smiletrial

"Wain....'nuff in two"

Me and my awesome novice team
Originally uploaded by meredithhendricks

In rowing, "wain...'nuff-in-two" is what the coxswain says when we get to take a break after two more strokes. Let me tell you, after a 15 minute piece of three-quarter-power rowing, these words are music to the muscles!

This term along with several others have been finding themselves, repeating like a chant, in my dreams.

For ten years I have literally been sittin' on the dock of the bay" (in Newport Beach) when we visit my in-laws four times a year. Each morning during our stay, I sit out on the docks with my coffee and I watch the crews row by. I find myself fighting hard against the urge to jump in, swim over and join them. I find myself feeling stranded on that dock. A few years ago I saw this photo in a magazine. It inspired me.

Prior to seeing this photo, I guess I thought only college jocks could row. When I read this woman's story I realized that rowing was not just for the young-buff-ones. So, I tore the page out and hung it on my bulletin board for inspiration. It took over two years for me to finally sign-up for the novice rowing class at Station L. In September, I started my first class and last weekend, I competed in my first event and we got a bronze medal! Woohoo! 

The whole rowing experience has been different (and better) than I expected:

1. You have to get-up really early in the morning to be at the rowing club for practice by 5! It is very dark at 5am! But, boy is the river beautiful with the city lights reflecting off the smooth water.

2. I have a whole new group of interesting, fun, and kind friends.

3. Rowing is so technical and mentally challenging...."arms, back, legs, legs, back, arms, feather your blade, stay together, don't rush the slide, power ten, row on the square, don't catch a crab, push with your legs, cut the cake, tap the oars, sit at the catch, don't row over the rainbow, etc.

4. Rowing is a great work-out; I am always sore in just the right places (gluteus maximus).

5. Learning something new really engages one in life. It wakes up the senses. I love it! 

My purpose for this post was to say that it has really been rewarding to have had a vision, to set the goal, to engage in the activity, and then of course, to win. I'm definitely smiling. Get inspired! Find something new to try and give it your all. Try it. 

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Harvest time

Fall is a wonderful time of year. I enjoy shopping at the local farmer's market where I can choose fresh, in-season fruit and produce. What a bounty! 

At home this week, we enjoyed this lovely treat: A simple "Farm Wife's Fresh Pear Tart." So easy to prepare, yet it exemplifies the beauty and taste of the season. 

Life is funny, isn't it? It seems that it's the little things; the seemingly insignificant details, that bring joy, and smiles.

Live in the now by embracing the season. Here is the recipe for the pear tart. It is guaranteed to bring on smiles to those at your table. Try it.

2 eggs
1⁄4 cup milk
1 cup granulated sugar
salt
1 1⁄2 cup of all-purpose flour
2 pounds fresh Bosc or Anjou pears
9-inch round cake pan
butter for greasing the pan and dotting the cake
1⁄2 cup dry, unflavored bread crumbs 
1 dozen cloves (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 375°

2. Beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl. Add the sugar and a tiny pinch of salt, and continue to beat. Add the flour, mixing it in thoroughly to produce a compact cake batter. 

3. Peel the pears, cut them lengthwise in two, scoop out the seeds and core, then cut them into thin slices about 1 inch wide. Add them to the batter in the bowl, distributing them evenly. 

4. Smear the pan generously with butter, sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs, then turn the pan over and give it a sharp rap against the counter to shake loose excess crumbs. 

4. Put the batter into the pan, leveling it off with the back of a spoon or a spatula. Make numerous small hollows on top with a fingertip and fill them with little bits of butter. Stud with the optional cloves, distributing them at random, but apart. Place the pan in the upper third of the preheated oven and bake for 50 minutes, or until the top has become lightly colored. 

6. While it is still lukewarm, carefully loosen the tart from the bottom of the pan, lift it with spatulas, and transfer to a platter. It is very nice served while still a little warm, or at room temperature. 

This recipe is in one of my favorite cookbooks: "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking" by Marcella Hazan.

Morning Light

Morning Light is an amazing movie! Aside from being a great film about sailing, this real life story is inspirational, touching, and the cinematography is beautiful. Try it! Opens in theaters on October 17th. 

The Geography of Bliss

"The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World" is funny, entertaining, adventurous, and informative. 

Like Indiana Jones searching for the Ark of the Covenant, this traveler is on a quest to find out what makes people happy in the happiest places in the world.

