The Happiest Place on Earth -- Within

You too can find happiness, if you know where to look!

We all want happiness. Its pursuit was deemed so vital an “unalienable” right by our founding fathers that they penned it into our country’s charter.  But what exactly is this thing called happiness?  How can you describe it?  How can you quantify it?  These questions and more exist at the core of Positive Psychology, or the Science of Happiness.

The preponderance of 20th Century psychology has dealt with the “disease model” of the mind, focusing on what makes human beings mentally unhealthy. Abraham Maslow’s “self-actualization” brought attention to qualities of the optimal experience.  But it wasn’t until 1998 that happiness became a focus of study, when Martin Seligman delivered an address to the American Psychological Association, calling for his colleagues’ return to the roots of their discipline, identifying and realizing what makes for an extraordinary human life experience. 

Their subsequent work has produced findings many consider surprising.  For instance, most blue-collar working folk are as happy as rich people, and teenagers from working class families describe themselves as happier than teenagers from affluent families.  Surveys in many countries conducted over decades indicate that, on average, happiness levels have not increased over the last four decades, despite significant increases in real income per capita.

Research bears out that once your basic needs are met, additional income does little to raise your sense of life satisfaction. Same goes for education, weather and youth.  Even spending time with the kids failed to top the charts.  When it comes to marriage, “it’s complicated.”  Married people tend to be happier than singles, but it is suggested that may be because they were happier to begin with.  As for success, it has been concluded that happiness brings success, not the other way around.

So what then makes us happiest? Faith, family friends.  In a world where so many of us relate electronically it is noteworthy that Positive Psychologists stress the importance of social skills and support through close interpersonal ties, however those are cultivated. 

After reading a dozen or so self-proclaimed definitive “Top #” lists promising the keys to the happiness kingdom, here is what they collectively boiled down to when it comes to how to get happy. 

• gratitude
• acts of altruism
• relationships, emotional intimacy... and forgiveness
• meaningful vocations or avocations. getting involved in something bigger than yourself
• savoring the present moment
• meditation

So are there any benefits to this happiness business above and beyond the obvious?  Plenty. Happiness seems to have nearly magical properties.  Just as stress can trigger ill health, so can friendship and happiness have a salubrious effect. The current science suggests it leads to longer life, better health, greater resilience and improved performance in most pursuits. It can add 9 years to life... that’s 3 times as many years as the increase in life expectancy associated with quitting smoking! 

And the best news of all?  It’s highly contagious!

What makes you happy?  We’d love for you to visit us on our Facebook page to share with us.

Happily,

Lilo

Everyone's favorite neighbor

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,

A beautiful day for a neighbor,

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood,

A neighborly day for a beauty,

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,

I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,

Since we’re together, we might as well say,

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Won’t you please, won’t you please,

Please won’t you be my neighbor?

It's a beautiful day in every neighborhood graced by the gentle, nurturing touch of Fred Rogers.  Being national "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" month, it's that time of year when we celebrate the life and love of the man who dedicated his career to preparing children make the big transition to kindergarten -- which means it's also time for our annual Mr. Rogers Red Sweater Day tribute. 

The Man

A pioneer of children’s television programming, this gentle educator, youth advocate and ordained minister became an American icon during the three decades his Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood show ran on PBS. He received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his work including the United States’ highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his trademark red sweater is displayed in the Smithsonian.

The Show

(excerpted and edited from Wikipedia)

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood began airing in 1968 and ran for 895 episodes. Visually, the presentation of the show was very simple, and it did not feature the animation or fast pace of other children's shows, which Rogers thought of as “bombardment.”

