5 Things That Make Me Happy

So this blog post is about five different things that make me happy. The reason why I wanted to make this video was because for the past week I have been really sick and stuck in bed all day with a cough. Since I couldn't do anything I was becoming bored and a tad upset ! So I decided to make a list of a few things that make me smile ! 

These are in no particular order so I'll start off with travelling. I love travelling. Whether it's a week long vacation or even just a road trip I think that going somewhere new and seeing different cultures is really important. When I get away it relieves so much stress and also helps me to put my problems into perspective. 

Second thing that makes me happy are my pets ! I have a bunny, a cat and two dogs. When you come home and see you pets all excited to see you , that just warms my heart. They are also good companions to have when an unexpected scary movie trailer comes on when you are home alone.. 

The third thing that makes me happy is tumblr. I love tumblr.  A lot. When I first starting using tumblr I was thinking " What's the big deal about this?" But then when you start following blogs and reblogging photos, you are hooked. I love seeing all the pretty photos and it makes my day when I stumble across a really sarcastic post. Here's my tumblr if any of you are interested... :) sundaymorningelegance.tumblr.com 

The fourth thing that makes me happy are my friends and family. I have a few close friends that I trust my life with, one of them I've known for 11 years ! I feel like this helps with our friendship because we both know what each other have been through. I'm also really lucky to have a close relationship with my sister and my dad, as this is usually uncommon for teenagers. 

The last thing on my list that makes me happy is simplicity !! I do  not like when things get complicated or cluttered and it actually stresses me out. So keep things simple - at home and with your relationships!

I hope that these five things also make you guys as happy as they make me. I made a video of this post on my youtube channel if you guys want to check it out, I'll leave the link down below. Unfortunately exams are coming up soon so there most likely won't be a post or video until they are done, but you can always check me out on twitter or instagram ! 

youtube.com/alyshagillan

Happiness

Happiness is simple, right ? For some, that may not be the case. We get so upset when someone says something mean to us, but is that really why we're upset? Now I'm not saying that it's normal to be happy if someone says something mean, as no one likes to hear those things. What I am saying is the reason that some things affect us so deeply is because we truly think them about ourselves. Just think about. Perhaps you have put on a few extra pounds than you would have liked. You already are upset about the fact that you are gaining weight and the last thing you needed was that rude comment from someone. This only saddens you even more. Or let's say that one day you wake up with terrible blemishes all over and someone comments on it. The reason that we get so offended by this, is because someone is simply taking the words out of our head, and using them against us. 

Now with that being said, we cannot change those around us. We can only try to change ourselves and the way we react to things. This can be a long, and difficult process, but with time happiness can yours.

What we need is to come to peace with ourselves. For some of you reading this, you might be thinking that this is impossible. Everyday girls and boys, including myself, point out something negative about ourselves. "Oh my knees are too knobby", and "my hair is too frizzy". Why is it that we always jump to the physical aspects in a negative approach? Learning to compliment yourself on your inner traits, such as kindness, courage, etc, are so much more important.  I bet you know those girls who are so beautiful, girls are always jealous and all the guys fancy them. But once you take a look on the inside, you can see that they are broken. Even though I blog about beauty, it isn't everything. When you are able to compliment who you ARE and not your appearance, so much beauty will shine through. 

I believe that we can only become at peace with ourselves if we are willing too. If you hold negative energy in from something someone will say, you always remain upset. So next time someone does or says something mean, forgive them. Do not forgive them because they deserve it, but forgive them so you can be at peace. So you can move on. With this being said, do not let others take advantage of you so always stand up for yourself. Even confronting the person who said a rude comment, is a way of forgiveness. It gives you that sense of closure, and then you can be happy within.

I am still on my way to become at peace within, but I can already feel the difference. I have started doing yoga which I try to do at least 3 times a week, and it can easily be done at home. Be in a room, or outside, with no TV or computer on to distract you, put the cellphone away, close your eyes and relax.

