(Chatterbox Drive-In – Augusta, NJ)

Week #63 – Five Weeks to Happyness: TOYS for…TRUCKS?!
(Happyness in Action — with Amy Wood-Oblen)

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

If Thanksgiving is all about GRATITUDE then December is all about GENEROSITY!!!

And how better to kick off the holiday season (and our very own 50-for-50 Virtual Toy Drive) by celebrating our second nomination for Happyness in Action: Rob’s classmate Amy Wood-Oblen and her family — for headlining the Monster Trucks for Toys Event at the Chatterbox Drive-In in Augusta, NJ this Saturday from 11-3p to benefit children in Sussex County this holiday season!  Each new, unwrapped toy gets you a ride on the Monster Truck for free!  (See poster for details.)

Amy and her family are happy to give back to Project Self-Sufficiency’s Season of Hope Program.  “It means a lot to us because years before I met my husband I lived in Sussex County with my son and for a few years and they helped me to put presents under my tree, so I owe them a lot.”

The owner of The Chatterbox has the toy drive every year.  A few years ago while eating there, Amy’s husband Shawn (of NJ Monster Trucks) was talking with him and they came up with the idea of doing rides for toys.

Four or five years later, it’s a tradition.  Last year (even with weather complications) they collected over 70 toys.  Toys that will go to children right in their own backyard.  Amy added, “it’s a plus to know it will be local children receiving the gifts.”

And while the suggested donation value is $5 per ride, Amy says:  “The great thing about this event is how much people give…they give much much more!”

Weather has been an issue in the past because if it rains or snows they have to cancel.  This year they are starting earlier so they can add the rain/snow date (Sunday, November 29th).

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: GIVE GENEROUSLY!!! As I wrote last year on Week #11, one of Rob’s greatest joys was donating to Toys for Tots each year.  I’m calling on you — Rob’s Happyness Family — to spread the wealth with another “50-for-50 Virtual Toy Drive” this year.  If you’re local, Amy’s event on Saturday is a great place to start.  Otherwise, you choose your gift and your location (Rob chose Toys for Tots, but there are many other options in your community — a church, local foodbank, Salvation Army, or other organization).  Just let us know what you donated and where…and maybe even post a photo!  I’ll tally up the info and post a running total each week, with a grand total at the end of the month!

Last year we tallied about 50 donations — which was MATCHED by two anonymous donors — for a total of 100 donations!

Whattya say, Team Happyness…can we top it?!

Spread Happyness — GIVE GENEROUSLY!  Spread the Wealth and donate a game or toy (or food, etc.) in Rob’s honor this year!  (Then tell us about it — post a comment, send a photo, or share this challenge with others!)

11/27/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

(PS: Special thanks to Amy Wood-Oblen for taking the time to share her story!  To learn more about NJ Monster Trucks, visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/NJMonsters)

50 for #50 Toy Drive Update  (AS OF 12/12/15):
1. A football, Hot Wheels set, Loom activity set, 500-piece puzzle, toy construction vehicle, mini construction vehicle set, and a tea party set were donated to Toys for Tots.
2. Lego Friends toy donated at Turtleback Zoo Toy Drive.
3. Donation was made to Teterboro Animal Shelter
4. Donation was made to Endometriosis Foundation of America

“Express yourself!” (facebook.com/sprymind)

Week #62 – Six Weeks to Happyness: EXPRESS YOURSELF!!
(Happyness in Action — with Graphic Designer, Scott Cuzzo)

Greetings Happyness Tribe!

Last week I asked you to send me your nominations for individuals who TAKE ACTION and Spread Happyness for the benefit of others.  In exchange, I promised to donate one can of coffee to the local food bank for each nomination.  Well…I’m pleased to announce I have a nice little line-up of individuals who are making wonderful contributions at their local levels — and a half-dozen tubs of Folgers ready for good homes!

I’ll look forward to sharing each of their stories with you in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, here is our first nomination for Happyness in Action: Graphic Designer and Illustrator, Scott Cuzzo (facebook.com/sprymind), for his free coffee cup coloring page — and an important message about what the world needs from YOU!

Scott is a graphic designer and illustrator who, just this past May, decided to put his skills to work for himself by creating and publishing his own version of adult coloring books.  While engaging in an online chat for people who care for elderly parents, someone said: “I wish I had coloring books to bring my mom, but they are either too complicated (like the current adult book trend), or silly children’s books.”  As a designer and illustrator, Scott realized that he could fill this need, that he could do it quickly, and with no funding.  Above all, Scott realized it was important work.  From there, Scott created a brand and a logo — and got a quick blog up and running.  SpryMind was born…with a mission to design coloring books suitable for all ages by providing a range of difficulty and topics.

