Top 5 tips for happiness!

These are my top five tips for happiness, in no particular order. They work for me, maybe they'll work for you. Everyone is different but I think we're all alike in wanting to find just a little bit of peace in a mostly crazy world.

1. Slow down. For some reason, society tells us that you can't be a happy, well rounded and above all successful person unless you are continually flat out. Well pfft to that! There's absolutely nothing wrong with smelling the roses and there's no law that says you have to fill every waking moment with activity. Quietness and solitude are pretty cool too.

2. Sleep more. Easier said than done, especially if you have little kids and I do. But, you know, going to bed at a decent hour just makes you feel better the next day. Give it a whirl.

3. Grow something. Doesn't matter if it's a full scale vegie patch, a couple of herbs in a pot, a crystal garden or even some magic sea monkeys. (Remember those?!) Just help something grow. It's a fabulous feeling.

4. Be grateful. If something really cool happens in my life, I'm grateful. If something really crappy happens in my life, I try to find a way to be grateful that it wasn't worse. (Of course, that doesn't always work - but hey, no ones perfect)  Appreciating the little things and being genuinely glad for what you have makes you feel pretty damned good.

5. Be kind. Being kind is hands down the easiest ways to make yourself happy. It's free, you have countless opportunities all day long to dip a toe in the water and for some weird reason - kindness is contagious.

These work for me. They're simple and straightforward with very limited sodding about. Sodding about isn't my copilot. I'm all for a simple life.

Jo x

Creativity and lunacy.

1 in 4 people are crazy, look at your three closest friends. If they're ok, it's you.

I'm talking specifically about creative types here. The beaders, the scrappers, the sculptors, the painters and designers - you know, the 'arty farty' types. Often given a bad rap for being temperamental, absent minded and perhaps just a wee bit loopy.

Maybe we are but who defines the levels of craziness going on in a creative persons house at any given point? I often hold conversations with my dog. A friend of mine often hold conversations with her beads. Who is certifiable here and who is the boss of crazy levels anyway?

I think being creative enables you to look at things from a slightly sideways perspective. Making something with your hands is therapeutic and it certainly has to be better than making rude gestures. Although I have known some creative types who could do both at the same time.

For me, the drive to create something isn't craziness, it's what STOPS me from going crazy. Creating can be outlet for joy, pain, anger - all those messy human emotions that for some reason keep cropping up in my day to day life.

 And also, I really like shiny things.

Jo x