The Daily G.I.F.T. from The GratiDude

You will know when you find the itch that needs scratching, just keep scratching!!

www.grateful4.org

Gratitude

Intention

First

Things

The G.I.F.T. Today

Grateful-for great sleep. Love sleep.

Intention-moving loving manifestation

First-calendar check

Things-mail note

Morning Platitude from The GratiDude

It was guitar Slim over 70 years ago that recorded the song “Things I used to do”

For a lot of younger people, however, the version that Stevie Ray Vaughan did more recently might be more familiar than the original done by Guitar Slim in 1953.

This song and other blues songs talk about putting away a childish things and moving on to being a man and doing manly things.

And a lot of the manly things in Blues songs were often self-destructive and focused on being a victim.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the blues would it?

Don’t get me wrong. I love the blues!

I have seen so many incredible blues artists over the years since moving to California in the late 80s. I can’t even count how many. There were incredible blues festivals every year in Northern California and I went to many of them back in the day.

However, today, I rarely sing the blues and instead returning to many of the childish things that I at one time put away.

And that’s the message today for all the people that are feeling stuck is to return to some of the activities, thoughts, and practices that you were doing when you were most happy. That doesn’t mean that it was a childhood time, as many of us had challenges, difficult difficulties, and even traumas during childhood that makes those times not always the most pleasant periods in our life.

Yes, your body can and often does signal when something makes you happy through physical sensations like a warm feeling, “butterflies” in your stomach, or a faster heartbeat.

Here’s a more detailed look at how your body communicates happiness:

Physical Sensations:

Warmth: You might feel a general warmth throughout your body, or a specific warmth in your chest or heart.

“Butterflies” or Lightness: Some people experience a feeling of “butterflies” in their stomach, or a sense of lightness or buoyancy.

Increased Heart Rate and Breathing: Your heart rate and breathing may increase, reflecting the excitement and energy associated with happiness.

Flushed Cheeks: Your cheeks might flush, and your body temperature may rise slightly.

Hormonal Changes:

Happy Hormones: When you experience joy, your body releases “happy hormones” like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which contribute to feelings of pleasure and well-being.

Reduced Stress Hormones: Happiness is often accompanied by a decrease in stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

Facial Expressions and Body Language:

Smiling: A genuine smile is a strong indicator of happiness, and it can also trigger the release of endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.

Relaxed Posture: When you’re happy, your body tends to relax, and you might notice a decrease in muscle tension, especially in your face.

Other Signs:

Increased Energy: You might feel more energetic and motivated when you’re happy.

Reduced Physical Pain: Endorphins, which are released during happy moments, can also help reduce physical pain.

Improved Sleep: Happiness can contribute to better sleep quality.

For me, I can go back to the period when I first moved to Santa Cruz right about the time I was 20/21, and what my days look like and some of the things that I did back then. I was working my ass off as I did throughout my college years and always had a job of some sort if not more than one, but I was moving my body every day I was learning and growing a tremendous amount and I was exposing myself to new and different ideas and people, and could feel the life force churning and growing inside me.

It was a big growth time for me, so I know some of the ingredients and practices that I was doing back then could serve me now.

For me, this period has informed me that I need to be more disciplined and find more time to read and to get through some of the many books that I have accumulated that are on my list to finish before I expire from this earthly existence.

My life is always more enriched and enjoyable when I am reading every day.

That’s just one small example from my personal experience that I can draw upon to resurrect some proven path to happiness that I have leveraged in my past.