• Each episode began the same way with Mister Rogers entering his home singing his theme song "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" and changing into sneakers and a zippered cardigan sweater
• In a typical episode, Rogers might have an earnest conversation with his television audience, interact with live guests, take a field trip to such places as a bakery or a music store, or watch a short film
• Typical video subjects included demonstrations of how such inanimate objects as bulldozers and crayons work or are manufactured
• Each episode included a trip to Rogers' “Neighborhood of Make-Believe” featuring a trolley with its own chiming theme song, a castle and the kingdom's citizens, including King Friday XIII
• Typically, each week's episode explored a major theme, such as going to school for the first time 

 
Mr. Rogers believed in portraying himself as he was, both on-camera and off, stating, “One of the greatest gifts you can give anybody is the gift of your honest self. I also believe that kids can spot a phony a mile away.”

He wanted to teach children to love themselves and others, and he addressed common childhood fears with comforting songs and skits. For example, one of his famous songs explains how a child cannot be pulled down the bathtub drain because he or she will not fit. He even once took a trip to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to show children that a hospital is not a place to fear.

During the Gulf War (1990–91), he assured his audience that all children in the neighborhood would be well cared for and asked parents to promise to take care of their own children. The message was aired again by PBS during the media storm that preceded the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the year of his death.

The Legacy

Now, nearly a decade after his passing, Mr. Rogers’ legacy lives on through The Fred Rogers Company and Fred Rogers Center.

The Facebook page of the former states, “The organization that Fred led for more than 30 years continues to advance his values and philosophy through a variety of media projects that support children, parents and professionals.”

Fred Rogers Company on Facebook

Fred Rogers Company website

The mission of the center dedicated to his name and example is “Communication, Collaboration, Creative Change: Staying true to the vision of Fred Rogers, and emulating the guiding principles of his life’s work, the mission of the Fred Rogers Center is to advance the fields of early learning and children’s media by acting as a catalyst for communication, collaboration and creative change.”

Fred Rogers Center on Facebook

Fred Rogers Center website

The Tribute

In loving gratitude for Mr. Rogers and his indelible impact on our lives, iLivediLoved invites you to join us for Mr. Rogers Red Sweater Day, August 17th, 2012.

Warmly,

Lilo 

All you really need to know

We Learned It All In Kindergarten

By Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandbox.

These are the things I learned. Save everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some, and draw and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap in the afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up, and nobody really knows why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice — and even the little seed in the plastic cup — they all die. So do we.

And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The golden rule and love and basic sanitation.

Ecology and politics and sane living.

Think of what a better world it would be if we all had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then laid down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations always to put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

* * *

What life lessons did you learn from Kindergarten, whether when you were a young one or through the experience of a child in your world?


Warmly, Lilo

Turning breakfast upside down

Nothing says vacation more than Hawaii.  And for breakfast lovers, nothing says French Toast like sweet and buttery King's Hawaiian bread.  This recipe will awaken you to the flavors of the islands with an extra special morning treat.

King’s Hawaiian Pineapple Upside Down French Toast Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 slices King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Round Bread,1 ½-2 inches thick
• 4 Eggs
• 1 cup Half & Half
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 tbs Rum (optional)
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• Slices of canned pineapple rings
• Pinch of Salt
• Shredded Coconut for Garnish

Directions 

1. In a 9×13″ baking pan spread the brown sugar across the bottom. Place slices of pineapple on top of the brown sugar. Layer the sliced bread into the bottom of the pan in one layer squeezing them slightly to make them fit. Set aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, vanilla, rum, and salt. Pour over the bread. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight, or a minimum of eight hours until the liquid is absorbed into the bread.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove pan from refrigerator and uncover. Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 until golden brown. Let stand a few minutes, loosen the edges with a knife that has been run around the edge of the pan. Invert into a serving platter and sprinkle with shredded coconut. Serve while hot.

enthusiastically reblogged from Kitchen Conundrum

Click here for Recipes Past

Vacationing for a greater good

How would you like your Summer holiday getaway to make a difference, not only in your own life, but in the lives of countless others?  Now you can vacation with purpose as a volunteer.

Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS) is a nonprofit organization that enables volunteers to make a meaningful contribution to the community by working side-by-side with local people, while gaining a new perspective and insight into the culture and themselves. The volunteer work is with carefully selected Partner Programs, all of which are dynamic and inspiring community-led initiatives. These include orphanages and childcare centers, schools, health clinics and hospitals, homes for the elderly, centers for people with disabilities and other community organizations. Volunteers enjoy the flexibility of choosing from 12 countries, start dates year-round and programs from 1-12 weeks long.

