Lessons from my trip to the Mid West

     Hi everyone. I am back from our spring break trip to the Mid West to visit my in-laws. Before I left, I told a good friend about this trip and my trepidation of the long car ride and possible nuttiness from the in-laws. In her words of wisdom she said- she uses her nutty parents and in- laws to teach her how to be a good grandmother and mother-in-law in her future. How wise. And while I can't complain, Matt's parents were on their best behavior- my friends words were ringing in my ears. 
     I also was reading this book, "the Happiness Project" and some ideas overlapped. How to be a good parent, grandparent, in-law etc...? Practice happiness or some form of optimism and openness. A good point that the author makes is that we under value our happiness- not just in the good feelings it brings to us, but how it lifts others around us. 
"One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; one of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself." 
Lots of people wear their unhappiness as a badge of honor. As the author also says: "It's easy to be heavy. It's hard to be light."
Of course, it is hard to be light and good spirited when your body hurts. (And my in- laws are suffering from physical pain). Which brings me to my second lesson. Work to keep your body healthy! I love the book "Younger Next Year" as my aging bible. As soon as L is in school regularly, I plan to keep this promise. 


On another note. The royal wedding is only a day away. Is anyone planning to get up early- as many of us did for Charles and Diane? Or is TiVo going to do the work this time around? Enjoy. Can't wait to see the spectacle.

The British Diversion

I'm finding that the British are providing a nice diversion lately. First, my dear friend and blog follower is creating a British lingo day with her kids to spice things up. They will speak with British accents for the day. My little sketch to the left and post for the day is a nice light change from all the pontificating I've been doing here lately. And the royal wedding of course is a lovely diversion. I've been enjoying some London bloggers lately with photos of all the William and Kate knick knacks they've come across in shops.
Thank you royals. Now does everyone of a certain age remember where they were when Charles and Diane wed? I do.