Are you living your best life?
I was with my daughter, Jenna the other day in her Manhattan apartment. She lives alone with her cat, Poppy. Jenna is now 27 and she is at the age where a lot of her friends are getting engaged or soon to be married. When I was 27 many, many years ago, my mom would hound me about when I was going to get married. I don’t do that with Jenna because I know she is living her best life.
Jenna lives in a studio so it is not big at all, but she enjoys it very much. It is her home and she loves to be in it. Everyday Jenna finds things that make her happy. Whether it is running to the store for her coffee or buying a new book, Jenna is excited about what her plans are for the day.
Of course Jenna has her days when she is not happy and even times she will ask, “Do you think I will ever get married?” The thing I admire about Jenna though is she doesn’t dwell on that. She doesn’t need to because she lives every day to the fullest by making plans to do things that bring her happiness. She doesn’t need a person in her life to make her happy. That is a lesson I learned that you have to be happy with yourself before you can be happy with someone else. If you are not happy with yourself, having someone in your life won’t make you happy.
So why am I telling you about Jenna? Well, I thought about how she makes her life so happy and I do think we could all learn a little bit from Jenna that could turn our lives around. Let me break it down for you. Here are the things that Jenna is doing that makes her life fulfilling:
Plan each day - Jenna has various plans every day to make her happy. It could be something simple as getting her nails done or going to a Yoga class. By planning activities each day, it gives you something to look forward to. Think about it - when you plan your vacation., don’t you feel happy just thinking about the trip?
Have a hobby - Buy those tickets to your favorite singer’s concert or your favorite sports team. Listening to music is so enjoyable. It is soothing while also taking your mind off of your worries. Finding a favorite sport and a favorite sport’s team, gives you a whole new meaning in your life. Studies show that having a favorite team boosts self esteem because when the team wins, you feel like you have won. Jenna is a Yankees fan spending her time going to the games while hanging out with others who are like minded.
Build relationships - Jenna still has friends from grade school, high school and college. This is because she nurtures her friendships. She calls or texts to say hi to people she hasn’t seen in awhile which helps them stay connected. She also makes new friends easily. Making friends isn’t easy for everyone. I know myself, but you have to get out of your comfort zone and make the effort.
Find a furry friend - If you live alone, having a pet brings you a companion. Pets are like children. Jenna’s cat is so soft and cuddly. It’s like having a teddy bear with you all the time.
These are just a few things that I see in Jenna’s life that I know she does to make herself happy. Being happy in life is so important. Life is very challenging and being unhappy makes it even more challenging. Believe me I have been there.
I have realized over time that life is too short to be unhappy. I know that some people can’t control how they feel and if you are that person, please find someone who can help. There are many resources out there that can give you guidance on how to turn your unhappiness around.
Take time today to plan how you can change your life just by planning your days with activities that bring happiness to your life.
Here’s to your success!
Best,
Rene
If you do need help, please review the US Department of Health & Human Services website for resources - https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help