WAVE BIG! (Photo credit: Courtesy of Gina Buongiorno)
Week #156 – Three Years! (and 156 Ways to Spread Happyness)
Greetings Happyness Tribe — and welcome to WEEK #156!!!
Three years ago on September 5th our world changed forever — and on September 8th, SpreadHappyness was born!
As friends, neighbors, colleagues, co-workers, service-providers, professionals, and other acquaintances lined up in their own distress and sadness to pay their respects, I recognized immediately that we were not alone.
You had lost someone, too.
Rob was important to us all…each in our own special way.
And so, I pledged to deliver a little dose of him every Friday morning via this blog — along with a little challenge to keep things going. SpreadHappyness was born because I believed Rob’s legacy was his natural ability to spread happiness to anyone who crossed his path — and I didn’t think that had to die with him.
Cancer wasn’t the only thing that could spread…I knew happiness could, too!
So, here are all 156 ways we have Spread Happyness from the very beginning! Have a favorite?! I’d love to hear about it!
(Have an idea for a future post? I’d love to hear that, too!)
156 Ways to Spread Happyness!
#1 – Wave Big!
#2 – Say Hello Like You Mean It!
#3 – Nicknames…and other ways to win friends and influence people!
#4 – Build Your Character Muscles
#5 – How to Be Beautiful (in Three Easy Steps)
#6 – Pure Energy: Are you an outlet or a plug?
#7 – Don’t Pretend…Make Plans (Go get your wings!)
#8 – Are you a Smiling Guy (or Gal)?
#9 – Who’s ready for some “Strange Magic?”
#10 – What’s on your wish list?
#11 – There’s no “I” in “Generous.”
#12 – There’s no “I” in “Thoughtful” either!
#13 – Hey, how ya’ doing?
#14 – Do you have a “Happy Heart?”
#15 – Looking Ahead: Remember the Why behind your What!
#16 – Can you say, “I love my life!”?
#17 – Ten Practical Ways to “Spread the Warmth” this Cold Snap
#18 – Roll Me Away: What’s your escape song?
#19 – You are worthy!
#20 – How about a “Breath of Fresh Air?”
#21 – Have a “Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#22 – Come on, get happy! (And give some, too!)
#23 – “Fitness never takes a snow day!”
#24 – “Keep it shiny side up!” (Dedicated to Gregory Pellinger)
#25 – “Ride the Wave!” (Reflections at the Six-Month Mark)
#26 – There’s always…Bowling!
#27 – “Let the balloon go…” (What are you holding on to?)
#28 – “Take the long way home…”
#29 – “Where to now?” (Happy Spring!)
#30 – What is your “Always…”?
#31 – “Honoring & Remembering”
#32 – “Where do all the socks go?”
#33 – “Heavy on my mind…” (Who are you thinking of?)
#34 – Start with your Heart (Nine ways to be “Truly Compassionate”)
#35 – “My sunshine on this earth!” (What weather best describes you?)
#36 – “Remembered Always…” (Putting the Memorial back in Memorial Day)
#37 – “The Power of Love” (What’s on your summer playlist?)
#38 – “Keep Going!”
#39 – “Summa-time is Funna-time!” (Are YOU having FUN yet?)
#40 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Come play with me!”
#41 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Ride the Rides!”
#42 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Family Time!”
#43 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Walk the Boards and Ride the Waves!” (Dedicated to Rob Kalp)
#44 – Summer Fun Challenge: “One Tank Trips!”
#45 – Summer Fun Challenge: Pool Volleyball (and other ways to GET WET!)
#46 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Quiet Time!”
#47 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Lessons Available!” (Learn to ___________!)
#48 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Just Watch!”
#49 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Feeding Time!”
#50 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Keep ’em Flying!”
#51 – Summer Fun Challenge: “CELEBRATE!”
#52 – Endings and Beginnings (A big wave hello or goodbye?)
#53 – The Next Wave
#54 – Welcome Fall! (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)
#55 – Which way to Happyness?
#56 – Looking for Signs (Which do you see first?)
#57 – Are you “Loving Life” in 2015? (Ten weeks left to make it happen!)
#58 – Ten Weeks to Happyness: “Get your priorities straight!”
#59 – Nine Weeks to Happyness: “Don’t dream it…BE IT!”
#60 – Eight Weeks to Happyness: CONNECT! (Dedicated to Jodi Lupo and her beautiful Val.)
#61 – Seven Weeks to Happyness: TAKE ACTION! (What coffee cups and Christmas Trees taught me this week!)
