New Feature: How To Live a Happy Life

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As I've mentioned before, one of the most exciting things about taking the blog full-time is introducing several new features. Today, I'd love to debut one of those features: How To Live a Happy Life. Part inspiration tool, part collaborative effort (more about that in a minute...), this series will be all about helping you live a happier (and less stressful!) life. With tips and tricks, it will be you -- reinvented. Speaking of tips, and to get things started, here are a few of my tried-and-true perk-me-ups... Make it a great day or not - the choice is yoursMy mother is a seventh-grade teacher, and a few years ago, the school principal began saying this every morning at the end of the morning announcements. I scoffed at it for years, but it really does make sense. We sometimes can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we react. Don't let people - or situations - bog you down unnecessarily. In the end, it's just not worth it.

Surround yourself with the people (and cats!) you love
I've been blessed with an incredibly supportive group of family and friends. They've stuck by me. I know everyone says this, but I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for my mother. She's been an incredible rock of love, support and comfort. I'm amazed at how she does it sometimes. And, of course, our two beautiful cats, Harry and Stella, make every day an adventure for us.

Keep going in the face of adversity
Having a physical disability, I've faced some pretty tough times. I've had 27 surgeries, been hospitalized more times than I can count and could probably recall every medication I've ever taken. But you know what? Those moments, even the ones where I felt hopeless and frustrated and "just wanted to be like everyone else," pushed me even harder to keep going. I was determined to live my life and wasn't going to let my disability stop me.

Write for you
I graduated college in 2005 with a major in journalism. I've always loved writing and the power of creative expression. My mom claims I wrote my first beautiful piece, a poem, in third grade. Writing has a way of being very therapeutic for me. I've been able to put my story, my life, on paper and not be afraid of what people will think when they read it. There's something incredibly freeing about that. I've made a vow with myself that I won't shy away from anything in my writing, remain true to myself and above all, write with honesty.
What do you think, friends? Here's where you come in: What's your secret? I'd love to hear it, and even feature your advice in a future post! Feel free to email me (mellow1422 [at] aol [dot] com) if you'd like to be a part of this series. I'll also be reaching out to some of my favorite bloggers. I can't wait to hear from you, friends! xoxo Update: Thanks to Elsa, we've got a name for the series...In The Pursuit of Happiness. What do you think? Thanks, Elsa! :)
[Photos via We Heart It]