Six months later, Scott has four coloring books available on Amazon — and last week he found himself in the middle of a social media controversy over coffee cups.  Like most people…Scott had his own strong opinions but he told me he tries not to engage in religion or politics on Facebook.  So he created something instead!  “I’m a creative person…and my brain just reacts to things. I thought…let’s give people a cup…and they can decorate it however they choose!”

“Go for it!  It’s just a cup!” — Scott Cuzzo

The idea struck fast…and within an hour he was done.  “The topic was hot, so I acted quickly. Waiting too long would have been a fail.”  He drew the cup…and put it out there on his Facebook page.  For free!

The response?  Scott’s surprised at how many people shared his post!  Some have even colored them in and sent them back to him.  And me…well…I contacted him for an interview!  Why?  Because he TOOK ACTION to make people happy!

“I just wanted to respond in a way that didn’t create anything negative. I love to make people laugh. Laughter is vital and healing.” — Scott Cuzzo

Seems easy right?  It’s not.  In Scott’s own words, “It’s so easy to come up with ideas! Follow through is HARD.”  He added: “Fear is real. It creeps in and must be destroyed…regularly.”

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: EXPRESS YOURSELF!!!  The world needs your skills, your ideas, your commitment, AND your follow through!  It isn’t easy, I know.  There are thousands of distractions and an abundance of (sometimes very good) reasons not to do things.  Start today!  It might be as simple as Scott’s blank coffee cup coloring page!  Print it out and use it to create YOUR vision of the holiday season ahead.  Make it a family project, a business contest, or office icebreaker.  Most important…share it with others!  We don’t need social media memes or some corporation to tell us what to think…EXPRESS YOURSELF!

“The world is a fragile, sad, messed up place.  It needs your love.  Give it away freely and generously, like you’re made of the stuff.  Start now.”  – Scott Cuzzo

Spread Happyness — EXPRESS YOURSELF in the comments!  (And if you do color in the page…please share it with Scott!  Or send him dark chocolate…he really likes that!)

11/20/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

(To learn more about Scott, visit him on Facebook (facebook.com/sprymind) or contact him directly at scott@sprymind.com.)

(photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #61 – Seven Weeks to Happyness: TAKE ACTION! (What coffee cups and Christmas trees taught me this week!)

There’s been a lot of discussion about coffee cups and Christmas trees in the news this week…which has me thinking about two things:

1. Did you know that food banks really need coffee?  I talked a little about this during Week #22.  For families with limited resources, coffee is a huge budget-buster and an absolute luxury after meal basics and toiletries are covered.  One can of coffee goes a long way to bring warmth, comfort, and a feel of normalcy to adults at the head of those households!
2. Can you imagine if everyone who complained about, commented on, or posted a picture about these issues TOOK ACTION and donated ONE can of coffee to their local shelter?  Can you imagine how many adult lives that would affect?  Maybe lives right in your own community?

This was all juxtaposed with Veteran’s Day this week — and I started thinking about people who are motivated to TAKE ACTION.  Three specific people in my Facebook feed came to mind — people I’ve witnessed take action to Spread Happyness for the benefit of others.

And then I thought: “Well hey, Grace…what are YOU going to do about it?!”

I immediately contacted each of the three to feature them and their efforts on this blog in the coming weeks.  I’m not sure how that will unfold or what I’m going to call it yet — but I know that I want to shine the light on people who take that step.  Who put Happyness into action for the benefit of others.

What about you?

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: TAKE ACTION!  If you know someone who embodies Happyness in Action, who’s stepped up and Spread Happyness in the face of a challenge, or who’s taken that step beyond wishing or complaining and actually done something to benefit others — I want to hear from you!  You can email me directly at grace@spreadhappyness.com — or tell me about your nomination in the comments and I’ll contact you to find out more!

And what will I do?  I will honor every nomination, every celebration of another person’s effort, every spotlight shone on Happyness in Action — by donating one can of coffee to the local food bank (mine, yours, or wherever).

My brother Rob loved his morning coffee.  He even had a little 4-cup coffee maker with him for hospital stays — right up to the end.  He always said, if he made it through, he really wanted to help people.  He can’t…but we can!

Spread Happyness — TAKE ACTION!  Send me a nomination or celebrate someone else in the comments!!!

11/13/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

Strange Magic (photo credit: Grace Church)

[Editor’s note: This week’s post comes on the heels of losing yet another soul too soon: to the family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, clients, and children of Valerie Lupo (Mount Olive class of 1997) — my heart is with you.  May every connection, big and small, strengthen and support you in the days, weeks, and months ahead. I dedicate this post to her mom Jodi…and her beautiful Val.]

Week #60 – Eight Weeks to Happyness: CONNECT!

