Happy Friday Series Archives

The Happy Friday Series: Celebrating One Year!

01/10/2014 By Jayme Soulati

Today, I am a proud blogger parent celebrating one full year of never-missed Fridays for this The Happy Friday Series.

My gushing and hoots and hollers are because of you, this wonderful community without whom a kernel of an idea could never have made it beyond 30 days. I heart you — the 40 guest authors who penned happiness thoughts here, the readers who came near weekly to see who was in the house, and the commenters who recognized the authors.

Did the series lose steam toward the tail end? Of course it did, and the tables turned when I began to recognize writers one by one and then in groups (I’m still not done) for their contributions.

Significance Of A Blogging Series

I’m not sure you realize just how significant a full year of a blogging series is. In this day and era of less engagement everywhere, our blogs are suffering huge. Few people come by and stick around, but they knew that on Friday they’d read something by someone oriented to happiness.

To never have missed a single Friday is also #RockHot. I nearly missed last Friday in the midst of kidlet’s birthday celebration; however, Jenn Whinnem rescued me late in the day. Thanks, Jenn!

If you’ve never considered a blog series that includes a majority of guest authors (some you never met), it’s an endeavor not for the feint of heart (tell me is it faint of heart?). It was like pulling teeth at times, and at other times, it was thrilling to see how many peeps so graciously offered up a post.

A blog series like this one not only builds steady traffic on one of the least-fave blogging days of the week, it provides the community with the opportunity to meet someone new and be supportive. The stories here were always special and oriented to something too personal to share on an individual’s blog. Because of the warmth in this house and the genuine nature of this community to be loving in general, writers volunteered to share a piece of their happy right here.

I’m so honored you honored me. Thank you to all of the above for helping me reach my one-year goal (which was adjusted a tad along the way, but accomplished nonetheless.

What will Fridays now have in store? Not sure…got any ideas?

The Happy Friday Series: 5 Always Reasons To Be Happy

01/03/2014 By Jayme Soulati

New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday. I like the edge of things, the precipice. I like the feeling of a shared global experience. I like that you can say Happy New Year! to anybody you like. It’s happiness you can spread.

The secret to enjoying the new year is not to make resolutions. My family either focuses on a theme, or else I think about life changes in February – when the gym is less crowded.

5 Factors Contributing To My Happiness Right Now

1. Snow. It snowed last night. I love snow when it’s not inconveniencing me. It’s pretty, and I throw a mean snowball.
2. Prevent guest blog crime! I hate the camera, so I was surprised when I had a blast filming this video for the Communications Network (the association for communicators in philanthropy & nonprofit). In their Zero to Ninety Series, you have to give one takeaway for your viewer in fewer than ninety seconds. Watch my video and you’ll find out how to steer clear of guest blog crime. Plus I think the video is really funny and I’m proud of it.
3. Math. My stepson actually enjoys having me grill him on his multiplication tables. What!
4. Kitties. Two new kitties came to my house for Christmas. Their names are Johnny Shutup and Ernie Shutup. They are extremely affectionate. I’m working from home today, and they still want their lap time. Here’s a picture of them snuggling together when we weren’t looking.
5. Seattle. I’m going to Seattle in June for my sister’s graduation. Seattle is my favorite place in the US, hands down. I can’t drink coffee anymore and I still love Seattle. St. Ignatius Chapel, known as “The Gathering of Different Lights,” is my favorite place, hands down. You really should look at the pictures here even if they don’t do it justice.

I’m still thinking about a theme for this year for me & my family. What do you think it should be? I’m sincerely stuck. Maybe the year of no regrets? The year of new experiences? The year of kitties (that’s my stepson’s suggestion). I’ll be even happier if we can figure this out.

About The Author

Jenn Whinnem has been more than a loyal member of this community, she has been a stalwart (is that a noun?). She is a communications guru, maven, and #RockHot mastermind (there, I used them all) at the Connecticut Health Foundation by day. In other moments, she’s waxing jargon on Facebook and contributing to this blog while working behind the scenes to keep Jayme in top form. Connect with her on Twitter @TheJenn. Love this girl.

The Happy Friday Series: Seven Happy Peeps

12/27/2013 By Jayme Soulati

Used to be, I’d look out the window and be able to spot my social media BFF in the stream. Today? Not so much…times, they are a-changin’. People come and go, and this The Happy Friday Series has seen so many amazing contributors who have been part of this community since the earliest days. It’s not that friendships are fleeting, it’s just that we know how much of a time suck social media truly is. When there are bills to pay, mouths to feed, and billable gigs at which to work, that means there is less time to stay connected.

