Happy Girl

happyashley — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:04:45 +0000

A beautifully shot, feel-good video. Enjoy!

Back Again

happyashley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:13:10 +0000

It’s been a long time since my last post, but I’ve been so busy with my big move to Los Angeles that I’ve hardly found time to sit down and re-start the Happy Girl Blog. I decided to start again this week in the midst of the 10-year anniversary of September 11, 2001. If there’s any proof that we can overcome hardships and heartbreak more, it’s how much we’ve grown after 9/11, whether it’s as a society or individually.

Recently on NBC’s ‘Today’ Show, they interviewed a woman named Jennifer Gardner Trulson who wrote a book titled, ‘Where You Left Me’, about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the death of her husband, who worked in the North Tower. Trulson discusses her struggles as she coped with being labeled a widow, how she would tell her young children about their father and how she found new love.

No matter how deeply you were affected the September 11th, the interview and Trulson’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Trulson truly embodies a person who has been able to find happiness after tragedy, even if she thought she couldn’t. As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Trulson’s story can be motivation to stay positive and keep the faith.

Love Song

happyashley — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:36:03 +0000

Song by The Daylights. A guy made this video for his girlfriend who went away to Grad school. It’s adorable and will put a smile on your face.

Happiness on the Today Show

happyashley — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:07:11 +0000

A while back, I posted about a book called “The Nine Rooms of Happiness”, by Catherine Birndorf and Lucy Danziger. This morning on “Today” with Kathie Lee and Hoda, Birndorf and Gretchen Rubin, author of “The Happiness Project” stopped by to talk about New Year’s resolutions, figuring out what makes you unhappy before you try to be happy and the value of personal relationships.

Watch the video here

happyashley — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:10:37 +0000

Happiness is only real when shared

My first tattoo

Wise words of Stephen Colbert

happyashley — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:43:51 +0000

Recently, I came across a commencement speech from one of my biggest comedic influences, Stephen Colbert. In 2006, he delivered the commencement speech at Knox College. I found a part of the transcript online, and watched the entire speech. I wanted to pass it along on this blog because it’s incredibly inspiring. The audio, video and transcript can be found at the Knox College website. Whether you are a fan of Colbert or not, he delivers a great speech, full of advice and plenty of laughs. My favorite part of the entire speech is his very last paragraph, which I keep in mind every day:

“Now will saying “yes” get you in trouble at times? Will saying “yes” lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes” begins things. Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes.”"

Play this loudly!

happyashley — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:47:54 +0000

Florence and the Machine – Dog Days Are Over

I know this song is a few months old, but it’s a really great song to play very loudly when you’re feeling great. It has definitely gotten a lot of plays on my iTunes after I went through a funk, and is a really awesome song to add to a good day.

Know Your Worth

happyashley — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:19:00 +0000

Gabrielle Bernstein recently wrote a book called, “Add More Ing to Your Life.” She talks about finding happiness from the inside, and not looking for it from other people or things. The basic tone of her book is knowing your worth and believing you can achieve happiness. Gabrielle recently talked about her beliefs and her knew book on NBC Philadelphia’s 10! Show.

Book Recommendation

happyashley — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:31:30 +0000

I am not a religious person at all. I don’t have Christian beliefs and I think that there is a way to have faith without believing in God as a person you can pray to. However, when I was introduced to Conversations with God, I at first took it with a skeptic attitude, hesitantly agreeing to take a look at it. As I read on, I realized how important this book was going to be to me.

A man named Neale Donald Walsch wrote the 3-part series during a struggling time in his life. He claims he had a dialogue with God himself and translated that all into a novel. Rather than believing this book is the story of a man who is really writing on behalf of God, I take it as a man who, through plenty of downfalls and tragedies, has found his path and can share his beliefs with everyone. He is good at marketing.

The book’s basic principles are that we are all one, there’s nothing we have to do, and that the alternative is not necessarily better, just a different way.

I know these sound loaded and not quite in depth, but you really have to read it for yourself to understand its full potential. It will help you think differently of your life and the world around you. I recommend it.

happyashley — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:11:27 +0000

A good old Pixar short film can always brighten my day.