happiness – Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie

Year Two – Week Four

March 13, 2023March 13, 2023 by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, March 2023

I am already four weeks into Year Two of my journey to health and fitness. This is a journey that I am enjoying far more than I thought I would – and that has taken me to places that I never imagined possible.

**Molly – my fitness companion** (Never saw that coming) 😂

This is a journey that requires commitment, motivation, determination, and focus. Fortunately, between my husband Dan, my Volley friends Dwight and Jackie, and all of my friends here on WordPress, I have the support and encouragement that I require to push on with this journey, even on those days when my commitment, motivation, determination, and focus is a bit lacking.

This week, I am determined to focus on ‘living my best life‘. My best life is one where my priority is my health, happiness, and peace of mind – because I deserve it and because I cannot give to others what I do not myself possess. That means working out, eating well, getting adequate rest, meditating, enjoying the company of family and friends, appreciating the blessings in my life, and overlooking (or trivializing) the blips and bleeps.

My fractured arm is coming along, although my shoulder continues to be bothersome. But I am feeling better, which is helping my workouts and my sleep. I managed a fairly good Zumba class this morning. If Molly had given me a bit more space, I would have crushed it! I have been meditating on a regular basis, which has obviously been good for my peace of mind. And I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I have even been doing up my hair every day. That’s probably the biggest challenge for my achy shoulder but well worth it. “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you do good.” As my mother used to say. 😉

That’s it for this week’s health and fitness update.

Keep well & keep safe! 💞🌞

**So ready for another Saskatchewan summer 🌞**

Canada Day 🇨🇦

July 1, 2022July 1, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in June 2022

Dan and Molly and I are just hanging out, doing our own thing, being Canadian – ’cause that’s what we are, that’s what we do.

Happy Canada Day for all of those celebrating today. 🇨🇦

For everyone out there, Take care and have a great day!💞

Instant Gratification

June 2, 2022June 2, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in June 2022

We often think of ‘Instant Gratification‘ as being a bad thing, but it does not have to be. If we get our ‘Instant Gratification’ from following Sean Patrick Flanery’s advice, it can be a powerful motivator!

“Do Something Today That Your Future Self Will Thank You For.” – Sean Patrick Flanery

There are countless things that we can do every day to invest in a better life for our future selves – and we can enjoying doing them NOW.

Yesterday, I went shopping for a few more bedding plants and came home to plant flowers and herbs around our yard. I know that in a few weeks I will be so glad that I made the effort. That thought made me happy as I shopped, dug out pots, worked up the soil, and planted my feeble little seedlings. Instant Gratification.

**Molly seems to be enjoying the flowers already. 💞**

What else have I done this week that made me feel good, knowing it was an investment in the future? There were too many things to mention but… I did my work out every day and drank my beet juice. I worked with Molly – training her to grow up one day to be a well behaved dog. I walked right past the potato chips and cake displays at the supermarket – that always makes me feel good. I made garlic toast for supper last night to serve with our Chicken Caesar Salad. I wanted cheese toast, but Dan wanted garlic toast, so I made garlic toast because it feels good making him happy now – as an investment in OUR future. I resisted the temptation to make some impulse purchases because it felt better to add a bit of money in our savings account.

Noticing what I do today, to invest in a better future, has become a habit lately and one that I really enjoy. It helps me to feel good and to make better decisions as I go about my day. It provides me with ‘Instant Gratification’. 🤗

***Molly and I, anticipating all those fresh tomatoes to come.*** 🥰

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞

Sunday Afternoon

March 20, 2022 by annemariedemyen, posted in March 2022

“Youthfulness is about how you live, not when you were born.” – Karl Lagerfeld

November 28th – Sunday

November 28, 2021November 28, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Wisdom - November 2021

This month on my blog I have endeavored to share ‘words of wisdom’. On Sundays, I have tried to keep those words as positive as possible. For this last Sunday of the month, I have sourced out ‘words of wisdom’ on what else, but SUNDAY!

“Sunday is a day to clear the mind of all that has transpired the week before.” – Byron Pulsifier

“Have a blessed and beautiful Sunday.”

“A Sunday well spent will bring a week of content.”

“Let this Sunday be a day to reflect, a day of respect for all you have been blessed, let your joy be expressed.” – Catherine Pulsifier

Sunday is the perfect day to refuel your soul and be grateful for each and every one of your blessings.

“Don’t let thoughts of Monday steal your Sunday.”

“Sunday – Take it slow and give your soul a chance to catch up with your body.”

“May your Sunday be blessed with love, joy, peace, and happiness.”

That’s it for today folks. Take care and have a wonderful Sunday! 💞

November 24th – Smile

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Wisdom - November 2021

With our overcast skies and the chill in the air, this seems to be a perfect day for a few “words of wisdom” on the ever sunny smile.

