Keeping Happy

If you've noticed, one topic we’ve not been short of hearing lately, is mental health especially during the pandemic. That said I am still encouraged by the many tips and support systems shared out there on how to face our mental giants.

An interesting exercise I came across suggested, much like the movie (and yes you can guess how ancient I am), The sound of music’s "favorite things", listing down your very own unique list of favorite and least favorite things.

Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music

You may be surprised at just how your description of things reflect your mindset and how by simply reframing situations and events, perspectives and moods can change.

Here’s me having a go at it:

My Favorite Things:

Kiki and Lala coloring book

Smell of wet grass

New buds on plants

Crispy shrimp crackers and hot ocha

Johan Sebastian Bach Air on the G String

Cranking music boxes

Turning the pages of Titin hardcopy books

Putting up my new painting on the wall

Smell of coriander on bahn rolls

Hand embroidery on organic cotton

First spring breeze, cooling over warm cheeks

Pleasures of Hating:

The screeching sound of chairs dragged on the floor

Loud conversations in public transportations

Flat sweaty hair

Finding sock pairs after laundry

Switching airpod pairing on different devices

Cockroaches with a million lives

Animals in indoor malls

Used socks on shoes

Many More Moments

Every November our church celebrates Thanksgiving month. One of the loviest songs that’s played annually is a praise specially written for the thanksgiving celebration by an evangelist who used to serve at our church. The lyrics says:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6wSX1xEdEk

Bukan hanya dalam kelimpahan Namun juga dalam kekurangan Bukan hanya dalam kemudahan Namun juga dalam kesulitan

Bukan hanya karena sukacita Lebih lagi karena air mata Bukan hanya tatkala ku kuat Lebih lagi saat ku tak berdaya

Ajarku setia bersyukur S’bab anugerah-Mu selalu cukup bagiku Ajarku tetap berkata “Terima kasih Tuhan kalau badai menerpa”

Tegakkanlah tanganku saat kuangkat pujianku Kuatkanlah hatiku saat kunaikkan syukurku Tuhan Kau sungguh baik Tuhan Kau segalanya bagiku

Not just in abundance

But also in want

Not just in favour

But also in hardships

Not just in joyous times

Moreover in times of sadness

Not just when I am strong

More so when I am weak

Teach me to be faithful in gratefulness

because Your grace is sufficient for me

Teach me to keep saying

Thank you God when the storms hit

Hold my arms as I lift my praise

Strengthen my heart as I give thanks

For You are a good God

You are everything to me

Indeed the power of giving thanks and a grateful heart produces an incomparable peace and calm state of mind.

More importantly as one gets into the habit of becoming more aware of every moment and circumstance, the more one notices how much we are abound with things to be grateful for every single day.

All we need to do is stop and notice.

Be Grateful. Be Happy.