Happy Challenges.

When I first started this blog, my desire was to help others, and to help myself, find the best and happiest things in life.  I ended some of my posts with a "happy challenge," basically a dare to go out and discover some happiness within yourself, your relationships, or the world around you.

And because I loved these little challenges and the adventure of it all, I'll be including one again at the end of every post and a whole list once a week on Mondays...because reading in and of itself isn't enough to produce happiness,  
but doing is.

So, for today, here is a list of happy challenges for you to choose from.  Or even go out and create your own.  Will you take the risk?  For choosing to happify ourselves always involves a bit of risk, but only a risk to leave the state of satisfactory and find the comfort of true contentment.

Today's List of 18 Happy Challenges:

*Make a list of some of the things that make you happy.  Choose one thing and do it!
*Take a step outside, close your eyes, and take 10 deep breaths.  Then open your eyes and see the beauty around you.
*Find a favorite song you own, or one you wish you had (on grooveshare.com or playlist.com) then listen to it twice.
*Do 25 push-ups or 50 crunches or a set of both.
*Eat your favorite treat.  Be present while you eat.
*Find something healthy that you normally don't eat and try it.  Try to savor each bite.
*Meditate for 10 minutes about everything and nothing.  Let you mind take a little mental vacation.
*Take a photo of one thing beautiful and share it with someone.
*Take a lap around the house--or 2 or 3.
*Fall asleep after lunch for a short power nap.
*Take 5 minutes (or 45) and curl up with that book you've been meaning to get to.
*Call your mother just to tell her you love her.
*When you give your loved one a hug today, hold it tight for just a few seconds longer than normal.
*Sit up straight--don't slouch.
*Write that thank you card you've had on the back of your mind for some time now.
*Sing a song when you're alone sometime today--in the shower, driving home from work, on a walk, in your closet...
*Make a handmade gift for someone's birthday or just because.
*Sit and just be still.

Now, go and do one!  Leave a comment with the challenge you chose and the happiness it brought you...good luck!