Originally posted 5th May 2011: Day One: Fanfic

Rather than sit and fret all day about the referendum, I thought I might try another round of Eight Days of Happy. If you have access to my DW or my LJ, you can find the 2009 round linked in my sticky posts at the top of each journal. If not, you can find a copy of most of the posts at 8daysofhappy.

First up, fanfic! As before, it's easier for me to post 8x8 themed recs than to narrow the field down to eight favourites. Not as before, I'd like to invite you to join me in the comments! Please, come, share your recs (or not, as the whim takes you), enjoy!

Day One: Fanfic


( Eight ways to approach love )

( Eight perfect codas )

( Eight minds )

( Eight cliches too much fun to miss )

( Eight meetings of different worlds )

( Eight times I clapped my hands and cried, Teeeeeeeeam! )

( Eight stories I keep in my heart )

( Eight times I couldn't stop smiling )

Originally posted 6th May 2011: Day Two: Friendships

Day One: Fanfic

Next up, eight fictional friendship that make me happy inside! Please feel free to join in (or not!) in comments with your own favourite friendships!

Day Two: Friendships

( Alice and Luther (Luther) )

( Meredith and Cristina (Grey's Anatomy) )

( Lewis and Hathaway (Lewis) )

( Kalinda and Alicia (The Good Wife) )

( Brad and Ray (Generation Kill) )

( Becca and Alistair/Athena (Huge) )

( Bailey and The Chief (Grey's Anatomy) )

( Masood Ahmed and Jane Beale (EastEnders) )

Originally posted 7th May 2011: Day Three: Mindfulness

Day One: Fanfic
Day Two: Friendships

Day Three: Mindfulness

So, um. Mindfulness is a Buddhist concept and practice that has been used in the last thirty or so years in Western psychology to treat and manage depression, chronic pain, and many other conditions. While I have read the work of some Buddhist writers on mindfulness -- in particular, Thich Nhat Hanh has a lot of very accessible work written with a Western audience in mind -- my knowledge of and attitude towards mindfulness is one of someone using it as a tool to treat depression, rather than a spiritual or religious process.

I'm not trying to disclaim my use of mindfulness, but I do want to put it in context. What I am trying is not to be hurtful or disrespectful. If I'm failing and you feel up to telling me, I will do my best to listen.

Mindfulness as I know it is a way of guiding one's thoughts and attention in a natural and non-judgmental manner. It can be meditation or simply being in the moment -- "washing dishes in order to wash dishes". I suspect a lot of you who've ever received CBT, DBT or other types of therapy will have been introduced to mindfulness exercises at one point or another.

The following are eight mindfulness exercises that work for me out of the many, many I've met over the last nine (nine? wow) years. I hope some of you can find something useful in some of them, whether or not you've met the idea before.

( Finding a smile )

ETA: Great tip from anotherusedpage on this one: ( Smiling is not just about the mouth )

( Flushing a smile through your body )

( Naming colours )

( Ten deep breaths )

( Observe without judgment )

( Mindfully doing the washing up )

( Face massage )

( Radical acceptance )

Originally posted 8th May 2011: Day Four: Music

Day One: Fanfic
Day Two: Friendships
Day Three: Mindfulness

Day Four: Music

Eight songs that make me smile. If you're visiting the lyrics sites, make sure your pop-up blocker is up to date. :) Please feel free to share songs that make you happy if the whim takes you!

Fucking Perfect by P!nk (YouTube) / Fucking Perfect by P!nk (Lyrics)

Comedy Tragedy History by Akala (YouTube) / Comedy Tragedy History by Akala (Lyrics)

Jolene by Dolly Parton (YouTube) / Jolene by Dolly Parton (Lyrics)

It's Alright by Dar Williams (YouTube) / It's Alright by Dar Williams (Lyrics)

David Duchovny by Bree Sharp (YouTube) / David Duchovny by Bree Sharp (Lyrics)

I Predict A Riot by Kaiser Chiefs (YouTube) / I Predict A Riot by Kaiser Chiefs (Lyrics)

The Monkeys Are Breaking Out Of The Zoo by Belle & Sebastian (YouTube) / The Monkeys Are Breaking Out Of The Zoo by Belle & Sebastian (Lyrics)

Annoyingly, I can find neither a decent recording on YouTube nor a set of lyrics for this one. Perhaps I will rectify both these things at some point, but for now: Without You by Milk Kan (YouTube)