5 keys to happiness

Such a strange and unprecedented time we are experiencing.  So much is unknown, and what we think we know changes daily. As I’m sure you have heard, Governor Hogan has closed non-essential Maryland businesses.  You and I probably consider yarn stores essential businesses, but sadly, the Governor does not, so Crazy for Ewe was officially closed to customers yesterday evening. While it’s frustrating to be shut down, it is more important to shut down this virus and save our fellow humans.  I’ve been poking along with the online store since 2012, but now, as they say, things are getting real, so yesterday I took home one skein of every color of every yarn and set up a pretty legit photography studio.  Look for all the Crazy for Ewe inventory available online in the coming week, and lots of fun pattern ideas.  For now, at least, business owners may visit and manage their business, so I will go in every day to process your orders.  Anything ordered before 3 pm will ship same day.  Please know how very much I appreciate your business, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve you though this.

Speaking of gratitude, you may have seen the TEDex talk by Shawn Achor that I posted on the Crazy for Ewe Facebook page.  It’s a 12 minute video about the 5 keys to happiness that we should practice every day. He is spot on. Happiness does not exist on the far side of some acquisition or accomplishment, but rather happiness originates from gratitude for all that we already have or have already accomplished.  When we identify those things for which we are grateful, saying them out loud each day, we create happiness from within.

Here's a link to the video, and here are the 5 keys to happiness Achor mentions:

1. Daily gratitude – Identify three different things for which you are grateful each day
2. Gratitude Journal – Writing about one gratitude experience allows you to relive and deepen the experience
3. Meditate – Also mindfulness – spend a few minutes in the moment, sitting quietly and focusing on the here and now. I do this with my knitting
4. Exercise – Getting our and moving around reminds us how good it feels to take care of our body
5. Random Kindness – Serving others, whether it is a thoughtful gesture or a kind word, taking the time to think of others first is a huge component of happiness not just to others, but for ourselves

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’ve been doing daily gratitude video posts. They are a simple and silly, but they help me stay positive during this time. I invite you to comment on the posts each day with the things you are grateful for.  It is wonderful for us all to remind one another of all the goodness still in the world. If you are not on Instagram because you hate social media, I would encourage you to consider Instagram because it tends to be a happy place with pretty pictures and warm thoughts. 

I would also like to invite you to join our Crazy for Ewe Facebook group which is a way to cut through Facebook’s ad-saturated feeds and get only the posts and information you want from the people you want to hear from. While it is a public group, and all are welcome, you do need to request permission to join, which I do to thwart spammers and bots.

Stay safe and well.  We will get through this together, and until we can again gather in the shop, I look forward to seeing you in the Facebook group and around the virtual table.  You are always welcome here.