This travelogue weaves in humor and stories of interactions with the locals at each destination. Using science as his compass, Weiner searches to discover the Grail we call happiness.

Written by Eric Weiner, a correspondent for National Public Radio. Try it! 

Also: visit the author's website at:

Eric Weiner Books

Smiletrial sharing

Hello blogging buddies. We have had 843 visits to Smiletrial since it started in June! 

It's sharing time. I invite you to chime in with your secrets to smiles. It's easy, just click on the comments link at the bottom of this post. Try it! 

Smile

Good morning and happy Saturday. 

Like a squirrel, packing away her chestnuts, I have been busy readying my home, work, garden, and attitude for winter. Getting things done always makes me smile. But this morning as I contemplated today's chores and a blog topic, I found that I just wanted to enjoy a bit of goof-off time before getting on with the day. So, I poured a cup of coffee and began surfing the web. Which is how I stumbled upon the YouTube video on today's post. 

I watched "The Bucket List" last evening and it made me smile. It also made me laugh, and cry. I'm a sucker for sappy stories that include the most important parts of our lives: family, friends, and bucket lists. As I watched the Chaplin video I felt inspired to think about my own bucket list. Aside from having not yet sailed the Greek Isles, the Italian coastline, or the BVI's....I'm pretty much living the best possible life. I've got the greatest husband in the world, an amazing clan of kids, a loving (and funny) family, a loyal and super cute dog and some very special "forever" friends. I have a good (great!) life, I am happy, I am healthy, and I feel connected to the ones I love and to my community. Still, there are always new dreams, wishes, and goals on the horizon. As I do chores today, I'm sure I'll come up with some items to add to my bucket list. Try It!

"Happiness"

By: Goldfrapp

Awaken Your Senses

When walking around town try consciously activating all of your senses. Stow the phone in your pocket, lift your chin and look around you. As you walk, look at those around you, smile or nod at others. Notice the tree leaves, the green of the grass, and the brilliant colors of the flowers you pass. Notice the feeling of the ground below you. Notice the air as it brushes your skin. How does it feel? Is it cool, warm, hot, freezing? Listen. Hear the voices around you, the bird on the branch overhead, the buzzing sound of the cars on the highway, the waves roaring ashore. Smell the air. What do you notice? A whisper scent of freshly cut grass, the aroma of just brewed coffee from the nearby café, the smell of a city, a farm, an ocean breeze. Breath it in this life of yours, this moment, this day. 

Engaging all of your senses is a form of meditation. The activity stimulates brain activity and heightens mood. The result often leads to a physical feeling of weightlessness. Not only will you be in a great mood but, you will walk with more bounce in your step. 

Try It!

Daily Happiness

Are you ever curious about how your daily mood, happiness, or stress compares to that of others? The Gallup Organization has released a research program that assesses Americans each day on these issues. 

It's quite fascinating to see these results and to compare them with our own lives. One index has shown that Americans are happiest when they spend at least six hours a day socializing with friends and family. The research also indicates that we are happiest on weekends. No surprise there! 

Check out the results here: The Gallup Organization

Happy New Year!

 

Since Kindergarten I have been conditioned to the idea that September 2nd is the beginning of a new year. The end of August marks the end of a year. As a kid, I recall the excitement I felt at the thought of a fresh start. I'd ponder all the possibilities of the coming year: the reconnections with old friends and the meeting of new ones. I'd proclaim the upcoming year will be better than the last. I'd promise better grades. 

Back to school marks a time of excitement and anticipation. This year, it marks a sense of sadness as I prepare to deliver my baby girl (okay, she's not such a baby anymore) to her first year of college. As my friends will attest, the slightest mention of the topic has me tearing-up.

Along with the sadness of 07-08 coming to an end, I feel a sense of pride, gratitude, and hope for 08-09. Our kids will be experiencing all sorts of new endeavors: college, marriage, new careers, and hopefully some dreams come true. Me, well, I've got plans for new endeavors too. 

As 08-09 kicks off, I hope you will take some time to reflect on the year that has passed. Set some goals for the new year, maybe even some resolutions. Even if you don't go to school anymore, go out and do some "back to school" shopping. Buy some new shoes, some lined paper and a box of pencils. While you are picking them out, notice the excitement you feel, the anticipation of what might fill the ruled lines. Notice the anticipation of a fresh start.

