Somewhere along the line, we all realize that life is full of surprises. Many of these surprises are wonderful ones, the kind that fill your heart to overflowing and make you feel like someone has just put the candle in your Jack-O-Lantern to light you from the inside. Unfortunately though, this life has less desirable surprises in store for us as well: foiled plans, gloomy weather, sudden separations, unexpected loss, bad news, bad hair and traffic! It is these less desirable surprises that have us looking over our shoulders, and walking around haunched over to keep ourselves protected from the blows. I always feel sad when I hear someone profess “I hate surprises!” (Warning: I also feel the inclination to change that notion by providing that person with as many happy surprises as I can think of) because I really feel that our preferences are generally a result of our experiences, and so a person who hates surprises has probably had too many unpleasant ones. In any case, I am ever learning and working toward accepting the fact that much of this life is out of my control, but I am determined to be proactive and engaged in the parts that I can control. Happiness, however illusive and fleeting for some, seems to me to be among these semi-controllable things. Enter the idea of booby-trapping one’s own life with happy surprises. If this sounds completely crazy to you, you might as well stop reading because I assure you, I am about to get weirder! If however, you are intrigued by this idea of proactive happiness prompting, read on, and feel free to steal these ideas to booby trap your own existence and that of the ones you love most!
1) Show me the money!:
This is probably the most widely-known of my traps among my friends and family, and has gained me much chastisement from my frugal husband who believes very strongly in the bank system. However, it works for me, and so I shall continue. The idea is simple. Before I put away my winter coats for the warmer months, I put whatever cash I can find into the pockets, and forget about it. When the cold rolls around and I put my hands into those toasty pockets for the first time, I am pleasantly surprised (yes I do manage to feel surprised even though I do this regularly)! Added happiness factor: share the wealth, with the $20 I found in my black pea-coat this year, I treated some friends to Starbucks which made my trap even more successful! Also, try shoving some green in the pockets of things before you donate them, make someone else’s day a little brighter!
2) When you’re in a good place, write notes to yourself for when you’re in a not-so-good-place:
This one I started when I was about 6 years old. I had made myself so sick about my yearly check-up and corresponding booster shots that I could think of nothing else. When the big moment actually came, and the shot was over, I was a little disgusted with myself. I mean, I wasted an entire day of childhood bliss worrying about a 2 second pinch in the arm!!! I went home and wrote my future self a note. I don’t remember the note verbatim, but it went something like “Dear 7 year old Chrissy, don’t be such a big baby next time, the shot is no big deal! Have fun with your friends, eat your lunch, and when the moment comes, close your eyes and think about space camp!” This habit stuck and has since evolved to more adult situations. Now, after I feel I’ve successfully gotten through something, I will often write my future self a note of memorandum and advice.
3.)Bubble Wrap:
This one has to be personalized to your particular “bright spots”. We all have them, those simple pleasures that provide us with a giddy moment in our everyday lives. I myself have many such pleasures, ranging from the wielding of a gravity hammer in Halo Reach to popping the bubble wrap that comes in packages. My bright spots are the things that always make me smile despite myself. When I was young, my mom always saved me the bubble wrap from her packages at work. I kept strips of it under my bed to pop when I needed a moment of bliss. Now I still keep bubble wrap tucked away in drawers in my kitchen. This morning, my children found my stash and we paraded around on our bubble wrap dance floor with Lady Gaga singing our praises! I’ll have to restock on bubble wrap, but I’m not too worried, I keep plenty of things on hand to that same end. A book of Pablo Neruda poems and a blanket will bring me to a happy place in my backyard, a slow whiff of the coppertone sun screen I keep in my desk drawer at work never fails to capture sunshine for me and make me smile, and juicy fruit gum transports me to lazy summers spent with my cousins at Breezy Point. I keep these things on hand and have no shame depending on them when there’s a need!
4.)Play it loud:
This one is not for everyone, but I have an ever-rotating playlist of some of my favorite feel-good songs of the moment. This list is on all of my electronic devices (Thank you itunes) and I even burn CD’s of it to keep in my car. Make the list, update it often, name it something silly, find the list, set it in motion, and play it loud! For me this is most effective in the car, sunroof open, windows down, open road!
5.) No man is an island:
Jon Bonjovi had it right. No man, or woman is an island. We need each other, we make each other better, and the best way to booby trap your life with happiness is to cultivate relationships that make you happy. I have been fortunate enough in my life to have many such people, the ones who make me happy just by being exactly who they are! A chat with a family member or friend never fails to bring me some good surprises...like I’m surprised how much I love yet ANOTHER thing about you!
6.) Think ahead:
The other night I was out with one of my best girlfriends. We were finding a parking spot in a downtown garage and planning to spend the next few hours appreciating the art scene of our city (already a happiness booby trap just having this night on my calendar!) As we passed many open spots in the garage I kept driving (despite my friends confusion) until we got to the rooftop parking. Of course she asked me why on earth we were parking all the way on the roof when there were so many perfectly acceptable spots down below, so I let her in on my secret. Although we were parking in the daylight, by the time we got back to our car we would have a clear and up close view of the night sky, and the city (gargoyles and all) all lit up for the night... a beautiful and happiness-inducing end to a great night!
7.) Pay it forward:
My absolute favorite happiness inducer is booby trapping the lives of the people I love! Leaving a note, sending a quick message, picking up a thoughtful gift, taking over a dreaded chore...really any of the things you do to booby trap your life can be done for someone else...so pay it forward! Spread the love around, and make the world a happier place-Added bonus, this is like a boomerang, the more happiness you CAUSE the more happiness you FEEL! <3
