the simple things...

I'm sitting here in my local Borders Cafe, sipping Ginger Peach tea. Kent stopped by for a sec and I just finished my bagel and a little assignment research for the magazine. I was just about to shut down my laptop and head home when I thought about what a pleasant morning it had been and about how happy I am.

Yeah! I'm happy!

I'm a firm believer that happiness isn't a momentary jolt of delight. Real happiness is a state of being in satisfaction with my life...with the little things and moments of my life. So I decided to make a list of the little things I'm happy about right now.

1. The spirit of Umoja, which means Unity in Swahili. Kent and I went to see this magical show, a celebration of South African dance and music, on Sunday. If it comes to a city near you...SEE IT!
2. My Big Picture students. The response to my class has been overwhelming! I didn't realize I possessed the heart of a teacher until this class. And all this time I thought I was a designer.  Go figure!
3. The color green. My all time most favorite color ever in the whole wide world. Green symbolizes life, nature, fertility and well-being. And so it is...and so it shall be. Power to the green!
4. Rollercoaster Tycoon 3. I've found a new game (new to me, at least) and I'm obsessed. Late, late at night I can be found hunched over my little Sony VAIO laptop (the one I needed to test tutorials in Windows...riiiiiggghhhht) building theme parks. Ah, the joy of the video game revolution.
5. A croissant with Earl Grey tea at the San Francisco Coffee Roasting Company. My neighborhood coffee shop. You can find me there at least one morning a week. The people and the ambiance are just right. Now, if they just had wireless capability...
6. Medical Scrubs. Okay, so now I know why people in the medical field wear these all the time. They're so damned comfortable! They have room to move around and lounge around and bend over and do just about anything. This is my everyday favorite attire. I don't care that they're unattractive, I just care that they're comfortable. My favorites are the Dickies brand because of the way they fit. I buy them from a local store, but you can get them online, too.
7. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Just finished this and, after reading it, I feel I actually knew Abraham Lincoln personally.
8. That my book is the best-selling item in its category at Amazon.com. My daughter pointed this out to me, I didn't even know you could tell. If you go to the bottom of my book's page, you'll see that 50% of the people who viewed items like my book actually chose my book! Wow! (See below for a request, by the way.)
9. Before & After...the magazine and the website. The new issue arrived a couple of days ago and I devoured it. No ads, just good stuff...real good stuff.
10. Jim Martin is running for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. Jim and his family are old friends from years and years ago, when our children were young and we all attended the same church. Many changes since then and we lost touch, but I remember Jim as a kind man with a good heart who, as a legal aid attorney, fought for those who needed help most. I'm jumping on his campaign bandwagon. Got the sign, got the bumper sticker, signed-up as a volunteer. For this blue girl living in a red state, this signifies that hope is indeed alive.

I could go on and on...there are so many things to be happy about. It helps to write them down now, so when sad days come I can remind myself that sadness is only temporary and happiness is my true and forever state of being. I can remember the big things, like family, health and prosperity. It's the little things I tend to forget.

Now...what's on the horizon!

Well, I'll be teaching at a Photoshop conference this summer. More details to come on that. It looks like I'll also be appearing and signing books at the Memories Expo show in New Jersey. I don't have my signing schedule yet, but I'll post here when it's firm. And, there's a new Big Picture class in the works, too. This one on brushes...yummy! Stay tuned for details soon.

Oh! And I need to ask you a favor. If you have my book would you please rate it and write a comment about it at Amazon.com? It doesn't have to be a positive comment (although that would be great), but an honest comment would be nice.

later...

Comments

[Jeanette]

It's wonderful how the simple things can make you so happy in life.

And what would make me happy is if I were able to take your Photoshop class in NJ next month. Unfortunately I have a conflict or I would have traveled there in a heartbeat! I'm sure you can teach me a lot about Photoshop!

Jeanette :)

[jenrigg]

How very serendipitous! I was just this morning talking to my mum on the phone, and saying how I find happiness in the smallest things... Thank goodness really, because I have been in dire financial straits for 2 years now, yet I am STILL able to be happy! Just now, I'm looking out of my window and seeing the neighbour's tree is sprouting gorgeous new light green leaves - that's the kind of thing that makes me happy!

[Jeanne]

When we take time to reflect and be grateful for the simple things it surely can clear our minds of all that clutter mucking up our brains! Do you think there will be a sequel to Doing in Digi? I enjoyed the class immensely and learned so much.

[tamara]

I can't believe you didn't realize you are a teacher. You have taught me and my brothers so much about life. I am always say, "My mom says..."

love ya.

[Kentp]

I'm with you. Even as we approach this new era of our lives, I am filled with more happiness than I have felt in many years, and you are the center of it all. You have helped me discover so many simple pleasures. Thanks.

[Nancy L]

I loved this posting. I chuckled aloud to myself when I read how "Tycoon Rollercoaster" game makes you happy. I still remember my son calling me up to the computer to see what his latest park creation was. BTW, I have loved your book and Big Picture class (although I only posted once). You are a natural teacher. Can't wait for your next class.

[maria]

Awesome post. Thanks for sharing. I will forever be thankful to you...you are indeed an amazing teacher. You've shown me a WHOLE NEW world! THANK YOU!

[Lillian Erb]

I was purchasing yet another copy of your book today on Amazon.com and noticed this:

"Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,314 in Books (See Top Sellers in Books)
Yesterday: #115,434 in Books"

I just thought you would want to know. Wow! What a difference a day makes. I don't even know what percentage increase that it. Perhaps I'll have my 4th grade students figure that our tomorrow. :)

Lillian Erb
drgnfly
(in your fabulous class)

[Ceci Ortiz de Hurtado]

I just want to say:I am so glad I took your class!
It was very clear, usefull and well designed!
Together with your book is a digital treasury.
Congratulations!
Ceci

[maria newport]

so glad to hear you're happy...it feels good right?

[Lisa M]

Hi, Renee,
I'm over a week late in posting, AND I wanted to send you an email re:the BPS class. I think you are so inspiring and so wonderful. I enjoyed your Doing it Digi class so much and after reading your blog from this day, I know why. It's your state of happiness. I'm going to implement that thinking into my everyday life, because it is so true. Everything is what you make it. So if you have a bad day, like you said, remember that it's just a small piece of time. Thank you for sharing that thought.

Also, thank you so much for such a terrific class. I had trouble the first week and send a personal email to you before you had started the yahoo group, and I was amazed how quickly you answered my question and responded to my troubles. You were so dedicated to our class spending hour after hour responding to emails and group posts. You are just amazing, and I need to send a message to everyone at BPS to let them know just how great you were.

One week into the class I ordered your Digital book from Amazon of all places, and I've been reading it while I travel. It, like your BPS class, is wonderful. I really love the project ideas, and I especially love the Morningside papers. (I'm an ex-Atlanta girl...what a beautiful area!) Anyway, right after I send this post, I'm going to Amazon.com to rate it for you! The book is as inspiring as you are!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a wonderful class and a wonderful book. You taught me how to do something I really wanted to learn how to do, but I had no idea how to figure it out on my own. I can't wait for Doing it Digi Part 2!!!!!

Thank you,
Lisa