Looking at the sky.

Looking at the sky is good for you.  I like to look at the sky and I like to take pictures of the sky.  It's meditative to sit and look at the clouds and it's good for you.  Try it.
 This is an easy one.  Even on cloudy, seemingly depressive days, the clouds are always doing something interesting, making shapes, moving.  Look.

http://lauragraceweldon.com/2013/07/24/look-up/

Let me sum up.

On this blog, so far, we have explored the science behind many different ways to improve your mood.  We've looked at how doing things for others can make you feel better, how practicing an attitude of gratitude can also help.  Those are the things you have heard of.  Some of the things that I am learning while researching and writing this blog and trying to hold on tightly to my own joy (and sanity) are just plain fascinating and frankly, kind of weird.

Here are some of the ways in a handy, printable form.  Hang this up someplace, use it as a background on your phone or tablet, do some of these things.  Honestly, I think the yogurt, which is the only one I have been doing consistently, may have saved my life this week.  Seriously, try to do them everyday!  Here they are.

Good article from Apartment Therapy.

5 Unexpected Things Happy People Have In Their Homes

The first one is ....

A mess

Check.

This was last Christmas and the Kayak is no longer there and the tinsel is not up, but otherwise, the mess is still about the same ... we live here and we're messy.

Having a mess in your home, for happiness sake?  Really?  Go read the article and find out why.

Rocking Chairs? Really?

Rocking chairs are good for you.  Who knew?  I mean I knew they were good for rocking babies but they are also good for recuperating from surgery, for arthritic knees, for weight loss because you burn up to 150 calories an hour in a rocking chair.    Check out this article.   They also help with balance, varicose veins and ease back pain.

So okay, if you are in a rocking chair rocking while watching TV then you're helping your back, preventing varicose veins, helping the arthritis in your knees and getting skinnier!  I'm in. The chair pictured above is from Walmart.com and is 89.00 plus shipping and tax.  That's not a bad price for so much feeling-goodness.

But wait, there's MORE.  Really.  Rocking in a rocking chair helps people with dementia feel less anxious.  A 2 year study in Rochester, New York, proved this a few years back.    Rocking chairs help kids with ADHD.    I think that the fact that they help the elderly and help children means that they probably are good for those of us in the middle too!