Monthly Archives: September 2018

Week #211 – Start talking about the holidays NOW!

“Tis the Season!” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #211 – Start talking about the holidays NOW!

Greetings all — and Happy Friday!!!

This week I’m going to talk a little more about one of the five ideas I posted last week on ways to Welcome Fall.

And I know it’s going to ruffle some turkey feathers…but here it goes:

#5 – START TALKING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS NOW!

(To see the other four ideas…check out Week #210.)

Last week I acknowledged that this one is a little controversial because nobody likes to be rushed into the holidays…but waiting until November 23rd to start talking about who is spending which holiday where is too late!

And I don’t know about you but I like to enjoy Thanksgiving Weekend for what it is (a very rare 4-day holiday weekend) — not some violent induction into the 2018 Holiday Season!

SO GET OUT AHEAD OF IT!

Christmas and New Year’s are literally 3 months away.  That’s just the end of baseball season, Halloween, Election Day, and one Thanksgiving Day away…and BAM.  It’s the holidays!

This year, give yourself the gift of a well-planned holiday season!

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: Start talking about the holidays NOW! Some of you may be nodding your heads in agreement…and others may be wanting to choke me through the screen.  I’m okay with that…because if this post helps even one person get ahead of their holiday, I’m willing to take that risk!  🙂  This year, give yourself the gift of a well-planned holiday season.  Start planning…NOW!

(And chances are, no matter what you do, you’re probably going to disappoint at least one person anyway…make sure it isn’t yourself!)

Spread Happyness — Too soon?  Share your thoughts in the comments!

9/28/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

Week #210 – Welcome Fall! (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)

“Welcome Fall!” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #210 – Welcome Fall! (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)

(This topic is a perennial favorite — and worth repeating!)

Greetings All — and Happy Friday!

The Autumnal Equinox will occur at 9:54p ET tomorrow (Saturday, September 22nd).  It’s the exact moment when the sun shines equally on both sides of the Equator.  The word itself means “equal night” — as these days are marked by equal parts sunlight and darkness.

And for a moment — perfect balance.

I know for many of you, the “end” of Summer is a sad time: light fades, the air cools, summer flowers surrender.

For others, the “beginning” of Fall is a celebration: work/school routines are back in place, trees start to show their colors, football, sweaters, boots, and pumpkin-everything is back!  🙂

Whether you’re on Team Summer or Team Fall — I hope you squeezed all you could out of the Summer of 2018.  But if not, don’t despair.  Another 13-week season starts today!  A new beginning, a new quarter, and for many a new year ahead!

The Autumnal Equinox gives us the perfect opportunity to step back, take stock, re-balance — and to finish the year strong!

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: WELCOME FALL!  Welcome this season of harvest, storage, and preparation by turning inward: take stock in yourself, make room for only what’s necessary, and set a goal or direction for the next three months of your life.  The Winter Solstice is exactly thirteen weeks away!  Don’t wait until December to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions and goals…START NOW!  Use the Fall Season as a runway into 2019.  The next thirteen weeks are going to pass one way or another…how do you want to spend this season?!

Some ideas:

  1. DECORATE — this is the easiest way to mark the change of seasons.  Don’t wait for the leaves to turn or for Halloween decorations to appear…get out your scarecrows and pumpkins now and give yourself a visual cue that a new season has arrived.  WELCOME IT!
  2. CLEAN — there is a lot of talk of “Spring” cleaning at the Vernal Equinox — but Fall has it’s own cleaning and decluttering rituals too.  As we turn our focus inward to our homes — it makes sense that we would declutter and clean in preparation for the indoor months ahead.  Use this time to get rid of things you no longer need — and make room for the things that will sustain and nurture you through the dark and cold of winter.  MAKE ROOM OR IT!
  3. SET NEW GOALS — Just like cleaning and decluttering makes room in our homes, cleaning and decluttering of the mind makes room in our psyche.  Every thirteen weeks we are given the opportunity to start a “new season.”  Start this Fall with a little quiet time to consider what you’d like to accomplish by the END of the year, what obligations or habits you need to shed to make that possible, and what new resources you may need to help you get there!  DREAM ABOUT IT!
  4. PLAN FALL FUN — NOW is the time to look at your fall calendar (October/November/December) and plot some time for the activities you like best.  Harvest festivals, ghost tours, apple picking, that one last Indian Summer day at the shore…think about the things that bring you joy this time of year and plan them out ahead of time!  PLAN IT!
  5. START TALKING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS NOW — This one is a little controversial because nobody likes to be rushed into the holidays…but waiting until November 23rd to start talking about who is spending which holiday where is too late!  And I don’t know about you but I like to enjoy Thanksgiving Weekend for what it is (a very rare 4-day holiday weekend) — not some violent launch into what is supposed to be such a peaceful/magical season!  GET OUT AHEAD OF IT!

