Surprising conclusions!

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SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. [Click here for this week's Bliss Initiatives]

(Visit Jason Love.com for more great cartoons!)

This has been a fun week. Surprise is definitely something that gets Bliss going in me! I realized this week that I don't have to be concocting huge and elaborate surprises to enjoy it's treasure. Watching a butterfly lingering on a flower, noticing my Sweetie or daughter reaching an arm out to touch me while we sit together on the couch, taking time to use the long cook rather then instant oatmeal can all be surprising and sweetly satisfying if you let your self get present to it. 


I can't say I even concentrated very much on my Bliss Initiatives but I did embrace the virtue in a way that leads me to a 7 out of 10 on my weekly scale. I am also awarding 3 bliss boosts for the overall upswing in bliss concentrating on surprise has given me. Over the course of my experiment I can honestly report that my virtues have increased bliss but more importantly I am NOTICING and UTILIZING each of them in some really new ways. I obviously picked my virtues because I had a hint of their power for inducing bliss but I am really inspired by the result of my focus over time. 


Next week is my Hiatus week, a week off of specific concentration after a full circuit through the virtues. I added this in after the last cycle when I felt like I needed a bit of a break. This time I actually don't feel I need the same thing but I decided to go ahead with my Hiatus just to see what shows up! As you must know by now, I abide by the Earl Nightingale adage that "You become what you think about." and throughout my little experiment I have very deliberately giving myself blissful things to think about. What I am curious to see during this hiatus week is if I am now generally more likely to use my virtues as tools or if I slide back toward less blissful ways.


Ben Franklin examined his virtues over and over for his entire lifetime and while I believe there is something wonderful to be gained from that kind of approach, I am interested to see if lasting change can be made just by conducting a one year study. I love my 13 virtues of Bliss but I realize I may be interested in playing around with different things next year (I assume now that I will be playing some type of Everyday Game for the rest of my life) and I want to see what happens when I let up on formal concentration. Perhaps some virtues will "stick" more then others and possibly things like humility will always require concentration for any hope of enjoying their gifts.


A Hiatus of one week isn't likely to give me all the answers but it is fun to shake things up a bit in any case. If you have any ideas or questions about my game and or thoughts you care to share about the project please do. Another whole aspect I hadn't considered when I started this whole thing is how powerful and edifying it is to have all of your input and support. I am certain it adds something that even Ben Franklin would have revered. So please don't be shy, I am always interested in what you have to say!


Next Post: Something Hiatus-y!!

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Surprise. 

Next week it is Hiatus week and after that, Joy.

Surprise I might be an A lister

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SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. [Click here for this week's Bliss Initiatives]

So I am stealing a few minutes while my Sweetie is giving the girl a bath and I was hopping around visiting folks and I ran into The Blogger's Concierge and they are looking for bloggers who consider themselves "A List Material."


 Of course when I first hear that I immediately say to myself, "Why yes, of course I am A listable!" 


Then they ask to say why and I start to doubt.


"Well what IS "A List" material?'


"I've never really been that popular and I kind of relate to Kathy Griffin's D list. Does that mean I could NEVER be A list?"


Well, they didn't really put a criteria out there except for something about possibly "being the first in the know." Well darn it then, I am NEVER the FIRST in the know. I'm probably regularly in the bottom third about knowing anything. I can fake it well though and even if I didn't know when we started the conversation I can have you believing, by the end of it, that the whole darn thing was my idea. Yep, I'm that good! Really that doesn't happen often... but sometimes....


Having this little conversation with myself made me think, "Well that is the whole damn point!" 


You are A list if you think you are A list!
And today I am declaring myself A list! So Howdy Madam Concierge-ists! I want to play along and I hope you enjoy my A List Blog!


My blog is different from most blogs and the same too. I am in the middle of year long experiment to encourage more Everyday Bliss in my life. In order to do this I am playing an Everyday Game in which I explore what I am calling the 13 virtues of Bliss. Each week I concentrate on one of the virtues, create games to play and report my success or failures here.


I do my best to talk from my heart and I throw in surprises and some regular bloggy tricks from time to time (participating in really fun memes like Flip Off Friday and TMI Thursday) and all in all do my best to offer a little fun and inspiration on a daily basis. In my About this Blog tab you can find out more about the kind of things I generally post.  


And if you want something a bit lighter, and from a Mom's perspective, you can always head over to my other newer (and also A List Blog) Everyday Mommy. Somewhere in either of these places I hope you are going to find something that tickles your fancy!


You too are an A List blog so head on over to the Blogger's Concierge and get yourself listed! The A List Affair is closing June 28th!!


Next Post: Will REALLY be the surprising conclusions I mentioned earlier today, or it will be yet another surprise... see you then!

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Surprise. 

Next week it is Hiatus week and after that, Joy.

Surprise! I'm Tipping My Hat!

