Beach Fireworks (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #198 – Summer Fun List: It’s the Fourth of July!!! (Do you know where your fireworks are?)

Greetings, Tribe — and Happy Fourth of July Week!

We are counting down the Fridays between now and Labor Day Weekend with some short “Summer Fun” suggestions because — I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — while many adults are busy planning their kids’ summer fun, they often overlook their own!

But this week, I bet you know right where you are going to be this week/weekend — because nothings says sum-sum-summertime like a good fireworks show!

So instead of planning…I want you simply to share!

Holidays are one of the loneliest times for someone who is away from home, new to town, or suddenly out on their own.  And at the height of the summer, when everyone else seems to be having the greatest time ever, it can feel like you’re not included or somehow missed the boat.

Fireworks are one of those elusive festivities.  Google all you want…finding out the “right” place to be, at the right time, on the right day can feel desperate and maddening.

So help a neighbor out, will you?!  If you’re in the know about where/when the best shows in your area are…don’t keep it to yourself!  Spread the info — and share what you know!

(Better yet, invite someone to watch them with you!)

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: Do you know where the fireworks are?  If so, don’t keep all the fun to yourself!  Social media makes it easier than ever to get the word out.  Share the info with your neighbors, friends, and on your networks.  Better yet, invite someone to watch them with you.  There is enough division going on right now in our beautiful country…reach across the yard, the street, the hallway at school, or the corridor at work…and share what you know!

Spread Happyness — share your thoughts in the comments!!!

6/29/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

“Sand Art – Santa Barbara” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #197 – Summer Fun Lists! (What’s in YOUR top ten?)

It’s that time of year again!

The Summer Solstice occurred early Thursday morning (12:07am ET).  Proms and graduations are over.  And the last few days of school are taking place.

Summer 2018 has officially arrived!

And I’m going to ask you again — are you PLANNING to have fun this summer?

There are exactly ten Fridays between now and Labor Day Weekend.  And while adults are usually busy planning their kids’ summer fun — I’ve said it before: they often overlook their own!

And I want to make sure YOU have fun this summer!

So, repeat after me:

Don’t let the kids have all the fun!

The best way to teach others to have fun — is to have fun yourself!

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: Make your Summer Fun Lists!  What are the top ten ways you are planning to have fun this summer?  Brainstorm by yourself, with your family, or with your friends.  Then get planning!  There are exactly ten Fridays between now and Labor Day weekend.  Don’t let it pass you by!  Make this the summer you take that trip, cross off that bucket list item, make that leap, try that thing, get serious about that project, or just get plain silly!  Share your plans and report back — because it’s no fun to keep all the fun to yourself!  😉

(Here are 37 random ideas to get you started.)

How do you plan to have FUN this summer?!

Spread Happyness — share your thoughts or ideas in the comments (or by email) and keep the list growing!

6/22/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

“Teammates” (photo credit: Grace Church)

[Editor’s note: this post has been updated to include a link to Sean’s Memorial Service, which will be held Friday, June 22nd.  Details can be found here: https://leberlakeside.com]

Week #196 – Make a Lane! (Dedicated to Sean Young, HHS Class of 1992)

This week’s post comes on the heels of losing one of Rob’s classmates/teammates from back home.

To the family and friends of Sean Young (Hopatcong High School Class of 1992) — my heart is with you. There are no words that can make sense of nor satisfy the emptiness of the grief you are facing today…or in the days, weeks, or years ahead.  It is a permanent, deep, and lonely place.  It is forever…and it is heart breaking.  I am so sorry.

To everyone else, I’m reminded of a football term.  One of Sean’s teammates immediately remembered Sean’s ability to “make a lane” for him to run the ball.  Sure, it’s the ball-carrier who often gets all the glory…but any good running back knows it’s his offensive line that makes the real magic happen:

Wall-to-wall bodies…and then suddenly, an opening!

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: Make a lane!  Do you know someone who is facing a wall of opposition?  Big, massive, seemingly immovable obstacles that are preventing him or her from moving forward?  Maybe even actively working against them?

Make a lane.  Connect, support, encourage, move mountains if you can.

And above all…love on one another!

Spread Happyness — Make a Lane!  And share your thoughts in the comments.

6/15/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

Father’s Day To-Do List (by Grace Church)

Week #195 – Father’s Day is June 17th!  (Remember: the best gifts start with an “F!”)

In early May, I like to give you a heads-up that Mother’s Day is just around the corner.  Well — June is underway, and I wanted to take another moment this year to repeat my little public service announcement to those of you who are celebrating Father’s Day this year:

PLAN AHEAD!

But before you go out and buy another necktie or coffee mug or singing fish, take a moment to stop and think about what the man in your life really wants.

(No…not that!)

The other things!

Just like the moms I polled for Mother’s Day, I asked the guys:
What is it that you REALLY want/wish for on Father’s Day?

I have to be honest, getting answers was like pulling teeth.  While over 50 ladies responded within hours of my Mother’s Day question, I had to ask the guys three separate times — and then only received answers when another guy intervened on my behalf.  (Why is that, guys?!)

Like the ladies, most guys don’t want something that can be bought in a store.  Hell, most of them don’t even want to leave the house!  A few brave ones even told me: “Nothing.  To do nothing.”  That doesn’t make for a sexy wish-list!

It took some arm-twisting — but a brave group of guys took me up on the question and told me what they REALLY wanted on Father’s Day.  And it can be summed up in four words:

FOOD, FUN, FAMILY, and a FRIGGIN’ NAP!

FOOD: From morning until night — most dads responded with some sort of food request: breakfast on the deck, donuts, waffles, burgers on the grill, ice cream in the fridge, and beer in the cooler.  Rather than buy your dad something at the mall, head to the local grocery store instead and pick him up the makings of a king-sized breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, OJ, and coffee), a deli lunch (fresh bread, sandwich fixings, side salads, chips, cookies, and deli pickles), or a Grill-fest dinner (burgers and dogs, ribs and chicken, or steaks and potatoes).  Make sure you back it up with his favorite dessert — you know, the one just for him (even if the kids don’t like it!).

FUN: Whether it’s a day at the park, a trip to the ballgame, an outing on the golf course, an inside day at the science museum, or the latest action movie — dads do want to have fun!  (As long as they’re with the ones they love!)

FAMILY: In almost every category (except one, see below) — the dads I heard from all wanted to spend time with their families!  Laugher, cuddles, and a few “I love you, dads” don’t hurt either!

THE NAP: Moms aren’t alone in their request for a little extra sleep!  Napping was the number one response I received from dads, too!  Extra sleep goes a LONG way!  Make sure you get some on Father’s Day!  😉

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: Father’s Day is June 17th!  Do you know what the man in your life really wants?  Use this list to jump start the conversation!  Let HIM create the honey-do list for the day!  Work out a list that includes things each member of the family can check off: food, family, fun, and that all important NAP!  Just like Mother’s Day, the most important thing is to PLAN AHEAD!  Don’t leave things to the last minute.  And if it is a necktie or another coffee mug — wear it or drink from it in good health!

[A big THANK YOU to all the Dreamers & Builders who took the time to respond to my poll — and whose honest sharing made this post possible!]

Spread Happyness — PLAN AHEAD!  And share YOUR Father’s Day ideas in the comments!

[This post originally appeared on Week #91.]

6/8/18 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com

Social media has made it easier than ever to complain about bad service or call out individuals/companies that let us down.

The things is…it’s just as easy nowadays to say something positive!  🙂