Store Your Happy Memories Here:

[Croix]

Dear All~

What this place is for:
This thread is a tool, a resource, and also I guess a dash of entertainment.

I’ve found that when life is grim that sometimes thoughts of past happiness can create a chink of light in the grey overwhelming press of down. They can help occupy the mind with lighter reflections.

With that in view I invite people to set down a brief passage describing some happy event they look back to with fondness and peace.

They - and others too - can then return to it when they feel the need to glean a little warmth.

It is not a place for gloomy or dire tales, those can go elsewhere.

What to do:
Just set out, as simply as you like, your recollection of some past experience that means something good to you, something you enjoyed, something from safe times.

It can be, like my story below, anything – from an account of visiting grandparents to simply cooking and eating a melted-cheese sandwich in a favorite kitchen – you get to choose.

How to do it:
Write. Write enough so someone else can feel the mood, know what happened, find the goodness. (stop at 2,500 characters please!)

Grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation are not compulsory, just write as you can – the only important thing is the content - not literary merit. Short or long - it does not matter.


I hope you enjoy, contribute and find a little distraction here when you need it.

Croix

[Croix]

Dear Mrs Dools~

That's a good idea, if I keep some in the boot it will be there when we are able to have an unexpected trip there. Mind you I think they would only be happy with a truck-load. A couple of loaves of bread disappear in no time.

Yes, I too take great pleasure from watching the birds, both at the river and at home, where there are numerous containers of water around. I have to be careful though they are to difficult for Sumo Cat to reach, fortunately he is very lazy and unless one almost lands on his head will do nothing but snooze.

Croix

[Doolhof]

Hi Croix and All,

The birds will love you if you arrive with a boot load of feed! My husband delivers parcels and bought a bag of dog treats to help him befriend dogs along his route.

One day he had a dog actually jump into the van and he had trouble getting the dog out again! The dog wanted to go for a drive!

My happy memory for today was created earlier this morning when we went to the beach. I had a swim while my husband went off and did his own thing for a while. I enjoyed my time in the ocean, I find it so refreshing.

Happy New Year to you Croix and to all here.

Cheers from Dools

[monkey_magic]

Hi all,
Good shot. My favourite, forehand cross and I won the game.
Tennis was a favourite past time of mine. Killer serves, winning matches and taking home trophies.
I would practice for hours on the wall at home occasionally hitting the stained glass window and eventually putting cracks in it.
I had dreams of becoming a tennis star.
Tennis was my life.
Sprained ankles,sore muscles, practice, practice,practice.
I was fierce and competitive.
Singles,doubles,mixed doubles...I wanted to win them all.
Ace...ace...ace.....
Until...
The divorce of my parents.
I no longer had anyone to fund my coaching and take me to tournaments....
Dream washed away...
I picked it up years later though and played in competitions.When I started working I funded it myself and even payed for some coaching. By this time I was more into lifting weights and body sculpting and spent a lot of time in the gym and dieting. Training everyday and eating right. Going for long walks and runs.
I had my own personal trainer and training /diet programs. It felt great having all that adrenaline rushing through my body and pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do. Smile was bright and happiness was soaring. Sometimes I'd go to three different gyms. I could do a lot. My body was built to endure...

[Doolhof]

Hi Monkey,

Thanks for the reminder of what is possible.

This morning I am going out for a walk, I will see what is around me that I can enjoy and appreciate today.

In the small town where I grew up, there were tennis courts. We used to like having a bash with our second hand bats and old tennis balls. I don't think we really knew how to score properly, we just hit the balls around and had some fun.

Like you mentioned, it was only the richer kids who could afford to join the team and have coaching. We still had fun though.

Congratulations on your achievements!

Cheers from Dools

[monkey_magic]

Hi Dools,
Walking around to see what you can appreciate sounds lovely. Yes tennis can get expensive. Doing it for fun is the way to go, what's life without some fun hey. I'm glad you had that to look back on after my post.
I think I'll do the same today...a mindfulness walk. Gone are the days where I could push myself really hard. Now I have to work around injuries just like a lot of us here.
Happy new year!

[Doolhof]

Happy New Year to you too Monkey,

I had my mindfulness walk this morning. I didn't go as far as I had planned as I was very mindful of a horrid pain in my leg! Not what I wanted to be mindful about! Ha. Ha.

I walked along a different street in our tiny town and appreciated some of the old stone buildings there.

The creek and water hole dried up in about 2018 here. While looking at it, I was reminded of a creek we used to go to as kids where we had lots of fun and where I have always wanted to take a boat or a kayak to see what is up around the bend!

These days I would need a motor on the boat and someone else to paddle a kayak for me.

One day I might get to do this boat trip! Just need a boat!

Cheers from Dools

[Mara56]

Hi Croix,

That is a beautiful story. I feel like I know Sumo Cat.

This is a lovely feed. One day soon I will post one of my special memories.

Take care and stay safe.

Mara

[Croix]

Dear Mara~

Glad you sorted out the navigation. I thought you might think it was worth it. I would look forward to you popping something in here when you feel you can - does not have to be big or seem important. Your memory may just strike a chord with someone else who at the time simply can't think of any happy memories of their own.

Thank you

Croix (who is being "supervised" by Sumo Cat right now.)

[Mara56]

Hi Croix,

I promise I will write something in the next couple of days.

Hopefully Sumo Cat allows you time to read it 😹

Cheers

Mara

[Mara56]

Hi,

Most of my happiest memories are time spent with my children. In particular, time we spent in the country. When my children were young, I started my therapy journey. The organisation I chose to do this work with also had a holiday camp about 90 minutes drive from the city. The camp was nestled amongst the trees. It had chalets, dormitories, a tennis court, and a swimming pool. It also had 3 halls where they held workshops. The complex was used during school terms for therapy but during the school holidays low income families could book the chalets at a greatly reduced cost. Every school holidays my children and I would head off for a week of relaxation. For my children, who were very sick kids, it allowed them to be normal kids for a week. They climbed trees, collected old railway nails from the old railway track than ran alongside the village. Often the same families would also book at that time. So over time my children built up a network of friends, as did I. My favourite memory is walking with my children, along the bush path, that led to the look out. The sunlight would be dappled through the leaves of the trees. I loved those times. And even today when I try to meditate the first image that comes to my mind, is walking along that path with my two beautiful babes. It is a beautiful memory I will treasure always.