If you can drive yourself crazy...

you can drive yourself happy!

Here's how: 

· Spend more time only with people who are good to you and good for you.
 

· Work less - a lot less.
 

· Read more. Read in areas which give you pleasure; fiction, romance, self-help, spirituality, science, history, etc. The sky's the limit here. Just follow your interests.

· Work in a "right livelihood" job, one which makes you feel good about yourself because it's of benefit to the community.
 

· Help others. Do this, not out of obligation but, out of compassion.

· Lower your standard of living so you don't need as much income.

· Nurture important relationships.

· Meditate. (Yes, you have time for it. No, it's not hard to do)

· Focus on the positive, not the negative. This is simply a matter of choice. Practice choosing, every time.

· Smile more. Smile at everyone you meet. This doesn't take much effort.

· Develop your spiritual and emotional side. This means grow them and mature them.

· Ask "why?" And if you don't like the answer then make the change.

· Live in the present, not the past, not the future. Be here, now. Say to yourself, "Present moment, wonderful moment!"

These are just some ways to drive yourself happy. Add your own to the list. Then act on them! 

WORTH THINKING ABOUT...

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it.

I want to have lived the width of it as well.  

-Diane Ackerman

SHOULD CHILDREN BE AT A FUNERAL?

MYTHS AND FACTS

"A friend of the family has just died and I am wondering if my six-year-old granddaughter should attend the funeral. She knew this person and saw him frequently in our home. Under what circumstances should a child attend a funeral or wake?"

Whether or not children should attend a funeral is a dilemma faced by many adults at the time of death. They are confused about whether or not a child should go to a funeral because of various ideas they've encountered about what's 'safe,' 'appropriate' or 'proper' for children. Here are some myths and facts about children and funerals.

Myth: Children don't grieve like adults and therefore don't need the same closure rituals.

Fact: Children grieve. Like adults, they benefit from closure rituals. When a beloved grandfather, uncle, aunt dies, children feel the pain.

Myth: Funerals are frightening.

Fact:  There's nothing frightening about the celebration of a life. Also, any potential "fears" about a funeral service can be offset by first explaining to a child what he or she will be seeing.

Myth: Children will become upset seeing adults in tears.

Fact: Most children understand a death creates sadness. For very young children, parents can provide an advance explanation, "You may see some adults crying but that's only because they're sad about what happened."

Myth: Children can be a distraction at a funeral.

Fact:  Most people welcome and appreciate the life and spontaneity children bring wherever they are present.

Myth: It's too long a service for children to sit still.

Fact:  Religious services and traditions vary. Some are longer, some are quite short. Most facilities have spaces where children can be taken if they become restless.

Myth: Children won't know what's going on at a funeral.

Fact: In age appropriate ways, all elements of funerals can be explained to a child in advance of being there. Some topics to cover include:

• Who will be at the funeral service?
• What is going to happen?
• Where will the service take place?
• What will be seen - casket, flowers, a hearse, etc.
• When will the funeral happen?
• Why are we doing this?
• What is expected of the child?

And please, ask your funeral director if she / he would take a minute to talk with your child.  They are trained and experienced in talking about death to people of all ages.