The Happiness Challenge: Let's get the new year off to a happy start!

As I reflect on 2015, I see many blessings in my life:

• a phenomenal teaching partner and inspiring students in my last year at St. Luke School
• a poetry performance by a group of those former students who recited one of my poems
• a bittersweet end to an eleven year life as a parent at Ascension School
• a wonderful job opportunity that is more rewarding than I ever dreamed possible
• countless moments of pride and joy with my sons (academically, personally, athletically)
• fun outings and meaningful conversations with friends
• memorable family gatherings
• this website and the new relationships being built with WD PlatChal writers
• the self-publication of a poetry chapbook and historical fiction novel

Yes.  I was blessed.  

But I have to admit that 2015 brought melancholic times as well:

• Maybe it was all the endings that went hand-in-hand with the new beginnings? 
• Maybe it was Dad’s brush with death and his present road to recovery? 
• Maybe it was the daily stresses and time restraints that came with a busy life? 
• Maybe it’s the disappointment of not maintaining the healthy lifestyle I started, especially when I was finally conquering my goals? 

Yes. I had melancholic times.

So, what’s in store for the upcoming year?  Well, I’ve never been one for resolutions, but I’ve been thinking a lot about a TED Talk I watched a short time ago that presented a 21-day approach to “creating lasting positive change.” I was unfamiliar with TED Talks until a fellow writer posted this on her blog.  I watched the full 12+ minute video, and there was something about the speaker, Shawn Achor, and information that made me smile. I jotted down his five daily tasks, and that was that.  I never went back to the list—until now.

You’ll notice a new tab on this website called “Happiness Challenge.”  For the first 21 days of January, I’m challenging myself to abide by Achor’s five daily tasks: 

• List three gratitudes
• Exercise
• Meditate
• Send a Random Act of Kindness email
• Journal about one positive experience in the previous 24 hours 

This challenge is what I need to get back on track with happiness and health, which can’t help but have a ripple effect on my personal and professional lives, as well as my writing hobby.  What do you think?  Wanna join me?​​

Happy 2016!
As always, thanks for your support!
- Geralyn

(FYI: I’m thrilled that Traci was the recipient of my first giveaway, but her Ted Talk post was not the reason for her winning.  Thanks again, Traci!)