What Makes Me Happy Right Now

It's really easy to be suckered into negative thoughts when we're surrounded by stressful media, unhappy people and whining Facebook status updates. My guru, Swami Vishnudevananda says that for every negative thought you have, replace it with 2-3 positive ones. I love this concept and practice it regularly. I usually find the most effective way of climbing out of a negative attitude is to think about something that I'm grateful for. Feelings of gratitude really lift you up. In honor of this concept, I'm starting a post with this same theme and will blog it regularly. I'll list a few things that make me happy, lift me up and keep me smiling! Let's face it, world peace is something that will never happen. However, I can create my own little world of peace and happiness in my mind through my thoughts! Please give it a try as well and share how it affects you.

Right now I am so happy and grateful for:

1. The comforting mug of kukicha tea that is perched right between my typing hands. It's flavorful steam is flowing right up my nose and soothing my belly with every sip. YUM!

2. Gotye. His new album inspired me to pull all of his stuff from my iTunes onto one big playlist that loops alllll day long. Love him. My ears love the sounds he makes. Such great spring music.

3. My boyfriend's thoughtfulness. After 24 hours of traveling home from Bangkok (with no sleep in 48 hours), my beau greeted me with a bag full of treats I like (kombucha, coconut water, a vegan brownie, Lara bars and a pretty orange flower), and covered my apartment in beautiful rose petals. He pampers me in every which way! He's my dream come true.

4. This inspiring thought:

Feed your creativity: Expose yourself to more beauty, more art, more excellence.

5. Moments and conversations with my family members. After my long trip in Thailand with my cousin we flew to Paradise Island, Bahamas for a HUGE family vacation for my Uncle's 60th birthday. I realized how precious it is to spend time talking and getting to know each and every family member. They're all filled with different stories, quirky characteristics and inspiring lives. (This is only a small group of some of us in the Bahamas!) BTW, we're all a little crazy which makes us even better as a family!