Camille | Dancing Naked

There for the Taking

09 Oct 2023 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: keeping love alive, love, lust, marriage, relationships

Music Muse of the Day – That’s When I Knew by Alicia Keys

Link to lyrics and song – http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/aliciakeys/thatswheniknew.html

Some mornings the music seems just right and perfect, and some just do not make sense at all. This morning is one that just does not make sense at all. It certainly was not the emotions I was feeling, but I leave it up to Source and open to the possibilities when I do this. That was my commitment from the very beginning.

What this song brings up to me just in this moment is a time to think and reframe. I am on the cusp of a birthday that inches me ever closer to an age that I had always considered old. Age does not bother me at all. I may be nearing 60, but I feel like I’m nearing 40. I do not feel older, and am always surprised at myself when I look in the mirror. You see, in my own inner vision of myself, I still see the 30 year old woman. I still look younger than my age, but I am still surprised when I see the lines and wrinkles that have taken up residence, not to mention the gray hair just making its appearance. This brings me to the biggest milestone of my life coming up.

In just a few months, my husband and I will turn the page and celebrate 40 years of marriage – now that can make any woman feel old. I really do not know how we made this far, but as the song says,

That’s when I knew I fell in love
That’s when I knew you were the one
That’s when I knew you stole my heart away from me
That’s when I knew that I was sunk
That was the moment that I knew I fell in love

When he kissed me for the very first time on the forehead, I knew I was sunk. I was only 18, but I fell hard. It took longer for him – he was, after all, 20. For him, it was the next weekend when he heard me sing in church for the very first time. We were both sunk, and we have been ever since.

Now don’t get me wrong! Our life has not been perfect and neither has our marriage. But I am not here to write about that. This morning is a time to reflect how much of those old feelings are still there. And to make the point that, even in the worst of times, staying in love is a choice. They say that falling in love is a chemical reaction. Who knows, but this I do know. Staying in love is a choice. Part of that choice is acknowledging the physical reactions and acting on those reactions. Part of the choice is exploring new dimensions of your love – new dimensions meaning new ways of showing each other love. Not in flowers and cards, although that is nice. But show each other in meaningful ways that lets the other know that they still do it for you.

That slight touch of the hand, the brush of the hair, the hug and kiss at the most random times. Those are important. If your partner no longer does these things, and it is what you desire, show him or her this blog. Because without showing lust in your relationship, love could die. Lust in love is an important part of a relationship. Humans need that intimate touch and that knowing that when the other could be with anyone else, they still lust after you just as they did way back then, when you first knew it.

Do not become too comfortable in the other. If you are not showing lust, ask yourself why. Really go inside. Today is about intimate relationships and keeping the lust/love alive! It is about stealing the other’s heart and keeping is safe and sound. If he or she has not stolen your heart lately, make it known that it’s there for the taking.

I Forgot to Change the Oil!

23 Apr 2015 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: CReneeHW, Dancing Naked From the Heart, I forgot to change the oil, law of attraction, right and perfect timing

Funny how things change! You think you have your life mapped out, all routes considered, landmarks noted, mileage calculated. Then, BAM! In the blink of an eye, someone threw the map out the window!

After my knee replacement, I had everything worked out. I would begin my writing career full time, begin editing for other authors full time, finish my degree, and leave working with special needs adults.

The brakes hit, and I came to a screeching halt. Circumstances being what they are, I cannot leave my job. The time I expected to have to finish my book and finish my poetry anthologies, take on more editing clients was thrown out the window along with the map I had so meticulously crafted.

The old arrival date is no more, and I no longer have even an estimated time of arrival. Oh, I’m not complaining. Well, maybe a little. I know that everything happens in its right and perfect time. I thought I was expecting my time to be the right and perfect time.

So, we all know the Law of Attraction. If you don’t, you must have been hiding your head in the sand. You know, you create what you expect? And vice versa, you create what you fear. Yeah, we all know that. Sometimes, what we consciously think we are expecting is in direct opposition to what we subconsciously “know.” That’s my case. Although, I consciously believed that I would be firmly established enough in my new writing and editing career, subconsciously, I knew it wasn’t time yet.

I still have a way to go. First of all, I forgot to do the oil change and change the tires. There are certain things that have to be done while I am setting my mind on the outcome I desire. You see, just because I’ve set my desire does not mean it is right timing.

