Tea Alone
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2013,
revised 2023
(This painting seems right for tonight!)
10 Reasons To Be Happy Today
I used the exercise 10 Reasons to be Happy that
I made up, (but it may not be original), with impressive
results when I was teaching Positive Psychology.
At the start of a class I'd pick 10 people to go the
front of the room and start a sentence with, "I'm happy
because", and then say why. I'd explain that the
reason could be very small -- as in, "I'm happy
because I caught the bus on time." It was
amazing to see that the people who came to the front
of the class, said why they were happy, and let the class
clap for them -- got happier. It sounds like psychobabble magic,
but in fact it's the same principle as blogging and
showing work for artists, and as writing in a journal
and then reading it aloud to friends or people
in a writing group. It gives people a voice.
Having a voice in art and in the world matters. Getting a
chance to think about what makes you happy,
shifts your focus to the positive, and as I've told
you before, the former happiness teacher at Harvard
University, Shawn Achor, says that when we are
happy we think not only more creatively, but
better. Here's today's list:
1. My wonderful husband.
I made up, (but it may not be original), with impressive
results when I was teaching Positive Psychology.
At the start of a class I'd pick 10 people to go the
front of the room and start a sentence with, "I'm happy
because", and then say why. I'd explain that the
reason could be very small -- as in, "I'm happy
because I caught the bus on time." It was
amazing to see that the people who came to the front
of the class, said why they were happy, and let the class
clap for them -- got happier. It sounds like psychobabble magic,
but in fact it's the same principle as blogging and
showing work for artists, and as writing in a journal
and then reading it aloud to friends or people
in a writing group. It gives people a voice.
Having a voice in art and in the world matters. Getting a
chance to think about what makes you happy,
shifts your focus to the positive, and as I've told
you before, the former happiness teacher at Harvard
University, Shawn Achor, says that when we are
happy we think not only more creatively, but
better. Here's today's list:
1. My wonderful husband.
2. Our family -- Christopher, Megan, Sam, Emily,
Alice, Madeleine and James.
2. Our animals -- Sally the dog, and Monet the cat.
3. My friends both here in Toronto, and around the world
through the art world.
3. My friends both here in Toronto, and around the world
through the art world.
4. My life as an artist.
5. Our walks at Lake Ontario when it's not -18 Celsius.
5. Our walks at Lake Ontario when it's not -18 Celsius.
6. Our neighbourhood.
7. Our city -- I love Toronto.
7. Our city -- I love Toronto.
8. My good health.
9. The art groups I belong to -- The Heliconian club,
and The Don Valley Art Club.
and The Don Valley Art Club.
10.You!
I'll add a couple:
I'll add a couple:
11. The wonderful people who cleared our
street today.
street today.
12. The people who collect my work.
Thank you for everything!!!
Have a loving your life day!
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