Of course you are going to get bad days, it's a part of life. But in general you should be happy. There are so many beautiful places and moments and opportunities in life to let ourselves get in the way of it. 

Little Things

In a world full of materialistic items, it is hard to remember how happy and simple things can be. I have to admit, I love materialistic things, but at the end of the day this doesn't make me as happy. I remember how excited I was when young when I heard my dad come home. I would hear the door open, run to the front and just hug him. These little things, and moments are really what make life wonderful. I love the simple things in life, so here are a few that really just brighten my day.

White flowers. I love white flowers, any kind. Roses, tulips, you name it. There is something so elegant and clean about a white flower. It looks so fresh and has a certain innocence to it. Not to mention all flowers really do smell lovely.

Photo taken by me. 

Writing. I love when I read a quote or a sentence, and it just really makes you feel. You feel things that you didn't even know you could feel. I fall in love with this type of writing, and tend to read it over and over, and daydream about it. I like to think who the author wrote this about, and what they were going through at the time. I also love how each piece of writing can effect an individual so differently and deeply, and can connect to our lives. One of my favourite writers for a while now has been The River Speaks. You can check out their writing here ... http://theriverspeaks.tumblr.com

Now this next one sometimes confuses people. I love the rain and rain makes me happy. People usually get confused, as rain is usually associated with sadness and tears. Yes of course there are gloomy days, but I see the opposite. I see the rain as a beautiful thing. It's so calm to listen to, especially bundled up in your bed reading your favourite book. But it is also wonderful to walk in.  I love walking on the beach when it's raining and watching the rain hit the edges of the waves, for me it is something that is so magical, yet we take this for granted. Next time it rains, try taking a walk in it. You can have an umbrella if you wish, but just watch the raindrops hit the ground, as if all your worries were doing the same thing.

These are just a few of the simple things that I love. Simple is beautiful. Happy is beautiful. Life is beautiful.

Good Morning!

Hello ! Since this is my first blog post (eek!) I decided to talk about something very relatable. How to have a good morning ! Personally, whenever my morning goes well , the rest of my day seems to be better ! So here are the top five things that start my morning off on a good note.

1. Give yourself time. I know sleep may sound very appealing and that you try to get as much of it as possible! But this usually results in lots of running around and stress in the morning, which only carries on throughout the course of the day. So try to set your alarm 10 minutes earlier than you would have, to avoid a rough start.

2. Eat! Many people tend to skip breakfast because they are in a hurry and simply do not have the time to sit down and eat. But it is a proven fact that eating breakfast is very beneficial! It gets your metabolism going and doesn't leave your tummy rumbling by first class. Take the time to sit down and have a healthy breakfast, such as greek yogourt and fruit or whole grain cereal, and you will notice a difference in your mood!

3. Caffeine. The recommended sleep time is around 8 to 9 hours. But let's be honest, who really gets that much sleep ! Whether you were up last night looking on Instagram or tumblr (guilty) or just could not stop tossing and turning, a quick cup of coffee or tea can help give you that energy boost that you need in the morning.

4. Music. I love listening to music all the time. But in the morning I find that really energetic sounds are a tad... frustrating?! I have to admit, I am not always a morning person and having to listen to someone who just has all this energy is tiring. So instead , I opt for something soothing. Currently my 'wake-up playlist' consists of songs such as 'Heart On Fire' by Jonathan Clay and 'Video Games' by Lana Del Rey.

5. Outfit. Now your outfit shouldn't be the most important factor of your day, but I tend to feel more confident when I am wearing a great outfit, whereas wearing a baggy hoodie and sweatpants make me feel more introversive. So put on the clothes that make you feel great, a swipe a lipstick and you are ready to go !

So these are just some simple things that help me in having a better morning, which result in a better day. These five tips really seem to help me, but everyone is different and may have a different technique! So, in the comments below I want YOU guys to write what is involved in your good morning.