Here’s the deal. I am still in school and won’t graduate until September. In these final classes, intense work is expected. I am not sure the extra work would be overwhelming and put me into a tailspin upon leaving the gate. I have to concentrate on completing that degree. Once done, I have changed the oil and changed the tires, and I am good to go.

Until then? I continue to write as often as I can. I continue to edit the few authors I have taken on. And I continue to do what needs to be done to pay my bills. Remembering all the while that I have created a new map that includes the twists and turns – even a scenic route here and there.

I’m on my way to creating the most amazing life I could imagine, and all in its right and perfect timing.

Happy Birthday, Momma!

14 Mar 2015 1 Comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: Dancing Naked From the Heart, Happy Birthday Momma, loss, Momma, Mothers and Daughters, Renee Harper-Vacek

Mothers and daughters have their moments. Me and my mother certainly had ours.

We were estranged for several years, but were able to talk about our past and heal. She finally became the Momma I longed for, and we were able to become friends – Mother and Daughter. I am so grateful.

But cancer stole her away from me. I miss her each day. I miss the relationship we carved out of the pain of our past.

A few weeks before she died, she told me her story – one that I did not know. She showed me documents of her life – wanting me to understand her. I listened and saw the incredible woman she was. She overcame a type of domestic abuse that would have destroyed most women.

And now, I understand so much more. Since she passed, each year on her birthday, I read her words and reflect on her life. Each year, I understand so much more.

If I could sit with her and tell her one thing, it would be, “Momma, I understand. Thank you for doing the best you could. ”

I wrote this poem under my pen name, but want to share it with my readers here. It was written as a poetry prompt on Twitter. The prompt was sent from Momma, I know. The prompt? Topaz tears. Momma’s favorite ring was a blue topaz. Her favorite gemstone was the topaz – both blue and yellow.

Happy Birthday, Momma!

In Memory of Shirley Loraine Harper-Brock

Time passed, Words missed,
Some days, the ache for her touch
Was beyond that last moment kissed,
An emptiness that hurts so much.
Memories of her smile,
Blue eyes sparkling,
Voice across the miles,
Calling me Darling.
Needing her wisdom,
Wishing she was here,
For Momma, I still listen
Through the fall of topaz tears.

Renee Harper-Vacek (CWylde)
ⓒ 03 / 14 / 15
(Happy Birthday, Momma)

Message to My Inner 10 Year Old Girl

05 Feb 2015 8 Comments

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: Camille Wylde, dancing naked, poetry, Renee, VOElla Poetry Challenge

I just couldn’t figure out why the VOElla Poetry Challenge became so important to me. I hate contests, but this poetry contest became a symbol for me.

When I was a young girl, I was considered a child prodigy in piano. I was put in the National Piano Guild Contest against college students, and was ranked in the top 2% at 10. From there, I was offered a scholarship to the University music program and a chance to go to Juilliard. My parents both said no and lectured me about how I was not good enough and would never be good enough and to get used to being let down. So, I believed them – they were my parents, after all.

This poetry contest became the National Piano Guild all over again. It became my chance to tell that little 10 year old girl, once and for all, that she was good enough then and she still is good enough.

I sit here writing this, not knowing the results yet. I do not know which way it will go tonight. What I do know is that I did the very best I could do, and regardless, Dammit! I am good enough, and so is that 10 year old girl.

So, winning is not about what everyone else sees. Winning this is about loving that 10 year old that was hurt so bad back then, and telling her she is more than good enough.

The Liebster Award – I was Nominated! So Cool!

21 Jan 2015 7 Comments

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: acceptance, dance from the heart, dancing naked, Dancing Naked From the Heart, empowerment, gratitude, heart based love, journaliing, Liebster Award, love, self value, self-care

One Lovely Blog Award

I Won!

Yes, I am a Liebster Award nominee! What does that mean? Well, it means that one of my fellow bloggers thought enough about me to nominate my blog for the Liebster Award.

So what is the Liebster Award and what is it doing on my blog? The Liebster Award concept is like a pay it forward kudos to small bloggers. As I was researching this award, I saw that there are several minimum follower numbers going around, but one thing stays the same. A fellow blogger has read my blog and thought enough of me as a writer and my blog to nominate me for this. I have to say that I was more than a little blown over by it. Here’s why.

