I got this form here. MK thank you for the post.
In 2013, you can choose to be happy or choose to be unhappy. Happiness comes from within you. It does not come from fame, other people or material possession (or the gomen). A billionaire could be miserable while a homeless person could be very happy (of course, it is always better to be both rich and happy).
Before I proceed, let us acknowledge that fact that nobody is happy all of the time. It is perfectly normal to have variations in moods and feelings from hour to hour, day to day, and even month to month.
Of course, sometimes things are beyond your control – for example a loved one passes away, your home get robbed, you accidentally get sodomised, etc. These things aside, you can always do things to keep you happy.
Here are a few tips from the monyets on how to stay happy in 2013. There are of course more ways to stay happy but I haven't got the time write them all. I hope these 5 tips help you in some way. (these are simple tips lah... no need to complicated our life)
1. Exercise regularly
You need to be healthy in order to be happy. If you keep falling sick, I don’t think you are going to be very happy. It is therefore very very important that you exercise regularly. Any type of exercise will do (raiding the fridge after midnight, surfing the internet or playing the Fruit Ninja are NOT considered exercises). Exercising will boost your self-esteem and give you a higher sense of accomplishment. With regularly exercise, you will fall sick less often and feel more energetic to do whatever you want to do.
I exercise 4 or 5 times a week. I go to the gym, I swim, I do brisk walks and I go trekking. On some days, I just do it for 20 minutes, other days I might do it for an hour. It does not really matter as long as you do it regularly. [I quite pleased to state here that I have only had 3 days of sick leave over the past 10 years].
Quick tip : If you have been a couch potato all these while, brisk walking is a good way to start. 30 minutes, 3 times a week.Remember : you are trying to stay healthy, not break Olympic records. Go easy but be consistent.
2. Nurture friendships
Happy people have strong, healthy friendships. A lonely person is a miserable person. Always take the time to see and talk to your friends (very important – friendships must go beyond Facebook and Twitter). Good friends are like a soothing balm – they are there to console you, encourage you, humor you and support you. If you want to stay happy in 2013, nurture your friendship. Reconnect with old friends and hang out with new friends. Call, email, Skype, lepak, have teh tarik, go fishing, whatever, just live your friendship.
Meet new people – there are more than 7 billion people on this planet, why not get to know some of them. It is also very important that you surround yourself with friends who are cheerful and optimistic. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself. If you are always surrounded bypessimistic grumpy bastards, then expect yourself to feel less optimistic about your own potential. Usually, these people will bring you down more than push you up. Always remember this rule : you are whom you surround yourself with. So surround yourself with those who are positive.
I enjoy organizing get-together among friends. It takes up time but it is worth it. You should also be proactive and take the initiative to bring friends together. The joy of bringing long lost friends together is a reward in itself.
Quick tip : Go through your contact list and call up all the friends you have not spoken for the past 6 months. Arrange to meet up for a drink. [don’t forget to invite me]. Do it now.
3. Say thank you frequently
It's easy to go through life without recognizing your good fortune. Often, it takes a serious illness or other tragic event to jolt people into appreciating the good things in their lives. Don't wait for something like that to happen to you. There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.”
You will be more contended if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have. Count your blessings. We are pretty lucky to be living in Malaysia. 80% of the countries in the world are worse off than us. Stop whining all the time.
Be thankful to your parents for bringing you up. Be thankful to your friends for keeping you company. Be thankful for your job, your customers, your boss, your maid, the guy who cuts your hair (if you have hair), the garbage man who collects your rubbish, the policeman who guides the traffic in the morning peak hour, the waiter who serves you your teh tarik, the teacher who teaches your kids, etc, etc.
I have noticed that many Malaysians are stingy with the phrase “thank you” or “terima kasih”. They rarely say it. You don’t have to be like that. Be generous with thank you. It won’t cost you anything. You will find that by saying thank you, you will actually feel better. Of course, the other person will also feel good.
Quick tip : Say thank you to all your friends on FB for being your friend. Do it now.
4. Stretch yourself
Do something you've never done before. Many people want to do so many things but keep putting them off. Not because they don’t have the time but because they do not want to leave their comfort zone. Doing things that you have never done before is very enriching, especially if people tell you that you cannot do it. Doing things that you have never done before will make you happy and boost your self-confidence. You will gain new perspectives on life.
They do not have to be big things – like going to an opera or watching a Formula1 race or climbing Mt Kinabalu or eating Jamaican food or dancing Gangnam style in the nude. Just do it (ala Nike). Do things that you always wanted to do – don’t procrastinate. Learn a foreign language (Kelantanese is a good choice), kiss someone you have always admired (Samy Vellu perhaps), pee like a dog, write a book, have a threesome with Hadi Awang and Nik Aziz, run a marathon, visit Brazil, learn to make the dodol, whatever. Just do something that you always wanted to do.
I had wanted to go trekking in Nepal for a long time. In 2011, I said screw everything else and went to Nepal. It was fabulous and I felt good for such a long time thereafter.
Quick tip : Prepare your bucket list. Do at least one of it this year. If you want to do something that will take many days, always apply your leave early (say 6 months ahead). Suggestion : learn to ride a camel
5. Laugh a lot
If you want to stay happy, you must learn to laugh. Laughing is good for you and those around you (provided you are not laughing at them). The sound of laughter is far more contagious than any sneeze or cough. When laughter is shared, it binds people together, increases happiness and reduces stress. Best of all, laughter does not cost you anything. The good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter has subsided. Laughter also unites people during difficult times
Learn to laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. Try to laugh at situations rather than whine about them. Look for the humor in any bad situation, and uncover the irony and absurdity of life (although telling jokes at a funeral might not go down well with many people). Put up a funny picture at your desk or on your computer screensaver. Find a photo where you and your family or friends are laughing and frame it up. Learn from children. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.
I take humor seriously. If you have reading my blog, I use a lot of humor. It helps me relax. I have many joke books. I have joke apps on my phone. I like watching funny movies. My family and I like to watch the reruns of Three Stooges. Laughter keeps me happy.
Quick tips : If you have difficulty laughing, I suggest you listen to the proceedings in our Parliament.
Folks, these are just a few tips. There are many more but I haven’t got the time to write.
One more thing before I sign off. You need to accept what cannot be changed. Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.
I wish you find lots of happiness in 2013.
My 10 cents : I'm gonna do the no.4 in the list. Never been to Bangkok. Tomorrow I will transit in Bangkok before doing some works in Port Sri Racha, Chonburi Province... khob-kun-Ka!
