Because I'm Happy

Actually, everyday!

There is a thin line between a good day and a bad day. I've heard simply getting out of the bed on the right / wrong side can influence someones mood. Dramatic. This year I really put my happy hat on and made a decision to wake up everyday and smile. I am so blessed after all! Not only that but it is good for my health... apparently. 

I am not the only one who has had this outlook on life. The 100 Happy Days craze blasted through the social media air waves and me and a sky-full of happy sunbeams are still strongly posting. In this modern society when choice is so vast, relationships are disposable and using social media as a soapbox to gain attention with selfies and empty depressing captions... what is the world coming to?

So lets try and be positive, keep it upbeat and be grateful! Of course I cannot speak for everyone. Some people really do have little black rain clouds above them and need someone to help them and I hope they do find their light.

I stumbled across this post last week (when I was having my miserable work week, boo!) and felt a little break in my temporary black cloud. So I thought I would share it with you beautiful souls, hope you like it. 

• Six simple rituals:

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up. Your body loses water while you sleep, so you’re naturally dehydrated in the morning. A glass of water when you wake helps start your day fresh. Getting those organs moving is a vital part of my day!
2. Define your top 3. Every morning ask yourself, “What are the top three most important tasks that I will complete today?” Prioritizes your day accordingly and don’t sleep until the Top 3 are complete. They don't have to be huge things! start out with little things and build them up as you go along. The feeling of completion is part of you rounding off your day so don't make "Buy that new BMW" or "drop 20kgs" as your first days task, you'll disappoint yourself and feel crappy.  
3. The 50/10 Rule. Solo-task go faster by working in 50/10 increments. Use a timer to work for 50 minutes on only one important task with 10 minute breaks in between. Spend your 10 minutes getting away from your desk, going outside, calling friends, meditating, or grabbing a glass of water. I find this very constructive!
4. Move and sweat daily. Regular movement keeps us healthy and alert. It boosts energy and mood, and relieves stress. I found with last weeks horrid work days, going to the gym really helped me both unwind and let off a lot of steam! If you struggle to join a gym or run on the road, just playing with your dog or even doing 50 star jumps can help!
5. Express gratitude. Gratitude fosters happiness. Each morning, think of at least five things you’re thankful for. In times of stress, pause and reflect on these things. I cannot tell you how this point makes you feel... 
6. Reflect daily. Bring closure to your day through 10 minutes of reflection. Asks yourself, “What went well?” and “What needs improvement?”

- (via yumegrrrrrl on Tumblr) Tweaked by Coco.

Hope you have a bright day tomorrow. I know it is not always possible to have a good day everyday, but we can at least try right? 

xoxo

PS. I just want to spend the rest of my life laughing... 

When in doubt, just remember it really could be worse,
you are after all really lovely!

Leave a Comment 100 Happy Days, gym, happiness, happy, positive, self improvement, six simple rituals

Weekend Learning's

How I feel at the gym, *pounce!

When you get to my age, things start to change a little. Things effect you. No I am not as old as the hills! But I can say that I can see a difference in the little things. The way my body heals, the way my body doesn’t agree with certain things and the way my body thanks me when I am good to it. The first time I started noticing this was when I started drinking smoothies and going for facials a year ago. I am not the pamper type. I like a mani pedi now and then as you know but I’m not into massages and personal overindulgence. Waste of money and time if you ask me. But my face is a little different. I can see my skin thanking me with every visit. Why am I blabbing on about this? I joined the gym. Can you believe!? My dear little sister reminded my that the big three-zero is around the corner and I suddenly thought about my face and then I thought about my ass and I thought it was time to move my running shoes from the streets to the treadmill and get hopping! My body (since last week) has both thanked me, and cursed me. I am writing this post with a little bit of a sore bottom, a few tight muscles and a couple of achey joints. But all in all this body of mine is saying “can we go to gym please mum”!? So from this sore seat, this is what I learned;

