Recipe for a happy life

Before I spend one more minute on the I Hate Summer Campaign (I am the campaign manager after all) I woke up this morning and had different thought:

What if I spent less time on bitching and more time on how to fix the damn problem?

Hmmm, sometimes we actually have to be smarter than politicians in order to get things done. Reason # 879 I won't ever be in politics.

Well, the summer drama of yesterday that plays out every year is over, and today I pick myself up, put on a little make up, and move forward. It always feels good to let it go. Every. Single. Year. Maybe that is her gift to me. Maybe it could come earlier next year?

So, I'm not sleeping again, but seriously having great thoughts in the middle of the night. Writing thoughts. Cooking thoughts. How can I lose this f@#$*%! weight thoughts, when it dawns on me. I need a recipe for life! I know, I know, it sounds cliche and maybe like a song, but what if we figured out everything (EVERYTHING) we loved and needed in our lives to be happy, and simply went by the recipe every day? Maybe there are somethings we only need once a week or month, and we knew to include those things as well.

Not everyone will have the same recipe, in fact that would be just weird. The beauty of this is you have to make up your own recipe and tweak it till it's perfect. The perfect recipe won't happen over night either, and given the Seasons and our work schedules, it might need a seasonal adjustment now and again. The trick will be noticing when and why it's not working at times.

I will go first and put it out there, and hopefully, you can start yours after you read this. For instance, right now in my life I am seriously lacking any free time at all. You could sum up my mood on any given day as resentful. I know, not pretty, but I am so tired of work and parenting (yes, I said it) and as I write this, Blake keeps interrupting. It's hard to go through summer on a budget without much left for fun stuff or vacations. Wah-wah, I know, most of us are in the same boat. That's why I'm doing this.

My first ingredient? Sleep. If I don't get it, I'm a crabby mess, or a hot mess these days. Either way, not pretty. I must get sleep so I can get up before Blake and actually remember what it's like to sit by myself for a moment with a cup of coffee.

My second ingredient? Equal parts reading and writing. I simply shouldn't even try to get through a day without them. It's silly to try, really.

Third? Cooking. Real recipes using real food... simple as that. I don't know if I can do this every day, but at least 5 out of 7 should include some culinary chances. I'm tired of tacos, eggs and pizza. In fact, if I see a Little Ceasars pizza anytime soon, I may throw it across the back yard like a frisbee.

Fourth? Walking 3-4 times a week. I've already talked about the benefits of this lovely one. However, in this heat, I'm "tweaking" the recipe this week.

Right now, that's it. If I can get these things done I'm going to be happier. It really isn't rocket science, and I'm tired of making it so. As for losing this weight? I don't have that answer... if you have one for me send it along!

Now go figure out what you need in your day, and have a great one at that!