One year ago today, Rob’s hairstylist Jodi tracked me down because she was remembering and missing Rob.  She shared stories about his visits to the salon…and then she mentioned that a certain song (“Strange Magic” by ELO) reminded her of him.  I wrote about that on Week #9 — and challenged you to reach out and connect with someone when a song (or word, or place, or food) reminded you of them.

One year later…this post is once again dedicated to Jodi, and her daughter Valerie who passed away earlier this week.  I got word of Val’s passing via Facebook on Tuesday…and my heart immediately sank for Jodi, her family, and all who knew and loved Val.  The next few days and weeks will be beyond difficult…and I know now the truth of what lies ahead: an ever-changing but endless grief.

Our Ten Weeks to Happyness is underway — and it may seem strange to tie the subject of death or grief to Happyness — but this is where we have to take the lead.  Horrible things happen.  Unimaginable, unexplainable, incomrehendible things.  In October we talked about setting priorities, taking action, and living up to who we say we are (or want to be).  This week I can’t help but take a step back and challenge us, while we’re in hot pursuit of your own dreams and goals, to REACH OUT and CONNECT with someone else who is struggling!

Especially someone who is grieving.

Grief is one of the loneliest roads a person can travel — because each loss is unique to the griever.  We don’t need to fix it, or make sense of it, or spin it — we can just be lost in it as much as the other person and say we don’t know why…we just know, and we’re really really sorry.

A little connection goes a LONG way.  Don’t hold back.

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: CONNECT with someone this week!  Send an email or text, make a phone call or reach out to let them know you are thinking of them.  If you know them better — make some food, offer to help with a chore, or run an errand.  (And if they’re already gone — talk to them out loud, write a letter, or share a story about them with someone else.)

Grief knows no time limit…but neither does love!  That is “Strange Magic” indeed.

Spread Happyness — CONNECT!  And share your experiences in the comments!

11/6/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

“Get your priorities straight!”

Week #58 – Ten Weeks to Happyness: “Get your priorities straight!”

Last week I challenged you to take some time to look BACK at the year so far…and take note of your highlights and happy moments to date: achievements, successes, special times or significant developments.  THEN I challenged you to take that ONE THING left to do this year…and break it down into ten steps.  These will be our TEN WEEKS to HAPPYNESS so that you and I together (wherever we are) can yell: “I LOVE MY LIFE!” on New Year’s Eve this year!

But if you’re like most people…(and me too!)…to pick one thing is hard.  You have varied interests, obligations, and maybe a secret wish or two.  Picking one thing means leaving the others to whither up and die, right?

Or does it?

This is where knowing your priorities comes in handy.  I had the blessing of being retold the story of Rob’s first home-buying adventure this week — and how priorities played a big part in the search and selection of that first purchase years ago.  There was a clear list of “Must Haves”, “Nice to haves”, “Willing to Compromises”, and “Not Importants”.  And as I entertained the questions myself in other areas of my life…I felt the clarity that the answers delivered.  And I heard his voice joking with me, saying:

“Get your priorities straight, Graaaaace.”

Priorities don’t mean you forget about the “Nice to Haves”, “Willing to Compromises”, and “Not Importants”.  It just means you put them in their place.

Your assignment for this week: “Get your priorities straight!”  As we count down the last ten weeks of the year — where better to start than with the most important things!  So…get out a calendar and look ahead to December 31st.  If you can, lay out all three months side by side so you can see them all at once.  Then, set a timer for 15 minutes and jot down all those many and varied wishes and dreams you have (for you and your loved ones and family) for the next ten weeks.  Finally, next to each item, ask yourself: is it a “Must Have”, a “Nice to Have”, a “Willing to Compromise”, or a “Not Important”.  These questions don’t just apply to house-hunting…they apply to Happy Hunting as well!

You might be surprised at what you find!  How many “Must Haves” do you see?  THESE are your priorities.  It doesn’t mean you forget about the other items…it just gives you a point of focus.  NOW…pick one, break it down into steps, and take that first action on it this week!

Spread Happyness — share your thoughts in the comments (and if you know someone who is struggling to get clear on something, share this with them)!

10/23/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

“Loving Life!” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #57 – Are you “Loving Life” in 2015?  (Ten weeks left to make it happen!)

On January 2nd I challenged you to “Love Your Life” in 2015.  Do you remember?

(If not, you can revisit Week #16 here…or just keep reading!)

If you don’t remember…don’t worry!  I warned you that might happen.  That’s why I encouraged you at that time to start tracking your accomplishments.  We talked about a daily list, a gratitude tree, a photo journal, and a Happyness Jar…any system for recording your achievements, successes, highlights, and otherwise happy times THROUGHOUT the year ahead!

Have you been keeping up?

(To be honest…I’ve struggled to keep mine up-to-date as well!  That’s actually why I’m writing this post this week!)

The turn into October is usually a checkered-flag moment for me…a time to stop, take stock, and set a course for Q4: the finish line of the calendar year.