Use your new supplies to write goals and plans for the coming year. Use your supplies to reflect on the past. Write a book report, a letter, or a vocab list. Contemplate what you have learned in the last year and what you hope to learn this year. Use your new shoes to walk on a new path. 

Try it! 

Happy New Year!

Laugh like a rat

I just learned of an exciting new scientific discovery: rats laugh. According to Dr. Jaak Panksepp of Washington State University, rats laugh when they are tickled! Rat laughter is so high-pitched that the sound is undetectable by humans. So Dr. Panksepp uses a special instrument called a Bat Detector to pick-up high frequency sounds.

Witness laughing rats by visiting this site: Radio Lab

On the surface, this research may not seem that important. But have you ever wondered why we laugh? Is there a purpose for laughter? That is exactly what Dr. Panksepp and other laughter researchers are attempting to answer. Aristotle thought that humans were the only species that had the ability to laugh. In fact, he thought that a baby recieves its soul when it first laughs at age 40 days.

Now we know that many species engage in laughter. Chimps, orangutans, dogs, and now rats have been found to laugh. We also know that laughing is good for us. It decreases stress, improves our social interactions, and represents positive emotional health.

Dr. William Fry at Stanford Medical Center has conducted research on laughing and has found that we laugh less as we age. This is true for rats too. According to Fry's research, kindergarteners laugh 300 times a day, whereas adults laugh just 17 times a day. This is sad news for us adults. Seems like it should be the other way around. Seems like laughing could ease the pains of aging. Let's try it. See if you can laugh 20 or even 30 times a day. That's my goal for the week: 30 laughs a day.

Enjoy the day!

At the beach

I couldn't bring myself to write the usual Saturday morning blog because I'm at the beach. Can't help but smile here. Spending time with family, taking time to dream, and cherishing each moment of the sea air, the seagulls, pelicans, beautiful bays, and waves washing ashore.......Until next week.

While walking the boardwalk yesterday I saw a sign that read: "Don't be crabby, you're at the beach."

Take control and let go!

My husband always says that life is like a sailboat race. He's right. With sailing, you never really know which tack you should be on, where the next wind shift will come from, or how the surrounding boats will react. Sometimes, things get so rough out there that you don't even know where the next mark is.

In life, as in sailing, there are many things that we can't control. There are a few things we can.

One way to improve a sense of well-being is to learn the difference between what is and isn't controllable. Psychological research has shown that feeling a loss of control over one's circumstances creates all kinds of problems: depression, helplessness, anxiety, and even physical illness.

Well, with a career, six kids, aging parents, a 91 pound Newfoundland, and a sizable garden, there is little about my life that is in my control.

I can't control the weeds that grow, the pests that populate, or the chipmonks that hide their sunflower seeds in my otherwise perfectly cultivated cilantro pot. I'm surely not able to control the rate at which my parents age, or the successes and happiness of each of our kids.

I have found two things in life that I can control. Taking control of these two things gives me a sense of well-being, life satisfaction, and contentment:

1. My shoes
When everything around me seems broken down, chaotic, and out-of-control, I find satisfaction in knowing that my shoes are in order. My friends make fun of me for this, but it works!

2. My attitude
Acknowledging that life can be difficult and often times out-of-control helps me to realize that this is normal and that I'm not the only one having challenges. We all have challenges. I remind myself that I do in fact have control of some things (my shoes) and that the rest of my life will play out as it will. I try to accept those parts of life that are indeed out of my control.

This approach is effective for both work and home life. Find something in your external world to organize. You will be amazed at the internal sense of well-being you feel.

Try it!

Make time for playtime

A few years ago, as a young girl (okay, so it was more than a few years ago) I spent the long, warm days of summer frolicking around the farm. I'd talk to the chickens in the morning, and I'd ride my horse through the forested trails all afternoon. At the end of the day, I would sit around in the mud with the pigs (a farm girl's spa treatment). I'd pick berries as they came into season; strawberries, then raspberries, cherries, blueberries, and lastly, my favorite: blackberries. Riding atop a horse is an excellent way to pick cherries by the way. Life was good back then.

It's good now too. Only, as the sun rises high in the bright blue skies of summer, I find myself longing for those days of innocent play.

So what is it to play as an adult? I suppose we each have our own ideas of that.

The formal definition is: "an exercise or activity for amusement or recreation."

Well, I don't live around pigs anymore. At least not in the formal sense of the word (Zac, clean your room!). So, I've discovered some new ways to play. For me, playtime includes gardening, sailing, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

As I write this, it just occurred to me that when I'm going out to the garden I say "I'm going to go work in the garden." Yet I don't consider activities in the garden as work. From now on, I'll have to start saying "I'm going to go play in the garden."

