fbpx
Created By Annie Jennings PR, National Publicist  
Developing Successful Happy Students

Podcast: Developing Successful Happy Students

Listen Here: Happiness expert and children’s author of You’re Special Wherever You Are, Kita Szpak, who has taught at the public and high school level, is here with us today to talk about the significance of having happy students in our [...]

You and Your Big Idea

Have a big idea? Had one and let it slip away because it’s too crazy, it won’t work, don’t have enough time, costs too much, family will disapprove – yeah, there are all kinds of good reasons why you shouldn’t go ahead with your big [...]

Forget About Me I Love You

I can’t say the phrase “Forget About Me I Love You”* is mine – Dr. Timothy Lau, a Canadian psychiatrist used it in the course of a conversation about happiness I had with him a couple of years ago. At the time, I was taken by it – [...]

Arguing Your Point

I’ve never been on a debating team; my ability to come back with a “zinger” is questionable; and having a soft-spoken voice has probably lost me some points in a heated discussion. Perhaps this is why I write: to get my point across more [...]

You and Time

Even though it’s bitterly cold and snowy, the calendar tells me we’re already into the thawing season. A third of 2015 is nigh being reached and no doubt you’re wondering where the time went or is going – with or without you. Time is [...]

The Best-Laid Plans

Winston Churchill once said words to the effect, “Make good plans and then forget about them once you’re in the thick of things.” The New Year is often the time for making plans based on the goals we’ve set – goals that originate from [...]

Your Inner Connection To Others

On first glance, you may assume I’ll be talking about communicating to others via phone, email, texting, writing, video, photos – heck even talking to them – but I have more in mind here. In my happiness research, the prime principle [...]

Is Being Happy And Being Grateful The Same Thing?

Often times the words “happy” and “grateful” are used interchangeably. If you’re happy, you must be grateful too and vice-versa.  There’s no question that both words describe a person who is content in that moment of happiness or [...]

What Floor Are You On?

I was participating in a reflections workshop and the instructor brought up the image of a 10-story building for the class to look at. In essence, she explained people can live in the same building but depending on what floor they’re on, the [...]

Where Does “Happiness” Come From? The Word, That Is…

It’s summertime and the living is easy…my mind – ever on happiness – has wandered to the question, “Where does the word come from?” And so I set to finding out…  Here for your beach-reading pleasure, is a breakdown of “happiness” [...]

Summer Sun ‘n Stuff

Isn’t it amazing what a little warmth and sun can do for your mood? Where I live, we’ve just come through one of the bitterest winters on record. Spring didn’t give great respite: it was cool with constant bouts of rain. I recall one afternoon [...]

Don’t Ditch Responsibility

Our notions of happiness are easily intertwined with the idea of taking it easy, of not having anything to worry about or think about. It’s like being on vacation – all the pressure of work stresses are left behind.  For the one or two [...]

Podcast: The Simple Life: Shiny Objects Not Required

Listen Here: JenningsWire blogger and Happiness Author & Expert, Kita Szpak, is the author of the new book The SIMPLE Life: Shiny Objects Not Required helps everyone who feels like life is a little crazy these days! In this podcast, Kita [...]

Against All Odds

My father had just been operated on to remove a cancerous tumor in his hip so he was still in the hospital recovering. He knew he had to gain weight to stay strong. When I was visiting him one of many days there, I accompanied him as he made [...]

Life’s Unpredictability Has A Silver Gold Lining

There’s a certain dread in running into someone or something unpredictable. Not knowing what they’re going to do or what’s going to happen makes us uneasy even afraid of what the consequences might be. Our mind prevents us from venturing [...]

Sure You’re Finished With It?

I was going through my bookshelf and spotted “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Haven’t looked at it in years – but isn’t that the way?  Once you finish reading the book, watching the movie, painting the picture, you move on, [...]

Why Does Guilt Reign Supreme In January?

“What’s the point anyway?” “I’m not good enough.” “Here I am with another year gone by and I’m in exactly the same situation…” Such a nasty emotion guilt is…it can fester in you to the point of immobilization.  And why [...]

I’ll be Thankful When I’m Happy This Holiday Season

I’ve got news for you – if you think you’ll be super grateful when you are happy, you may be waiting a long time! We’re notorious for thinking a visit from a special person, gifts under the tree, good skiing weather, lots of fabulous [...]