At the very least — set aside time this weekend to think about what you need to feel happy in the 13 weeks ahead.

Remember — it takes a happy person to Spread Happyness!

Spread Happyness — share your favorite Autumn rituals and activities in the comments!

9/21/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

Week #209 – Lend a helping hand!

“Superstorm Sandy 2012” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #209 – Lend a helping hand!

Greetings Tribe — and Happy Friday!

There have been several reminders of crisis in the past few days: the anniversary of 9/11 and last year’s flooding in Texas come immediately to mind.  And now, as Florence bears down on the East Coast…I see many people remembering and sharing the lessons they learned from Superstorm Sandy.

But what pops up again and again is how people helped one another.  How communities pulled together.  How differences in politics, religion, and all other manner of division fell away in the face of the work in front of us: to weather the storm and come through stronger than before.

This week’s post is short…but the challenge is far-reaching, possibly years into the future!

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: Lend a hand!  This week, as the effects of Florence unfold — or as a crisis occurs in your own backyard — set your differences aside and lend a hand.  If you aren’t sure what to do, check within your community for crisis response teams or organizations that are coordinating assistance.  Many hands make light work, even when the burden is overwhelming.  The old adage is true…united we stand!

Do you remember a time when your community rallied together to lend a hand?  I’d love to hear about it!

Spread Happyness — share your thoughts in the comments!

9/14/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

Week #208 – Reflections at the Four-Year Mark (and 208 Ways to Spread Happyness!)

(Photo credit: Courtesy of Gina Buongiorno)

WAVE BIG!  (Photo credit: Courtesy of Gina Buongiorno)

Week #208 – Reflections at the Four-Year Mark (and 208 Ways to Spread Happyness!)

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and welcome to WEEK #208!

Four years ago on September 5th our world changed forever — and on September 8th, SpreadHappyness was born.

It seems like forever ago and just yesterday all at the same time.

And sometimes, it feels like not at all.

Because four years later, other than missing our brother/friend every single day and knowing that he’s gone, Rob feels so very present to me through all the people that knew him and loved him and enjoyed his company!

Someone asked me recently why I blog.  There are practical reasons, of course — but the heart behind Spread Happyness remains the same.  Here are the original words from my very first post:

It is my wish to identify and carry forward (through weekly blogposts/challenges) the torch of Rob’s legacy — which I believe was his natural ability to spread happiness to anyone who was lucky enough to cross his path.  If you knew Rob, you already know this to be true…If you didn’t get to meet Rob, let me introduce you.  I pledge to deliver a little dose of him to you every Friday morning (at least) via this blog.  Because cancer is not the only thing that can spread.  Happiness can take on a life of it’s own too! 

So here we are…and here are all 208 ways we have Spread Happyness from the very beginning!  Do you have a favorite?!  I’d love to hear about it!  (And if you have an idea for a future post…I’d love to hear that, too!)

But before we get to that, let me take this moment once again to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you who have logged on, followed along, shared your thoughts, supported the effort, and above all — who’ve SPREAD HAPPYNESS this past year!!!  Year Four has nudged us to move forward — which is hard.  But once again, in the “doing” of this blog, there is direction, and in the direction there is hope, and in the hope there is Happyness: one week at a time!

