for you to try out.
    Or I could just list some things that always make me happy.
    1) reading in a quiet home or room, darkened if possible with just your book lit up.
    2) add a heating pad or hot water bottle to your lower back or upper thighs beneath a blanket for spa-like comfort.
    3) mellow music, instrumentals only with no lyrics that might capture thoughts – music like this should let our minds wander.
    4) warm healthy meals on cool days, or cold ones on hot days.
    5) about 5-8 ounces of Irish cream over shaved ice for sipping.
    6) a decent glass of chianti red wine with a pasta or red meat meal. It’s a drier wine, not sweet but can be delightfully crisp & never bitter.
    7) finding someone who needs help with something that you’re really good at. Investing in someone almost always reduces our own stress as we watch them succeed with something that for you is easy and no big deal – but for them it could life changing.
    8) new thick & warm socks worn with your favorite sweats fresh out of the dryer – ummmmm. . .
    9) find someone, maybe a shut-in that you know would appreciate a hand-written letter reminding them of why they are so valuable to you. Maybe they helped raise you or taught you something that later changed your life. It can’t be an email or text message. It has to be hand written on nice paper that by itself will look like a gift you worked on. If you have an old photo of them you could include that might leave them with tears of pure joy. If they like plants or flowers, press 1 or 2 and include them.

    Okay, I’ll stop but I’ll leave you with a link where I accidentally did that last one. Man of my readers love this story of what actually happened around me back in the early 1970s.
    https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/of-crashes-and-christmas/

    I hope something in my list both appeals and works for you.

    Blessings 🙏

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    • Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and for all of these wonderful ideas! They all sound lovely and like they’d really help. 🙂 I hope you drop by again – there’s normally a lot more joy around here, and will be soon. Short story theme for the year coming on Monday!

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  12. Pingback: In Search of Happy – DAILY GRUMPS AD

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