Silver Lining

Happiness, true happiness, makes my soul flurry with excitement and dance with glee.  I've had a tough time lately with a Cerebral Spinal Fluid leak keeping me on bed rest - almost in my 4th month.  I have a very positive outlook which keeps my eye on the prize, recovery and enjoying the outdoors again.  To let you in on a secret, yes, I am "Happy Julie," accomplished because of my faith, family, friends and beloved pup Stella. 

Stella, The Grand-pup!

Please Don't Leave Grandpa!!

What I'd like to tell you about now is the happiness I find, in each day, right now.  Sure, it's a little dreary, black out curtains, and only able to get up to use the restroom and let the dog out and get a drink.  I always say...there is a silver lining in every situation. It may be tarnished but it's there.  My silver lining is obvious, consistent and loves me unconditionally - my Dad.  He comes over at noon, on the nose, every day to make me lunch so I can stay in bed.  For almost 4 months now, my Dad and I have had one on one time just us and, of course Stella!  We talk and I've opened up in ways I never had done before with my Dad.  I never chattered and babbled assuming he didn't want to hear it.  I even apologized and he said, "Did it ever occur to you, I would like to hear you 'chatter?'  I don't know if he'll ever know what that meant to me.  He's had to listen to me cry, hand me kleenex after kleenex and really be there for me in ways he's not had to in the past. He gives excellent advice!

My Dad and Silver Lining!

I look forward to lunch everyday with you :)  I love YOU!

Let's face it, it's stereotypically Mom's job right?  If I cried I went to Mom.  If a boy dumped me, I went to Mom.  It's just natural.  Mom and I are best friends.  Our relationship is so close because of our unique situation. I can remember when I was little and I'd cry.  If my Mom wasn't home, my Dad looked like a deer in head lights and would offer ice cream.  It did work.  But now it's different.  We talk back and forth about how he is doing and what has going on in his day and how I'm managing.  He judges my symptoms by how I act and really, really takes care of me.  He's my silver lining and I smile just thinking of tomorrow's lunch with Dad!  We do daily devotionals together too.  We are bonding on such an adult level and it's just been so fantastic.  If I didn't have this leak, I would not have gotten this chance to know my Dad the way I have.

The time I share with my Dad, I log as Happy HeartBeats.  Happiness, for me, is not what I can accomplish physically outside but what I accomplish, in time with my Dad, or a wonderful talk with my best friend and day dreaming.  I think it's important to define happiness for each person.  I remember gardening, cooking, sailing, playing outside with Stella but for now fun is defined differently.  Friday night has and always will be Pizza Night for us and it's really become our date night.  Oh we live for the next netflix movie or we save all the recorded TV to watch Friday night.  It's together time because my husband has to do so much more around the house, cook, clean, do laundry and work more than full time.  He's the man of ALL men!

So when you are engaging in your happy activities remember they don't have to be formal exercise triathlons (although that applies), they really are individual to everyone. For me I can't wait to have lunch with my Dad and talk.  He knows I love walnuts and he always brings trail mix and picks out the walnuts for me and puts them on my night stand.  It's loving and endearing.  I think I was always hard on my Dad because he teased me so much.  I took him too seriously and now I know it. 
I will cherish the moments he threw me in our swimming pool, gently tugged my pony tail, teased me lovingly and smile!

I see how he looks at me now and, on my bad days, I see that deer in the head light look like before, but now he steps up and takes control with advice or listening; he gauges what I need.  He wins the prize!!  Thank you Dad for being here for me and Stella.  We love every day we spend with you!
So remember, each day when you do something that makes you happy share your Happy HeartBeats with Riley Kids, like me at http://www.gtwyh.org/rileyurology/grouphome.asp.  We all need your love and support!  Thinking of others being happy makes me smile and I know when that number increases each day, it's because someone shared their smile with me.  I share mine with you, always!!

Thank You Smile from Julie, Riley Kid :)

Your Happiness, Love & Compassion always mean the world no matter how old we are!