• If my sister says I can do it, I believe I can!
• Sometimes work is not as lovely as I think it always is. Sometimes I have a terrible, revolting week and all I want to do is run and hide under my covers and scream profanities at the people in charge (from under the duvet of course, I’m a lady not a monster!). This is a good thing! Not everything can be perfect you know, I can’t always be the winner, *wink! It makes you appreciate the good times.
• “They call it homesick, they say it will fade, they promise and I listen. They call it homesick, but how can I be sick for a home I’ve never known?” - Tyler Knott Gregson. I actually know exactly what he’s talking about. Meep. 
• I really loved the Neon Run. Did you do it too? I live in the area so my fit (in both the athletic and attractive meanings of the word… tee hee!) boyfriend and I walked to get our tickets, then walked to meet our team, then did the run, then we partied a little, then we went to eat. Two points; by the end of the day we’d done about fourteen kilometres… another reason I’m a little ouch today. Second point, the little sober party we had was pretty awesome in my trainers and my sports bra. Really a lot more comfortable than stilettos and a pushup! Maybe I am actually as old as the hills…
• “Awake, my dear. Be kind to your sleeping heart. Take it out into the vast fields of Light, And let it breathe.” - Hafiz
• Gym, it makes me sleepy, isn’t it meant to give you energy? Anyway. With my grim spouts of insomnia, this really excites me. Could this be the end of my sleepless nights? A girl can dream right? Get it? 
• “The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand.” - Rumi
• Another thing that has popped up in my (old) age is my desire to be healthy. I find myself lusting for anything that will nourish me. This is another reason for the gym I am sure… so weather it be sleep, spinach, smoothies or sprints I want it in my life! 
• This also works in the opposite way, if it is bad for me, I feel really terrible putting it into my body. Am I taking one step forward and two steps backward by eating this chocolate? Will I feel terrible tomorrow if I drink that shooter? Is it hurting me if I order chips instead of a salad? That saying “my body is a temple” is really becoming a serious thing for me… and I am a million times happier for it!
• Another good thing I am lusting over – dates! Yum! I read somewhere eating one a day was a good idea and they’re in season now in Johannesburg so I bought some. I am now obsessed. I pack them in my smoothies, and eat them instead of chocolate. My new best friends! And the benefits are ridiculous, talk about miracle fruits! Read {here} for some date benefits.
• I can truly say that I love and adore my boyfriend from the bottom of my heart to the tips of his toes. I’ve learnt a lot over the years of broken hearts and a multitude of bad choices in both exboyfriends and destructive friendships. It is actually just about respect for one another. We’re building a relationship that is both cherished and supported by love and a common understanding of each others needs and the steps we are both at in our lives. I am both grateful and humbled that he not only understands me (which is a juggling act on its own) but he also supports and fulfils every dream, wish and hope in my wild and bursting heart. Blessed.

Have a sweet and juicy week my little plums!

Xoxo

PS. All of me, loves all of you…

Leave a Comment boyfriend, Dates, fitness, Hafiz, happy, love, Neon run, Planet Platinum, quotes, Rumi, Tyler Knott Gregson, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Coco, on top of the world.

Gosh! But it is cold outside! Autumn is being pretty mean. Or perhaps we skipped Autumn and jumped straight into bed with Winter? I believe this is true! So this is what cold Coco learned this weekend;