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SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. [Click here for this week's Bliss Initiatives]

From Google Images

I suppose this is really a surprise since I don't even have a hat on! It is just that since flipping people and things off yesterday, I felt turn about was only fair. I wanted to honor folks who have been honorable or did the right thing by me this week!

Though hardly anyone tips their hats anymore in a gesture of friendliness, we still display similar actions to acknowledge a stranger ... such as a quick wave, a nod, a wink, or a hearty smile in passing. With small acts of friendliness we can - and should - acknowledge each another. By doing so, we can possibly make someone feel a little better as they pass by. (from Suzanne Molino Singleton in the Baltimore Inspirational Examiner)

I like the expression "a tip of my hat" as an expression of acknowledgement so there you have it  AND here we go:

A TIP of MY HAT for the GOP - For maturely handling the removal of General Stanley McChrystal as field commander in Afghanistan. For the first time in a while I was proud of our leaders for supporting our president. Insubordination is NOT a partisan issue and the GOP did not try to make it one.

A TIP of MY HAT for Kevin Costner - and his brother for coming up with a viable gulf clean up process. It is inspirational that such a well know actor would want to have his legacy defined as something more then acting and that the invention actually works!

A TIP of MY HAT to my Sweetie - who didn't listen to all my pronouncements regarding fat rolls and still brought home my favorite dessert (cheese cake!)

A TIP of MY HAT to my Girl - for declaring that I am the "Best Mommy on the Planet!" (for getting her green grapes at the grocery store.)

A TIP of MY HAT to my readers - who enjoyed my FLIP OFFS and didn't see it as the demise of my mostly inspirational blog!

And Finally...

A TIP of MY HAT to the Earth - who I unfairly flipped off yesterday for not allowing me to control time.  I really do appreciate all you have to put up with sustaining life along with all our human interference and I promise to be more respectful in the future!

Have you tipped your hat to someone lately?

Next Post - Surprising conclusions!

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Surprise. 

Next week it is Hiatus week and after that, Joy.

Surprise I am flipping someone off!

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SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. [Click here for this week's Bliss Initiatives]
Well isn't this a fine kettle of fish, everyone thanking me for all my positive energy round here, and I have decided to participate in Friday Flip offs! I was originally just going to "RANT" today but then I found out about Kludgy Mom's Friday Flip Offs and I thought perfect!! Don't worry, I will be returning to my regularly scheduled good will once I get a few things off my chest! It is surprise week after all... hopefully you are at least a little surprised by my tone or this forthcoming diatribe is ill conceived... anyway, let's get started.

Image from Modern Mythology Press

To the woman in the red Jeep in front of me - FLIP OFF! It is annoying enough that you have to chain smoke with your window open in front of me at a traffic light but then you had to flip the lit butt out of your window so I could enjoy watching it smolder on the pavement. Littering is tacky enough but we live in California where fires start because someone looks at the dry grass the wrong way... a little wind in the right direction and you could take out a subdivision. What the hell were you thinking?!!!


To BP - FLIP OFF!! OK we get it you have absolutely no idea how to fix your disaster but if I have to watch one more "sincere" advertisement about how you are going to "make things right" I am going to spontaneously combust. As I mentioned above, I live in California so in addition to the gulf coast annihilation you will be responsible for a fire that takes out Northern California.


To my Fat Jeans - FLIP OFF!! You have got to be kidding! I was willing to release you from the top shelf of my closet and take you for a glamorous spin to the grocery store and park but NO, you too have forsaken me with your belly roll inducing closure. Thank goodness your sweat pant cousin is still available or I would be heading to the store half naked.


To my floors - FLIP OFF!! Why do you have to be a magnet for filth and grime? Can you not remain clean for at least three seconds so I can enjoy walking across you without stepping in something sticky or wet?


And Finally


To the earth - FLIP OFF! While I am really grateful that you have decide to give us all a gorgeous place to live could you please just slow that orbiting around the sun down a bit? 24 hours in a day is just NOT enough. Could you back it off a bit and give me 28 or even 30 hours? No wait, even better, could I call you the day before and let you know what I need tomorrow? 


Hey that was pretty cathartic! How about you? Wanna flip someone/something off? Join the hop and tell us all about it!





Next Post - Back to Inspirational Surprises!

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Surprise. Next week it is Hiatus week and after that, Joy.

Surprise! We are getting to know you!

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SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. [Click here for this week's Bliss Initiatives]


O.K. so not all of you!! Totally not possible in one little post, but after sharing some things about me yesterday (oh and if you want more, I shared 8 additional surprising things over on Everyday Mommy today) I have decided I want to share about my readers. In a completely random approach (used random number generator to select) I picked three of my followers and am doing a little "getting to know you" feature here today. 

Art and Musings by Jessica Doyle

I have never visited Jennifer's website before today and I am clear that has been my loss. Sadly, today she shares about her Aunt's passing and the pussy willow painting she has dedicated to her. Sadness aside I am amazed and delighted by her absolutely gorgeous art work and thoughtful way of expressing herself. I have immediately signed up to follow her blog and will be visiting her Art Shop as soon as I am done with this post!