Because I was traveling, I overlooked it.

And then I looked up…and now we’re just ten weeks away!

So I’ll ask you the same question I asked you on January 2nd of this year:

Are you on track to yell, “I LOVE MY LIFE!” on December 31st?  

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: Have you been keeping track of your highlights?  If so, GREAT WORK!  (And please share your methods in the comments!)  But if not, don’t worry.  Take some time this weekend to look back over your calendar, your emails, your texts, your tweets, and your Facebook wall and make a note of any special or significant moments.  I, myself, have lapsed in my daily rundown — missing several significant moments like career milestones, projects completed, and payments received!  The holidays are a slippery slope…don’t let your Happyness get caught in the landslide!  Take time to REFLECT now and set yourself up for a satisfying end to 2015!

BONUS CHALLENGE: Is there something you still need to do that is nagging at you?  If so…you’ve got TEN WEEKS to do it!  Break it down into ten steps…share it with a friend…find yourself a buddy…and then get to work!

Most important…keep collecting the good stuff!  Because we need more of that.  More focus on the wins.  More focus on what’s right.  More focus on loving our lives — so that we can live our lives more fully.

I still want us to yell “I LOVE MY LIFE!” — from wherever we are — at midnight this New Year’s Eve!  Are you still with me?!

Spread Happyness — share your thoughts and plans to “LOVE YOUR LIFE! in 2015 — and encourage others to do the same!!!

10/16/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

Which way to Happyness? (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #55 – Which way to Happyness?

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and Welcome to Week #55!

I’m writing to you from the West Coast…James and I are on our first trip to LA in over two years.  And I have a confession…

…it has not been entirely happy.

To return to the place I first lived and worked out of college, the place I struggled and celebrated my first highs and lows, the place where I made my first adult friends (many of whom are still friends to this day!) — it’s always been a fun trip down memory lane.  But this time things have changed…and I’m not talking about LA.  I’ve changed.  I’m not the same person I was a year ago…and I can feel it HERE more clearly than at home.  Getting away from all the things that make me “Me” just leaves me wondering…who am I, really?

And I need to tell you — that’s a very empty thing, especially now.

But is it weird to say that I kind of like it?

Because it’s causing me to dig deep.

It is the first Friday of the month — and Rob is on my mind.  I had planned to make this post about him — but coming to the West Coast has left me reaching in two directions.  My LA-brain is still reaching backward for Rob — wanting to share the experience with him, struggling anew to compute the reality that he is gone.  My East Coast brain — which has been processing Rob’s death for a year — is facing forward, looking to the horizon, and adjusting to a future “without” him.

Which way to Happyness?

As I was looking back for a picture of Rob for today’s post — I was drawn to this picture I took just yesterday!  That one lone surfboard just waiting for a rider reminded me of him.  At first it made me sad…and then I realized: although Rob is not physically present (and Lord knows I wish he was!), his spirit is felt in each and every moment I remember his absence.  Yes, I can look back at old photos and see what he was…but I can also look forward and see him still, reminding me at every turn to choose Happyness!

This week’s challenge: Which way to Happyness?!  As you move through your week, and you encounter those damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don’t moments — ask yourself, “Which way to Happyness?”  Sometimes Happyness isn’t the easiest, or safest, most popular, or even most sensical option.  Those are valid questions to ask, for sure.  But be sure to ask yourself which way to Happyness, too.

“My giant goes with me wherever I go.”  (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

10/2/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

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

Week #54 – Welcome Fall!!! (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and Welcome to Week #54!

For many weeks now, we have focused on Spreading Happyness to others.  This week — as we kick off a new season — I want to remember that Happyness starts with ourselves!  This weekend — I challenge you to take stock and regain your balance for the 13 weeks ahead!

This past Wednesday at 4:22 a.m. ET marked the Autumnal Equinox — 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 the moment — perfect balance.

Balance.

I don’t know about you…but Summer always leaves me feeling a little unhinged.  Long days, lots of sun, an abundance of visitors, activities, and things to do.  Couple that with the added pressure in the Northeast to “get out and enjoy it”…and summer can feel like a mad rush to some finish line that ends three weeks early on Labor Day weekend.

Thankfully, we’re all smart enough to know that Summer doesn’t “really” end until September 21st — and many of us have been able to get out and enjoy the additional three weeks of beautiful weather we’ve been having!

But as the air turns a little cooler, the wind picks up, and maybe those boots and sweaters are starting to look pretty good — the Autumnal Equinox gives us the perfect opportunity to step back, take stock, and re-balance.

If Autumn is creeping up on you, don’t fight it — WELCOME IT!

Your challenge for this weekend: CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAYS OF AUTUMN!  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 13 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 2016.  13 weeks is 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.  WELCOME 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!  WELCOME 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!

9/25/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church