Archive for the ‘Happiness’ Category
Posted by Shirley Anne on August 13, 2011
Image by CodeCutter via Flickr
Reading other people’s blogs is one of my pastimes when online and I read a few but not too many of them, I have too many other things to do. I find what others write about very revealing and their posts often provoke me to comment. Hopefully I do that tactfully. I often find that I can offer some advice having been through similar experiences to theirs and I hope too that any advice I give is helpful and supportive. Many of the things people write about concern their everyday lives and problems, especially those who, like me have transitioned or are going through transition. They write about things like acceptance, homophobia and transphobia in particular, love, relationships and a host of other things too. Sometimes I avoid responding to some posts especially where I have strong feelings on the subject opposing what is written. One of these subjects is religion. It is hard for someone like myself who, after many years as an atheist, became a Christian who reads about the moral issues and habits of non-Christians. I have to try to tread carefully so as not to upset people with any response but at the same time wanting to witness to them. Well everyone is different of course and I sometimes feel that Que Sera, Sera will inevitably rule. I read about the problems others like myself have when facing the world with the animosity and homophobia rearing their ugly heads from time to time. When I first transitioned I was fairly often picked upon by some people who had obviously ‘clocked’ me. Not a pleasant thing to endure but endure them we must. These days only very rarely does anyone look at me twice. It is hard for people like myself to get back in the queue of life having stepped out along the way. There should be no problem getting back in line because the space we left for a spell can only be filled by ourselves, the person didn’t leave the planet, just changed appearance! In my personal thoughts I sometimes feel that I don’t quite fit in, haven’t been fully accepted, am only tolerated, I am pitied. None of these thoughts are rational for in reality I have fitted back into the slot I once left whilst making the detour. When I visited the USA a couple of years ago there was a special reason, best known to the officials at the airport in New York for separating males from females. The men were allowed through the checkpoint and the women were made to stand there like dolls in a window with all and sundry gawping at them as they passed through. It was a very uncomfortable feeling having to stand there with my sisters, on show, fully exposed and with nowhere to turn. A case for testing one’s confidence if ever there was one! I had no problem of course but I did feel a little uneasy, half expecting someone to point the finger at me. Thankfully that didn’t happen and I had no problems at all during my whole stay in that country. It is nice to know that you fit in, that you are accepted as the person you are and the gender you are and not just simply tolerated. A lifetime of dysphoria coupled with bullying results in a lack of confidence that is hard to redeem. I was once in that boat and although now a land-lubber still have pangs of anxiousness now and then. I get these feelings sometimes.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness, Life, Transgender, Transsexual | Tagged: Happiness, Homophobia, New York, Philosophy, Que Sera Sera, Time, Transgender, Transsexuality, United States | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 11, 2011
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Many people today worship idols but probably are unaware that they do. An idol is something that holds your attention sometimes at the expense of more important things. In fact always at the expense of more important things! Marriages and relationships break down, time is wasted on futile and non-essential things. For a season we indulge in our passions at the expense of a better life. Now you may be thinking, what exactly are these ‘idols’? Hobbies that take over all our time, hero-worship, these days usually defined as a favourite music band, a singer or a group, a football player or the whole team (probably more usual). Some people just cannot get enough information about their favourite idol and buy all the magazine literature there is just to get a glimpse of their lifestyles and live in a permanent state of awe. So called ‘stars’, ‘celebrities’ and people in the public eye strut about like they were something special compared to the rest of us mortals and people love it! There is nothing wrong with most of these things if taken very light-heartedly and not too seriously of course but the danger remains in spending too much of our own lives and time following after the exploits of others. Don’t we have lives of our own? There are other things too that can take up too much of our time, drink (alcohol), drugs and other unsavoury and unnecessary things for a happy life and we should be especially careful in these matters. As a Christian I have to be very careful that I don’t spend time in ‘idol worship‘ at the expense of spending more time with God and the things He would have me do with my time. I have never been into ‘celebrities’, don’t have a favourite movie, book or author and things of that nature that I over-indulge myself with, in fact I only read non-fiction anyway. There are pleasures to be had in life of course and we shouldn’t eliminate everything that takes our time but we should consider the consequences of not doing so.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Behaviour, Happiness, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Relationships, Temptation, Wisdom | Tagged: Christianity, God, Happiness, Idolatry, Jesus, People, Philosophy, Religion and Spirituality, Television, Ten Commandments, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on February 26, 2011
