Intentional Happiness
by Kym on July 8, 2010
I found a link today on Jane’s blog, to Momalom. I’d visited Momalom before (and I confess to being instantly smitten by their genuineness), but today, specifically, I’m smitten by the concept of intentional happiness, and I’ve quoted this fabulous concept (see below) because I need it so, so desperately right now. My hopes for myself are out-pacing my poor chubby body’s ability to keep up and it’s so discouraging that I was in tears over it the other day. Definitely time to slow down and find me some happy.
“!!! = Intentional Happiness
Sometimes happiness comes on its own
Other times you have to make it ahead of time
And take it with you
Because the everyday can be mundane
and overwhelming
and repetitive
Or
it can be…”
Asking the kids to make silly faces for the camera . . .
And silly face plus silly glasses PLUS funky dress up hat? !!!
And while we don't have roses to stop and smell, there are (briefly) lilacs right outside our front door . . .
What I should have taken a picture of was the huge grin on her face when I said yes, of course we could take a picture of her snail before it got wrecked. Happiness in simple things. I could learn a lot from her.
And for my hermit-like self, getting out of the house. Grass and wind and pink cheeked baby. Ah the sweetness of intentional happiness. !!!
And now I’m going to grab my camera and tackle the weekend with my mind happily dancing, full of !!! How and where do you find your !!! ?
22 comments
This is fantastic. So, so fantastic. I can just feel the smile radiating off of you. Feeling a sense of calm mixed with joy. What I think I love most of all is that your daughter totally gets the idea, as kids do (because so much of their world is momentary). That snail is a giant source of !!! The picture and exactly what it represents.
Sao happy happy that you’ve joined us!
!!!
by Sarah on July 8, 2010 at 12:15 pm. #
What a lovely concept. And what sweet, lovely, fun and !!! pictures!
by LisAway on July 8, 2010 at 1:22 pm. #
Love, love, love this.
I find !!! by being really silly with my kids – marching around in weird positions or making silly faces or having tickle wars.
by That Girl on July 8, 2010 at 2:49 pm. #
This is fabulously sweet. I’m going to keep my eyes open around here — I thought it had been a very un-exclamation point kind of day, but I could be wrong :)
by Amanda on July 8, 2010 at 4:52 pm. #
Oh! I love Sarah and Jen at Momalom!
Your kids are so cute! I love their silly faces!
I have so many !!! moments this week. Like !!! exercise, !!! temple night, and !!! pushing my kiddos in a cute wagon.
by Amber on July 8, 2010 at 8:18 pm. #
I needed a reminder of all the !!! in my life. Thank you :)
by Brownpaperbaggirl on July 8, 2010 at 8:44 pm. #
I love the whole idea of intentional happiness. And that baby, oh sweet.
And you still have lilacs? Sob.
by The Damsel in Dis Dress on July 8, 2010 at 9:52 pm. #
Awww! What sweet photos, and I’m glad that they bring you happiness. That is my goal this weekend, especially seeing as my dreaded 27th birthday is on Monday – - I am going to find intentional happiness. Thanks, Kim!
Kenzie
by Anonymous on July 9, 2010 at 8:35 am. #
Those are adorable pics. I don’t even know your kids and they make me grin. Have a great weekend. :)
by Michelle Teacress on July 9, 2010 at 9:16 am. #
My intentional happiness . . . I’m overcoming my laziness and distaste of crowds and taking my kids out to some city celebrations this week. So far, so good . . .
by Annette on July 9, 2010 at 10:28 am. #
Those glasses are awesome! Very, very !!!
Popping over from Momalom.
by Allison @ Alli 'n Son on July 9, 2010 at 11:26 am. #
I like your !!!.
I find my !!! in the faces of my kids when they are happy, in the quiet of the evening with a book, and in the laughs I share with my husband when we talk over our day.
by Marilyn on July 9, 2010 at 3:06 pm. #
I don’t spend, really, but I love shopping. Furniture, clothes, art, etc. Hanging out with my family watching TV and laughing. I get my !!! there too!
by Kazzy on July 9, 2010 at 5:02 pm. #
Great post, Kim. I’m trying harder to tie my happiness to things/moments I create instead of making it dependent on things I get done. That’s tricky for me.
by Stephanie on July 9, 2010 at 6:25 pm. #
I need to do better at creating !!! Very, very cute pics. :)
by Petra on July 10, 2010 at 11:37 am. #
fabulous.
and I had some !!! today when I got up early like I prefer to , and then for some strange reason that wasn’t intentional got to have a nap all alone in the house this afternoon.
You can be a little jealous :)
by deb@talk at the table on July 10, 2010 at 12:28 pm. #
I love your take on !!! So glad you’re participating. And that last pic of the sleeping babe? So precious! I can almost smell the sweetness!
by Jane on July 11, 2010 at 8:54 am. #
We had a festival with buckets of intentional happiness last weekend in Provo. A family wedding that was a huge reason to rejoice.
Now that we’re back home, “real life” begins again (whine/sob/curse). And the intentional happiness is what it’s all about. Thanks for this!!
by Terresa Wellborn on July 12, 2010 at 1:27 pm. #
Intentional happiness – what a lovely concept!
My !!! is spending the afternoon at the park either playing t-ball, swimming in the stream or just watching them enjoy the outside. More !!! is pushing myself at the gym and feeling my body get stronger.
by An Ordinary Mom on July 13, 2010 at 12:19 pm. #
Intentional happiness – what a concept. Just this afternoon, I pulled out some bingo cards (Leap Frog brand) and some Reese’s Pieces, and told the boys we were going to play and each time they got a Bingo they could eat one of their Pieces. The smile on their faces was priceless. Plus they were doing adding and subtracting to get their answers on the bingo board. I felt happy that my kids were happy. It was a great day.
by Erin on July 14, 2010 at 4:49 pm. #
[...] out Momalom for more intentional [...]
by Intentional Happiness – Out of the Comfort Zone Edition – Temporary? Insanity on July 15, 2010 at 1:35 pm. #
@Sarah:
This is the first time I’ve seen someone else use our words with their photos. It choked me up. I love it! (Especially that shot of your daughter asleep on the blanket outside.)
by CK on July 16, 2010 at 9:36 am. #