Appreciate the moment!

The key to happiness is to appreciate the moment - yes - the one that you are in right now. Sometimes I forget this. And when I do, it doesn't matter what anyone around me says or does I cannot find happiness. I had a day like that yesterday. I found myself worrying about all the things that I thought were lacking in my life. And when a person gets on that bandwagon - a lot of things can appear to be lacking.

I will spare you the details of my discontent but I will tell you it was painful!

This morning though I have woken up with a new attitude. I gave myself a talking to before I went to sleep last night and when I woke up I remembered all the wonderful things that are happening in my life. Of course its easy when one wakes up scrunched between husband and pet dog! Oh yeah, I have a great husband and a wonderful little furry companion! And as I lay there in the early hours of the morning, before the light had broken and even before the birds had began singing, I thought to myself "Laurie, you need to stay grounded in the moment." And I asked myself "What are the things that are working for you now?" The funny thing is...the list was longer than the disadvantaged list I was working on yesterday.

Perhaps I just had spring fever. Like my grandson on Facebook who posted last night "I'm soooo bored!"

My message for you all - out there reading this on whatever day in whatever season it is for you at this moment of reading - is celebrate the moment. Celebrate all that you have right this very moment. When you are happy, you are happy just because it comes up from your very essence. And when you are happy, others around you can feel it and often others want to be around you because of your happiness.

I'm going to enjoy this day, for this day's sake. And I'm going to share my enjoyment with my husband and anyone else who shows up in my life today. How about you? Will you do the same? This blog may be about 'how to make my wife happy' and its my job to remind you again, you have to start with you! So, here is my benediction to you. Go out and be happy. Appreciate the moment. Carpe Diem!

On one of the advice sites, a young man asked how he could make a good impression on a young woman he wanted to ask out for a date. The answer is universal. How do we make a good impression on another person? And your question might be “How do I sustain that good impression?” Here is the answer I gave that young man:

Be interested in her. Ask her questions about herself and listen to the answers. Treat her as a special person and remember her likes and dislikes. Be polite to her. Tell her about what is important to you. Share your feelings with her.

Dress neatly and tidily. Make sure your nails are clean and your smile is glistening ... oh and that your breath smells fresh. (To you husbands out there - don’t get rid of that breath freshener once you are married – keep using it!)

When you like someone, it will show. Spending time with her and treating her with respect is always a good start. Invite her to come to events that you will be at...a sports game...a pep rally....a chess club...whatever you are doing. (Ok, you are married now and want to make your wife happy and so the same rule applies - do things together that you both enjoy - not just what you want her to like to do with you.)

So, for what it is worth – that was my advice. For all you husbands who want to make your wife happy – remember she fell in love with you - did you change your behavior once you married? Better think about that and remember all the great things you used to do (and it works both ways, doesn’t it?)

Have a great day and smile!

Valentine's Day Is Coming!

It is the countdown to Valentine's Day. My most favorite day of the year!

I'm so excited - I love Valentine's Day!

All the women in the whole wide world - ok, ok....I'll start that again.....

Many women in the Western Hemisphere are as excited as I am! Full of anticipation. What wonderful, romantic thing is our husband/bf going to do for us this Valentine's day?

I know you men aren't that excited but we women are!

I'm making Valentine Cookies for my husband as a surprise (unless he peeks at this post) and then I've got a little trip to the beach planned - maybe some name writing in the sand.... and oh, yes, I do know what he has planned. It involves going out and a steak dinner with entertainment. He found a 'deal' and thinks it would be fun. We'll have fun! So our day and evening is planned!

Have you got a plan yet? Even a small box of chocolates and candles on the dinner table will help!

I've got a great idea for you to do. It is one of the bonuses on the How to Make Your Wife Happy website. This just might be the right time to check it out and the eBook "97 Steps to a Happy Relationship" which will really come in handy at this time of year and all year round if you want to be a good husband and keep your wife happy or make that special woman in your life happy!

Have a romantic, wonderful, awesome, and happy Valentine's Day! (I told you I was excited!)

I love you more than....

He: "I love you more than all the stars in the sky."
She: "I love you more than all the snowflakes that have ever fallen onto the earth."
He: "I love you more than all the Oreo cookies ever made!"

It is a silly little game that Yvonne and Paul play and Yvonne laughed as she told me "You can really feel the love!"

Yvonne and Paul play it all the time: while driving in the car, while walking the dog, while cleaning up the supper dishes. Yvonne was telling me about it and had me playing this game over a game of cards last night.

Some husbands I know of say "I told you when I married you I loved you and if I change my mind, I'll let you know." For some people - actually for a few people - that may be all they need but I want to tell you that for most people - especially women - they need to hear it more often. Yes, I know, actions speak louder than words, but we still need to hear the words. Tell her "I love you" anytime of the day or night and anywhere you are. Yes, back it up with actions but please tell her.

Ways you can tell her "I love you":

1. whisper it in her ear
2. yell it to her in the other room
3. write it on the top of a cake
4. put it into a poem
5. buy a card with it in it
6. have it written in the sky
7. put it on a billboard
8. carve it into wood
9. tramp it in the snow (that would be an accomplishment....take a picture and send it to me!)
10. write it on the wet sand of a beach
11. paint it on a canvas
12. cut the letters out of a magazine and tape them onto the fridge.

I love you more than the number of blogs on the internet.....now can you feel the love?

Think About What You Say and Do

I want to share a little story with you that a client told me and told me it would be fine if I put it on my blog.

This man told me that he went through a period of time of being upset with his wife all the time. It didn't matter what his wife said it was wrong! Sometimes he would get mad at her and other times he would just stomp into another room and stay there. Then his sister said to him one day "You are sniping at your wife a lot!" And he thought, "Yes, I am. But why am I doing that? I love her. I love her being around." He told me "I forced myself to say to my sister "I know you are right, I'm going to have to change that." I did! I did say that and it was hard for me to do because deep down inside I'm Fonzie and I don't like to admit that I am wr...wrrrr....wrronng."

Just having that simple little chat, he turned his communication around. He is thinking before he reacts. He is taking that extra minute to think about what he wants to say.

What I want to tell you about this is that we all have an instant reaction to a statement or an action, but we don't have to respond with the first thing that comes into our head. We can take a minute, evaluate the effect of what we are going to say and determine if it is the right thing to say.

This is true for both men and women. And it can go a long way to having a happy and well-functioning relationship.

UNDERSTANDING WOMEN

Just a little joke I found on Stumble and thought you might like...I'm afraid of spiders so I fit the bill....

UNDERSTANDING WOMEN
(A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE)

I know I'm not going to understand women.
I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax,
pour it onto your upper thigh,
rip the hair out by the root,
and still be afraid of a spider.

Happy New Year