If I were to ask you if you were happy I would like to think that you could confidently answer positively. There will be things in your life perhaps that makes happiness for you not possible at this moment. If this is so I hope that it won’t last and that you will be happy soon. We all have different ideas on what makes us happy. For some it is having enough cash in the bank in order to make ends meet, for others it is having even more cash that they don’t know what to do with it. Some people are very poor financially speaking but are still happy. Some people have occupations that make them happy or friends and lovers to make them so but what is it in life that above all other things makes us really happy? To be able to say that you are happy in all circumstances is indeed a wonderful thing if we can achieve that state of mind. For most people complete happiness is unattainable but it need not be that way. Personally I can say that I am happy right now despite the many problems I have in life but it is hard to say whether that would be the case if I wasn’t so secure in a material way, not that I am wealthy in that respect! In fact I am not wealthy at all financially speaking but I don’t measure wealth in that way. Wealth isn’t about how much cash one has in the bank but how much happiness and contentment one has in the bank of life! I can say I am happy because I know God loves me and I Him. This kind of happiness is far better than any worldly happiness I could ever have. Happy people are easy to get along with, nothing seems to bother them much. Can you say that nothing really bothers you? I’d like to think so. What is it then in your life that makes you happy? To put it another way, what makes you unhappy and can you do anything about it? If you cannot, can you still be happy in yourself knowing that you are helpless to do anything about it? We may not be able to change things or change our circumstances but should these facts deny us the ability to be happy? Real happiness therefore does not depend on material things and the more you learn in life the more you realise that is the case. We should strive to be happy above all things, what is the point in leading a miserable existence?
What shall this life be likened to
With all it’s faults both old and new?
What shall compare with all it’s doubts
With all it’s fears and all it’s wants?
We dream of better things to come
Our hearts are lifted by the sun.
But still we moan in misery
Despite good fortune, you and me.
When rain and wind and icy roads
Do sometimes keep us on our toes,
We think our lot so burdensome
We long for better times to come.
But what is life if every day
Presents no hurdles in our way?
How boring would exsistence be
A faultless life for you and me.
Copyright Shirley Anne 12 Feb 03
Be happy!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness, Life, Philosophy | Tagged: Depression, God, Happiness, Health, Life, Philosophy, Religion and Spirituality, Wealth | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 26, 2011
Yesterday it rained. Sounds a bit daft does that statement I suppose, especially when it is Winter in England or any other time in England for that matter! I mention it because we have just been through quite a few days of dry and still weather, however, they say February is the wettest and usually the coldest month of the year and that is just around the corner. I welcome the rain at this time of year because whilst it is raining it isn’t snowing! Heavy rain prevents working in the garden though and I, that is E and I have lots to do out there over the next couple of months. On my free days from work I have the opportunity to do some of that work but not if it is raining. I can turn to jobs around the house for there are plenty of those to do also but the outside work is more important just now.
It’s raining in my heart too. When we write posts on our blogs some of us write about life’s troubles as they affect us personally. I tend not to do that usually but at the same time I could write volumes if I wished to, although if you read some of my poems you will see how life has been unkind to me at times. Many of those poems relate to personal experience. People reading my ramblings may be under the impression that all is always ‘hunky-dorey’ in my life when often it isn’t. I am not alone, most people have problems in their lives and I’m no exception. I put on a happy face to the world when often I am hurting inside. I hurt because E is a difficult person to live with at times but I still love her. I hurt because she needs salvation. I hurt because she is stubborn and inflexible and won’t listen to reason sometimes. I hurt when people hurt me but I don’t retaliate, I pray for them. I hurt because of the selfishness of some people. I hurt because of all the needless suffering on the world. I hurt because of the bigotry and hate towards others for no real reason. I hurt because of mans inhumanity to man………………It’s raining in my heart and I hurt inside.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness, Life, Love, People | Tagged: England, Happiness, Life, Love, People, Poetry, Rain | 6 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 15, 2011
Most every day of my life now since I became a Christian (6th Feb 1989) I find myself singing songs in my heart or simply just praising God. Sometimes I get so excited and shout it out loud that I love Him. To the unbeliever this might sound a bit ridiculous and it was for me before I became a believer but when you’ve such a joy in your heart it is difficult to hold it in! When I awake in the morning I get down on my knees and pray but sometimes I will sing first, well as best as I can sing these days. Sometimes I sing one of my own compositions such as ‘O Dear Heavenly Father’ which you can locate in my music and in my poems above, sometimes another like the one below. Either way I praise God for who He is and it puts me in the right spirit for the rest of the day. When you’ve got something to shout about you do it. The love Father God has for me (and for you) is priceless and goes beyond my understanding and that is why I love Him.