This multi-tribute recognizes seven authors in this highly popular and longest-running series. Without each of you helping with your personal stories and shares, there is no way I could have made this series happen. Fact. Where else have you seen a year-long series every Friday without fail about a toughie topic like happiness?

Happy Friday Gratitude

Nowhere. You guys made this happen; I am forever grateful. In no particular order, here is my gratitude for this Friday:

Geoff Reiner. Oh where oh where has the little dog gone? Geoff? Your contribution to this series was so heartfelt and showed the work you do to always grow into maturity. Geoff wrote about the science of happiness and do-overs. I still love this post because it shows that Geoff isn’t going through life happenstance; he’s a serious young man on a mission. Come back and see us again, Geoff! Happy New Year!

Betsy Cross. Ahhhh; there’s absolutely no one on the interwebz more genuine and generous with her love, blessings, carings, and friendships. She writes the most heartfelt posts on her blog, and she wrote here about being the sun and about serving. If you ever need a dose of authenticity, please stop in to Betsy’s house. About now, she’s snowed in huge and perhaps without electricity (be safe Betsy!), so perhaps you’ll consider waiting for spring?

Stan Faryna. Oh, Staneo, Staneo, wherefore art thou? I miss you profusely, Mistah. I have not had the pleasure of hearing your voice on the phone, and I haven’t seen you about these parts in quite some time. We established a strong thing, you know, and I really want to rekindle; stop in, Friend…say hi, let me know you’re well. Miss you mucho. Happiest of the season! Thanks for contributing here with your so-fitting piece.

Brian Meeks. When Kaarina Dillabough and I decided to blogjack Brian’s lonely blog one day it was the start of a firestorm. Brian, who goes by @ExtremelyAverage (I have never liked that negative, but there’s a story about it that pertains strictly to him), was a budding author back in the day, and now he’s quite famous. He timed a series of guest posts and interviews on a number of blogs, including this Happy Friday Series so he could launch his first book, Henry Wood Detective Agency Series https://soulati.com/the-happy-friday-series-five-seconds-and-happy. Brian is one analytics guru; I’ve never met anyone who knows his book sales to the minute. I need a bit of his sauce to give a care about mine! Thanks for writing, Brian!

Nancy Jean. Although we’ve never had the privilege of speaking, Nancy pops up in the stream to tell me she’s paying attention (when I least expect it and what a lovely surprise!). She jumped in to write, and her piece is so personal and therapeutic; I applaud her for sharing the work she does to create and sustain happiness. As a communications professional, she is one of the most private personally. We spend our lives promoting others, and that means we don’t want or wish the spotlight. Get further acquainted with Nancy here.

Brad Lovett. Of all the gems on this page, I’ve had the privilege of meeting Brad not once, but THREE times IRL at Social Slam in Knoxville! How’s that for the odds? Brad was a Dayton, Ohio resident (gahh, we never met here); yet, I had to drive five hours annually just to say hi to Brad in person. If you don’t know Brad, he’s a trivia treasure. I cajoled him to write here because I knew it would be a tribute to a walk down memory lane in the days of radio. Heck, he just posted something on Facebook about Larry Lujak on WLS in Chicago when I was there, and I went crazy! Hey, Brad…why don’t you resurrect Social Slam?

Sharon Gilmour-Glover. I have had the privilege of getting further acquainted with Sharon in the last several months of this year. There’s absolutely NO ONE on this Earth more committed to our planet, to curing the heart of a company, and for nurturing businesses one person by one person. She’s brilliant, and in tandem with her husband and business partner, Tim Glover, the two are formidable. She is co-owner of Jump-Point and is the voice and trainer in the amazing online business course, Clarity For The Boss. Sharon knows that happiness drives success; read her piece and see if that’s so. Thanks, Sharon, for your contribution! Here’s to awesome 2014!

With that? Indeed…here’s to an awescious and #RockHot 2014!

The Happy Friday Series: How Is Happiness?

12/20/2013 By Jayme Soulati

For practically a year, just a few weeks shy, we’ve read all semblances of happiness interpretation in this series. My heart is brimming with thank yous to each of you for your contribution; do you know what an accomplishment it’s been to bring in single authors once weekly to share a personal happiness story? It’s huge, especially in this era of blogging when folks have little time and engagement is minimal.
There were personal stories so revealing and shocking to some; there were stories about loved ones gone with happy memories that remain; there were other stories about family and friendships, and hobbies that brought smiles.

