(Can’t see the video? Then try watching it at Work Happy Now - Hard Fun and The Beautiful – Dog Paws Edition)
Where we are free to talk about the hard, the fun, and the beautiful of our work week.
This week showed me a lot about who I am and what I’ve learned. And it’s this emotional development that has helped me appreciate all the research I’ve done for this blog. It's taught me how to relax with the ups and downs of my work week.
Let’s begin:
Hard
My challenge this week was appreciating everyone’s perspectives, but trusting my gut to get it right. I asked for feedback on the videos and I got more than I expected. Everyone was very supportive and had such great ideas. Some people didn’t like the big “WELCOME to Work Happy Now” opening and some did. I realize that I can’t please everyone, even though it’s in my nature to try to do so. I need to do what I feel is right, and if I lose some readers or watchers then so be it.
I also had this splitting headache during a meeting. The throbbing was making me squint during some moments. I don’t think anyone noticed. I think the headache was due to me failing to relax before, during and after. I need to stop trying to control my feelings. Just allow them to be as they are. I know this will help me release tension more quickly.
Fun
As most of you know, I created the Happy at Work Project to help you with your work happiness. I received an email from an Australian nursing student who will be using the report to help teach her class about happiness and engagement in their work. My stuff is being used in an Australian university; that’s awesome.
The last video I filmed made me laugh so hard I cried. When I busted out that banana I thought about how weird I was, but I now understand that letting out the real me just gives people more reasons to like me.
Beautiful
I love going out for a walk with my dog to the local elementary school where I throw the tennis ball for her; that’s where I see so much beauty – dragon flies and coyotes. When I first started throwing the ball for her, she was more interested in all the smells. Over time I kept bringing that ball with me and I kept encouraging her to bring it back. It took months, but now it’s her thing. It makes her eyes light up with excitement. It’s beautiful to watch her run. Those paws moving faster than my eyes can see. There is this internal motivation that wasn’t there when I first started training her. Not it’s in her forever.
How about You?
What was hard, fun, and beautiful in your life? Let us know in the comment section.
Need some quick work happiness in your life? Check out Work Happy Now on Twitter.
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Lance over at the Jungle of Life wrote about work happiness. He has a great take on it, so click on over and check it out. He also promoted my Happy at Work Action Day. Yah! This is it's first year, so join in and in Lance's words, "Be the happiness you wish to see in this world!"
If you liked this video then check out:
Great video and what a cute dog!!!!
The energy put out is definitely a huge maker of what comes back at us.
So what was hard in my week...getting used to meeting deadlines (again) with a new project.
Fun...creating my creations, I just love writing so that is always fun!
Beautiful....all the walks I took each morning, they make me appreciate the world each day more and more. (No dog involved... yet 😉
Hi Karl,
I am in agreement with Evita. The video was great and the dog was adorable. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
As for me, what was hard this week was that I am in the midst of a project that I love which requires me to really dig deep within myself to create my best work. Hard work does not scare me. So what made it hard was that it was new and it turned out that I really loved it.
Currently I am off from my day job so I have been having fun all week doing what I love which is writing and as for what was beautiful, every single sunrise that I was able to see this week. I just love seeing how the sky brightens as the sun rises. It so beautiful to watch.
Cool post Karl...I say go with what makes you tick, regardless of whether everyone likes it or not. Asking for advice is always a double edged sword, but I think it shows a willingness to grow.
As for the headaches, I hate them...I notice I don't get them when I'm working for myself 🙂
Hi Evita, meeting deadlines isn't easy, but as long as you enjoy what you do, it's worth it.
Hi Nadia, I love how the sun slowly brightens the morning sky. It's something that I don't treasure enough. Thanks for the reminder.
Hi Nathan, for me, growing is what it's all about.
Karl,
Love the video, and that you "shared" your dog with us! So cool!
The hard: Yesterday was jam-packed with meetings. And it just made for a long day. In the end, though, good things came out of every one of them.