I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice
To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what you hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear
I love you, Lord, and I lift my hands
To worship you as my soul demands
Take joy, my King, in what you see
May I be a sweet, sweet child on your knee
I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice
To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what you hear
Make it a sweet, sweet sound in your ear
Make it a sweet, sweet sound in your ear
Scriptural Reference:
“Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.” Psalm 35:9
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Celebration, God, Happiness | Tagged: God, God the Father, Happiness, Worship | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 20, 2010
It isn’t often that I make remarks like that but today has been one complete pain in the proverbial a**e! It was today that E and I had a hot-air balloon ride for the third time of booking. Each time thus far we have been thwarted by weather conditions. I thought the weather was fine with winds of only 8 or 9 mph but it seems that it depends on winds at a higher level in the atmosphere. It might be calm down at ground level but it may be blowing a storm a half mile up! So E and I got up around 4.30 for a meeting at 7.30, 80 something miles away. We phoned through as we were told to do to find out whether the flight was on or not. It was cancelled! That meant a cut in sleep. I resigned myself to yet another disappointment.
During the morning I spent some time on my computer. I had downloaded a program that re-arranged my registry and consequently rendered my computer unusable for online browsing. It is simply a matter of programs not pointing to their correct paths. Easy to say but time-consuming to correct. A friend has offered to correct the problem on Sunday. She is a Godsend! In the meantime I am back on my dinosaur. (Sorry dinosaur, you have been good to me…LOL)
So today we decided to dine out and forget my problems. That we did and had a great time at a place we often visit. We have become valued customers there and the staff always enjoy our visits as much as we like going there. It is so good that the head barman apologised today for not having ‘our’ table ready! There is one table we try to sit at each visit, mainly because it is easier for E with her disability. Later we decided, or rather I decided to visit the supermarket to buy some more wine. Whilst there we met with a mutual friend, a Christian lady who constantly asks E if she would like to visit her and her husband socially at their house. You have to understand that E isn’t a committed Christian so the idea is perhaps not her number one priority. I have known Terry and Eric for years, long before my transition, so I am comfortable with the idea. We have arranged to meet a week this Friday. I hope E will be relaxed about the prospect but I know she will enjoy it.
So tonight I switched on this machine only to be confronted by other problems. Thankfully they are now sorted and I can get on with some browsing. It’s just been one of those days! Perhaps Satan is having a go at me? Well if he is I am not taking the bait!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Computer, Drink, Happiness, Wisdom | Tagged: Christian, Computer, Drink | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 3, 2010
It has been yet another fine day which began with a trip to a house three miles away to do a small job. They all seem to be small jobs for me. It could be that I advertise as a small job specialist! I find I get more work that way which suits me fine, in fact it is more lucrative and I don’t have to work my socks off to earn good money. That meant I was back home before lunchtime and because I wasn’t in the mood to do more digging in the heat I decided to take E out to lunch instead. We do a lot of that these days as you probably already know if you are a regular reader of my rantings. Years ago, when I had just started in my career, I never thought I would be in a position whereby I could take time out whenever I felt like it and furthermore to be in a position to be able to afford it! I feel I have earned the privilege having worked for 48 years. I would like to think that everyone should be able to enjoy their lives more as they get older. Of course I think we should all be able to enjoy our lives throughout our lives but unfortunately that isn’t possible for everybody because of circumstances or lack of opportunity.