The Baby Plan

This Everyday Bliss follower is the charming Ms. Baby Plan who blogs to help de-stress about her wishes to conceive. She is eager and curious on all motherhood issues and happily receives advice and all good luck wishes! In between all her hopeful mommy musings she blogs about fashion and fitness. She is really great at responding to all comments and returns blog visits so if you are interested in a terrific bloggy friend do visit!  

The Everyday Goddess

I can not say enough nice things about this next lovely blogger.  First of all how can EVERYDAY Kathy NOT love another blogger with Everyday in their name, but what makes this corner of the blogosphere so special is Everyday Goddess's weekly blog feature (click for this week's Goddess Awards). She tells how she regularly reads over 200 blogs and in her weekly Goddess Awards she highlights the best of what she has read. Every week she picks some terrific finds. whenever I don't have time to read my own blogroll I just head over to her place and find the top spots of the week.  Why don't you check it out now!

Just a small sampling of the Everyday Bliss readership! Thank you to the three of you and for everyone who did not get featured here. I appreciate the diversity of the Everyday Bliss fans and truly appreciate the fact that you continue to stop by my little place in cyber space.

If you comment today, tell me please, how did you come to follow Everyday Bliss?

Next Post: I'm not telling... it is a surprise!

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Surprise. Next week it is Hiatus week and after that, Joy.

Eight Surprising Things About Me

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SURPRISE - A sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment; to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. [Click here for this week's Bliss Initiatives]

Bonus Surprise... can you guess which one is me??

Surprise! I'm doing a meme! I have done very few of these but this one looked particularly fun because 8 is my favorite number (oh did I just use one of my 8 things?) and it is surprise week so I thought what the heck!!

I think it could be challenge thinking of things I haven't covered on this blog already but I'll do my best not to repeat!!

Here are the rules of engagement:

People who are tagged need to write these rules in their own blogs & share eight things about themselves that others might not know. At the end of the their blog post, they need to tag six people and list their (blog) names. Leave a comment on the blogs of the people they’ve chosen telling them they’ve been tagged and encouraging them to come over and read the eight things you’ve written on your blog.

I've decided I will "tag" the six newest followers of Everyday Bliss as a way to get to know them better but I would find it very fun if more of you want to jump on in and play too so I will add a little linky at the bottom of the post so everyone who wants to play can share their posts too! 

OK so without further ado here are my things:

• I once swam (most briefly) in the 38 degree (fahrenheit) ocean off the coast of wales.

• I was 44 when my daughter was born. She is three now (do the math if you want!) I realize my friends know this fact but a couple of readers have recently asked "just how late to the game of parenting are you?" LOL

• I can triple roll my tongue and tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue (and am happy to note it looks like my daughter has inherited at least one trait from me! For those who don't know us, Sweets looks JUST like her dad and if I hadn't carried her for nine months I wouldn't believe she was mine!)

• I have visited all but three of the United States. North Dakota, Alaska and New Mexico are the ones remaining.

• I participated in an Austrian "talent show" where my talent was "Not Speaking German" -- but I actually spoke enough to realize the MC had mixed up our pre-rehearsed interview and while I was answering the questions he asked, he was reacting as if I had answered others... the whole thing was uncomfortably odd!

• In my 30s, I played host mother to a 17 year old AFS exchange student from Panama. Helena called me Mom and she still sends me mother's day cards and remembers all birthday's and holidays. Someday perhaps I'll get to be a host grandmother too!! 

• I just (about an hour ago) took my first yoga class after not doing any formal yoga for more then 15 years. I am pretty tired but feel so content and super happy to have actually moved my body in that way. I am committing here and now that I will continue to take classes at least twice a week! Next time will be Thursday!

• I never liked or drank any coffee until a boyfriend bought me a coffee grinder and coffee maker when I was thirty.  From that tentative introduction I've reached addict proportions... two cups a day minimum every morning and many days I'll also have an afternoon latte. I think about giving it up but I really enjoy it. That first sip in the morning.... hmmmm. Nope, no grand declarations forthcoming about this one!

OK that's Eight! (If you do want to read more I  have a list of 25 things under the About Kathy tab... scroll on down to the bottom of the page.)

As I said above,  I am "tagging" the following six newest Everyday Bliss readers to play along but if you think it sounds like fun go ahead and jump on board!! I would LOVE to learn 8 surprising things about all of you!!!

New Day New Lesson 

The Chatty Mommy

Green Monkey Tales

Coco Sparkle

Saved by Love Creations

Woodstock Lily

If you take the challenge and write a Surprising post please link up here... I will showcase everyone who joins the party in a blog post next week!

Next Post: Something Surprising

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Surprise. 

Next week it is Hiatus week and after that, Joy.