The fun: Soccer practice this week for the team I'm coaching. Practice was so much fun, and running around and hearing all the laughter was so good!
The beautiful: The fog over the pond by our house, this morning, as I drove my son to football practice. Very peaceful setting to take in.
Great stuff, these hard/fun/beautiful videos! Seeing what this is for you (and others) is very refreshing for me.
I'm coming to love these posts. Hmm, let's see:
Hard = juggling a newish schedule and having more to do than I have in the last three or four months, and still trying to keep up at the same pace I had been maintaining previously.
Fun = having my boyfriend home from the Middle East to spend time with and being in a relationship again. I'm very much enjoying the nonsensical late-night chatter, the early morning smiles, being at his house in the country versus my apartment in the city... And having someone to laugh with every day.
Beautiful = Being hugged on a near-daily basis. When my boyfriend was in the M.E. for four months, my hugs came from friends maybe once a week. I realize just how important being held by the person you deeply love can be, and I'm grateful for this beautiful gift in my life right now.
Happy Saturday, Karl!
My "hard" has been present for the last 8 months. I still haven't figured out how to work with my boss's boss. We're in the same department, talk and exchange emails all day, but still are not on the same page in meetings. This is compounded by me being less than tactful in the best of situations. Still trying to work through it...
My "fun" was discovering this site through "Life is Beautiful" blog and sharing it with a few of my co-workers and friends. Also, finding the absurdity in advertising (a poop-scooping business with "Adventures" written below the business info).
As for the beautiful - the sunrises have been amazing this week. Also, a wonderful person helped me out with an incorrect delivery and made my day.
Hard - The lingering decision in the back of my mind about pursuing a PhD or not. Most jobs seem to LOATHE the idea of a Masters degree or the Masters degree ends up not being enough. Also just the reevaluation of that whole part of my career.
Fun - Reading Chapter 4 in one of my best friend's manuscript. She is an amazing writer and I am on her reading team. I like watching the book materialize from her ideas into a full-fledged novel. I can't wait to see it go to publishing; she has an agent and publisher interested in her and I am so proud of her.
Beautiful - the other side of my career, Photography. I photographed a really lovely, small and endearing wedding and it was so nice to hear wonderful comments from my colleagues, fans and especially the bride herself on my Facebook page. I really felt honored to be a part of their special day.
Cute dog! One of these days I will share my cats, who often are there around 2pm to remind me to take a break.
the Hard: I'm working on some new business "stuff" - creating the new and getting rid of the old. And that is a challenge.
The fun: I learned that a local TV show is looking for a new host and they are holding auditions Oct 1. It's on my calendar and I'm heading out early that day (actually staying at hotel the night before) to be one of the first 100 to try out! FUN!
The Beautiful - I just spent a couple of hours supporting a colleague during her 5th anniversary (Business) celebration. I saw so many people I know through a networking group we're in together - it was beautiful to see so many people taking time on a Saturday to support her efforts!
Hi Lance, I love fog. I miss it. Growing up in PA it was a regular thing, even a little annoying until you move away. Now living in TX, it's so dry, fog is a rare thing.
Hi Megan, new schedules stink until you find that good rhythm. For me it's all about rhythm. Trying to relax with the work and enjoy what I'm presently doing.
Hi Karen, thanks for sharing this blog. It means a lot. It sounds like the poop scooping company has a lot of fun.
Hi Trudy, I'd say pursue what interests you. If you want to learn more, go for it, if you want to apply what you learned then try that.
Hi Stacey, getting rid of the old is hard. I'm slowly improving the stuff on this site and it's a challenge to let go.
Hi Karl, where in TX do you live. I live in Houston and I have a lot of fog to drive through in early mornings, although it has been a bit dry this summer.
I really enjoyed this video this week.
Hard - staying non-attached to the lack of urgency in others.
Fun - being my wild ass self in the glory of nonconformity.
Beautiful - Sunny late summer days and all the activities they inspire.
Well dine Karl!