10 Ways to be Happier in 2014

You've probably seen several lists circulating about how to be happier in 2014. Ma and I came up with our own version.

From us to you, how to be happier in 2014.

1. Spend more time outside. About two months ago I told the Ma that she and I were going to take a mid-morning walk every day. She thought it was an excellent idea as it would contribute to our happiness and emotional stability. We haven't taken a single mid-morning walk but still believe firmly we would both be happier if we did.

2. Try something new. Ma has decided that 2014 will be a year of new things. On the first new day of the year, she tried sitting in a different place in the movie theater rather than her usual favorite spot. When visiting the library, she parked on the side of the parking lot opposite to where she usually parks. Be brave. There's a world of possibilities before you.

3. Spend time with your local stamp dealer. Ma loves stamps. We visited our stamp dealer yesterday. Ma, having spent quite some time away from her dealer, was positively giddy and came away with several sheets of stamps.

4. Use a four or five star word at least once a day. For example, Ma used the word treacherous. I congratulated her and she threw me a gleeful smile. She knew how awesome the word was and it made her happy. It made her even happier that I recognized her four star word for what it was. Another time Ma used the word rigamarole, a high flying, five star word. She then had to say the word two more times because she enjoyed using it so much. It should be noted that while using the word correctly is encouraged, it is certainly not required.

5. Do more baking. Baking = happiness.

6. Dance. We're big dancers at our house. And by that I mean I'm a big dancer. I dance in the shower, I dance while I'm eating a snack in the kitchen, I dance during my lunch break. Doesn't matter if there's music. Just dance.

7. Visit your local library. It smells amazing and the colors are pretty. If you don't know where to start, ask the children's librarians about their favorite picture books. You may want to throw in a comment about how much your nephew likes books so it appears you are doing research. Then read. Unless the idea of reading is too intimidating this early in the year; in that case, feel free to begin with simply looking at the pictures. If you're up to it, try checking a book out. One with chapters would be ideal. Reading the checked out book is not necessary.

8. Think about meditating but instead watch the part in Eat, Pray, Love where Julia Roberts is trying to meditate and then laugh.

9. Give out points for finishing things. In our house we give out points for finishing items of food. You finish the gallon of milk? You get a point. You finish the last baked potato from three nights ago? You get a point. You eat the last cookie? You get a point. The points are meaningless. They also rest from day to day. Yesterday I had two points. Today I have zero. My point value for all time is lots and lots.

10. And finally, choose to be happy. Ma is a big believer in choosing to be happy. It's difficult to think of how you can just choose to be happy. As children, if we ever had something negative to say about the day or an experience we had, Ma would tell us that we had to say at least three good things about what we much preferred to say negative things about. She was teaching us to choose to see the good things about our experiences, rather than the bad. I suggest it as a good place to start.