Monday, February 22, 2010

happiness: a collage

Some days I feel a little defeated, a little discouraged, and like I'm running out of breathing room. There's anxiety I can't shake, bad dreams that follow me throughout the day like smoke clinging to my jacket, and frustrations that I can't just empty my life of, like tipping a trashcan upside down. The trash is still there; it's just changed venues.

Today might be such a day - so instead of blogging and swimming in the cesspool of negativity (dude, totally my next Rockband group name!) I went to Google and put in "happiness" and then clicked on images I liked.

Since a lot of them were images of people throwing up money in the air and looking doofy (Google is a shallow mistress, apparently), I also added some images from my own personal preferences. Enjoy - and if you're having a crappy Monday, by all means, I invite you to do the same. And please, let me know if you do - I'd love to look at all the things that make you guys happy too. :) (Pssst: click on any of the images to make them bigger.)

photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here

photo (and website credit): I got it here


photo credit: I got it here



cartoon credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here


photo credit: I got it here

photo credit: I got it here


photo (and website credit): I got it here


34 comments:

Mrs Anne said...

thank you for sharing your little bit of happiness with me. i think i clicked on your post at JUST the right time.

my day is turned around.

and now i want a red velvet cupcake.

:)

xo

jennifer from pittsburgh said...

Those pics really do represent certain aspects of happiness across a broad spectrum :)
When I'm feeling low I push all of that darkness down a deep, deep hole and then cover it over with a thin layer of branches and grass, so that someone might stumble across my trap and fall in. Not really, but it's a thought ;)

Marion said...

Fabulous post, Phoenix. I'd add a picture of a pile of books by my favorite chair with a cup of Starbucks Espresso Roast coffee. You rock! Blessings!

Hannah said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Loved them all.

maggisaar said...

Extra points for the Calvin and Hobbes hug. *sighs happily*

Gwen said...

Love your photos!!! You know what makes me happy? Your posts!!! I hope you start to feel more like yourself soon. Until then...eat a cupcake (or 12). :) XOXO

Lira Kellerman said...

I really enjoy wedding photography blogs - amazing compositions AND two people in love. Gets me every time.
Call me when you're sad, silly. We'll go for a walk in my neighborhood and look at all the houses we'll buy.

Radical Bradacal said...

You + me x bacon cheeseburgers (milkshakes)2 = happiness.

I think we're long over due.

drollgirl said...

today is just awful. such a bad monday. well, i know it could be a whole lot worse, so i'll try and get over my pity trip. i'll look at these pics you have posted again!

Robin said...

Yesterday I was at my wit's end to find interesting blogs to read so I decided to go through your faves displayed on your page. I like your writing, so it seemed to me I'd like who you like. The odds seemeed favorable. Well... I loved your friend Lira's blog. Lira has recently discovered Working Actress (you can click on her link from Lira's page) if you didn't already know. Well, I had to click. She is a cool chick, too. I am now following them both. I, for the record, also had a terrible Monday and went to Working Actress's post b/c it was first up on my reading and she wrote the best blog today. You must read it. It will pick up where your happy pics left off because I've got nothing for ya today... except this direction to someone else's site. The universe works in mysterious ways:-)

Oh, and thanks for all of the awesome comments. You are amazing and wonderful!

Bathwater said...

Thank you for the uplifting images I think I'm going to bail on the concept today and try and go with my flow of slightly negativity. Hell I'd be happy if I could at least express my negativity in a lyrically interesting way.

jenn said...

love the uplifting pictures! :) and you've made me hungry.
and i just ate.

darnit! :)

Maggie May said...

i like the second and last best!!! so charming.

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

visual delights~ conveying your lovely message so well!
xo+smiles*

Kristin Quinn said...

I love it. The images make me smile :)

Heather Taylor said...

I'm finishing a terrible Monday too...things just aren't going well today, but your pictures make me smile. Calvin and Hobbes is brilliant :)
Also, thank you for reading the story on my blog! I hope it makes it into the magazine which is notorious for playing favorites so we shall see...

B. Nagel said...

Posted some of my own internet happiness. Thanks for the idea. Mondays are the pits, yah?

Barbara said...

This is what happens to me: I wake up happy. Still in bed, I remember what I'm going to have to deal with that day and gloom descends like shroud.
And do you know what I do to change it? I make myself get up and go to the gym. Sounds trite I know, but it seems to help. By the time I get home, I have seen or heard about people with problems much worse than mine.
(And I am NOT a pollyanna.)

Your collection of happy photos made me smile. The kittens always get to me.

Elisabeth said...

Great images of joy. thanks Phoenix. It's god to be reminded of lighter times.

Iva Messy said...

WOOOHOOO!!! automatic smile!!

Juliana said...

Great pictures of happiness....these were just beautiful and made my heart smile. oxxoxo

Dionne said...

What a great way to cheer yourself up! Love it! What pretty images!

Shanley said...

LOVED THIS. Also? Never noticed your "leave your comment" line, hahahahahaha. Made me want to laugh out loud in the middle of class.

Shanley said...

Also - I love the last one.

stewbottum said...

Lovely images, though the one of the feet in the hammock makes me rather dizzy. If I may, I would like to trade the dizziness with another set of feet in the hammock alongside my own, preferably yours. :)

Gwen said...

Why do I not have your email address? LOL!!!

I will totally teach you how to paint your nails when I make it to LA!!! Lets hope that's sooner rather than later. :)

XOXO

MildlySensational said...

Hey, next time you're feeling sad or crappy or whatever & we'll go get some coacoa or something. I live across the street, silly! We can boost each other's spirits. :)

Wine and Words said...

A good dose of happiness soup on a soul-less and rainy day here on my end of the world. Thanks for the smiles :)

- Annie

Lori ann said...

great choice of photos, i hope you had a better tuesday?
♥ lori

Angie Muresan said...

Red velvet cupcakes and the joy on my children's faces is all I need to feel happy.

DEZMOND said...

Lovely pics!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Is it bad that the red velvet cake image made me the happiest? Ah ha ha. I hope tomorrow is better for you!

Annje said...

It seems the doldrums are going around. I hope you are feeling more lively. Great pics, I love the green marbles.

The Kid In The Front Row said...

These are really great :)

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