From Psychology Today: 

“What is happiness? The most useful definition—and it’s one agreed upon by neuroscientists, psychiatrists, behavioral economists, positive psychologists, and Buddhist monks—is more like satisfied or content than “happy” in its strict bursting-with-glee sense. It has depth and deliberation to it. It encompasses living a meaningful life, utilizing your gifts and your time, living with thought and purpose.

“It’s maximized when you also feel part of a community. And when you confront annoyances and crises with grace. It involves a willingness to learn and stretch and grow, which sometimes involves discomfort. It requires acting on life, not merely taking it in. It’s not joy, a temporary exhilaration, or even pleasure, that sensual rush—though a steady supply of those feelings course through those who seize each day.”

In 3 words, what makes you happy?

Remember the competitive, scrappy and sometimes violent Media Softball League?

We played on hot Sunday afternoons.  Fights on the field would ensue.  Fisticuffs.  Ejections from the park.

I had a problem with turning a double play.  To this day, I’ve never done it.  I could usually make the play at second, then my adrenalin started juicin’ and I’d overthrow first…always!!!  It became more predictable than a PETA protest.

During one game, after a particularly alarming overthrow, my son, a Little League All-Star at the time, approached the dugout and summoned me for a conversation through the chain link fence.

Casey:  “Mom, I have something to tell you.”

Me:  “Hey, Baby, need something to drink?  You doin’ okay?”

Casey:  “I’m fine, Mom.  But you’re not.  Listen to me.  You know how you’re over-throwing first?”

Me:  “Um.  Yeah.”

Casey:   ”Try rolling the ball to first.  But roll it with conviction.”

That’s when the word conviction, out of the mouth of a child, got my attention.

Conviction is cool.  To me, it evokes instances of out-of-the-ordinary passion, a confidence in a belief so strong that the courage to act on it comes easy.

I never got the courage to roll the ball to first, but now I wonder what would have happened if I did.

What?  You think I can’t read what you’re sayin’ here? 

I go outside and all, and even though I can’t catch squat, I hear things.  So what I’m heavy set?  Most of the nation is.  I don’t see you makin’ fun of cats without tails and stuff.  And where are all the Healthwatch 3 For Felines programs? 

Somehow I think all this ridicule started either when Trish came over for Christmas Eve and was shocked at my ability to block her exit with my sheer presence or that one time when I sat on Hazel and Jimmy and Child Protection was called. 

Anyway, just know that CALICO now stands for Cats Are Loved Inspite (sp) of Casual Obesity.  

Would you chose your baby’s traits?  I know there was a brief time when Dan Talley wished he had!

There’s a fertility place in Los Angeles that claims it can help prospective parents design their baby’s features.  Mom and dad hopefuls pay to increase the liklihood of getting selected eye color, hair color, etc.

The process is called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or PGD.  It was created to screen for disease, then used for gender selection.  Now, it’s being used for cosmetic purposes.

So, what happens if you’re not happy with your designer offspring’s looks?  Can you put him/her back?  Get your gazillions $ back?  What kind of message does this send to your child about inner beauty?

What if something goes wrong? 

Got one?  Is it a new approach for ‘09.  For life?  What works for you?A leading market research firm reports no recession in eating out during this economically tough time.  Have you ditched the health club membership or changed anything else?

You know, legend has it that you can burn about 120 calories an hour by blogging. 

While we’re on the subject of taking five (see title of song in previous post), what would you do or not do for a million dollars? 

This subject fascinates me because every male I’ve talked with about this would do far more than I would consider doing…cutting off fingers, lying, etc.  Is it a male/female difference in values?  Or, maybe my random survey isn’t scientific enough.   

I have a friend who believes you shouldn’t part with what you might need, want or use later.  She has a great case for that philosophy.  I have another friend who believes in simplifying and having only those items in his life he uses.  I love the thought of streamlining, of decluttering mentally, physically and emotionally. 

Easier said than done. 

I’ve started with Craigslist.  How refreshing to sell what I don’t use or need, make money and simplify my life.   

You?

Forget walkin’ a mile for a camel. 

An Arizona woman ran a mile with a rabid fox clamped to her arm.  Then, she had the presence of mind to realize the need to retain the animal for rabies testing, so she tossed it in the trunk of her car and drove herself to the hospital. 

This happened near Prescott, AZ on Monday when the animal attacked the woman’s foot as she was running. 

Stories of toughness that would make pioneer women run for cover run rampant among the Talley women.  Sister Suzie crashed her bike during a triathlon, broke her arm and pelvis and continued the race, running a mile before giving in.  

Whatchugot?

I love writing and getting letters.  But it just doesn’t happen anymore.  This weekend I found a box of childhood letters (we moved a lot and that was a big deal to me).  Take a look at these exerpts from my jr. high and high school friends in a time before email!  We answered every question asked in the previous letter.  We carefully selected stationary, the color of ink in the pen, even the stamp.  It was an art… and I’m so thankful I’ve saved these letters.  I’m tracking down the senders from my past (using my crack reporter skills) and sending the letters back to them.  Wouldn’t you love to see something you had written as a kid, but forgotten?   

1975-”Our yearbooks were just great this year.  There was just one problem–we didn’t order enough of them, so I guess you don’t get one.” 

1976-”I passed (girl my friend hated) in the car today and I flicked her the bird.”

1974-”Yes, your herbal scented paper still smelled when it got here.”

1974-”Yes, I do like ‘Rock Me Gently’ and ‘I Honestly Love You’.  I also like ‘I Shot The Sheriff.’  I forget what else I like.”

1974-”Write back a long letter.”

1978-”College life did help me mature into quite a wonderflul young lady (just kidding, of course).”

1974-”Have you ever heard ‘Come And Get Your Love’ by Redbone?  Well, it’s sung by a bunch of Indians.  I just thought you’d be interested.”

1973-”Yes, the boys are wearing high-waisted cuffed pants. And everyone’s wearing spoon rings, but the boys’ clogs haven’t hit us yet and I don’t think they will.”

1974-”Sorry so sloppy.”  “Sorry so short.” 

Everyone’s talking about lessons learned from Gustav response.  With that, who can help but think back on lessons learned from life itself?  What have you learned from experience?  Here are some actual lessons I’ve learned.

–Even if you’re really good at multi-tasking, the few seconds you have while stopped at a red light might not be best spent conducting a self breast exam.  And if you do try this in your car, make sure your hair is out of your eyes so you can see if there’s a car pulled up beside you.

–When you run out of deodorant, DO NOT use your son’s cologne-scented deodorant after you shave.

–If you’re going to use a cliche when on TV, use it correctly.  Don’t get it mixed up with another cliche.  Advising the ArkLaTex to throw another blanket on the fire is downright irresponsible.

–Be careful when telling your father you’re going to the Final Four.  Make sure you don’t call it a ”Foreplay Tournament”.