I believe that I am a good writer. I mean my college instructors always say so and I receive a lot of praise for my writing. But, as it seems with most artists (yes, writers are very much artists), we are our own worst critics. I read so many other people and think, “Wow, they are really good!” And I fall into the trap of they-are-so-much-better-than-I-am mind.

There are times when I am almost too afraid to share what I have written. What if they don’t like it? What if it sounds stupid? What if – what if – what if!

This year I am changing all that, and this award is the impetus for that change. Receiving this from Tess Bartlett at Whisperings of the Mind, the one who nominated me, gave me the courage to say, “Hell, yeah! I’m a writer!” And since Tess was so kind to nominate me, other blogs have invited me to write as a guest blogger. My poetry written under a pen name is being published in February, with royalties, and I have received a writing gig for a lingerie company in Arizona – paid writing gig.

This blog, Dancing Naked, has taken a life of its own since I started it. I didn’t start out very committed to it and wrote sporadically. Last year, I started a five day a week blogging journey in which I played a random song from my music playlist and wrote my emotional response to the song. That journey was painful and ecstatic at the same time. I grew so much because I was forced to really take a look at the deep, dark emotions and fears that were buried inside.

And now, as 2015 has taken hold, my writing is changing – for the better, I think. I have changed the name somewhat to Dancing Naked from the Heart. That is what this blog is all about. Being open, raw, and vulnerable to share my innermost fears and thoughts with my readers, because somewhere in there, we have all felt the same. Somewhere and sometime, we all have wanted to become better, become our true selves, become what we know in our hearts we were meant to be.

As I look at what has happened since 2015 started, I am certain I am on the right path – maybe I should say the write path. I am so honored to be a Liebster Award nominee and to be able to share with my readers a little more of myself. I share what I feel deep inside with the intent that someone somewhere out there feels the same, and maybe, just maybe, I can make some small difference in someone’s life.

Oh, and to Tess! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my own personal growth!

For those bloggers I nominate, here are the rules. Remember, this is a pay it forward award that recognizes smaller blogs and lets the world know they exist. So, here is how the Liebster Award works:

1) Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers.

2) Acknowledge and link back to the person who nominated you.

3) Answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you.

4) Share 11 random facts about yourself.

5) Give your nominees 11 questions to answer on their blog when they post about the Liebster Award.

Here are my nominees! I do have a confession. There are a couple that are just over the minimum 200, but they are amazing bloggers and need to be shared. And there is one that is brand new, but he is such a good writer that he deserves to be noted. So here are my nominees. I hope you visit their blogs, read, enjoy, follow, and share! You won’t regret it! I nominate:

Z. Budapest https://zbudapest.wordpress.com/

Wolf Soul https://reflectionsofawolfsoul.wordpress.com/

May https://maydesertflower.wordpress.com/

Jyoti http://jcisnowjs.com/

Emma http://emmawrightsblog.com/

Nam Joti http://spiritualallegory.com/

Jeremy https://jeremymartinson.wordpress.com/

Linda https://ommons.wordpress.com/

K.L. https://secretlydeviant.wordpress.com/

Ruben http://torturedcyclone.blogspot.com

Shae https://shaevere.wordpress.com/

And here are the questions for my nominees –

1) What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?

2) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

3) Why do you write?

4) What makes you sing and dance with joy?

5) What color describes you best and why?

6) What does love mean to you?

7) What is your hidden talent?

8) What is the one thing that few people know about you?

9) What does family mean to you?

10) What stops you from being your best?

11) You were just given one million dollars. What is the first thing you would do?

Tess Bartlett asked these questions of me, and here are my answers:

1) What did you want to be when you were a child?

My strongest desire when I was a little girl was to be a concert pianist first and an award winning writer and artist second.

2) What makes your heart and soul sing?

My heart and soul sings when I create art and poetry. While I love blogging and writing stories, my passion and love are painting and poetry. What especially gives me joy is creating a piece of artwork and writing a poem that evokes the emotions within the painting. I am singing at the top of my lungs with that!

3) What is your favorite topic to write/blog about?