I read quite a few of other people’s blogs from time to time, some regularly and others not quite so often. I like to look out for any interesting blogs and will comment there when I find them if appropriate. There are so many out there to read, some write about specific issues, some are personal diaries, some are very interesting and others not, that is to me anyway. I read about the difficulties that some people have to face each day and count myself very fortunate that I don’t have some of they problems they have. I wish I could say that it has been one fine day for them too. Maybe one day it will be.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness, Life, Lifestyle | Tagged: Happiness | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 4, 2010
Today at home we are expecting delivery of our new clock which evidently requires setting up professionally. I am not sure when it will arrive so wait in anticipation. Each new day is like that, we live in expectation of things happening, sometimes they do and sometimes they do not. Often it is the unexpected things which happen and we are taken by surprise. So at the start of this new day I am wondering what it will bring. I won’t dwell on it though for I must live my life and take whatever comes, something we all should be doing. I hear people constantly bemoaning what is or is not happening in their lives. Each new day is a new opportunity to realise your dreams, to fulfill your ambitions, to change your ways and to live your life to the full. So what are you waiting for?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness, Life, Philosophy | Tagged: Happiness, Philosophy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on February 12, 2010
Every once in a while I am overcome with excitement. It is a feeling that takes over my body and makes me shiver inside. It is a kind of euphoria and lasts but only a short time. It happens because of something that enters my thoughts. I am aware of the physical effect sometimes before I associate it with my thoughts. Sometimes they happen simultaneously. I seem never to have the thought first. There are a few things which bring this about. One is my transition or rather the result of it, another is a feeling that I am not alone, that is I have the Spirit of God inside me, another might be due to the closeness of a loved one or a friend. It is such a lovely experience and one I would like more often than I do. I could be driving along the road, lying in my bed, sitting in an armchair or simply standing in my kitchen, almost anywhere when it happens. It appears that nobody notices unless I tell them so I am in no danger of getting dragged off to some lunatic asylum. There was a saying that said, ‘Somebody has just walked over your grave’, in response to the ‘shivers’. That could be rather difficult for anyone getting buried at sea! I don’t believe in such nonsense anyhow. They are nice feelings to have.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness | Tagged: Happiness, Relationship | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 22, 2009
The party’s over, it’s time to call it a day…..
Well that’s how the song goes. I am talking about finishing work and enjoying the approach to Christmas Day. The sheep may be coming home but I still have things to do. Lately I have been talking about life and how much we should be enjoying our lot. Today I did a small job for an elderly guy whose wife died last week and who is getting laid to rest, as they say, on Christmas Eve. Although he will have family around him I am not sure he will be enjoying the holiday. When I was younger, as with most people, I would be really excited at the approach of Christmas and the day itself but these days it holds nothing of interest. I have bought the ubiquitous gifts for family and friends and that’s about it. The whole atmosphere in the preceding week prior to the day is one of excitement and I can see it in the faces of all I meet. I will be alone for most of Christmas Day and it won’t be the same as it used to be, which is the same for many people. I drove past a house this morning and somebody was delivering a Marquee. It appears that household will be having much company on Friday. I remember when I still lived with my parents many years ago and the many visitors we had each Christmas. How times have changed. I make no special meals for Christmas and probably will be tucking into beans on toast but at the end of the day, what’s the difference? Those of you with children will be enjoying Christmas in a special way and many say that Christmas is for children. Well that’s true in a round about way, we are all God’s children. Anyhow I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful and happy time on the day and afterwards too.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness | Tagged: Family, Happiness | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 13, 2009
Happy Xmas! What the hell does that mean? I have always wondered what Xmas means. If you analyse it, it becomes so ridiculous as to sound stupid. I mean ‘Exmas’ for that is how it sounds. So how did ‘Christ’ become ‘X’? How did ‘X’ become ‘Christ’? Even having said that ‘Christmas’ is in itself quite meaningless. In my recent post you will see why that is so. I am not against people making merry and having a good time for we have no other choice. What is the point in living if we don’t enjoy our lives? So I hope everyone has a nice time over what we call Christmas, exchange presents, eat, drink and be merry and call it what you like but don’t call it Christmas. Even worse don’t call it Xmas……….please! Love
Shirley anne
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Posted in Happiness | Tagged: Fun, Happiness | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 13, 2009
My day starts with a good lie in bed. I dress for exercising and do my stint on the treadmill. Cooling down and feeling very relaxed I play some guitar, starting with a couple of John Denver classics then switching to Christian music and on to a Beatles song or two. I play as the mood takes me. Fully relaxed now I go upstairs and bathe but first shampooing and conditioning my hair. In to my boudoir and I get dressed in smart but casual wear then on with the make-up. I am ready to go out if the mood takes me! Aha but it is now lunchtime and as I have missed breakfast I am hungry. My ex. is catching up on the soap operas on her computer so I prepare dinner, yes, dinner, a roast chicken dinner during which I am drinking some red wine. Dinner is served and duly appreciated. Now I am relaxing with a bottle of wine and feeling so good. I like Sundays. Today is a very relaxing day.
