In my life, I’ve been asked nearly a million times (okay, an honest exaggeration, haha!) what the formula for happiness is.
Hmmm. I’m no mathematician, I’m no chemist. I’m no architect. I’m no engineer. I’m no interior designer. I’m no doctor. I’m no lawyer. I’m no psychologist. I’m no “professional” with multiple degrees to make me the “authority” on happiness.
But, an emphatic BUT, I can candidly and confidently share the formula that I’ve used all my life ….
I ADD smiles and laughter to others by sharing happy vibes, cool fun, and encouragement. I love to appreciate others and “catch them” doing great.
I SUBTRACT their tears by showing them compassion and understanding …. oh and yes, when I feel their hurt, I shed a tear or two with them and stay with them through their pain.
I MULTIPLY their growth by acknowledging their strengths and inspiring them to spread their wings and fly higher and higher till their hearts happily soar in the sky. Hope is the priceless gift that I love to give.
I DIVIDE their heavy loads and burdens by listening to their challenging stories and offering them a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on.
Having shared all that, I continue to celebrate the exponential impact on others when I make GRATITUDE the foundation of my personal guaranteed formula.Nothing fancy, one may say. However, it’s clearly effective (this time, NOT an exaggeration).
Gratitude is the powerful base ….. as I add, subtract, multiply, and divide in my journey towards Happiness.
Oh, but don’t take my word for it. Better try it out and see for yourselves. Do tell me about it.
Be prepared though. You may be taken aback (positively, I should say!) with the amazing results! Indeed, a grateful heart is a happy heart.
THANK YOU! From my grateful, happy heart to yours! ❤️
Your very first breath. Your very first cry. Your very first smile. Ahhh! These all signaled that glorious moment of your arrival. You were born. And our world was never the same!
With your
miraculous birth came your undeniable claim, your indisputable privilege, your
inalienable birthright. Your happiness. Yes, your gift to yourself and to
the rest of the world.
But what is happiness, really? Is it a buzzword that people just nonchalantly throw around in social gatherings? Is it the poster-perfect image that people plaster on their social media accounts? Is it popularity in terms of how often your picture appears in glossy magazines or mega billboards? Is it your number of “friends” on Facebook or your number of “followers” on Instagram? Is it the attention-grabbing, shiny cars parked in your garage? Is it the grand vacation that you take to “get away from it all”? Is it your handsome paying job? Is it your highly diversified portfolio? Is it your gallery of certificates at home? Tell me now. Is it any of these external pleasures that are here today ….. and yet, may be gone tomorrow?
Well, we all have our own version of happiness and that’s totally okay. In fact, it’s wonderful that way. We’re all entitled to our own brand of happiness. As we navigate in our journey towards happiness, we may take different routes. Others may prefer to focus outward. Still, others may prefer to search within. It’s all a matter of mindset. It’s all a matter of perspective. It’s all a matter of meaning that we attach to things, to experiences, to people that we encounter in our lives.
Happiness
is a gift wrapped in a variety of ways. It’s our choice to unwrap this precious gift and
maximize it. It’s our choice to share it with the rest of the world too.
And what
gives us the power to be authentically happy? Regardless of what’s happening around
us. What gives us the ability to truly embrace happiness, to inhale it, to
taste it, to savor it, to relish it, to be in the moment with it, to linger in
it, to play with it, to relax with it, to grow with it, to learn with it, to
work with it, to partner with it, to live with it, to love with it?
Ultimately, WE are the power of happiness within us. We decide to be happy. We choose happiness. We become happiness personified.
Does that mean that we put ourselves in a box and cease to be human? Does that mean that we need to surgically implant smiles on our faces just to ensure that we “look happy” all day long? Does that mean that we deny our other colorful and necessary shades of human emotions?