My favorite topic to write about are personal thoughts and wisdom learned through experience in my own life and sharing how I overcame tremendous obstacles to arrive where I am today.

4) If you could do one thing every day until the day you died what would it be?

There is only one thing that hit my mind, and that is write! Whether it is a short story, writing a novel, but most of all writing poetry, I must do this every day of my life.

5) What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear in my life is not having love! I love with my whole heart, and to not feel that kind of love myself, frankly, terrifies me.

6) How do you overcome fear?

Ah, overcoming fear! Well, the only way I know to overcome a fear is to write about it, and write and write and write. Write about every little deep, dark emotion and thought until it’s all written out of my mind.

7) What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity? I truly believe that each and every moment of our lives are spent creating. Each thought in our mind creates our world outside of us. Being a creative, to me, is also about taking those fears, emotions, and feelings and turning them into art, music, words, or a combination of all three, of some sort of fashion, and sharing it with others.

8) What does home mean to you?

Home is where I feel safe and protected. Home is a place, either physical or not, where my heart feels safe and cared for. I can be by myself or with someone else, but if I’m safe, cared for, and protected, I’m home.

9) If you had to pick one word to describe how you intend to be in 2015 what would it be?

One word for my beingness in 2015? BE!

Yep, just BE. I spend so much time doing this and that, and I forget sometimes to just be. So, while I am creating in 2015, I will BE!

10) If you could travel somewhere tomorrow where would it be, and why?

My dream has always been to travel to France and explore the countryside. I would love to stay in a country chateau and spend the time painting and writing and photographing. That would be heaven!

11) What is your secret talent?

My secret talent? I love to sing. In fact, I sang a lot when I was younger and was considered very good. I have always wanted to have my own band and sing in coffee houses. Oh, I also play the piano, used to play the guitar, and play the Native American flute. So, playing music and singing – not too many know about that.

And last, 11 random facts about myself!

Fact #1 – I sang when I was a teenager with a traveling youth gospel group, Up With People. I even played the guitar and wrote music.

Fact #2 – I was considered a child prodigy at the age of 10 as a pianist and was offered an audition at Julliard. Mom and Dad said no. They just couldn’t see to move to New York if I was accepted.

Fact #3 – I once planned to run away from home to San Francisco when I was 14. My bags were packed and my plans made. Well, somewhat. At least to get to the bus station and buy my ticket.

Fact #4 – I love two flowers, roses – all kinds – and camellias! I love them both and if I could, I would have them all over my house, on every table.

Fact #5 – My dream home is a cottage by the ocean. It has to be on the West Coast high on a cliff overlooking the ocean. And I have to have a path so I can walk down to the ocean – not to swim, but to just sit and look and think and write!

Fact #6 – I sing like I mean it when I’m driving by myself in the car. Yep, I’m that crazy lady you see at stop lights rocking out to a great song. That is one time I have absolutely no inhibitions.

Fact #7 – I love being alone at home. I don’t like being alone so much as I like being able to do what I want and when I want without feeling like I’m neglecting anyone or anything.

Fact #8 – I have always wanted a nose job. Yep, I have a prominent nose, and even though I am not as self-conscious about it as when I was younger, I would have plastic surgery for a slightly smaller nose in a heartbeat.

Fact #9 – I want to have my own band and sing Stevie Nicks covers, and Bonnie Raitt covers, and blues and Nina Simone covers. Hell, I just wanna sing like I’m in my car!

Fact #10 – I love to photograph things and people and would love to spend time doing just that. There is nothing like getting that great shot of a sunset, a person caught in an intimate moment or in pensive thought, an animal being itself, a flower just opening – catching the emotion of something on camera is happiness.

Fact #11 – I am shy by nature, even though it doesn’t seem like it. When I meet someone new or I’m in a crowd of people I don’t know well, I tend to stay back and watch the interactions. I’m really good at reading people, and I tend to navigate to only one or two to which I resonate.

Final Thoughts –

I cannot wait to read what my nominees say about themselves. And I cannot wait to read comments from my readers as well.

To my readers? Thank you! Thank you for staying with me through the years of my journey here and my growth! Thank you for continuing to read what I have to say and liking it!

And most of all – always dance naked from your heart!

Happiness Moments – Dig Deep!

