How to Be Happy

by Amanda Green

Simple pleasures are brief experiences that emerge in an everyday setting, and they bring a positive impact on one’s life. They are accessible to most people at little or no cost. These pleasures are often personal. This means that what may be a simple pleasure for you may not be a simple pleasure to another person. Simple pleasures should be embraced because they bring you joy and happiness, compared to temptations, which bring inner conflicts.

Mostly, simple pleasures depend on one’s creativity. The pleasures are derived from any small opportunities available for happiness. The ordinary simple pleasures include sleeping in on a rainy day, finding money that you did not know you had, hearing the right song at the right moment, among other pleasures.

A specific type of cat or dog can also be a source of simple pleasures. Dogs are known for some great things such as their loyalty and love. In addition to that, there are small, daily pleasures that only those who have had a close encounter with dogs can understand. The following are some of the simple pleasures that dogs provide:

1. Dogs are the perfect alarm clocks. When dogs are routinely trained to perform a specific task at a particular time, their brain gets used to that practice. Whenever the time gets close for that exercise, the dogs will do that particular task that they have been trained to do. Therefore, one can train a dog to bark, cuddle, or kiss at a specific time, and this will become an alarm clock.
2. Playing a drop and fetch game with your dog can also be a source of happiness. After a busy day at work, you can take your dog to the backyard and use tennis balls to play with your dog. Throwing the balls down or far away with the dogs chasing after the balls to fetch them and bring them back to you brings great happiness.

Different types of dog breeds provide varying degrees of simple pleasure. Some of the best dog breeds for someone wanting a pet are:

1. White Labradors

White Labradors are one of the most popular breeds found in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. These dogs are a good fit for human beings. These dogs are also protective, loyal, sweet, and lovable, thus worth spending time with.

Snowy Pines White Labradors have specific genes that enable the offspring to resemble their parents. These genes cause unique variation in the Labradors making them well adapted to various conditions. The owners of Snowy Pines White Labradors have a dedication to preserving breed characteristics, thus producing healthy and well-socialized puppies.  All of their dogs have been OFA certified for hips and elbows; along with full genetic panels.

1. Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise is a small dog that weighs about 5 – 10kg. The skulls of these dogs are slightly rounded, and the dogs do not have a pointed muzzle. Bichon Frise is a cheerful dog that is a good option for merrymaking. The dogs are gently mannered, playful, affectionate, and sensitive. Their intelligence plays a vital role during outings and helps bring a lot of joy and happiness.

1. Papillon Dog

Papillons are self-assured dogs that have exceptional intelligence. These dogs take a short time to learn new tricks and ideas. They are friendly dogs with strangers and children. The dogs can also get along with other pets, but care should be taken to avoid inter-pet conflicts. Their playful and affectionate nature makes them a great pet.

1. King Charles Spaniel

King Charles Spaniels have domed heads, short noses, and lines of black skin around their mouths. These dogs are friendly, and they are typically suitable as watchdogs. The Spaniels can easily tolerate other pets; they can play with these pets during outings. It is an intelligent dog and can be used for obedience work at home.

1. Maltese 

The Maltese are small and have rounded skulls. They usually grow to a height of about 7 – 10 inches. These dogs are good for companionship. They are extremely lively and playful, especially at their middle age. The Maltese are always active in an enclosed environment, especially in small backyards.

We should endeavor to make ourselves happy daily. This happiness can be simply obtained by having a dog or other pet share our lives. Pet can be the best sources for these simple pleasures.

by Steve Conway

Summer is nearly upon us, and you shouldn’t really need an excuse to start looking for vacations but if you do, we’ve got the perfect reason right here – going on holiday is proven to make you happier.

If you’re looking for a mood booster, there is very little more effective than jetting off somewhere for a week or two to do nothing but enjoy warm weather, eat what you want and not have to get up when that alarm goes off at 7am every morning.

In the unlikely event that you still need selling on the benefits of going on vacation, then here are four reasons that it will make you a happier person.

You’ll be able to switch off from the pressures of everyday life

Vacations give us a break from the everyday routine and let us leave all our worries behind. There’s no rushing to get the kids to school on time or 11pm emails from Steve in accounts about an impending work disaster that is going to hit the fan the next morning. Sitting on a beach with a tropical cocktail that tastes better than paradise or traipsing through the wilderness on one of the best hiking trails in America’s National Park will leave you completely disconnected from the pressure of everyday life, clearing your mind and leaving you to concentrate on only one thing: enjoying yourself.

You can head for brilliant sunshine

Science has proven that sunshine is a natural mood enhancer so that of course means that heading to a sun-soaked destination on vacation is going to make you a happier person. It’s all about the vitamin D and endorphins in sunlight, which makes a couple of weeks lounging around on a golden beach the perfect way to lift your mood. If you don’t think you can afford to jet off on the holiday of the lifetime to a Caribbean island, then have a look at taking out one of Bonsai Finance’s personal loans in order to fund your dream vacation – you can’t put a price on happiness after all.

Rest, rest and more rest

Relaxation and happiness go together like hand and glove and you won’t find a more relaxing experience than a vacation. There’s no alarm waking you up at an ungodly hour, you just roll out of bed whenever you feel like it. You can get the full recommended quota of sleep – and more – which allows you to rest your tired body and mind to the point where you’ll return home completely rejuvenated. It’s sheer bliss.

You can eat what you want

One of the big stresses of modern-day life comes in dieting. We’re constantly under pressure to watch our calories, eat healthily and make sure we don’t put on any weight. None of that matters when you go on holiday. You can eat out and try delicious local delicacies every day of the week with a guilt-free pass for food that you’d normally have to pass over at home. Steak and eggs? Eat it. Like the look of that ice cream? Buy two. The normal rules of restraint don’t apply when you’re on vacation and that’s what makes it so much fun.

Bio: Guest Post by Steve Conway, a techie by profession and a passionate traveler who loves to soak up the sun, swim in azure waters and explore far-off destinations that hold the promise of great adventure.