This week’s challenge is to share your favorite photos of “doing what makes you happy.” According to the Dali Lama, “The purpose of our lives is to be happy,” and with that in mind, the PATH Facebook page should soon be overflowing with new postings. Of course, because we are all unique human beings, what brings us joy is infinite. Maybe it’s a favorite food, a song, a special thank you, a dance party or a cuddle with someone you love? Maybe it’s helping someone less fortunate or caring for an elder or a child? Maybe it’s learning a new skill or watching reruns of beloved TV comedies.
As we all know, our individual happiness often ebbs and flows. We can be ecstatic one day and down in the dumps the following day. Happiness scientists (yes, they do exist ) suggest that despite the highs and lows, we all eventually return to our normal range of happiness. Thus, if one wants to kick their happiness quotient up a few notches and keep it there, the recipe for success is to be kind and help others, appreciate each moment, nourish important relationships and pursue the goals near and dear to our hearts.
If you haven’t already begun jotting down what you are grateful for each day, perhaps this is the week to grab a notebook and pen and get going. Or how about taking on a 30 day gratitude photo challenge? Take a photo each day of something you are grateful for and at the month’s end, create a collage to remind you of what you discovered. Or how about signing up to help with a new community project? It so feeds the soul as several VSBIT employees will attest to after packing hundreds of boxes of food for the Food Bank in Barre and painting dog agility equipment at the Central Vermont Humane Society. Lastly, keep striving toward whatever goal is rocking your boat at the moment.
Summer, for most Vermont educators is a time of replenishment, relaxation and reflection. We’ve had plenty of sunshine to add to our Vitamin D coffers and I’ve seen plenty of smiles and heard plenty of laughter as I travel around the state. VEHI PATH’s summer went into full swing when we arrived at the Mountaintop Inn in Chittenden for the annual June institute. We spent four days and evenings with school employees from 14 supervisory unions, discovering spirit animals and creating totems, dabbling in a variety of outdoor and indoor fitness-related activities, gushing about the scenery, appreciating the tranquility and investing in how to make our lives and the lives of others a bit better. To top it off, on the solstice under a gorgeous full moon, I learned my daughter-in-law had just given birth to my second grandchild, Shea Margaret.
When Gillian, Amy, Larae and I returned to the office, we hunkered down, created the next (what we hope will be) intriguing 2017 PATH Adventure and cooked up a variety of ways to assist you all in living your best lives. I am now headed west first to help my daughter move into her dorm in southern California and then to honor and celebrate the National Park centennial, by hiking and camping in Yosemite. As a parting adieu, I can’t resist adding this song to the blog. While scores of people like its upbeat jingle, it also has its detractors. Feel free to sing along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQG89cwhmJU
See you on the PATH ahead.
Shevonne, Gillian and Amy