All Good Things Must Pass

Well, for those of you who have read this blog, you probably have noticed I have not posted for a while now. I was posting 1000+ word posts, three times a week for months and months.

During that time, I came to know many of you personally and made some great friendships along the way. TheHappySelf blog continued to grow and grow and I still get many visitors every single day, even though I have not written in weeks.

That being said, here is the reason for this post…

I’ve decided to stop this blog all together and move into a new chapter in my life. That is, I’ve decided to spend more of my online time in Internet Marketing Ventures.

I do feel bad for those of you who have enjoyed this blog and I sincerely apologize, but I need to do this for me and my dreams. I hope you understand. I think many of  you who DO blog will understand.

Lastly, I would just like to say THANK YOU for all the loyal readers and fans of this blog. It has been quite a journey and I thank you for all your comments, emails and more! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Now, as one door closes, another door opens…

THIS BLOG IS FOR SALE: I am looking to sell this blog so it can continue under new ownership. If anyone is interested in owning this blog, please contact me and let me know. You will get the whole website, blog, and all content…all of it.

Once again, thank you to all my readers. It has been a blast and I will miss many of you!

A change in the world starts with you.

Will this New Year’s Day ring in the end of the worst decade ever?

That’s the claim made by Time Magazine, which recently featured an eye-catching cover of a crying baby in a party hat with the headline “Decade from Hell.”

According to Time, some of the worst events of the “worst decade ever” began with the disputed election of George W. Bush as President, which was followed by the 9/11 Terrorist attacks.  There were continuing military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and a series of major natural disasters, including a tsunami in the South Pacific, Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. South, and major earthquakes in India and China.  As the decade ends, we have double digit unemployment and a global economic crisis.

Granted it was a tough decade, but hardly the worst ever.

Those who are familiar with history can think of rougher decades, such as the 1930s, which saw the Great Depression, or the 1940s, when World War II brought worldwide chaos.  The 1860s were another rough decade in the U.S. due to the Civil War.  And then there were the 1340s, when the Black Plague led to the deaths of almost half the population of Europe.  Viewing this past decade with respect to history puts things in perspective.  We’ve had a tough decade, but probably not the worst ever.

By focusing solely on the problems of the past decade, Time Magazine is engaging in the type of thinking that leads many people to anxiety and depression.

Read more..

Give and Watch Your Soul Ignite

When asked to describe their ideal holiday season, most people don’t put shopping for gifts at the top of the list.

Instead, they list spending time with loved ones, having fun with friends, enjoying holiday food and taking some time away from work to relax.

Unfortunately, the reality is often something quite different.  The pressure to shop, spend money and entertain leaves many of us feeling both exhausted and tapped out.

According to a poll taken by the Center for the New American Dream, 75% of Americans would like to have a less materialistic Christmas or Hanukkah holiday.  More than 85% feel that the holiday season should focus on family and taking care of people in need rather than on shopping and giving gifts.  The survey also found that 4 out of 5 people wish for a simplified holiday season.

If the majority of Americans say they would like a simpler and less materialistic holiday season, why don’t they just make the change?

Unfortunately, many of us feel pressured to spend more than we can afford on gifts and entertaining.  It seems too hard to tell family and friends that we would like to cut back.  This doesn’t have to be as hard as it may seem.  In advance of the holidays, let everyone know that you’d like to start some new traditions, including spending less time shopping and more time enjoying the company of family and friends in the month of December.

By ramping down your holiday shopping and spending, you can create new, simpler holiday traditions that center around family celebrations and the rituals of the season.

Read more..