The Being Happy Challenge

A couple of weeks ago I was watching the Anderson Cooper talk show as he interviewed my favorite actress Drew Barrymore. She said that her life changed when she decided to be happy. Drew said each morning she tells herself “I’m going to be happy today.” She said doing this has changed her life and brought good things to it. So I thought thats easy just be happy. I quickly learned it’s not as easy as it sounds, especially having to remember everyday. So I gave up after a week, but it’s been haunting my mind ever since. I began to wonder if it’s as easy as to just say “I’m going to be happy?”  And will it bring good things to your life? Well on the eve of my 38th birthday I have decided to find out.

For a whole year I will wake up each mornign and say “I’m going to be happy today. No matter what happens I will continue to smile and try my best to make others smile too.”

There are some things that will make this challenge difficult:

I’m not in love with my job.
I just published my first book in a market where no one really knows me.
Reviews for my book, even good ones play with my head.
I’m working on my second book, which is the sequel to Hold on Tight. I’ve been warned that sequals are never as good as the first book.
I only get to see my husband on the weekends.
I’m up to my neck in student loans.
And finally, I get horrible headaches at least 4 times a week.

I know a lot of those things are not real problems, but in a world where most people drown in a little cup a water these are big issues for me that sometimes can ruin my day.

Okay I know what you are thinking, why blog about it?  I’m blogging as a way to remember to stay happy everyday. The last time I tried I kept forgetting.

Now I’m not saying I’m going to be 100% happy everyday; I do have other emotions I have to embrace, but I’m going to try my best not to let things get to me and most of all not to complain. I also want to see if “being happy” does bring good things to your life.

I begin my challenge tomorrow and will hopefully blog about it every other day.