There are a few things I do each day, to keep myself happy, but none of them have the same impact, as the way that I think. Those thoughts that enter my head. There are so many, it's the ones I grab hold of, that I allow to expand, they are the ones that enable my happiness. Because everything comes down, to the way in which we think.

Of course it's not always easy to just go with your positive thoughts, but in a way, it is actually that easy. How we get to choose , the way in which we see things, because it is a choice. I could wake up tired, which I have, the last couple of days. I could chose, to drag my feeling sorry for myself ass out of bed, or I could take a deep breath and tell myself, that I have had enough sleep. Which then changes my mindset for the whole day.
Every morning I wake up and go outside barefoot. Earthing myself, that connect each morning, has a profound effect on me. It's my most important daily ritual. To step down from my truck, take a deep breath, take in my surroundings, take in the day that awaits me.
I recently, started bouncing every morning. I'm a big fan of Barbara O Neil, she has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to health and natural remedies. One way to keep our bodies healthy, is to jump/bounce in the morning. As your feet leave the ground, or in my case, the trampoline, all the receptors in your body open up. This is a wonderful opportunity to release whenever you are holding onto, physically and mentally.. It's also a lot of fun.

(You can't tell from this picture, but I am in fact sitting on the trampoline, that I jump on each morning.)
You can't help, but smile, when you are jumping, well I can't anyway. I try to jump at least 100 times, getting just a little higher each time. Jumping up, increasing my view, of the mountains that surround me. It also makes me feel like a kid again, which is a wonderful way to start your day. All playful.
I also get a a little dance in each day. Anything from 5 minutes, to a few hours if I am lucky. Dancing is perhaps what makes me the happiest ( besides those magical moments I have with my kids). It's when I feel most alive, most connected to this life of mine and all the things that are important to me. Life becomes so simple, when I dance. I do love to dance my way through life. When I dance, I surrender. And surrendering in life, is necessary, if you want to enjoy it.
And yet, sometimes, it's easier said then done. Life is full of challenges, especially when you want to test the waters. But we need to be challenged if we wish to thrive. Simple living, it's more work, but it's the sort of work that keeps you connected to life. If that makes sense.
I feel connected , when I am sourcing the resources I need. Growing my own food, collecting my water, foraging, recycling, creating. Living with very thin walls between me and nature. These are the things that make me happy. So when I am taken by sadness, I only need to look around, to take in how I live. And I am pretty happy with how I live. With who I am. I only have this one life, so I choose to make the most of it.
( The photos used in this post are mine.)