In honor of Bastille Day, I've posted a photo of me sailing (definitely playing) on a beautiful French yacht in Roses, Spain. If you don't know what Bastille Day is, check-out this website: Bastille Day

And, here is another picture showing "The Desperate Laser Wives" in Terrigal, Australia. The DLWs, as we're called, travel around the world with our husbands as they compete in World Championships on Laser sailboats. My DLW girlfriends here are: Maria, Marilyn, LauraLee, Nancy, and Christy. Clearly, we are playing. This summer, I hope you make time for playtime. Try it!

See this link to learn more about Laser sailing: Laser Class Association-North America

Over 500 blog hits!

The smiletrial blog has been up for just over a month and as of today, there have been over 500 visits!

Thank you! I do hope a quick visit here brightens your day. Please pass on the site address to others and continue sending me notes with your thoughts and ideas.

Happy Friday! Now, get away from your computer and enjoy the weekend!

LauraLee

Gratitude :)

Gratitude as the act of being thankful is not necessarily an automatic response. Sure it's easy to find oneself feeling grateful for the big things-evading serious illness or injury, finding the love of your life, finding a twenty dollar bill in your coat pocket.

It's the day-to-day stuff that gets in the way of gratitude; the bad news, the struggles, and stresses in our everyday lives; war, economy, raising a family, compromises.

Research shows that those who actively pursue feelings of gratefullness have an increased quality of life and greater happiness. Robert E. Emmons at University of California, Davis is in the midst of collecting this data. For a summary of the research and preliminary findings visit his website at: Gratitude Research

Keeping a gratitude journal is one way to increase feelings of thankfulness in your life. My husband and I started a gratitude journal last year. It's been a lot of fun and definitely a source of laughs and an opportunity to frequently share words of kindness.

We make entries each night before going to sleep. I'm usually the first in bed so I start out the day's log-LauraLee is grateful for... and then I list three things I am grateful for. After I finish, I put the journal on Bill's pillow. When he comes to bed, he makes his entry in the journal; Bill is grateful for....

He reads my entry before going to sleep and I read his entry the next morning. Sometimes if Bill is real tired he'll write "ditto" under my gratitudes. That's cheating Bill! This sharing of gratitude is a splendid way to communicate. We learn things about each other by this gratitude journal.

When we first started, our entries where obvious and they seemed so contrived. As the daily routine set in though, we found ourselves making entries that were more about the small things that occurred that day; the things we maybe would have otherwise overlooked as something to be grateful for. Our journal has evolved and each day we find ourselves surprised and amused at one another's entries.

I am grateful for my gratitude journal. Try it!

Discover your strengths

VIA stands for Values in Action.

Understanding your values and finding ways to employ them in daily living can greatly improve happiness and well-being; naturally. The VIA Strengths Survey was developed by Chris Peterson and Martin Seligman-two of the worlds top scientists on positive psychology.

Like Aristotle, Peterson claims that the virtuous life is the path to happiness.

Try it! Visit VIA Strength Inventory

After you take the survey, print out the list of your top five strengths. These probably won't come as a big surprise to you. Most of us naturally seek out behaviors and activities that allow our true virtues to shine. Still, the survey results can be a great way to help you raise awareness of the values that drive your actions. The results can also be helpful in uncovering new ways to improve your happiness.

Here are two fun ways to explore and use your results:

1. Invite your S/O (partner, husband, wife, etc) to take the survey. Compare your results and invent a "strengths date." A strengths date is one that is designed to allow each to utilize their top strength during the date. What could be more fun than that?! For example, your top strength is "appreciation of beauty and excellence" and your partner's is "love of learning." Design a date-night to a museum or botanical garden. You will be able to enjoy the beauty and your partner will delight in all there is to learn.

2. Have your children take the youth version of the survey. Devise activities and chores that will allow them to utilize their strengths. You will be pleasantly surprised at the increase of compliance and enthusiasm!

Visit this site to get more ideas on how you can employ your strengths: Use your strengths
Have fun with this and let me know how it goes. Happy day!

Alternative fuel vehicles park here!

Check out the sign I saw today when I pulled into a health care facility parking lot.

What a nice idea! Allocate special, front-row-parking for people who buy alternative fuel vehicles. I love it that Kaiser wants to reward this kind of Take Care Of Our Planet Consumer.