Cross-Cultural Solutions was founded in 1995 and is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering. Each year, more than 4,000 people volunteer abroad with CCS in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe in the areas of caregiving, teaching, health care and community development.

Their Mission

Our mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding. We are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations.

Volunteer Abroad is Cross-Cultural Solutions' most popular program, year after year, and offered in all the countries where we operate. Start dates for Volunteer Abroad are available year-round.

Volunteer Abroad is the perfect short-term international volunteer experience, designed with flexibility and individual attention in mind so we can meet your needs and interests while ensuring that your time spent is effectively contributing to a positive impact on the community. Review what to expect from a typical day, and read our volunteer perspectives to learn more about how the program truly offers the experience of a lifetime. 

Choose where you volunteer abroad: Volunteer Abroad is available in 12 countries: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand.

Choose when you go: Volunteer Abroad start dates are available year-round.

Choose how long you stay: Volunteer Abroad is available from 2-12 weeks. Only have one week? Consider Insight Abroad.

Volunteer Abroad Placement

Our local staff determine your Volunteer Abroad placement through an evaluation of your personal skills and interests and matches it with the immediate needs of the community. There are a variety of volunteer placements available, where you will work side-by-side with local people in orphanages and child care centers, schools, health clinics and hospitals, homes for the elderly, centers for the disabled and other community organizations.  

Gain an inside perspective—CCS in-country staff provide cultural and learning activities so you and your fellow volunteers can learn about the local culture and customs, as well as understand community development. Activates are specially designed to help you become a more effective volunteer, and more knowledgeable about the issues facing the community. There is also free time to relax, reflect or explore the community.

With programs for every stage of life from teen to business exec to retired senior, Cross-Cultural Solutions offers a cross-generational experience providing volunteers the rare opportunity to witness how those in other societies live and to assist them in significant ways.  In service to others you will make truly meaningful memories and learn invaluable life lessons to share with those you love back home.  See for yourself:

Cross-Cultural Solutions

Website

Facebook

Warmly,

Lilo

On Holiday

I thought to begin this post by listing the various reasons one may feel the need to go on vacation.... then it dawned on me... chances are you need no provocation whatsoever to get out of Dodge.... but where to?

The Internet boasts as many Top Vacation Spot lists as there are destinations. The following is a distillation (in descending order) of the best bet getaways awaiting your vacation dollars (excerpted from http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/best_usa_vacations/):

San Francisco

With a reputation as one of the world's bohemian capitals, San Francisco is a city of unabashed open-mindedness and fierce uniqueness. Frequently referred to as the most European city in the States, San Francisco is both laid-back and cosmopolitan. There are a million ways to spend a day here, whether it's antiquing in Chinatown or wolfing down burritos in the Mission.

Washington, D.C.

The nation's capitol has a lot going for it. With iconic landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the world's largest obelisk, the Washington Monument, you can sightsee for days. Exploring one of the free Smithsonian museums is a pleasant way to spend a day but make sure to save some energy for an evening out—DC has a sweet restaurant and bar scene.

San Diego

One could argue that San Diego is the most well-rounded destination on this list, with regards to being flexible for many different types of vacations. Families, couples and singles can all have a worthwhile time here in their own way. Mission and Pacific Beach are always crowd-pleasers and the city sports a vibrant dining and nightlife scene. And the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld are a good time for all ages.

New York City

"New York can be anything you want it to be," says Lonely Planet and that is the primary reason it's among the leaders of this list. The sheer amount of things to do puts most of its peers to shame and can be almost overwhelming to visitors. Cultures from all over the world mesh here, often with spectacular results (try the hybrid Cuban-Chinese diner, La Caridad 78 or the most upscale Asia de Cuba for a tasty example of this).