Based on all these wonderful stories, is happiness elusive? The 40 or so authors who have graced these pages in the last year, have had many obstacles facing them; yet, they found happiness.

I’m going to try and add another perspective to happiness with this story:

Are You Happy?

Used to be when someone asked me, “Jayme, are you happy?” I’d scoff and say, happiness is relative, it’s elusive and fleeting. I didn’t have an answer; I had a poor taste because I didn’t know HOW to answer.

As I challenged people to write for this series, some jumped at the chance; others struggled for just the right topic. I was in the latter category knowing I really didn’t have anything to write until this post right here.
What that experience, earning my white belt in taekwondo, taught me was the opportunity to truly feel a variety of emotions that burgled up into pure happiness. Although another mom attempted to publicly minimize my accomplishment, it didn’t matter; I knew how much I had struggled to achieve and stuck with the challenge in spite of my limitations. I got out of my adult comfort zone and pushed the barrier envelope. How often do you do that? When I arrived home that evening, I immediately sat down to write knowing I had to capture my feelings.

Today, as drama in life continues to unfold, I hold that experience in highest regard. It may sound funny, but do you know how you survive turmoil? Do you know how you remove obstacles from the path often littered with negativity and people who attempt to belittle?

You focus and recall the happiest moment you can, when you were on top. When you face the obstruction, squeeze your hand and let all the empowerment from that happy place and time rush back to overwhelm the negativity and fuel you your own powerful strength. When you take charge of that moment using these tools, you will continue to grow from within to the next level. Your happy feelings will consume the negativity, and the people facing you will be disarmed. It works, I know this from doing it; and, I will continue to practice it the rest of my life.

I thank Sharon Gilmour-Glover of Jump-Point for that tip; she is one helluva woman with incredible teachings from her 13 years as a management consultant and change agent.

I do believe happiness comes in levels. When my 12-year-old squeals like only little girls can do, I giggle inside and register that sound as happiness and excitement. When I earn a new client, I’m happy the fruits of my labor worked. When I belly laugh with genuine sincerity, it washes through me from the tips of my toes to the ends of my curls.

Today, right now, if someone were to ask, “Jayme, are you happy?”

I would say, “No, I am at peace.”

The Happy Friday Series: Books And Scoliosis

12/13/2013 By Jayme Soulati

There are people living online and in social media spheres with serious maladies and diseases. Sandy Appleyard is one of them, but until she wrote about having scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Sandy, as many others, doesn’t necessarily keep this secret secret, she just doesn’t share it often.

I am so admiring of people who will be forthright with a possibly judgmental audience and share this kind of personal information. She does intense yoga to help her get through the countless hours of writing.

Sandy Appleyard Authors Books

I first met Sandy in my Google+ community (which is on the rocks, by the way). She shared her blog posts about books she had written, and we exchanged tips about WordPress and commenting systems. When you dive in a bit deeper to learn more, here’s a giveaway:

“I always write happy endings because I want my readers to leave my stories feeling intrigued, uplifted and entertained. I never leave a loose thread.”

She writes a blog, too, and it’s full of her travails through and around the publishing world. As she gains more experience, she shares it, like with this piece about understanding publishers’ rejection letters or with this one about whether book sales are akin to product sales — hmm, interesting question!

I bet you most want to know about Sandy’s books, right?

From what I can tell, she has four available for the extremely reasonable price of $2.99 via ebook for Christmas and they are The Wife of a Lesser Man, I’ll Never Wear a Black Dress, Blessed and Betrayed, and The Message In Dad’s Bottle. The awesome quote on her website says she writes romance thrillers, but I leave you to investigate further.

Sandy is one of those authors doing it right. She engages on social media, she teaches others about her experiences, she is accessible and lacks arrogance, she’s responsive, and is so transparent about how she’s growing — page by page.

She’s a Canadian living in Niagra Falls (is that the U.S side or the Canadian side, Sandy?) with two kids who keep her too busy.

There’s one other secret I just have to share, a previous conversation had Sandy asking about whether she should use a pseudonym to write intriguing books of the sexual persuasion. Hmm, Sandy, how’s that going for ya, eh?

Thanks for writing for The Happy Friday Series: Finding Happy With Scoliosis.

Soulati-'TUDE!