Pushing 60: Happiness Is An Inside Job 😁

❤️ Hello From My Heart ❤️

Happiness comes from within

A thought popped into my mind today on this last day of February 2026.

"Do what makes you happy".

My Mother Phyllis used to say this to me

all of the time:

"Do one thing each day that makes you happy".

...Even when life sucked

It did for many years as we both went through cancer. Hers, lung. Mine, uterine.

Not to mention a lot of drama/trauma.

I'll just leave that for another time.

Mom taught me Creative Responsibility before there was even a name for this coping mechanism.

Anytime Mom felt like she needed an emotional boost, she would paint canvases,

figurines and even rocks.

She would doodle on paper, write poetry

and make wreaths and other crafts, the hot glue gun we shared got a great workout

😁

The greatest gift my Mother gave me was teaching me this healthy coping mechanism.

There's too much that we both went through even before the cancer experience to even mention here.

It's also way too personal.

Turning angst into art was the greatest thing she ever taught me.

I still do all these things and more.

I write poetry, songs and books.

I also sing and produce my own songs.

It's cathartic and gets the angst out of my soul.

When life throws us some curve balls, why not decorate them with glitter?

I believe there's purpose in our pain.

We can help others by sharing our stories through art, music and writing.

I owe my mom a lot and will always use this lesson for a lifetime.

Thanks, Mom!

I love and miss her everyday.

Cancer took her a few years ago.

Here's my beautiful Momma and a few paintings she did for my brother:

My Father James gave me love for music.

This was his coping mechanism.

I remember riding with he and my Mother in Pop's cars and vans.

We'd listen to a vast variety of music from Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, The Platters, Johnny Mathis to the harmonies of The Everly Brothers, The Beatles and The Beach Boys.

Of course there would also be

Roy Orbison and Elvis.

I remember whenever Pop was going through "stuff", working or just chilling out, he would turn the radio up.

I did this, too. The radio was my best friend growing up.

In times of trouble and loneliness, both art and music soothed my soul.

Thanks for my love of music, Dad.

I miss him, too.

I lost him a year ago this month to both bone cancer and sepsis.

I was very fortunate to have both parents and the love of music and art they passed down to me.

Another coping mechanism Pop taught me was going out in nature to de-stress.

Especially near or on the water. As you can see, boating was one of his favorite things to do.

Years ago, my friend Danielle turned me on to a book called

"Living In The Light" by Shakti Gawain.

In it, Ms. Gawain talks about how happiness can't be found externally through relationships and that happiness comes from within.

I definitely agree. Before you get into a relationship, it's best to make yourself happy first.

Relying on someone else for happiness puts a lot of stress on your partner and also sets yourself up for heartache.

We are responsible for our own happiness.

Don't get me wrong, I love being in a relationship. For me, it's the best joy in life.

The comraderie, love, trust and commitment is wonderful.

I just had to learn to love myself first and foremost to return love back.

Not a narcissistic kind of love, but one that sustains me with or without someone.

The book below is definitely worth a read:

Happiness is indeed an inside job.

Using Creative Responsibility, putting angst into art, music or anything else gives you happiness regardless of what's going on.

I'm happy no matter what life throws my way.

All My Love,

Sue