Your Best Teacher May Be Somebody You Don’t Like

We’ve all come across people in our life that rub us the wrong way. The neighbor who’s irritated by the fact that your dog’s relieving itself on their lawn. The clerk who’s more interested in talking to her colleague than helping you [...]

Shut Up & Listen

You’re on the phone with your girlfriend and she’s going on and on about last weekend. “She won’t even let me talk,” you say to yourself.  “Talk about a one-sided conversation…I might as well hang up.” Well don’t! Could be [...]

Podcast: Stop The World I Want To Get Off!

Listen Here: JenningsWire blogger and Happiness Author & Expert, Kita Szpak discusses simple ways to simplify your life and stop feeling overwhelmed. Kita’s latest book, The SIMPLE Life: Shiny Objects Not Required, is due out in a [...]

Does Praying Help?

Most of us have done a major plea to the Universe when we’re in an extreme situation. “God, help me! I’ve lost control of the car, make me safe, make me safe…” sweating out the seconds until you are finally stopped, shaking and [...]

Happiness Is A Seagull On The Beach

I remember when I was little and on the beach at a summer cottage, I was determined to catch one of the many seagulls that were poking about along the shoreline. To my mind, they were slow and seemingly unaware that I was just steps away from [...]

My “Four Weddings And A Funeral”

Sometimes life loads you up with a flurry of events so packed together and so important to you that you can barely stop for a breath lest you miss the “this is life” intensity of it all. This weekend I’m attending my daughter-in-law’s [...]

What I Do Today Is Important

What are you doing with your life today? Such a loaded question… and courtesy of my reading Roy Williams’ “Monday Morning Memo”, where he aims that question at the reader. Well, I’m writing this and that’s something important [...]

Life Is Not To Be Reasoned With

Ever tried reasoning with a two-year-old? “Listen, if you have another cookie, you’re going to have a tummy ache, Sweetie,” to which your toddler responds, “Me, want another one,” in an even more pleading voice totally ignoring your [...]

Don’t Be So Naive – NOT!

Ever been told you’re too naïve? Webster’s Dictionary defines the word as “being marked by unaffected simplicity” and “showing lack of informed judgment”. Having been told for many years that I’m too naïve, I have always blushed [...]

Your Idea Of Happiness May Not Be Your Partner’s

“Hey, let’s go to the mall and pick up a few things,” she says. “Na,” he replies.  “I want to fix up my tools.  Outside work coming up before you know it.”  She drives off – a little disappointed that it’s the weekend, and [...]

Doing The “Right” Thing

The right thing. When you were a little kid, chances are you were taught “right” from “wrong”: stealing a toy is wrong; telling the teacher that your dog ate your homework is a lie and wrong (unless your dog really did eat your work!).  [...]

Anticipation… “Is Makin’ Me Late, Is Keepin’ Me Waitin'”

Who can forget Carly Simon singing “Anticipation”? Expectantly waiting for that wonderful night to happen?  The state of looking forward to something pleasant is so heady, so delicious that sometimes what you actually experience may be [...]

Self-Improvement: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Where’s the line? You’re at the gym three times a week; you’ve picked up the latest book on relationships and plan to read it on the weekend; quinoa is now a staple in your breakfast smoothie; and yes, you are attending the financial [...]

10 Tips Plus Bonus Tip To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

It’s January. That time in the New Year where we feel the itch to renew and change – for the better.  And bless us human beings, we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t find changing hard to do.  Here’s 10 plus tips to making and keeping [...]

Peace On Earth: Peace In Your Home This Holiday Season

Families are not perfect The holiday season seems to underscore this fact: putting adults fuelled by eggnog in close quarters over a stretch of time are the perfect ingredients for bringing out the worst in us.  So how do you bring peace into [...]

The Positive Side of Pessimism

Yes, you read that right – there is a positive side to being pessimistic. When I first encountered the positive aspects of being negative, I was as surprised as you are. Think about it: it’s so easy for us to slip into worry mode and wonder, [...]

When’s the Last Time You Were a Princess?

I’m doing a reading of one of my stories for an upcoming children’s tea party. Since the character I’m reading about is a dragon, I’ve decided to dress up as a princess for the afternoon.  And you know what?  I’m really excited about [...]