Shirley Anne
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Posted by Shirley Anne on December 8, 2009
As I get older I am finding there is a bit of a tug-of-war going on inside me. After spending a lifetime working hard to get where I am today but still (having to?) working I often think I should be enjoying myself more and letting the boat out a bit. This I do of course but with age comes wisdom and my wisdom tells me I should take things easy too. I know for instance that I shan’t be able to work forever and I have to consider my future security and this I have done and continue to do as I am able but I have to balance that against my present needs and desires. It is all about self-control. Long gone are the days of self-denial, of living my life as a lie and of denying myself the pleasures in life. There is a vast difference between self-control and self-denial though, one is based on wisdom and one is not. Of course I could be silly and live the high life 24/7 but I know that wouldn’t last too long, I am not that financially endowed. The best things in life are free despite what people say about money. A wise person understands this, a fool does not. There are other considerations too, the needs of family and friends. I would hate to be living my life to the full knowing that my family were in need, so I am prudent in my financial matters in case someone needs support. I enjoy my life very much and do pretty much what I want and I never feel guilty partaking in a bit of self-indulgence for I know it is sprinkled with wisdom.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Happiness, Wisdom | Tagged: Happiness, Life, Wisdom | 3 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 24, 2009
Sounds like the title of a movie……..LOL. It refers to some of the days in the life of one Shirley Anne. I am very sure that I am not alone in this but I find many of my days are good, bad or plain ugly! I have good days, I have not so good days and I have days when I think to myself, ‘Why did I get up’? I thought today was going to be one of those ugly days but as it turned out it was quite the opposite. I had a rather awkward and testing job in prospect which I knew would challenge my knowledge and investigative skills to find a solution. I didn’t fancy the idea but I put that down to a lack of confidence in my ability. You would think that after 47 years in the ‘business’ at it were, confidence would not be an issue. I suppose we all have moments like this however but we get through them. I set off in a cheerfully optimistic mood which set the day straight. In the event I had no difficulty at all in solving the problem and after a couple of hours everything was back in order. I returned home got changed and went out for a meal with my ex.. We travelled a few miles out of town to a place we’d often passed but never went in. Today we arrived to find it closed for the day! We decided to back-track a mile or so to another unassuming little pub/restaurant which we also had not visited before. It turned out to be larger than we’d thought. The place was almost empty though and we had only minutes to spare before they ceased serving lunch. As it turned out the meal was excellent and very inexpensive too which was a nice surprise. Afterwards we visited a local liquor store and bought some, well, liquor! I was then dropped off at my local pub to spend a couple of hours. I met up with people I hadn’t seen for a while and had a really nice time there. I went home around 7.30 and relaxed by a cosy fire, watched tv, wrote this, visited other blogs and played some guitar before the sandman came to stay the night. The good, the bad and the ugly day turned out to be all good. I think it is all a matter of mindset. We can make the most of our situations or just moan about them and have a lousy time. I know which way I prefer.
Shirley Anne
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Posted by Shirley Anne on October 12, 2009
I just wrote the title and accidentally clicked it so it got posted before I could write the content! Mmmm…….Might be that I am pi**ed….? Well, yes I’ve had a drink or two today. Went out for a late lunch….now there’s a surprise. Anyway as I was saying…LOL……..I’m loving it! Now you are wondering what it is exactly that I am loving. Yes? No? Well life really, that’s all. We get tied up in the things we do, our personal lives, our family, our friends, our work but when we take time out and really, I mean really think about things, don’t you find that life is so wonderful? Well I think it is. Today I have met some really lovely people and have had such a nice day. This morning I had two jobs to do and have left my customers very happy with what I’ve done for them. That is special to me. I want my customers to be happy with my work and to that extent I refuse payment if they are not satisfied. If they are satisfied I am too. When, later, I indulge myself, I can rest assured that I have earned my free time. So I am just loving it! Here I am back home and ready to go out for the evening and what happens? More phone calls, more jobs, more customers. Hopefully I can accomodate them all but if not I hope they will call on me again. Life is great. Life is wonderful and I’m loving it! Are you?
Shirley Anne x
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Posted in Happiness, Uncategorized | Tagged: Happiness | 3 Comments »
