What Makes Me Happy Right Now - Healthy granola, Stan & cool co-workers.

Many ladies experience a rough time each month. It's not fun. I'm trying to stay positive right now and focus on the good around me so that hopefully my gratitude will crowd out the cramps and uncomfortableness I'm experiencing at this time of my month (trying to be as vague as possible here-HA!). Enjoy-

Right now I am so happy and grateful for:

1. The lovely half of a grapefruit in front of me that I've topped with granola. When I haven't had a moment to bake my own granola, I grab my former classmate's granola, Purely Elizabeth. She makes wholesome granola with just a few ingredients, little sugar and lots of love. You can find her products at most health food stores, please give them a try. I've got my grapefruit spoon in hand and am cutting in as soon as I'm done typing this post!

2. Stanley's eyes. Even just the thought of Stan's sweet puppy dog eyes looking up at me gives me butterflies. Although he is turning 11 this August, he still has those same sweet baby eyes that I fell in love with all those years ago. He's my love. (Brag moment: that baby picture of him got him published in the newspaper quite a few times!)

3. Snatam Kaur. Sometimes the music we listen to throughout our day can help amp us up, let us lose or calm us down. When I am having too hectic of a day I love listening to Snatam Kaur (pronounced sun-a-tum core). She's got the most angelic voice and chanting along with her always puts me in a blissful place.

4. This inspiring thought:

True generosity doesn't leave you with less; it leaves you with more.

5. Awesome co-workers. For those of you who don't know, I'm a wellness director for

a large corporate wellness program for Amscan, Inc. in Westchester, NY. The "wellness department" includes me and my lovely wellness coordinator, Jamilia. Let me just say, she is the best darn thing that's ever happened to me and this wellness program! The two of us are so passionate about what we do and work SO well together. Best part about us, we LAUGH so often together. I can only hope that I give her the love, strength and compassion that she gives to me on the regular. Jamilia is currently going to school at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (where I went!) and is in the process of building her own health coaching business, Unique Health with Jamilia (link coming soon!). I couldn't be more happy for her. I thank my shining stars each day that I have her as my hardworking partner in wellness! (Even though she looks super cool in this picture, she doesn't usually wear shades inside, especially at the office. She had just got back from the eye doctor that day-HA!)


Back in March of 2012 I decided to do these posts because 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.