#62 – Six Weeks to Happyness: EXPRESS YOURSELF! (Happyness in Action – with Scott Cuzzo)
#63 – Five Weeks to Happyness: TOYS for…TRUCKS?! (Happyness in Action – with Amy Wood-Oblen)
#64 – Four Weeks to Happyness: RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS (Happyness in Action – with Kindness for Christopher)
#65 – Three Weeks to Happyness: SPREAD THE WARMTH! (Happyness in Action – with Aubrey McCarrick)
#66 – Two Weeks to Happyness: SPREAD THE LOVE! (Happyness in Action – with Sarah Harmeyer)
#67 – One Week to Happyness: SPREAD HAPPYNESS!
#68 – One Surefire Way to “Love Your Life” in 2016!
#69 – Back to Basics: SMILE!
#70 – Back to Basics: WAVE BIG!
#71 – Back to Basics: Say Hello Like You Mean It!
#72 – Back to Basics: Hey, how ya’ doing?”
#73 – Happy February! “Have a Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#74 – “I believe in you!” (Encourage someone today!)
#75 – Rough Road? (Take a closer look!)
#76 – Lose someone? Tell me…”What was he/she like?”
#77 – One Year, Six Months: “Ride the Wave!”
#78 – “Forever Young!”
#79 – Hidden Treasures
#80 – To Life! (Happy Spring!)
#81 – Row or Float?
#82 – What color are your memories?
#83 – “All I need is a pair of wheels…”
#84 – What is Your Art? (Dedicated to Phil Hirlemann)
#85 – Mother’s Day is May 8th (Read this before making reservations!)
#86 – “Take care of yourself!” (Especially on Mother’s Day)
#87 – “Keep playing that guitar!” (Don’t let your dreams gather dust!)
#88 – Go Fish! (What’s on your mind?)
#89 – Remember: Keep the “Memorial” in Memorial Day!
#90 – Summer Fun List! (37 random ways to have fun this summer)
#91 – Father’s Day is June 19th! (Read this before you buy another necktie or coffee mug!)
#92 – Watch for Rainbows!
#93 – Live Your Legacy (in memory of Sean Rollnick)
#94 – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of…Happyness!
#95 – Hard at Work? Stay Cool!
#96 – Sit down and rock a while!
#97 – Start spreading the news! (The news you want to see!)
#98 – Stop and smell the… (whatever makes you happy!)
#99 – Go Ahead…Reminisce (and Remember Together)
#100 – Just…Breathe.
#101 – Good Company
#102 – The Gift of Time
#103 – No Regrets (What’s in your bucket?)
#104 – 104 Ways to Spread Happyness!
#105 – Another Wave!
#106 – Welcome Fall! (Celebrate the first days of Autumn!)
#107 – “How can I help?”
#108 – When in doubt, reach out!
#109 – Send a smile…send mail!
#110 – Countdown to Happyness! (Spread the Word!)
#111 – Ten Weeks to Happyness! (“Go get your wings!)
#112 – Nine Weeks to Happyness: Vote “YES” to Happyness!
#113 – Eight Weeks to Happyness: Thank a Veteran!
#114 – Seven Weeks to Happyness: Spread Kindness!
#115 – Six Weeks to Happyness: Count Your Blessings!
#116 – Five Weeks to Happyness: Monster Trucks for Toys!
#117 – Four Weeks to Happyness: Send Happy Mail!
#118 – Three Weeks to Happyness: Spread the Love!
#119 – Have a “Happy Heart-mas!”
#120 – Did you “Love Your Life” in 2016?
#121 – New Year, New View! (What are you looking toward in 2017?)
#122 – Plan Ahead (Your year…at a glance!)
#123 – Lower the Ladder!
#124 – Back to Basics: Smile, Wave, Say Hello, and ask “How are you doing?”
#125 – Valentine’s Day is February 14th!
#126 – “Have a Rob Church Kinda Day!”
#127 – Prepare to FLY!
#128 – Happyness in Action (Take the Giving Challenge)
#129 – WANTED: Happyness Spreaders!
#130 – Two years, six months: “Ride the wave!”
#131 – Out with the old! (What are you holding on to?)
#132 – “We’re all on our own stage…” (In memory of Cindy Tedesco)
#133 – Feedback & Follow Up!
#134 – Forgive!
#135 – TO LIFE! (What are you looking forward to this spring?)
#136 – Repost: “All I need is a pair of wheels…”
#137 – “Grab a coffee!”
#138 – Mother’s Day is May 14th!
#139 – “Take care of yourself!” (Especially on Mother’s Day)
#140 – Clear the deck! (Summer’s coming!)
#141 – REMINDER: Keep the “Memorial” in Memorial Day
#142 – It’s Graduation Season! (What’s the best/worst advice for grads?)
#143 – Father’s Day is June 18th!
#144 – BE STILL! (Celebrate the Solstice!)
#145 – Summer Fun Lists: What’s in YOUR top ten?
#146 – Summer Fun: Take a hike!
#147 – Summer Fun: Take a seat!
#148 – Summer Fun: Take a drive!