Oh no!!! Farthest from that. For happiness goes beyond flashy smiles and buoyant spirits. Happiness goes beyond mantras and positive declarations. Happiness is more of a steady, grateful smile in the heart. That may shine ever so brilliantly for all to see in energized festivities or even glimmer quietly in solitude in the dark.For happiness is not about what happens around us. Happiness simply reflects the beauty and strength that we possess within. Through the different seasons of life.
Yes, happiness is our birthright. Happiness is our gift of ourselves to the world. We were born to be happy. We were born to inspire. ❤️
Hi friends, here’s to more celebrations! My friend, Big Brother Matthew of jesusluvsall nominated me for this award.
Inspiration is his middle name. He loves to lift others and encourage them in their faith walk as he passionately shares his faith in God. He is so genuine. It refreshes one’s soul.
When you want a happy faith booster, visit his amazingly inspiring blog jesusluvsall and be immensely blessed!
As always, sending love and light to our entire WP Community! Cheers, everyone!
Sunshine Blogger Award Rules ☀️🌻
Thank the person who nominated you and provide
a link back to him/her.
Answer the 11 questions provided by the
blogger who nominated you.
Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new
questions.
Notify the nominees by commenting on one of
their blog posts.
List the rules and display the Sunshine
Blogger Award logo on your post.
Matthew’s Questions ☀️🌻
1. If I was invited to dinner at your home, what food would you cook? by the way I have to eat gluten free 🙂
Great
news! I’m into gluten-free food too! With you as my special guest, your wish is
my command. So I’ll order from any restaurant of your choice. (I don’t cook,
haha!)
2.
What is your favorite place to unwind?
My mind.
I love my rich inner world. It takes me to so many amazing places all the time.
3.
What is your favorite animal and why?
I love the eagle. It’s got amazing vision, strength, discipline, and perseverance. But above all, it’s fearless.
4.
Where would you like to go on your next vacation?
Would
love to return to Europe with my hubby.
5.
Read a book or watch a movie?
Oh, I so
love movie dates! It allows for greater romance and sharing of the viewing
experience.
6.
If you could, would you like to travel in space?
Hmmm …. I never aspired to be an astronaut. I love admiring God’s awesome creation, and that definitely includes the universe, from a personally comfortable vantage point. Feet planted comfortably here on earth, haha!
7.
Beach or mountains and why?
Beach! I love the sound of the waves crashing to the shore. I love watching the sun kiss the horizon before it dozes off to sleep. And I don’t mind doing that with a wide-brimmed hat and a margarita, haha!
8.
What is your favorite music?
Hands
down …. worship music! Totally my music. I love both the reflective melodies
and lyrics …. and the upbeat rhythms and victorious messages.
9.
What is your favorite snack?
I love
pastries in general. Although, I attempt to reach out for more healthy choices.
Sliced apples, carrots, cucumbers would be my preference when I’m in my
“healthy zone”.
10.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I love to celebrate my special day with my family …. I’m not one for extravagant parties and fanfare. The more an occasion is closer to my heart, the more I love for it to be intimate.
11.
If Jesus knocked on your door to visit, what would you think?
Oh I would be most blessed. Beyond words. Candidly, I’m not sure if I would fall to my knees in reverent worship or embrace Him like a little girl. Not sure if I would verbalize all my praise and hallelujahs or if I would even be awestruck and speechless. One thing’s for sure, though. I would never want Him to leave.
Mmmmmmmm. Rich chocolate biscuits. Ahhhhhhhhhh. I just love!
When my
brother, Chef Carlo Batucan, flew home from Australia for a brief R&R
break, he brought me some yummy goodies. Well, he always does. That’s
automatic. Major thoughtfulness? That’s his department. He consistently spoils our family and
lavishes us with all the love, love, love. He is simply the most amazing
brother who ever walked the face of the earth!
Anyway,
back to my story …..
