April Day Brighteners.....day 7 "Snuggle with your Pet"

"Pet Snuggles"

 

I discovered early on, as many people have, that snuggling up with pets is pretty wonderful. There is a ton of scientific research out there which has produced long lists of the many benefits of actually doing this, but all that aside, it just feels great. 

When I've had a crummy or difficult day, I stretch out on my bed and within minutes, I have a pile of cats lying all over me, purring loudly. It was just what I needed....

I've been able, throughout my life, to get up close and have some snuggly moments with quite a variety of animals I've had the good fortune to interact with, including cats, dogs, birds, goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, pigs, chickens, hamsters, mice, and even fish. To spend some quiet moments with these creatures was truly something special and very memorable.

It reminds me we are all connected and it almost makes time seem to disappear. Animals can comfort us just when we need it most, they are always glad to see us and they make wonderful companions to be with while out in nature.

Take a few moments today and  really appreciate being able to snuggle with your pet, or share some time with an animal you enjoy. You'll both benefit.....

April Day Brighteners....day 6 "Snail Mail"

"Snail Mail"

Just last week, a relative from the UK sent me a large parcel of chocolates...just for fun. She wrote me to say she got great enjoyment buying all those English and Scottish candies from cheerful vendors happy to hear their sweet wares were headed on a long journey overseas. 

I swear I actually FELT all the happiness that went into that package...her intentions to surprise me, the shopkeeper's chuckles, and the candies and cookies themselves.

As my kids went through the box, I considered how many hands had contributed to everything that had gone into this parcel....from the box maker, to the people producing the newspaper that provided padding, to the confectioners and bakers who made all the chocolates and biscuits, and the postal and delivery people who moved that box until its final destination on my doorstep.

In this day of electronic letter writing, it is extra special to receive something that arrives via snail mail. This postal system that began as life-risking Pony Express, now goes faster and further than ever.

Day 6......Snail Mail

Today, write someone a note or card, let them know you are thinking about them and send it via Snail Mail. Imagine how they'll feel when they open their mail box.

April Day Brighteners....#5 Close Your Eyes

"Close Your Eyes"

Many studies show that the body cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined. Remembering something pleasurable causes the body to create a cascade of feel-good chemicals. Conversely, if we remember something unpleasant or downright awful, the body's chemistry recreates how we felt at the time and we end up reliving that experience numerous times and feeling really crappy because of it.

Today, play with this little exercise and see how it makes you feel. I do it quite often and it leaves me feeling pretty good.

Day 5....Close your eyes

Close your eyes. Visualize someone you feel you can appreciate (human or animal). See them in your mind's eye and tell yourself 5 qualities you like about that someone. Rinse and repeat.

For this, I choose 2 indiviuals: My cat Lacey, and my friend, Mark. The qualities I admire in Lacey are:

1. The way this tiny cat loves to snuggle with me when I'm reading
2.  Her innate sense of time, giving me "the big stare" at exactly 5:15 every day, letting me know it is tea time (dinner)
3. Her gentle purring and how good it make me feel to hear it
4. How she enjoys tossing around and chasing a catnip-stuffed toy mouse
5. The way she reminds me to live in the moment

The qualities I admire in my friend, Mark....

1. His great sense of humor
2. Dedication to his family
3. His love of Nature and frequent ventures in the great outdoors
4. His love of animals, especially the dog who accompanies him on hikes, bike rides and fishing trips
5.  How he is a caring friend to many

Doing this little exercise can be addictive as it can lead to feeling good any time you do it.

 

April Day Brighteners.....#4 The Eyeball Factor

"The Eyeball Factor"

As I stood recently in a local art supply store, I saw a display holding small tins of stick-on Googly Eyes, all ready to adhere to almost any surface. I used to love these as a kid and stick them on just about everything, from arts and crafts projects to pencils and match boxes. Adding the tiny eyes brought the object to life and made it look irresistibly goofy and fun.

"Make something come alive," it said on the side of the tin.