The irony is that the other vehicles-the non alternative fuel kind (got an SUV?) are forced to drive further to find a parking spot, thereby using more fuel and emitting more emissions.
Now that makes me smile. :)

Cultivate

Actions of selflessness will increase your satisfaction with life!

I know your thinking, "but, what about me?"

I'm saying, forget it! True happiness and well-being has been found to be better for those who engage in altruistic behaviors.

Just try it. Spend time with others, for others, and for a good cause and you will be a happier person. Cultivate anything; a friendship, a flower, a dog, a kid, a cause. Cultivate often. Be happy.

Here is Zac. I'm cultivating him, he is cultivating his hair!

On optimism

I'm not smiling today. No reason, really. I just woke up this morning and didn't feel that happy. Maybe because I had a bad dream, or a bad night of sleeplessness, or maybe it's because Mercury is in retrograde; whatever that means!

Some days are like this. They just are. As a mental health professional and motivation adjunct I know all about the tools I could employ in order to lift my spirits. I even know that the research shows most of these tools actually work; but I don't care much about any of that today. Today I just feel like being, whatever. I want to move more slowly, talk to fewer people, and get less done. I want to take a nap.

Tomorrow will be a new day and I'm certain that I'll be back to my usual smiling, enthusiastic self. That's the thing about optimists; when things go wrong, we view them as not our fault, temporary, and situational. So when we optimists have a bad day, we're optimistic that it is just that; one bad day.

To find out if you are an optimist go take this survey: Optimism Test

If you do not have what we call an "optimistic explanatory style, well don't worry. You can learn how to become an optimist: step one: read "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman, step two: call me.

Hope your day is going well and that you are happy, or not.

Delegate

A girlfriend once told me that all "G" jobs are for guys; like garbage (taking it out), grass (cutting it), and grilling (cooking the dinner)! So, this year I thought, "hmmmm, a grill might relieve me of some of the cooking" so I asked for a new barbecue for my birthday. In order to fulfill my birthday wish, my awesome husband did endless research until he found the perfect grill for "our" needs! He paid for it, hauled it home, and spent 7 hours assembling it.

That afternoon, after he completed the assembly, he said "honey, what should I grill for dinner?" I smiled a big Garfield like smile and replied "oh, let's have some salmon and grilled vegetables."

Delegating is a great thing! See how Bill is smiling as he grills our dinner? And, you can bet I'm smiling too as he brings that platter into the kitchen. It's a win-win. try it!

Just in case you weren't convinced by the first image, check-out what he made me for dinner on Father's Day!

Go to your happy place.

This is my happy place! Go find your own. Everybody needs a happy place; A special place they can call their own. A place where memories are made, creative ideas are formed and lively conversations are shared. This is where I sit every summertime morning with my coffee and every summertime evening with my glass of wine. The simple pleasures.

Try it!

Happy Fathers Day to dads, step-dads, adopter-dads, and granddads! I hope today, you find your happy place.

Make animal sounds while you drive....

Try it!

Bring the welcome wagon......to work!

If there was ever a time to speed up productivity for new hires, it's now.

Thomas Briggs founded the Welcome Wagon in 1928. His mission: send friendly folks out to personally welcome new neighbors. Welcome Wagoneers would deliver baskets of gifts, coupons, and helpful information about the community. The goal was to help the newcomer quickly become an active, valuable asset to the neighborhood.

This idea is being implemented in the business world today. The program is known as "onboarding."

What is it? The goal of onboarding is to welcome and integrate new hires into the workgroup so that they immediately become active and productive team members. Onboarding is a process that is custom designed for a specific organization. It is designed around the work, the values, and the culture of the business. This process can be applied to new hires and to promoted employees.

Effective onboarding generally lasts from three to nine months and usually includes several components. The desired outcomes of an onboarding program include:

1. Delivery of a workspace and necessary work tools
2. Assessment of the new hire and a six month development plan to guide success
2. Introduction to fellow employees, peers, advisors, and mentors
3. Help with assimilation of culture, company goals, norms, and procedures
4. The design of feedback loops to ensure appropriate work results
5. A plan for fun! The process (and the job) ideally will be interesting, challenging, and fun!

Try it!

For more information on this topic, write me by visiting Fifth Avenue Counseling & Consulting

BTW: The Welcome Wagon is still going strong. For information see: About Welcome Wagon