Yellowstone

When it comes to nature travel, you just can't do better than Yellowstone National Park. Sprawling across more than two million acres of gorgeous Wyoming landscape, Yellowstone is the largest national park in the U.S. Smarter Travel says, "Geysers, hot springs, mountains, waterfalls, animals you'd only ever seen on the Discovery Channel standing feet away–for many national park aficionados, Yellowstone has the best of everything." Yellowstone is also a favorite for family getaways for its unique setting and value.

Maui

About.com says Maui is "consistently chosen as the best island in the world," and it's easy to see why. With postcard-perfect beaches and terrain in some areas that looks almost otherworldly, Maui is escapism at its finest. Snorkeling is a must-do here, as is dining on the ridiculously tasty seafood.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Your experience in the U.S. Virgin Islands will depend on where you choose to spend your time. Nature, history, sunbathing, shopping … it all can be found here, if you pick the right spot. But it is the extraordinary natural beauty of the USVI that keeps bringing travelers back. To see it at its purest, make sure to visit the Virgin Islands National Park in St. John.

Chicago

The main appeal of Chicago has to be its neighborhoods: Each one has its own identity and characteristics that set it apart. Forget about the tourist checklist of must-sees; strolling through the different districts and exploring all they have to offer is the best way to experience Chicago. As an added bonus, some of the best dining, nightlife and shopping in the States can be found here.

Yosemite

Adventure and nature travelers looking to dive into the best California has to offer can't do much better than Yosemite. You can check out famous landmarks like Half Dome and El Capitan, or get some exercise hiking the John Muir Trail. You can make it a camping trip or go the log cabin or hotel routes if you prefer. We recommend avoiding winter travel as this is Yosemite's wettest time of the year.

Las Vegas

In many ways, Vegas is basically a giant playground for grown-ups. Some of the best dining, shopping and nightlife in the world can be found here, all in the comfort of climate-controlled casinos. This is not a vacation for people looking for an enriching cultural experience–it is a getaway for people looking to escape the real world for a bit. And the fashion you do this in can be as innocent or as excessive as you choose.

Disney World

The family vacation to Disney World is a classic American rite of passage and it has been for a long time. While always a fantasy land for kids, over the years, the "Imagineers" of Disney have gone to great lengths to assure that this also applies to adults. Case in point is the fascinating Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998. More than ever, Disney World offers escapism of a sort that you can't find anywhere else.

New Orleans

Does any city in America have a culture more its own than the Big Easy? A melting pot of influences ranging from Caribbean to European, New Orleans has a distinct personality that can be found nowhere else on the globe. The city is in the midst of an admirable comeback from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and is welcoming visitors with all the gumbo, jazz and partying they can handle.

Seattle

Although Seattle is known for its consistently soggy weather, this Pacific Northwest city has plenty to offer. But don't come here looking for the fast-paced environment of other major U.S. destinations; Seattle exudes a laid-back aura, where café and bar culture reign supreme. Spend your stay mingling with Seattleites at Pike Place Market or on the slopes of Mount Si.

Savannah

With an elegance and an atmosphere all its own, Savannah is a getaway for those looking for something different. Civil War-era architecture, beautiful gardens and a preserved Historic District all beg to be explored. Add this to amazing Southern cuisine, a fun nightlife scene and a generally mellower pace of life and you can see why we hold Savannah in such high regard.

  

On the international front there are the perennial favorites such as Italy, France, England... but for something a bit more exotic, check Frommer’s 2011 must-visit list:

Doha, Qatar

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Stockholm, Sweden

Kent Coast, England

Hokkaido, Japan

Cesme Peninsula, Turkey

Nahanni National Park, Canada

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Ponza and the Pontine Islands, Italy

And finally, for something truly experiential or adventurous, visit our very own Volunteer Historian Joy’s blog post “Is It Summer Yet?” with ideas ranging from llama treks to visits to castles and the search for buried treasure.

So what are you waiting for— time to tally up those frequent flyer miles and go make some new memories!

Warmly,

Lilo