17 Jan 2015 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, Elizatebh, empowerment, Gilbert, Happiness, Happiness Jar Project, Happiness Moment, joy jar

When I took on the Happiness Jar Project, I really thought it would be a breeze! And every intention to write daily about it was, as they say, paved with gold!

Day 17 already, and my jar has exactly 16 little notes of happiness in it. I do want to share that this project is not little by any means, and there already have been days that I had to dig deep to find a moment of Happiness. Really deep!

I’ve even had days that I went to bed, looked at the jar, smiled and turned off the light. Screech! So, this is how my mind works.

“I need to find something,” I think.

“Right, and what would you say?” says my little devil on my shoulder.

“Well, there has to be something. It wasn’t a total day missed, right?”

“Uh, huh, sure! Look at what happened! First, you …”

“STOP! Hold on! But, there were good things.” Picture here a massive light bulb going on over my head – a blinding LED light bulb! The bedside light goes on. I get my trusty little note pad with the R on top, grab my pen, tear off a sheet of paper, and …..

Just like that! I write a Happiness Moment! Hah! Take that! Remember that beautiful little mum that showed its head this afternoon when all the other mum plants looked dead. And it was purple! My favorite color! There one moment of Happiness, no matter how small, to write down and put in my Happiness Jar.

And the light goes off, I snuggle into my pillow, breathe a deep sigh, and drift off to dream happy and contented.

And that, my friends is what the Happiness Jar Project is all about. No matter what has happened in one given day, there is always something – even one little something – that brings happiness. Thinking about it and writing it down changes the attitude. Keeps me focused on watching for Happiness Moments.

This chance to write to you guys, my readers, is one of my greatest moments of Happiness. I trust it is one of yours too!

For my Friend, Dr. Z. Budapest

16 Jan 2015 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, empowerment, Goddess, goddess spirituality, women, women's mysteries, Z Budapest

Meeting Z. Budapest online has been the greatest gifts I could have received from the Goddess. I have read her books and followed her story, even taught some of my groups using her wisdom. As I move into this year’s Solstice and dark makes way for the light, I am reminded of how much we are loved as women and fellow Goddesses.

Over the vernal equinox, I performed a Shekinah ritual asking Her to open the doors to realize my passion and to be able to offer services to whomever was in need. Since then, doors have opened wide, and Z and I connected through Facebook. So, this is where creation and birthing have taken place.

I am committed to serving Goddess by helping promote Z’s message. Women are hungry – women from all walks of life. They are confused and just realizing how feminism is more than protests and battling the patriarchal society. It is about embracing their beauty, their sacredness, their wonderment of being born woman with the sacred red threads of life from Goddess.

I am determined in the coming year to work hard to get this message out to women everywhere as I work with Z to promote her lifework. Goddess has brought us all together for a reason, and the more I see the fear and anger rising up against women and feminism, the more I know that the message is taking anchor in the core of those women that have led the way.

To this end, using the phenomenon of social media, I have created Z’s Power Team on Facebook. We have over 100 women that have joined in. We will work in partnership together as sisterhood to get the message out to other women about Z’s books and her message. By joining in this Power Team, women can let their voices be heard. The voices that have been held down for so long can now be loud and clear. We, as sisters, joined in the scarlet thread of Goddess womb life, can stand strong with those that have gone before us and enter into the new light from the womb of the Goddess. As we go forward, sisters from all over will join in our voices by helping this cause.

Day 4 – Happiness Jar Project

04 Jan 2015 2 Comments

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, Elizabeth Gilbert, Happiness, Happiness Jar, Happiness Jar Project, Jar of Joy

Cannot believe that it is Day 4 of the Happiness Jar Project! So far, so good! So many times I start things with great intentions and get off track before I know. But this one project means so much to me.

Why? Well, if you have followed my blog for the last year, you will know that I have been on a journey of very painful self discovery. It’s been a hard journey, to be sure, but one that has brought me lessons that have changed my life.

My jar has three happiness notes because I haven’t written Day 4 yet. I’ll do that when I go to bed. One thing that is making me happy are the friends I have on Facebook and Twitter. It is amazing how many people are there that I care about and that care about me – even my alter ego!

There is still time to join me on this project! It is a challenge, but anything worth doing is a challenge! So, before I go to bed, I want to encourage my readers to try this.

