I missed posting yesterday because I am in Iowa visiting my mom, who owns the world's slowest computer. THE slowest. If I need to use it I turn it on, jump in the shower, click on explorer, get dressed, type in a website, dry my hair...But it's nice, to slow down sometimes. And it's nice to be in this little town where I grew up and see how it has both changed and stayed the same. I know that I am lucky to have a home to go back to, and luckier still that I feel like I want to go back, even just to visit. It helps me remember who I really am, and what it is that really matters to me when I visit the place I've come from. I love to walk through this neighborhood and see all the olding hiding spots from our nighttime games of kick-the-can and sardines. I like that there are trees everywhere and that I remember planting some of them. I could go on and on but I want to get out there and just enjoy it. So, I'll sign off with happiness journal entry #2 - which is just the moments from yesterday that made me happy. Feel free to reply with anything that made you happy yesterday too, or today or any time at all.

HAPPINESS JOURNAL - ENTRY #2: Seeing my mom is at the top of the list. Watching my little dog, who lives in the city, dash after rabbits, squirrels, birds, leaves and everything that moved in my mom's backyard. Finally having a chance to check out the Cupcake Emporium. And, hanging out with my brother, Paul and his girlfriend, Jo.

Happiness. The quest for it is endless and recently it has become an object of study in academic society. The World Happiness Report states that the country of Bhutan has developed a GNH or Gross National Happiness measurement. Personally, I have spent too many moments thinking, "I could be happy if, if, if...If I had a yard, if I made more money, if I were in love, if I were skinnier, if I hadn't lost my dad, if the world were a more peaceful place, if, if, if."All of these thoughts might be true but recently I decided to focus on being happy right where I am, in this particular moment and in this particular space.

The purpose of this blog is twofold. First, and most importantly, to open up a discussion on happiness in hopes that reflecting on happiness will help the readers and contributors to remember what it is, at their core, that makes them happy. Once I heard that keeping a happiness journal helps us to enjoy the little things in life more authentically. I have kept one and will begin making it public. Each day, one moment of happiness will be shared. The second purpose of this blog is to share my photography. Photography is an unexpected outcome of my doctoral work. For one class we travelled to South Africa and I decided I needed to bring a good camera with me. I kind of fell in love with taking pictures while I was there. Since then, I have tried a couple of photo projects and photographed happy events in the lives of friends. I will share these in pages of this blog, and, if you would like me to take photos for you I would love to do it. 

"Are you blue" is dedicated to those moments when happiness truly seems unattainable. Though it may not be happy to talk about those periods in life, they matter. Those moments when it feels like the world is caving in provide strength and, I believe, happiness grows from that. So, they are not be left out. 

A page is also dedicated to social justice which means some socially unjust topics are shared. I don't think the world can genuinely be a happy place until issues of social justice are ended and I know that I cannot stand by hoping they will end. They must be discussed and acted upon which is why I hope to share some of those issues here. 

HAPPINESS JOURNAL - ENTRY 1: The happiest moment of the day today was meeting a wonderful group of people who get together every week and knit at the Dunn Brothers near my house.