Happy Talk

Remember the musical movie, South Pacific? For some reason, the lyrics to Rodgers and Hammerstein's, “Happy Talk” has been whispering in the back of my mind for the past couple of weeks.

“Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk, Talk about things you'd like to do. You got to have a dream, If you don't have a dream. How you gonna have a dream come true?”

How do YOU find your “happy place”? What lifts YOUR mood? I looked across the internet and did some twitter queries…here’s what I came up with. Feel free to comment with some more of your own!

• Smell a flower. (That always brings a smile to my face.)
• My mom always told me if I was feeling sorry for myself, to go visit someone else – especially the elderly. It never took long to quit focusing on me.
• Yawn and stretch. Seen a dog when he/she wakes up?
• Get out and exercise. Talk a walk or a bike ride! Go to the gym and push your limits.
• Polish a mirror. Smile at yourself, stick out your tongue!
• Brush your teeth.
• When I was a little girl, I used to spin. Spin in circles in our big back yard til I fell laughing to the ground.
• Make yourself a cup of hot tea.
• Brush your hair. Brush someone else’s hair.
• Drink two glasses of water, add a wedge of lemon or lime to it. Many times sadness is really just dehydration.
• Read the Bible. If you aren’t a big Bible reader, just open to Psalms or Proverbs…there’s always something there to touch you.
• Eat something healthy and fresh. Your blood sugar might have taken a dip. Set out a bowl of fresh fruits or vegetables.
• De-clutter a part of your home or office that needs it. Clean out your junk drawer!
• Reminisce. Look through your old scrapbooks, personal journals, blog archives, collections of your own paintings, poems, songs, yearbooks.
• Take a bubble bath.
• Watch the birds at a feeder or a hummingbird flitting around blossoms.
• Make a date night with your significant other, or one of your children – quality one on one time.
• Make lists. Who doesn’t like to cross things off a to-do list?
• Say a prayer. Give your problems over to God, Jesus, or your Higher Power.
• Turn on music. Use classical and jazz to de-stress; or energize with something lively.
• Write down and archive what’s bothering you. It’s amazing what a release it is to keep a journal or your thoughts or poetry.
• Call your mom.
• Make the decision: “History or baggage.” History can be the life events that shape us - our education, children, marriages, careers; all those things that come together to season us, to give us character, form, substance. Baggage is the emotional weight that drag after us, slowing (or even stopping) us from moving forward. Baggage has everything to do with our self image or how we feel about ourselves and then, how we perceive the world as treating us. History is who we are and what we’ve become over this thing called Life. (History and Baggage bullet is paraphrased from a blog insert written by Anne Perry)

What shapes you? History...or baggage? Where’s your happy place? ...keep talkin' happy talk, ...You got to have a dream, If you don't have a dream. How you gonna have a dream come true?”

Have you seen the bumper snicker...I'm not having hot flashes, I'm experiencing POWER SURGES!?

So I’ve been reading up on hot flashes…or more specifically, the eradication of them…without the weight inducing factor of hormones. Ever nearing 50, I’m sure you can figure out WHY I’d be suddenly interested.

I am a great source of amusement to those I live and socialize with. In Tucson, we learn to dress in layers…you have to be prepared for blasts of air conditioning co-existing with temps in the 100’s. Even today, October 1, it was 80 at 8:00 a.m. I’m bringing the term, dressing layers, to a whole new level!

Recently, I spent a week in Green Bay, WI visiting my enchanting first grandchild, Calianna Cadence Malcore. It was cooler, so I had heavy sweaters, light sweaters, long sleeved shirts…and tank tops. Any given 2 hour period of time included various additions or subtractions of each. Blankets even…and then, spaghetti strap tops a few moments later. This is a 24 hour thing.

I’ve learned that foundation makeup is a waste of time, waterproof mascara is a must, and ponytails are good enough for fashion nowadays.

According to WEB MD and other fun sites, I have to ride out the initial rollercoaster, or experiment with acupuncture (uh, don’t think so) or prescription drugs. (Um, I really don’t think so)

I’ve done the dietary changes over the past 5 years…doing pretty good with whole wheat, fiber, higher protein and low carbs. Trying the herb Black Cohash too, despite posts that its really just a placebo. (Having positive attitude here) Exercise I’m increasing, although I hate the compounded sweat on top of hot flash sweat. Oh well, its 40 minutes three times a week, throwing in a walk or two as it cools. (Still 100 degree days happening here)

So here’s hoping that the ride levels out as I get more into it. I pity my husband who endures my tossing and turning and blanket flipping and pillow fluffing….night after night after night. I even have my own personal fan running on my side of the bed! And heaven forbid if he wants to “cuddle”. I have heard him describe me as “clammy”. Romantic huh!

I am counting my blessings that I am not experiencing the characteristic mood swings or depression…that’s gotta be good right???

So feel free to warn me if you catch any mood swings. I’m trying to stay positive. Just keep out of the way of my tossed blankets, sweaters, socks and shoes….