I’ve been M.I.A. from here and all for good reason. While in the Caribbean this past week we were in the midst of Tropical Storm Phillipe. Thankfully it was downgraded from hurricane status before it hit the Leeward Islands. Though we experienced the effects of it, it wasn’t as devastating as it was feared.
I am home now and all is well. And one may think there is no happiness or joy in a storm. However I am always amazed at the resilience and hope that exists in the midst of storms, and the help we offer each other in difficult times. How you react in difficult times is really all about the choices we make. We can allow fear to overcome us, as I witnessed. Or we can provide shelter and a smile. I saw a lot more smiles and kindness than fear and for that I am grateful.
How do you react in a storm?
This is the subject of this (last) week’s Happiness Prompt.
If you have a YouTube account click this link https://youtu.be/z9Xj6lCA30A and consider subscribing. Thanks!
Otherwise, watch the embed here.
The Happiness Project is
my way of sprinkling happiness like fairy dust so that we can shift our perspective towards a happier more joyful life. Each Tuesday I will give you a prompt and an affirmation for the week. Use these to guide yourself towards a joyful life filled with gratitude and happiness. Think of it as your own gratitude journal.
Once in a while we’ll do a check-in to see how your happiness is improving, so keep slowly moving towards happiness and eventually to joy.
Happiness Community Shares:
Join the Happiness Community by writing a post and leaving a link in comments so I can share it.
Inspired by last week’s Autumnal prompt, Leola Durant posted about experiencing the beauty of autumn in Ontario. Find her happy post here https://leoladurant.com/2023/09/29/5-places-to-see-the-autumn-colors-in-ontario/
And Joyful Jan wrote about the joy of autumn. Find her beautiful post here https://accordingto.me/2023/09/28/autumns-additions/
Follow these Happiness Community Regulars:
Spectacular Steffi from https://kokopellibeefreeblog.wordpress.com/
Marvelous Margie from https://backroadsandotherstories.com
Joyful and restless Jo from https://stillrestlessjo.com/blog/
Joyful Jan from https://accordingto.me/
Wonderful Wynne from https://wynneleon.com/
Victorious Vicki from https://victoriaponders.com/
Sentient Susan from https://hartinspirations.com/
Are you a happiness community regular? Let me know you’re practicing the happiness prompts and I’ll add you to the community list here.
This week I wish you safety from the storm and hope you will be an umbrella to those experiencing it.
If you missed the previous weeks, here’s the full list:
https://lifewithalegria.com/category/happiness-project/
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Yes, it is a wonderful fact, that there is always hope.
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Indeed. Thank you Lakshmi.
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Alegria, firstly thank you for adding me to your community regulars list as “Sentient Susan”. 🙂 I will endeavor going forward to properly earn my place. In 2017, my partner and I were in Cuba when Hurricane Irma arrived. She was the first Category 5 hurricane on record to hit Cape Verde. We had the option to evacuate, but chose not to. It was quite a ride! This was a luxury vacation (an out of the ordinary treat for us) at an upscale hotel that fortunately was built to withstand hurricanes, and had a storm shelter in the basement. Besides the regular guests, many people were taken in from small neighboring hotels. True to your remarks about your experience, people were polite, kind, cooperative, and compassionate. Many people who were displaced because their smaller hotels had significant damage ended up camping out in the lobby after the storm until other arrangements could be made. I have to stay, in stands out in my memory as truly one of the best travel and life experiences we ever had! (Aside from the fact that Cuba is a very special place. I’d like to return there some day.)
I’m glad you are home safe from your encounter with Phillipe. 🙂
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Sorry for a couple of typos near the end. Should be: “I have to say, it stands out in my memory…” (Darn, I thought I proofread thoroughly!) 😉
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I think we can all see beyond typos and understand the message instead. Progress not perfection, right?
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I am so sorry for such a delayed reply to your lovely message Susan. I looked at the date of the message and know that I had no opportunity to read or reply. Life has been beyond hectic for me these last couple of months. I realize I missed a lot here. Though as you know, the priority list is shuffled differently in times of crisis. Thank you for your patience my friend.
And yes, these crises, whether actual hurricanes or situations that seem like one, can bring out the best or the worst in people depending on who they are and how they choose to respond. I’m certain Cuba has special memories for you. It has for me too.
Thanks for being here! 💕
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Wow – I love the perspective of this week’s prompts. To offer an umbrella to someone else – to find the beauty in the storm. The video is gorgeous. You’ve done such a great job of presenting real happiness – the kind we can find even when the seas are rough.
I was honored to be someone’s port in a storm this week – provide a steady boat for their rough waters.
Glad the storm wasn’t devastating and you are home safely! Grateful for you!
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Thank you my friend. You speak gracious and beautiful words and I appreciate them very much. I am certain that the harbour you provided someone this week was also gracefully appreciated. The ripple will continue and will spread wider.
Thank you for YOU! 💕
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I don’t know what I loved more in your video…the haunting and inspirational glimpses of nature and carrying on (the scene of the jogger was stunning…the rain drops captured in a hand…the sounds of water). Thank you. I think you might be that umbrella for others that you mentioned. Thank you for being you! 🥰🥰🥰
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I’m so happy to know you enjoyed this prompt Vicki and the little video. The man running in the rain was such a chance capture, and I believe he was running to offer help to someone else. Thank you for your appreciation and for being a part of the happiness community. 🥰💕
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Thank you…and I forgot to add that I’m glad you’re safe. 🥰
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Awww thanks Vicki. 🥰
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I like the idea of being an umbrella for somebody, Alegria. Those islands will have experienced many storms and come through smiling. I hope nobody was badly hurt during this one.
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Thanks Jo. Though there was severe flooding, power outages and wind damage to some homes and garages, nobody was hurt that I was aware of. And everyone was very grateful when it passed. Thanks for being here.
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Glad you were able to find beauty in the storm! As usual you captured it so beautifully and peacefully. This week’s prompt is an important one, hopefully it will be an easy one for all to do ❤️.
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Thank you Jan. Being there for someone as they weather their storm is an important place to be. I do hope we all take that responsibility seriously. I appreciate you being here and your wise thoughts, always. 💕
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