He asked me to taste two brands of rich chocolate biscuits: Arnott’s and Milka. Actually, I’ve already tasted a lot of their products in the past. In fact, I’ve tasted so many other delectable brands all over the world as well. It’s just that this time, we wanted to play a “Which Tastes Better Game” (The Battle of the Biscuits) with our family. Part of our fun bonding and chilling when we enjoyed our sumptuous dinner and dessert date.
Both
Arnott’s and Milka made me smile that night. And yet, the winner for me was
Arnott’s. That was
the major player that evening. And NOT to my surprise, my mom and sister took a
liking to that brand too. Result? Three happy, gorgeous smiles ….. from my mom,
my sister, and me. The Arnott’s brand promise of “There is no substitute” was
delivered excellently …. and swiftly …. to our happy, satisfied tummies. You got
the picture. The yummy pack was literally wiped out. It made a perfect pairing with our cappuccino,
macchiato, and café au lait. We needed no coffee sommelier to arrive at that
decision.
By the
time I got home, I worked on a project and wanted a quick bite of yumminess
before I went to bed. Mind you, that isn’t my nightly drill, though. (Am I
sounding guilty already? Haha!) I do attempt to avoid extra sugars on a normal
day.
I checked
my huge loot bag of goodies …. and the only brand left was the less popular
player that evening, Milka. Duh. That’s okay. Totally cool, I thought to
myself. Rich chocolate biscuit …. still it is.
To my
amazement, the more I bit into the Milka goodness, the more I rolled and
swirled the chocolate flavor in my mouth, the yummier it actually tasted. Really! The flavors, which had
earlier hidden that evening in the presence of “competition”, now grabbed my
attention. Being the “sole performer” for me at home, Milka definitely took
centerstage. With a thunderous applause from my happy tummy and grateful heart.
Yes, I savor rich chocolate biscuits with a lot of heart too. Especially when
my brother spoils me with them.
It dawned
upon me then that in life, options are powerful gifts indeed. They allow
us flexibility, freedom of choice, and multiple roads for greater possibilities.
However,
a deeper realization that evening was that in life,when you are focused
on what you presently have, it becomes an even more potent gift. Being in
the moment crystallizes your current situation and blessings. It deepens your respect
for and understanding of what lies before your very eyes. It increases your love
and appreciation for what you hold in your hands.
This
reminds me of my personal mantra for happiness:
Stay grateful for WHAT you have and WHO you have in life. All of
them. Celebrate them!
The next
day, I called my brother before he flew back to Australia. I thanked him for our
awesome bonding, all the yummy treats, and most importantly, the delicious
insights I gained from our “Which Tastes Better Game” (The Battle of the
Biscuits).
He asked me if I wanted a truckload of Milka when he visited me again. Trust me, he’s capable of that. I sheepishly said. “Aww thanks, but you don’t have to …..” He smiled and said, “I know, but I really want to…..” So, I candidly blurted out, “Well, let’s give the other rich chocolate biscuits a chance….there are millions out there. Let’s test the other brands too.”
And so, the battle goes on! And I ain’t complaining! Haha! ❤️
3 Cheers for coffee, rich chocolate biscuits, and happy tummies! ☕️☕️☕️
Hi friends! Awesome abundance is in the air. Prashanti Alluri of Happiness Inn nominated me for the 3.2.1. Quote Me Challenge.
Prashanti’s blog says it all. It spells happiness all over! Thanks for visiting Hqppiness Inn for a happy dose of goodness, inner joy, peace, and all that makes your heart smile!
Rules 😃
1. Thank the selector
2. Post 2 quotes for the dedicated Topic of the Day
3. Select 3 bloggers to take part in 3.2.1. Quote Me!
Quote 1
Quote 2
My Nominees 😃
1. happytonic
2. sunniesmybunnies
3. happyact
Like I shared in my previous post (July 27), as for my journey, what you see is what you get. Authenticity is my core.
Does that strike a chord in you? Would love to hear how Authenticity resonates with you and impacts your life too.
Thanks again friends for sharing my joy and gratitude! Sending you all much love and inspiration! ❤️
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE 