Dinner with friends

When was the last time you got all the people who care about you, and all the people you care about, together in the same room? Was it your wedding day? A 21st? Or was the last time you saw those special people incidental, a fortunate coincidence, at a naming day or the funeral of a relative, or Friday nights drinks someone else pulled together?

How odd it is we choose to live our lives apart from our loved ones: our day-to-day committments can so easily keep us separated. Is what we do every day really so important that we feel justified putting our priority people second to the grind?

And yet, with a little bit of effort, and a whole lot of openess, it's easy enough to find an excuse to get people together. A birthday, moving house, a rainy Friday, a sunny Sunday, a festival.... anything! All we have to do is choose a date, name the place, and let people know. Looking across a table or around a room at people who make you feel good, who are 100% FOR you, and vice versa is a fantastic buzz. It makes you feel connected, part of something bigger, more significant, special.

And creating that vibe, gathering those friends together, feeling loved and connected in that way... well, it might even change your life.

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Pursuit of happiness - good books about happiness

Did you know that having a cheerful disposition is 40% genetic? So some people actually are born happier... but 60% is still a pretty big window of opportunity if you are looking for some tips or tricks to instantly increase the level of joy in your life.

The pursuit of happiness is not new and you are not the first person to be curious about happiness. Is it brain chemisty? Is it a learned behaviour? Can we influence our own feelings using our thoughts?

The exciting thing is some of the people who've really really really wanted to know the answers to these questions about happiness have written down what they have discovered. So there is no need to reinvent the wheel. If you're interested in finding out more about happiness or how to be happier take a look at these books:

• Sonja Lyubomirsky (2007) The How of Happiness
• Seligman, Martin (2002) Authentic Happiness
• Seligman, Martin (1990) Learned Optimism

Not interested in books and theories? Want to be instantly happier and not have to read a book to do it? You could try some of the very practical happiness exercises you can find at www.happier.com. You'll feel better at the end of each one.

Have fun and enjoy!

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Volunteering in Africa - Kiandu School

Some friends of mine are in Africa at the moment trying to help a local community by improving the situation for students and teachers at the local school. I admire their drive and committment. Of course, not everyone has the time, energy or money, to go to a new country and throw themselves into that kind of volunteer work. Others may even feel their enthusiasm is misguided and should be directed at activities closer to home. Whether you are interested in foreign aid or charity work in your home town, you may still find their story inspiring. Here's a link to the Kiandu School blog by Matt and Mel.

If you'd like to donate I am sure they would appreciate the help. They are currently building toilets, a library, putting desks into the staff room, and hope to put floors into the classrooms. For the town, clean water is also a big deal.

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I love colouring in! What do you love?

I've been trying to think outside the square of late about very simple things that give me joy.

I have always loved colour. I am very good with colour - mixing paints, picking thread etc. I was preparing for a short trip and buying supplies from the supermarket - while walking through the "party" aisle the children's books caught my eye. I decided to splash out - for a whole $2.93 I bought myself a sea creatures colouring-in book and 50c packet of textas. My inner child was very excited. I spent a large part of the next week, when I needed some happy, quiet time, colouring in piano-playing octopus, mermaids facing-off against sharks, and goofy Nemo-style fish with cheesy smiles. It gave me great joy... and I also found it a very easy way to switch off my super-busy mind.

I think it is easy as adults to get carried away with the mind and loose touch with our hearts. Is there something you love, some simple, "unproductive", even silly thing, that you never give yourself permission to do?

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