#149 – Summer Fun: Make memories! (And share them, too!)
#150 – Summer Fun: Invite someone along!
#151 – Summer Fun: Mentor someone!
#152 – Summer Fun: “Take your baby to the carnival…”
#153 – Summer Fun: Spread Good Words!
#154 – Summer Fun: Play Tourist…in your Hometown!
#155 – Summer Fun: Spread Happyness (and start with yourself first!)
#156 – Three Years! (and 156 ways to Spread Happyness)
Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! It’s that time when I have to think about the year ahead — and the future of SpreadHappyness.com. Whether you’re a first-time visitor — or you’ve been with me since the beginning — I’d welcome any input. What do you like most/least? What has been most helpful to you/others? What else/more would you like to see? How can I make SH better/more relevant? How can SH help spread EVEN MORE happyness in the year ahead? I invite you to respond to me in the way that works best for you: through the comments, on Facebook, or at the email below. Your perspective is invaluable — and I’d love to know what you think!
Whether I hear from you or not — let me take this moment once again to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you who have logged on, followed along, shared your thoughts, supported the effort, and above all — who SPREAD HAPPYNESS this past year!!! Year Three has made things real and permanent — but once again in the “doing” of this blog, there was direction, and in the direction there was hope, and in the hope there was Happyness: one week at a time!
To life! To love! To Happyness!
Grace (aka “Rob’s sister!”)
Spread Happyness — please share your thoughts in the comments!
9/8/17 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com
There are very few people who are unique worthy of changing our lives. Rob was such an individual. Perfect? Heck no. Memorable? Absolutely. He sought joy in his surfing. In his relationships with people. In his ongoing quest to for a adrenaline fix in the air or in the surf. What would be around that corner? I am a better person because of Rob. He loved my boy and for that I will be eternally thankful. Gosh, we all miss that spirit. Tonight I was blessed to speak with another special being…My Mary. A woman who loves God and His CHILDREN. To meet her is to come face to face with love. God brought into my life special persons, especially my boys , to reveal His face. Thank you Lord for the gift of your children.
So glad you got to hear from Mary!!! What a blessing!!! And what a compliment to someone to know they’ve made such a difference in your life!!!
This is crazy! I was out on the pier today for a long time standing with Samuel my third child my second son and 1 of 4.
All of my children grew up on this beach, Sam is now a lifeguard- like it’s two older siblings.
I sat up on that Pier talking to him, I even watched him make a couple of saves. I was thinking how damn lucky I am that I have these moment. That we have any of life’s Beautiful Moments. And for no reason at all, Robert came to mind.
It was only earlier this summer when I learned the news of his passing! It was only this past summer!!! The news was too surreal and even more unbelievable that he had been gone as long as he has and I never knew. I NEVER KNEW!
And those moments days and even a couple of weeks after I felt so ashamed. How could someone with so much life so influential and so charismatic, just be gone? How could I have not known?
What a life! what an energy! What an amazing personality! So tangible was his love of life. Same as his sis. I remember thinking when I ran into these two, my God they’re always so happy and upbeat and it’s so damn genuine! Nothing contrived about it.
Strange the people you meet in your life and the lasting impact they have. I was going through a very particularly hard time, I was down, my heart was broken and I was really flailing around. I was trying to grab onto anything that made sense. I remember telling Rob what was going on with my life. He listened so patiently. He offered sympathy. He heard me. He listened. But without batting an eyelash he said: ” you are strong you are physically strong I’ve watched you throughout the years I see how you work but you are much more than your physicality, you have a strength of heart that is unparalleled you are truly unique I must tell you in case someone has not yet. Lucky is the man, woman or child who gets to be your friend, who has YOU fighting for them. You will survive this. You WILL have a story and you WILL help others with your strength. I believe in you- you can do it.”
That may have been one of the last conversations I’ve ever had with Robert.
I kept looking for him at the beach in the evenings in the last few years. I wanted to tell him how much those words meant to me. How grounding they were. It’s as if his words were alive and breathed life into my veins to my lungs and into my heart. He was right. I survived it and a lot more than that. I am strong but it’s only through the beauty of people like Robert. It was as if he willed that strength to me with the power of His words. As if it were prophetic.
Robert, I may never see you in person on this beach again but I see you all the time. I will never forget your smile, your charm and your nice easy way. You made everyone around you feel just great about themselves! Thank you so much. I always wanted to tell you in person! I wanted to tell you my story but I’m sure you already know because -no ye not that we entertain angels unaware.
Robert you are an Angel!
Oh Damo…this is a beautiful recollection!!! I felt so bad for you that day on the beach…but the timing had to be perfect for you. It just had to be. It is such a joy to know that you remember him so fondly — and that he made such a difference. He would love to know that — and I believe he does! See you on the beach, my friend! 😉