Can you? Who know? But what I do know is that focusing on moments of happiness even for just a few minutes – long enough to write a note – changes my whole perspective on my day. No matter what has happened, just thinking of the happy things during the day makes a difference.

I guess my question now is – why wouldn’t I want to do this? Why not you? It does take some courage. After all, you are consciously making a change.

Go for it! You won’t regret it!

Day 2 – Happiness Jar Project

02 Jan 2015 2 Comments

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, Happiness, Happiness Jar, Happiness Jar Project, joy, joy jar, my Happiness

Day Two of my Happiness Jar Project!

Last night, I almost forgot – and on the first night! As I lay my head on my pillow, looking forward to going to sleep, a light bulb lit bright above my head! Omigosh! I gotta write my happiness moment down! So, I sprang up and got my little mini-tablet and pen, and proceeded to reflect on my day.

There were many moments during the first day of the year that qualified as happiness moments, but one stood out. I am blessed with friends, but I have made some incredible online friends in the process of marketing my wellness business and my books and writing. Those once again proved to me that no matter where we are, those we meet in person or online, are precious! For that I am grateful and felt great happiness!

So, this second day of the year? I already wrote my happiness moment. Tonight it was easy. Seeing joy, simple joy, in my loved one’s eyes brought me happiness today. It is these simple moments that bring me happiness. Too often sadness and apathy are in those eyes, but today, there was real excitement. That spark I fell in love with so many years ago was re-kindled.

How is your Happiness Jar Project going? I think I am really enjoying this process! Join me! Get your Joy on!

Happiness Jar Project

01 Jan 2015 Leave a comment

by Camille in My Thoughts Exactly Tags: dancing naked, Elizabeth Gilbert, empowerment, Growth, Happiness Jar, Happiness Jar Project, Renee Harper-Vacek

I came across a Facebook post by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, yesterday about her Happiness Jar Project. In it, she wrote about re-introducing her followers and fans to the idea of the project. As a huge fan of Elizabeth Gilbert, and as someone who is always searching for ways to grasp keeping joy and happiness in my life, I was intrigued.

So I searched for others that had participated and the concept. I couldn’t access her website, but I saw for myself how powerful this one little act could be in my life. I am one who, when I discover something like this, I jump in with both feet full on! Being who I am, I posted on Facebook myself for others who wanted to join me in this.

Within just a few minutes, five of some of my good friends said, “I’M IN!” I created a Facebook Group called The Happiness Jar – Jar of Joy and added these five incredible women as members. The intention was to start today, January 1, 2015.

The group is up and running and I have posted my first post with a picture of my own happiness jar. I hope the rest of the women post pictures of theirs as well, but I’m in this. Today, I created a little altar by my bedside as a way to end each evening with a prayer, intention, and remembering that one small thing from the day of whatever brought me happiness that day.

What is so important about this? No matter what kind of day I have had, I know that there has to be something that is a happiness possibility. And by writing this moment, this even, this one thing on a piece of paper and putting in in my jar, I go to bed on a note of happiness and joy! Instead of going to bed focused on what went wrong that day? I go to bed focused on what went right!

As I write this to share on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and I think Pinterest, I am excited to share yet another journey with my readers here. And I am so blessed that I have found an author, Elizabeth Gilbert, who has become one of my own personal influential people in my life. I do not know her personally, nor have I ever had contact with her, but her insight and her humanness and the way she shares a part of herself with her readers and fans have influenced my own writing.

I am leaving The Happiness Jar – Jar of Joy Facebook Group open until the end of the month so that anyone who wants to join in can. It’s never too late!

The concept? Take a jar to designate as your Happiness Jar. Each evening, write one thing or event that brought you happiness that day and put it in the jar. On those days that just are not that great? Take one out and read it – focus on it – smile and say thank you! At the end of the year, take the time to read each one and see just how far you have come in the year. You could make a collage, paste in a journal, or put them in a box with the year on it for safe keeping. Some families have even made Christmas decorations out of them. I haven’t decided what I will do with them, but it will be something that is meaningful!

I am so looking forward to sharing this journal with you here on Dancing Naked. Feel free to join me on Facebook and share your impressions. I think today’s bit of happiness is being able to write this and share with my friends!

Oh, and here is my Happiness Jar Altar!