Happy things to hold onto, please

[SeekingAfrica]

There was a school shooting in my city. Never even heard of it happening in the country I'm in (maybe it has). I don't know how to process on top of already having a PTSD heavy week. Just added sadness....

So please:
Happy thoughts, happy things to do, watch, etc? All ideas welcome.

 

[Sideways]

Mod Note:
@SeekingAfrica - we don’t use trigger warnings here!! I’ve removed them for you - you can read more about it in the Community Constitution .

 

[arfie]

the movie, "encanto" on the disney channel is gentle enough to enchant a child with adult themes, a happy ending and rocking good music.

ditto for "coco."

 

[SeekingAfrica]

the movie, "encanto" on the disney channel is gentle enough to enchant a child with adult themes, a happy ending and rocking good music.

ditto for "coco."

Never watched either so thank you for the recommendation. I think I may try Encanto tonight, been on my list for quite a while.
Thank you, appreciated!!

 

[Friday]

Ever made a ‘happy book’?

Just stick a little teeny tiny moleskin journal in your back pocket and jot down things that make you happy, smile, laugh, feel warm & fuzzy, etc. as you notice them throughout the day. Every day. Read through them both when feeling good & bad. It not only provides a notice/pickmeup/memento but also starts training your brain to LOOK for those things, that we otherwise just overlook.

I often have a twin of that little book in my other pocket, for things to do when I’m bored uninspired. To inspire me! (My brain shuts off when I’m bored, & being uninspired? I have 10,000 overwhelming everything with the same level of “importance” attached. Screaming at me in my head. >.< Nope! That’s not gonna work!) But 2 running lists of ‘makes he happy to do it / have it done’? Simplifies things. The first half are practical chores, flip it over and upside down, and the second half are fun ideas / projects. I’m not a fan of surprises, so I don’t do the fishbowl of half folded scraps of paper with outside of my norm fun activities to do, but have a lot of friends who prefer to do it that way, instead of lists.

^^^ Forgetful Hedonism ^^^

 

[SeekingAfrica]

Ever made a ‘happy book’?

Just stick a little teeny tiny moleskin journal in your back pocket and jot down things that make you happy, smile, laugh, feel warm & fuzzy, etc. as you notice them throughout the day. Every day. Read through them both when feeling good & bad. It not only provides a notice/pickmeup/memento but also starts training your brain to LOOK for those things, that we otherwise just overlook.

I often have a twin of that little book in my other pocket, for things to do when I’m bored uninspired. To inspire me! (My brain shuts off when I’m bored, & being uninspired? I have 10,000 overwhelming everything with the same level of “importance” attached. Screaming at me in my head. >.< Nope! That’s not gonna work!) But 2 running lists of ‘makes he happy to do it / have it done’? Simplifies things. The first half are practical chores, flip it over and upside down, and the second half are fun ideas / projects. I’m not a fan of surprises, so I don’t do the fishbowl of half folded scraps of paper with outside of my norm fun activities to do, but have a lot of friends who prefer to do it that way, instead of lists.

^^^ Forgetful Hedonism ^^^

Did something like that, it was supposed to be 'reasons to keep going' (things that make me happy to be alive) but ended up with few of these and more of things I thought would help in a bad moment (depressive thoughts versus better phrased versions, things in and out of my control).... should have helped but I chose the wrong notebook and tried to mash too many things into it, I guess...

On the other hand, not the same, but I started a commonplace book few months ago(had one in uni without realising) and I've only added couple of things to it so far (for example, a page of funny quotes, one of quotes about failure, some lyrics of song I loved...I don't take it everywhere, but it does make me happy every time I read it, so perhaps I SHOULD. Another reason the other notebook didn't work was, I loved the cover but it was glued not stiched so opening it and writing in it brought no joy. My commonplace notebook is the a6/pocket moleskine exactly which brings a lot of joy and I can use that.
p.s. I know we live in a digital world, but honestly if it's not on paper it doesn't work for me so I love your idea.