I grabbed one of the tins and throughout the week, added the little flattened eyes to any place I felt needed a lift. 

Day 4....add some eyeball fun

Today, add some eyes to something that usually doesn't have eyes....extra points if it is out in public someplace lots of people will have the opportunity to see (and enjoy) it. Give someone a reason to smile.

April Day Brighteners....#3 Add a tiny sparkle

"Add a tiny sparkle"

Someone asked me the other day how I feel about routines.

The upside:  Easy to keep track of things
                       Predictable
                       Can provide a sense of stability and comfort

The downside: Can get monotonous
                           Feels too repetitive

When we were babies, everything was new and it propelled us into continual exploration and discovery of things that appealed to all of our senses. As adults, some of us (including me) might have the tendency to grow resistant to change and do whatever we can to avoid it at times.

Like many people,  I like that bit of variability and uncertainty that snap me out of going through my days on autopilot.  I knew I needed more change recently when I started feeling like the character Bill Murray played in the film Groundhog Day. 

Day 3....Write a very short happy note to someone

Why not add some change to your day and someone else's by leaving a small post it note for them to find in an unexpected place? Maybe you could tell them how much you appreciate some unique quality they have (amazing storyteller, funny, provocative, snappy dresser, creative, bizarre, extraordinary chef, etc.) or just draw a doodle of some kind. It might be just the little thing that adds a tiny sparkle to their day.

April Day Brighteners....#2 Mini Massage

"Mini Massage"

Months ago, I found myself in the fingerprint office of the local school system, getting the mandatory check required before working in the schools. The fingerprint guy filled out all the paperwork and then gently took my hands, proceeding to roll each of my fingers across the pad of the machine. The scanner rejected each of the attempts and he ended up having to roll each finger  8 to 10 times. 

It felt so good to have my fingers handled like that, I just decided to enjoy the whole process. In fact, if it had to go on for an hour or so, I'd be ok with that. Here I was, in this office, getting a hand massage. What a great way to start my Monday morning.

Weeks later, I got the results in the mail. 

"We're sorry to inform you that we were unable to process your application due to the quality of the prints. You will need to submit another set of prints."

Yes!!!

And back to the fingerprinting office I went to enjoy another round of fingerprinting relaxation.

"This doesn't happen often," the guy reassured me as he proceeded to go through the entire process again. The machine was still not approving many of the scans, so it took quite a while to complete. I decided to simply revel in and enjoy the sensations.

Touch has powerful effects on us. Research indicates it offers the several benefits including:

Lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels

Reducing stress

Contributing to a sensation of well-being

We snuggle babies close, give each other hugs on greeting and slap high five's in celebration. And how great is it to snuggle up with our pets? Everyone benefits.

Day 2: Give a mini massage

For today, give someone (human or animal) a one minute mini massage. Work your magic and add a little sparkle to their day. It may be just what they needed.

April Day Brighteners...# 1 Ask a Question

"Ask a Question"

Happy April! 

Did you remember to say "Rabbit, Rabbit," before your feet hit the floor this morning?  Doing this (I was told at 12 years old) would bring me good luck all month.  Fly out of bed too quickly and forget to do it? No problem, the second chance came on day 2 with saying, "Tibber,Tibber."

This month will be small bits on Day Brighteners, little things to add fun to your day or something you can do to brighten someone else's day.

Day 1. Ask a Question

Years ago, I discovered a little thing I liked in one of SARK's books. She discovered magic in asking herself a question, and then going to a bookshelf (in her home, someone else's home or, one of my favorites, a local book shop). Grabbing a book she felt drawn to, she would then open it to a "random" page and read the first few sentences that popped out and grabbed her attention. Voila! There was the answer to her question.

Some of the questions I've asked in the past are things like:

What do I need to know right now that will.....?

What do I need to let go?

What is the best way to create change for myself right now?

How can I have more fun?

What gift can I offer someone right now?

I love doing this.  Whatever showed up for me was exactly what I needed at the time. Sometimes, it was almost eerie how well it fit. Try this today and see what happens.....