208 Ways to Spread Happyness!
#1 – Wave Big!
#2 – Say Hello Like You Mean It!
#3 – Nicknames…and other ways to win friends and influence people!
#4 – Build Your Character Muscles
#5 – How to Be Beautiful (in Three Easy Steps)
#6 – Pure Energy: Are you an outlet or a plug?
#7 – Don’t Pretend…Make Plans (Go get your wings!)
#8 – Are you a Smiling Guy (or Gal)?
#9 – Who’s ready for some “Strange Magic?”
#10 – What’s on your wish list?
#11 – There’s no “I” in “Generous.”
#12 – There’s no “I” in “Thoughtful” either!
#13 – Hey, how ya’ doing?
#14 – Do you have a “Happy Heart?”
#15 – Looking Ahead: Remember the Why behind your What!
#16 – Can you say, “I love my life!”?
#17 – Ten Practical Ways to “Spread the Warmth” this Cold Snap
#18 – Roll Me Away: What’s your escape song?
#19 – You are worthy!
#20 – How about a “Breath of Fresh Air?”
#21 – Have a “Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#22 – Come on, get happy! (And give some, too!)
#23 – “Fitness never takes a snow day!”
#24 – “Keep it shiny side up!” (Dedicated to Gregory Pellinger)
#25 – “Ride the Wave!” (Reflections at the Six-Month Mark)
#26 – There’s always…Bowling!
#27 – “Let the balloon go…” (What are you holding on to?)
#28 – “Take the long way home…”
#29 – “Where to now?” (Happy Spring!)
#30 – What is your “Always…”?
#31 – “Honoring & Remembering”
#32 – “Where do all the socks go?”
#33 – “Heavy on my mind…” (Who are you thinking of?)
#34 – Start with your Heart (Nine ways to be “Truly Compassionate”)
#35 – “My sunshine on this earth!” (What weather best describes you?)
#36 – “Remembered Always…” (Putting the Memorial back in Memorial Day)
#37 – “The Power of Love” (What’s on your summer playlist?)
#38 – “Keep Going!”
#39 – “Summa-time is Funna-time!” (Are YOU having FUN yet?)
#40 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Come play with me!”
#41 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Ride the Rides!”
#42 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Family Time!”
#43 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Walk the Boards and Ride the Waves!” (Dedicated to Rob Kalp)
#44 – Summer Fun Challenge: “One Tank Trips!”
#45 – Summer Fun Challenge: Pool Volleyball (and other ways to GET WET!)
#46 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Quiet Time!”
#47 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Lessons Available!” (Learn to ___________!)
#48 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Just Watch!”
#49 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Feeding Time!”
#50 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Keep ’em Flying!”
#51 – Summer Fun Challenge: “CELEBRATE!”
#52 – Endings and Beginnings (A big wave hello or goodbye?)
#53 – The Next Wave
#54 – Welcome Fall! (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)
#55 – Which way to Happyness?
#56 – Looking for Signs (Which do you see first?)
#57 – Are you “Loving Life” in 2015? (Ten weeks left to make it happen!)
#58 – Ten Weeks to Happyness: “Get your priorities straight!”
#59 – Nine Weeks to Happyness: “Don’t dream it…BE IT!”
#60 – Eight Weeks to Happyness: CONNECT! (Dedicated to Jodi Lupo and her beautiful Val.)
#61 – Seven Weeks to Happyness: TAKE ACTION! (What coffee cups and Christmas Trees taught me this week!)
#62 – Six Weeks to Happyness: EXPRESS YOURSELF! (Happyness in Action – with Scott Cuzzo)
#63 – Five Weeks to Happyness: TOYS for…TRUCKS?! (Happyness in Action – with Amy Wood-Oblen)
#64 – Four Weeks to Happyness: RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS (Happyness in Action – with Kindness for Christopher)
#65 – Three Weeks to Happyness: SPREAD THE WARMTH! (Happyness in Action – with Aubrey McCarrick)
#66 – Two Weeks to Happyness: SPREAD THE LOVE! (Happyness in Action – with Sarah Harmeyer)
#67 – One Week to Happyness: SPREAD HAPPYNESS!
#68 – One Surefire Way to “Love Your Life” in 2016!
#69 – Back to Basics: SMILE!
#70 – Back to Basics: WAVE BIG!
#71 – Back to Basics: Say Hello Like You Mean It!
#72 – Back to Basics: Hey, how ya’ doing?”
#73 – Happy February!  “Have a Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#74 – “I believe in you!” (Encourage someone today!)