“Let your smile change the world. Don’t let the world change your smile.” – Will Smith

“The greatest self is a peaceful smile, that always sees the world smiling back.” – Bryant H. mcGill

“if you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.” – Maya Angelou

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Theresa

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

“A gentle word, a kind look, a good- natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.” – William Hazlitt

“Smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” – Tom Wilson

“A fake smile may fool the crowd, but it will never eases the pain.” – Kelly Brook

That’s it for today! Let’s take care, turn that frown upside down, and SMILE !💞

September 24th – Unstuck!

September 24, 2021September 24, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in A Piece of My Mind - September 2021

All of the ‘pieces of my mind’ are focussed on the good life today! Better things are starting to happen for us and ours. 💞 That is the way things are – for better or worse, things can change in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, our changes are for the better today. 😁

I talked to both of these little girls – Genie is happily settled in her new home and her new job. Brook is back in Regina and happy to announce that her up and coming little one is a GIRL! Our first great granddaughter is due on or about Genie’s birthday. (Because we need another Christmas Eve angel💞). So good to know both of these girls are happy and loving life. 😊

My surgeon called last night!!! Yay! Everything is good with my catscan and I am officially on his hernia surgery list. He has no idea when the surgery will actually happen as our hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients but that’s a story for tomorrow’s blog. Today I am just excited that all is good on the scan. 😁

And… Dan has been on days-off this week. He goes back to work Monday – at the pipe mill! As much as the steel plant was a fascinating experience for him, I will sleep better knowing he is back on the pipe side. 😴

I found this photo when I was looking for an early picture of Genie and Brook. It was taken during our visit to Ontario years ago. I think it was taken near Niagra Falls. So pretty I had to share. 💗

I found this one for you Lorraine! Lol – who needed a dishwasher back in the day? Sadly, I do not have any videos of our accompanying dance moves. 🤣

That’s it for today! Just a few positive, happy moments to share.

Take care and have a great day!💞

July 1st – Magical Moments Begin

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

In June, I had a great time ‘Accentuating the Positives’ in my life (current and past). For July, I have decided to embark on a new mission! This month, I am going to celebrate those magical moments that make my difficult days better and my better days beautiful. I will be sharing these moments with you on this blog. I hope that when you stop by over the course of the month, that my magical moments will add a smile to your day.

This may not seem like an overly ambitious mission, but I do plan to go out of my way to find magical moments to share. There are any number of places in and around Regina that I plan to visit plus I am tentatively planning a road trip for Kat and I. (If Dan goes on his annual golf trip this month). We would be visiting, Gravelbourg – the town where my parents were born and where they returned for their retirement years. I want to check their gravesight and bring them some new flowers. I also know, there will be much magic to be found and shared in Gravelbourg as it is a uniquely French town for this province (for any province outside of Quebec). As a bonus, I would also stop in Moose Jaw to visit Mac the Moose and a few other magical sites.

Plus, there are a couple of dates that Dan and I celebrate at the end of July, so they will be magical blog worthy. The first is my sixty-sixth birthday! 🥳 The second is Dan and my twenty-second wedding anniversary. 🥂💞

I hope you will enjoy sharing in my July ‘Magical Moments’. If you missed out on June’s ‘Accentuate the Positive’ posts, you can click here and scroll through them at your leisure.

Keep safe and have a great day! If you are Canadian, Happy Canada Day! This year, many of the celebrations will be scaled back and subdued but I am trusting it can be a happy, healing, hopeful day for all of us. 💞

My little cactus did not disappoint this morning. **Magical moment #1**

Day 24 – Musical Interlude

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Accentuate the Positive - June 2021

It is Day 24 of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge. I am a bit short of time today so I am going to make this quick by sharing a few of my favourite ‘positive’ tunes. Hope you find one you enjoy!

The only sports tune I love – The only time I got near a baseball field, I walked into a swinging bat and got all my baby teeth knocked out. No real harm done but the tooth fairy was a little miffed.

Dan & Anne – July 1999 – Our Wedding Song

I just love this tune 💛

Have to include at least one Alan Jackson tune. 🤣

My absolutely favourite hymn – I was devastated when my Dad died but when my cousin sang this song at his funeral, it made all the difference 💖

Hope you found something that helped perk up your day! I have to get Kat ready to go to the groomers so that is it for Day 24. Only six more days to go!

Have a great day and I hope to see you tomorrow!

Day 15 – Smile 😊

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 by annemariedemyen, posted in Accentuate the Positive - June 2021

Today is the fifteenth day of my June ‘Accentuate the Positive’ challenge! To hit the halfway mark, what could be more appropriate than sharing a few smiles among friends?