Friday has come and gone.  Friday is the day that as part of the Happy Book mail around I recognize the things that make me happy each week.  Since joining this group I try to do this each day and it has made a huge difference in how I think.  I have always appreciated the small things but now I really notice what makes me happy and try to incorporate those things  into my life as much as possible.  This week I feel really good about a challenge I took on several months ago.  My husband really enjoys playing cards especially bridge.  I can take or leave playing cards but I thought this might be a way to share a hobby, meet new people, and learn something new in the process.  So last September I took some lessons and began playing.  Some of the people play several times a week. Some of them have played for over thirty or forty years.  And for many of these people playing bridge is a very serious pasttime.  At first I wanted to give up the game because I certainly wasn't on their level and knew I probably never would be but I decided not to give up.  I met several other people who were also learning and we decided to try to meet once a week to play and to encourage each other.  Now we not only play cards but have become friends.  This week I again played with people who take their cards seriously.  And guess what  - I did better than OK. So I am very happy that I learned something new, made new friends and most of all didn't give up.  Playing cards is not that important but the lessons I learned over the past nine months are invaluable.  What made you happy this week? What lessons have you learned?

It is Wednesday and time to answer Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday prompt, "How do you wish to nourish yourself?"  When I read the word nourish I immediately thought of food and in this area I wish to nourish my body with whole food.  I want to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and all things healthy.  But there are many other ways I need to nourish myself.  Lately, sleep has been evasive and so I wish to get back to getting enough sleep so that when I wake up in the morning I feel refreshed.  I also wish to nourish myself creatively. I want to paint and write and to use my camera more.  I wish to recreate my schedule so I have more time for me to think, to wander and to create.  I want to nourish myself by surrounding myself with simple things that make me happy. This summer I have been very busy and now I want to take a deep breath and slow down. I believe that if I slow down and think about what I need to do for me all of the things I wish for could and would naturally fall into place.   

It is Wednesday and time for Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday prompt.  Today Jamie asked, "What do you wish to envision?"  Last week Jamie asked, "What do you wish to focus on?"  which was very helpful.  It made think about one thing that was important to me now.  This week's prompt encourages me to think about the whole picture and the life that I envision for myself.  I envision a life that is in balance.  A life that is filled with learning and challenges as well as time to think and reflect. A life filled with special moments that are shared with family and friends as well as quiet time alone. A life where eating healthy food and exercising is natural and taken for granted.  A life where important things are given the time they are due and silly worries are banished forever. I envision a life where wishes are made and dreams come true.  That is what I envision on this very early Wednesday morning in July. What do you envision?

It is Friday and once again time to reflect upon the things that made me smile or feel good this week. Spending time with my grandchildren always tops my list.  Playing with them, learning with them, and enjoying life as they do is a perfect way to spend a day.

I am also very happy that I wrote something everyday this week. Focusing on my writing, thinking about it, planning the time, and then actually sitting down and writing has been very fulfilling. When I write I lose all sense of time and find myself in another world - the world inhabited by the characters I am creating. Writing is something I really love to do and I am so glad that I am making it a special part of each day.   

I just noticed that my last three posts have been all about my writing.  This also makes me happy because it shows me that writing now holds an important place in my life.  It is no longer something I am just thinking about but something that I am actually doing.  Yeah!!!!

It's Wednesday and time for Jamie's prompt of the week.  This week Jamie asks, "What do you wish to focus on?"  I realize that to get good at something you have to give it your undivided attention and lots of attention at that.  When I lost all of my weight I was totally focused on it.  When I was opening a new school it got all of my attention.  When I retired I began trying lots of new things, taking classes, and just trying to reinvent myself.  It was a good thing to do and at that time I really didn't want to focus on any one thing.  I just wanted to take some time to just be.  Now, four years later I realize that it is time to focus on something again. At this point in time, I would like to focus on my writing.  I've started a story which may turn into a book and I feel compelled to finish it and see where it goes.  I have always loved to write and so now is the time to write. It is time to give my writing the attention and focus it deserves. 

It is Friday and time to reflect on what made me happy this week.  As part of Jamie Ridler's Happy Book Club, each Friday I reflect upon and share the things that have made me smile, or laugh, or just feel good each week.  This week I have had many special moments but the one I would like to share is that I am forming a writer's group with a few people that I met in a writer's class last winter.  I have been trying to find a group that I was right for or that was right for me since I retired but there really was not a writer's group in my area.  I have taken several writing classes and last winter I met several women that I seemed to share a bond with.  We began meeting after class for lunch and when our class finished for the summer we decided to meet weekly anyway to share what we are working on.  We found a great room at a local coffee shop and so have begun to meet.  We would love for our group to grow so we are putting out the word that we exist and already have two new members.  It is really exciting to see something you had hoped for become a reality.  It didn't happen overnight but I am more convinced than ever that as long as we can think and dream we can eventually create and experience whatever we put our hearts and minds to. 

It is Wednesday and today Jamie Ridler is asking, "What do you wish for your relationships?"  I have been fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by a strong family and good friends.  My wish today is that as we each travel on our individual journey through life that we make the effort to stay close and to share and support each other through all that life has to offer.  My wish is that as we continue to share a moment, hour, day or more that we fill the time we have together with smiles, laughter, hugs and love.  That is my wish today.