It gets better :)

3 years ago around this time, life was different, scary, unfair, and so not cool.  After college graduation, I was looking forward to a nice stable life in the suburbs with mom and dad, then my mid twenties hit.    I was working at a job that I once loved but at that point despised going to everyday. I saw friends going on to be doctors, lawyers, and corporate cats while I still had no clue what I wanted to do when I grew up.  Loved ones were getting married or moving to big cities far far away and sometimes BOTH! That feeling of not knowing what the future holds, was getting really annoying, so I CHOSE to just be HAPPY :)  and it worked!

I've done a lot in the last 3 years that the person I am today is not even a fraction of the girl who dreaded turning 25 then, and that's a good thing.  Now at a proud 27, I am living my dreams and my life the best way I know how. When anyone tells me they are going through a quarter life crisis, a break up, a bad grade, a sucky job, or just feeling so blah, I tell them that it does gets better but it's their choice to make it happen (advice I now pass on from dear friends that were so helpful!). 

And though I am no expert on this topic, I have compiled a list of HappyActions that I strive to work for on the daily and some that I will add to my repitore of things that make my happy: 

1.  Set realistic and reachable goals on a monthly basis.  Sometimes I write a to do list and then forget about it 5 mins later.  But lately, I'll write goals (instead of dreaded tasks) that I am motivated to accomplish in a months time.  For example:

2.  Meet new people.  When in a rut it's nice to meet new people who know nothing about you and then you have the freedom to just be you.  On top of it all, people out there have some really interesting stories that just inspire you to make you own.

At one point these were all new people, but now I share some of my most fondest memories with them.
 Circa 2006 AB Peru :)  

3. Work out.  I go through a lot of phases with working out.  Back in California I had the best roommate who would wake up early and go to the gym and again after a long day of work or school. She was so fit, healthy, beautiful and so very happy! It was great to have that motivational buddy to accompany me and I always felt good after that yoga class.  Now I love working out by myself, my current obsession is spin!  It's great to let it all out. A nice run down the hill Phoebe style is always a good alternative when you're short on time :)

4. Call/Write/Video Chat/Make a powerpoint presentation for a friend(s).  Talking on the phone is always hard.  I know with most of my loved ones on the west coast or somewhere in eastern europe (shout out to NM!) the time difference gets in the way (see time management post coming in the near...ehh sometime soon future:) ) However, when I do make the time to do any of these things, it makes me happy as well as my fellow peeps.  Also, when receiving a call, letter or powerpoint (thanks Rox!) I feel loved and want to return the love beams right back.

5. Be you. This is easier said than done. Taking sometime to figure out what you want, like, dislike or whatever it maybe, is time well spent.  As awkward as I can be, I don't care, it makes for good laughs and then my friends quote me and post it on fb or my fridge :)

6.  Go outside. When living on the beach (go ahead be jealous..I'll wait) I used to love walking to work. The backdrop of the sky, water and sand was always amazing and just made me feel like the luckiest person alive to have this as my back yard.  There are so many beautiful places to explore by diving, hiking, or just laying out.  This world is beautiful you should go see it.

7. Shower.  Nothing like a good ol' shower to make you feel better, soap is optional and we don't need a picture here :)

8. Dance.  This is a no brainer.  I'll dance almost anywhere. With good music and good energy dancing makes everyone happy!

9. Be adventurous.   Just tell your mom that you jumped out of a plane once your feet has already been planted on the ground.  I am a sensory seeking child (see OT textbook)  I love my vertical vestibular inputs :)  Jumping off planes and bridges was my therapy but others may make their adventures another way.  Some might want to go on a spontaneous getaway others might want to eat that alligator taco.  Whatever it is, make it fun and just do it NOW!

10. Travel.  As mentioned earlier the world is beautiful.  So much to see and do!!!!  Go with friends, go alone just GO!  A few years ago at 23,  I was at a 30th birthday party,  and asked some of the party goers what is the one thing they wished they did in their 20s, ALL of them said to TRAVEL MORE!  So listen to your future self and go climb Machu Picchu, ski on the Swiss Alps or pose like Tomb Raider in front of Angkor Wat!

*11. Take a picture or write what made you HAPPY. This is what I need to do more.  I love my camera, but its been on hiatus for a while.  I am going to start capturing the everyday pleasures that make me happy (challenge accepted!) February is around the corner and it's a short month so I can commit to this!!!

What are your HappyActions? What will you do so that you feel like you are on top of world smiling from ear to ear??

Here is my pal Ellen DeGeneres discussing what makes people happy with director Tom Shadyac of the documentary "HAPPY :) ".  Guess what she likes to do??? (other than hang out with me of course)

**12. WATCH "HAPPY :)" it's on Netflix!

What do your eyebrows say about you?

In prep for the new year most girls got all dolled up to celebrate the night in style.  But before the hair and make up one must do some serious prep before hand (I'm talking to you, my fellow brown ladies!).  EYEBROWS!  I confess that I have no clue on how to manage my own eyebrows.  Since the age of 14 or so, I was proud to have my brows plucked, waxed, threaded and trimmed for me.  Sometimes too thin, sometimes not enough, but most of the time the end result made me very happy.  A few weeks ago, I was busy with my internship ending, packing, and traveling all over the place, that I let go a little bit, ok ok maybe A LOT.  Each day when I looked in the mirror in the morning, I told myself I would go and get this deed done, but something always came up.  As the days past I also became more moody and spent less time trying to look decent when I walked out the door.  As a girls weekend approached with my college gals, I still hadn't cleaned up the brow and I was fully embarrassed.  Luckily, the girls wanted to get pampered and I FINALLY got my eyebrows done!   The second I looked back at my reflection with my beautifully shaped eyebrow I was one HAPPY girl. My friend even said that she can see a difference in my face and my smile.  My mood had suddenly lifted, and everything seemed right again in the world.  When getting ready for the night my make up went on better and my eyes looked brighter.  I vowed to never go more than 2 weeks again before tending to the upper part of my face, never ever again.  It's crazy how something so small, made me feel good and whole again.  It's true when author Paulo Coelho  said that "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary"  

In this case my eyebrows truly say that I am HAPPY, confident and ready! 

Oprah, also had the same idea (we're pretty much twins :) )


 So, what do your eyebrows say about you???


 HAPPY NEW YEAR from my brow and me :)

Preview from my Eastern European Vacay!