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Hey, friends, it’s sweetheart month trailed by the luck of the Irish! I have several sweethearts, and I am Irish, so we celebrate love and success for the next two months (and beyond). This issue’s theme is Find Your Happy. It sounds ridiculously cliché, I know. I initially thought that, too, but I have come to realize that happiness is not just something we feel; happiness is something we can choose. This life is challenging, and it is so easy to get caught up in the craziness.
Every day we face choices. Let’s choose to focus on all we have, rather than what we do not have. Let’s choose to take care of our bodies and make a conscious choice to have a good attitude. Let’s make decisions to be around people who share our values and to focus on positive thoughts and ideas. Let’s choose to be honest and to help others when we are able.
I don’t wake up every day in a wonderful mood—honestly, ask my crew; the struggle is real. Nonetheless, I am choosing to embrace the goodness in my life. I am choosing to make decisions to remove or address things that are out of my control. (Of course, I am in no way trying to oversimplify happiness in the face of trauma or horrific situations—nor do I intend to overlook things such as chemical imbalances that affect overall well-being.)
Still, let’s not be held hostage by our circumstances, because no other person can fully give the happiness we seek. As a person of faith, my daily routine includes choosing joy and counting my blessings great and small. At times, I have allowed the challenges in my life to consume my entire being. I am striving to find the silver linings—I say striving because nothing is perfect, and I will always be real with you. I do know this: finding the silver lining is far less upsetting than obsessive worry.
Ladies, let’s please forgive ourselves; and for goodness sakes, stop skipping meals. Don’t forget to breathe. (I say that to my children daily.) Let’s remove—or at least distance ourselves—from the toxic people in our lives. Mamas, accept yourselves as you are right now. Enjoy the process; listen to yourself.
I am very excited to share this issue, chock full of interesting tidbits for embracing this crazy beautiful life. I know the stories will inspire us all to find our happiness.
The journey continues in faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance.
Jen Theisen
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