#75 – Rough Road? (Take a closer look!)
#76 – Lose someone? Tell me…”What was he/she like?”
#77 – One Year, Six Months: “Ride the Wave!”
#78 – “Forever Young!”
#79 – Hidden Treasures
#80 – To Life! (Happy Spring!)
#81 – Row or Float?
#82 – What color are your memories?
#83 – “All I need is a pair of wheels…”
#84 – What is Your Art? (Dedicated to Phil Hirlemann)
#85 – Mother’s Day is May 8th (Read this before making reservations!)
#86 – “Take care of yourself!” (Especially on Mother’s Day)
#87 – “Keep playing that guitar!” (Don’t let your dreams gather dust!)
#88 – Go Fish! (What’s on your mind?)
#89 – Remember: Keep the “Memorial” in Memorial Day!
#90 – Summer Fun List! (37 random ways to have fun this summer)
#91 – Father’s Day is June 19th! (Read this before you buy another necktie or coffee mug!)
#92 – Watch for Rainbows!
#93 – Live Your Legacy (in memory of Sean Rollnick)
#94 – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of…Happyness!
#95 – Hard at Work?  Stay Cool!
#96 – Sit down and rock a while!
#97 – Start spreading the news!  (The news you want to see!)
#98 – Stop and smell the… (whatever makes you happy!)
#99 – Go Ahead…Reminisce (and Remember Together)
#100 – Just…Breathe.
#101 – Good Company
#102 – The Gift of Time
#103 – No Regrets (What’s in your bucket?)
#104 – 104 Ways to Spread Happyness!
#105 – Another Wave!
#106 – Welcome Fall!  (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)
#107 – “How can I help?”
#108 – When in doubt, reach out!
#109 – Send a smile…send mail!
#110 – Countdown to Happyness! (Spread the Word!)
#111 – Ten Weeks to Happyness! (“Go get your wings!)
#112 – Nine Weeks to Happyness: Vote “YES” to Happyness!
#113 – Eight Weeks to Happyness: Thank a Veteran!
#114 – Seven Weeks to Happyness: Spread Kindness!
#115 – Six Weeks to Happyness: Count Your Blessings!
#116 – Five Weeks to Happyness: Monster Trucks for Toys!
#117 – Four Weeks to Happyness: Send Happy Mail!
#118 – Three Weeks to Happyness: Spread the Love!
#119 – Have a “Happy Heart-mas!”
#120 – Did you “Love Your Life” in 2016?
#121 – New Year, New View! (What are you looking toward in 2017?)
#122 – Plan Ahead (Your year…at a glance!)
#123 – Lower the Ladder!
#124 – Back to Basics: Smile, Wave, Say Hello, and ask “How are you doing?”
#125 – Valentine’s Day is February 14th!
#126 – “Have a Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#127 – Prepare to FLY!
#128 – Happyness in Action (Take the Giving Challenge)
#129 – WANTED: Happyness Spreaders!
#130 – Two years, six months: “Ride the wave!”
#131 – Out with the old!  (What are you holding on to?)
#132 – “We’re all on our own stage…” (In memory of Cindy Tedesco)
#133 – Feedback & Follow Up!
#134 – Forgive!
#135 – TO LIFE!  (What are you looking forward to this spring?)
#136 – Repost: “All I need is a pair of wheels…”
#137 – “Grab a coffee!”
#138 – Mother’s Day is May 14th!
#139 – “Take care of yourself!” (Especially on Mother’s Day)
#140 – Clear the deck!  (Summer’s coming!)
#141 – REMINDER: Keep the “Memorial” in Memorial Day
#142 – It’s Graduation Season! (What’s the best/worst advice for grads?)
#143 – Father’s Day is June 18th!
#144 – BE STILL! (Celebrate the Solstice!)
#145 – Summer Fun Lists: What’s in YOUR top ten?
#146 – Summer Fun: Take a hike!
#147 – Summer Fun: Take a seat!
#148 – Summer Fun: Take a drive!
#149 – Summer Fun: Make memories! (And share them, too!)
#150 – Summer Fun: Invite someone along!
#151 – Summer Fun: Mentor someone!
#152 – Summer Fun: “Take your baby to the carnival…”
#153 – Summer Fun: Spread Good Words!
#154 – Summer Fun: Play Tourist…in your Hometown!
#155 – Summer Fun: Spread Happyness (and start with yourself first!)
#156 – Three Years! (and 156 ways to Spread Happyness)
#157 – Another Wave! (Reflections at the Three Year Mark)
#158 – Welcome Fall!
#159 – Not sure what to do? (Reach out and help someone!)
#160 – Q4 is Here! (What do you have left to do in 2017?)
#161 – Roll Me Away! (Listen to your longings this week!)
#162 – To Whom It May Concern (Say “Thank You” this week!)
