The Importance of Celebrating Yourself

Happy new year everyone.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I’ve been taking time to reflect on the last year and the last decade. It seems as if I’m at that point where I can think in decades now. When did that happen?

Perhaps, if you’re like me, you can be hard on yourself sometimes. At times, my mind tends to focus on the things I haven’t done, or want to still do. Do you do the same? Naturally, I tend to overlook and forget about all of the amazing things that have happened over the last year and last decade.

It’s a mistake.

Problematic, in fact. Focussing on the future instead of honouring your present is a quick road to misery. It’s often said that desire is the cause of suffering. In that same vain, constantly looking ahead without taking in your present keeps you from appreciating all you already have.

Ten years is a long time and a lot has happened. When I allow myself to think about it, it’s been a pretty amazing last decade.

I was a resident ten years ago at this time. I had no idea where I’d be today. Now I’m a long experienced staff with the grey hairs (and no hairs) to show for it. I’ve been all around the world and fulfilled a life dream to make international work a part of my life. Lived in some great cities (London, Calgary, Toronto) and worked in some amazing contexts (Yemen, South Sudan, Ethiopia). I’ve loved, I’ve laughed, I’ve lost, I’ve learned. I’ve grown up in so many ways.

But despite all of that my mind tends to focus ahead. On what I’m missing and what’s next.

I understand that and I’d like to consciously change it. I’m usually not a big fan of resolutions, but this year I did resolve a couple of things. Last year was very goal based and I set myself a whole bunch of personal and professional goals. Some I accomplished (I started a blog experiment!), and some I didn’t, and that’s okay. I certainly figured a few things out a lot along the way.

Upon reflection, I realized that I’ve been too outcome driven. It’s good to have goals, but I can be a bit too strive-y and can focus too much on what I want to achieve instead of the process.

For more information please visit: 
https://www.mdhealthyself.com/the-importance-of-celebrating-yourself

What You Can Learn from The Happiest Man in Bermuda

In 2012, I went to visit a friend who was doing a six-month locum on the island of Bermuda. Now, doing a locum on a tropical island during a Canadian winter is probably it’s own recipe for happiness. But to my surprise, I discovered something else in Bermuda that has inspired me ever since.

While asking my friend for things to see, one of the first suggestions was to try and see Johnny Barnes.

“Who?” I asked.

“You’ll understand when you see him…trust me”, I was told.

He was described to me as an elderly man who wakes up every morning to stand at a roundabout to wave at the passing cars to tell them “I love you” and to “have a great day”. And he’d been doing it every day for years!

It was this little, beautiful, joyful thing for all involved. I had to admit, it instantly elevated my mood and put a smile on my face. Years later, it’s still one of the most memorable things from my trip.

So I had to read a little bit more about Johnny. Apparently he spent six hours a day, for thirty years standing at this roundabout, for free, in order to brighten people’s day. And the act impacted him as well. He was known as “Mr. Happy Man”, and was considered one of the happiest people on the island.

The man was also beloved on the island of Bermuda. So much so, that a statue was erected in his honour.

Thinking about Johnny a little deeper. There’s a lot that Johnny was doing that each of us can implement to affect our own happiness. Without having to stand on a roundabout.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/lessons-from-the-happiest-man-in-bermuda