• After a whole week of no parents at home, I welcome them back with open arms. Actually I always welcome them back even after one day, I love my family and hate us being apart for too long.
• On that note the one okay thing about a house of no parents is I get to have little sister all to myself… and I kind of love that, like a lot.
• A real woman can do it by herself, but a real man wont let her.
• What is one of the nicest things about living in Johannesburg? No matter what the season you can always sit on the grass in the middle of the day in the sun and enjoy the weather, even in Autumn and Winter… unless it is hailing, then you should go inside.
• “Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do.” – Irma Kurtz
• I really love going to events where I am a little younger than the rest of the crowd (this is quite rare I will have you know!) It is also nice when I don’t know that many people. It makes for an interesting affair.
• “Trendy is the last stage before tacky.” – Karl Lagerfeld.
• Sitting in James and Ethel Grey park on a Sunday – it is lovely. You know how Coco loooooves dogs? (If you don’t then this must be your first post, hello, welcome!) well the park is full to the brim with funny wet nosey four legged , sniffing, curious, cute and ridiculous pups! It is bliss! You should come… sit in the sun.
• “Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” – Epicurus. This I can believe. As I grow I find a lot more joy in moments and humans than I do in things.
• I took a little visit to my dear old Gran on Sunday too. My Granny is one of the rare and glowing people in my life. I hate that nature is taking her body. But her mind, she is a million times smarter than me, I only hope one day I will grow up to be as wise as her.
• All relationships have one law, never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you’re there.
• I did not sleep at all on Sunday night. No matter how much design work I put out into the universe, each beautiful piece, to me, is like a child. Letting them out into the world is not only frightening, but with the additional brutal front of Social Media one has to face… it is mortifying. Having to monitor peoples responses, not only makes you and your design child feel naked, raw and awkward, but truly at the end of Monday I was so overwhelmed I was in tears, sick to my stomach and felt like I’d been mentally stoned all day. Even though there was a lot more positive than negative, the one-year build up and tension threw me. Don’t ever say being a Designer is easy! Anyway, so my logo is up on the walls for all to see, and I think I am pretty proud of me and the JSE.
• Humble enough to know I’m not better than anybody and wise enough to know that I’m different from the rest.
• So my lovely readers… I am considering making a smoothie section on my blog, I’d like to know your views, would you be interested in this or not? Let me know {here}.

Keep warm my tiny stalagmites!

Xoxo

PS. You grabbed me in your sleep one morning and whispered ‘mine’ in my ear. And I kept that memory on my windowsill, and feed it music, water and light.

I love her when she drinks her morning coffee,
and drinks me. And I love her more when she assures me
that she’ll take over the world, and take over me. - Nizar-qabbani

Leave a Comment Autumn, design, dog, Epicurus, family, Gran, happy, Irma Kurtz, James and Ethel Grey Park, JSE, nizar-qabbani, quotes, sister, smoothie, weekend

2014 Resolutions

Love, may this year be saturated in it. 

Happy New Year! 

I know we have not spoken in quite some time but I needed some time off. With the general stress I was exuding towards the end of last year, a happy-go-lucky blog post was at the bottom of my To Do lists. Looking back on 2013 there was a lot of growth. There were some challenges and lots of successes at work, I moved out of my home and began living alone in my gorgeous little cottage, I travelled the globe, my garden of friendships and relationships blossomed but most importantly I almost lost two of my family members. What a wakeup call. I know I have changed and grown yet again and I am grateful for the people around me who love and support me.

So it is a new year, a good year, a bright year. I have so much to look forward to. There are 5 little things I want to try remember this year. Why 5 you ask? There are always 5, it is my number! They are pretty small but they root from big things I learnt in 2013. They also might seem frivolous to some as there is no 'stake-in-the-ground' resolution like I want to quit smoking or try eat more greens, this is because I've come to the realization that those resolutions are all complete. I want to better myself as a human this year. I want to deepen my understanding and grow from the inside out. 

2014 Resolutions, here they are; 

With all you do, try do it with love.
I still strongly believe in Karma.

Less clutter, a full heart, stay in the moment.
You do not know when it or they will be taken from you.

In all you do, and in work.
No one ever won something for being mediocre.

You get out what you put in right?
My body is a temple.

Last but most important, smile.

Have a fantastic 2014 darlings, I hope you feel inspired!

xoxo

PS. "If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that."

Leave a Comment 2014, happy, inspiration, resolutions