#163 – Ten Weeks to Happyness! (Don’t pretend; make plans: “Go get your wings!”)
#164 – Nine Weeks to Happyness: Vote “YES” to Happyness!
#165 – Eight Weeks to Happyness: Thank a Veteran!
#166 – Seven Weeks to Happyness: “If it feels like you have forever; you don’t!” (JoCheryl Holcombe)
#167 – Six Weeks to Happyness: Count Your Blessings!  (30 Days of Gratitude Starts Now!)
#168 – Five Weeks to Happyness: MONSTER TRUCKS for TOYS! (Happyness Re-Revisited with Amy Wood-Oblen)
#169 – Four Weeks to Happyness: Make your house a Special Delivery! (Happyness in Action with Jessica Suto)
#170 – Three Weeks to Happyness: Thank You, First Responders!
#171 – Two Weeks to Happyness: “Love those to the left and right of you” (Happyness Re-Revisited with Sarah Harmeyer and Neighbor’s Table)
#172 – Did you “Love Your Life” in 2017? (How’s the view?)
#173 – Welcome to 2018!!!  (What tracks do you want to make this year?)
#174 – PLAN AHEAD! (And USE those calendars!)
#175 – Spread Happyness: SEND MAIL!
#176 – Happyness Re-Visited: 2,000 Smiles and Counting! (with Renee Eisman)
#177 – Valentine’s Day is February 14th!  (Read this before buying that expensive gift!)
#178 – Have a “Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#179 – Back to Basics: Smile, Wave, Say Hello, and ask “How are you doing?”
#180 – Spread Happyness: CONNECT!
#181 – Three years, six months: “Ride the wave!”
#182 – Share good news!
#183 – “I believe in you!” (Encourage someone today!)
#184 – “We are all on our own stage, and it’s up to us how to act!” (In memory of Cindy Tedesco)
#185 – “Take the long way home!”
#186 – Notice the color of someone’s eyes!
#187 – Repost: Happyness in Action – Take the Giving Challenge!  (with Stephanie L. Jones)
#188 – Are you an outlet…or a plug?
#189 – “Heavy on my mind…”  (Who are you thinking of?)
#190 – Mother’s Day is May 13th! (Here’s a dozen ideas that DON’T involve reservations!)
#191 – Take care of yourself! (Especially on Mother’s Day)
#192 – Don’t let your dreams gather dust!
#193 – REMINDER: Keep the “Memorial” in Memorial Day!
#194 – File a COMPLIMENT!
#195 – Father’s Day is June 17th!  (Remember: the best gifts start with an “F”)
#196 – Make a Lane! (Dedicated to Sean Young, HHS Class of 1992)
#197 – Summer Fun Lists! (What’s in YOUR top ten?)
#198 – Summer Fun List: It’s the Fourth of July!!! (Do you know where your fireworks are?)
#199 – Summer Fun List: “Walk the Boards and Ride the Waves!!!”
#200 – Summer Fun List: Sit a spell!
#201 – Summer Fun Challenge: Don’t forget to water your mail carrier! (And other service professionals, too!)
#202 – Summer Fun List: Watch the grass (or weeds) grow!
#203 – Summer Fun List: “Take your baby to the carnival!” (or county fair, or farm and horse show!)
#204 – Summer Fun Challenge: Spread Good Words!  (Here are three ways to do it!)
#205 – Summer Fun Challenge: Mentor someone!
#206 – Summer Fun Challenge: Thank You, First Responders!
#207 – Summer Fun: It’s Labor Day Weekend!  (What’s left on your list?!)
#208 – Reflections at the Four-Year Mark (and 208 Ways to Spread Happyness!)

There you have it!!!  All 208 ways (and counting) to Spread Happyness!!!

(And here’s one more…)

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!  If you’ve scrolled this far…you are a most loyal supporter and so, again, I say “thank you!”  It’s that time when I have to think about the year ahead — and the future of SpreadHappyness.com.  Whether you’re a first-time visitor — or you’ve been with me since the beginning — your input is welcome!  What do you like most?  What has been most helpful to you/others?  What else/more would you like to see?  How can I make SH better/more relevant?  How can SH help spread EVEN MORE happyness in the year ahead?  I invite you to respond to me in the way that works best for you: through the comments, on Facebook, or at the email below.  Your perspective is invaluable — and I’d love to know what you think!

To life!  To love!  To Happyness!

Grace (aka “Rob’s sister!”)

Spread Happyness — please share your thoughts in the comments!

9/7/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com