A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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What does it take to really make you feel happy?
I see lots of people in my Acupuncture practice including every type of personality. For some reason there are cycles of how people are handling the stress of their world. Smileycreek will tell you the same thing. Sometimes most of the folks that come in are stressing out and not so happy. Other times most people seem fairly mellow and relaxed about their lives. Recently the folks I've been seeing have been pretty stressed, some to the point of having anxiety.
Whenever I talk with anxious people I ask them what's causing it. Sometimes they can point to a specific thing, however often they can't. I call those situations "free floating anxiety" meaning it isn't about any one thing but just an overall state of anxiousness. When folks are in that place, their anxiety will "hook onto" anything out there. It will keep "hooking onto" different things throughout the day. Pretty much whatever the person thinks about for which they have any bit of concern their free floating anxiety attaches to that making it bigger and worse.
I ask folks in this state of being what makes them happy. You might be surprised to know they normally don't know. So I ask them to remember the last time they felt really relaxed and happy. If they truly can't come up with an answer, I ask them to remember a great vacation they had or a fun time they had with others. I ask them to remember their favorite beach and how it felt to walk on it. If they do that their anxiety quiets for a moment because they've tapped into the feeling of those good times. That's the antidote to anxiety, stress and frustration because every thought has a feeling associated with it.
You can purposefully choose how you feel by choosing the thoughts you're generating because every thought we have is created by us. It's all an inside job! If you are having thoughts that have an unpleasant feeling connected to them, you can absolutely choose to have a different thought on purpose. This is how you stop living by default and start living by choice.
We are all different in what makes us feel happy. Some need a lot of outside distractions and excitement. Others need less outside influences. Some need company. Others need a quiet place with a good book while taking a bath. And so it goes.
Lots of times people's lives are extremely hectic with no two days having the same rhythm. I tell people it is important to have one "physiological anchor" and one "psychological anchor" each day to help with stress. Doing these things each day has a cumulative effect and pays big dividends over time. Really!
More below the orange giggle squiggle
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
The best physiological anchor is to have one meal within 30 minutes of the same time each day so your body can count on it. Lots of people eat at different times every day. I tell them to use lunch as the anchor by eating it within 30 minutes of the same time each day. All other meals can be whenever.
A psychological anchor is best done in the evening when you're done with the bulk of your day. It doesn't have to be anything specific but it does have to be something you find nurturing and soothing and it has to be for at least 30 minutes. It could be reading a book or taking a walk or having a bath or watching a TV show you like. It could be meditating or doing some gentle exercising.
The point here is to have each of these types of anchors each day. One somewhere midday and the other in the evening. Over time, no matter how crazy every day of your life is, your body and mind will become calmer. You won't go into anxiety as much and you'll even start sleeping better. Consistency is the key.
Smileycreek and I are both similar in that it doesn't take much for each of us to be happy. We have low level needs to be comfortable, both in how we live our lives and in what we need to be content and happy.
Here's an interesting chart showing what causes people to feel stress. You'll see that paying attention to politics is the #1 stress causing thing for most folks.
Here's another chart showing some things that work to alleviate stress and anxiety. As you'll see a bunch of these things are drugs, while some are not. Marijuana turns out to be good at helping. It ranks as medium effective but not that popular. Look where exercise is. It is very popular and also very effective. Masturbation is medium in both popularity and effectiveness in relieving stress. I find this chart interesting in how they rank things. Things that are "surprisingly effective" are the things that are not commonly chosen by folks. I guess that's what causes them to be classified by as "surprising."
Personally, I feel the happiest and most content when smileycreek and I are doing super well being around each other. It's just that simple. I adore her. Other things that make me feel happy are hanging out in our back yard on warm days. Being with my favorite people to hang out with also is very comforting.
Of course humor is key to feeling good. If you lose your sense of humor, hang 'em up!
What does it take to make you happy and less stressed?
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Uniting Kansas: Recap of Meetup, Hutchinson (Video)
by tmservo433 ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
tmservo433 organized a successful event featuring 3 candidates and a AFL-CIO endorsement.
Despite 100+ degree temperature, and a normal size crowd (about 50/60) the event in Hutchinson quickly went viral, with a few thousand watching the streams online, thanks to agressive sharing, emailing and people encouraging others to spread the live stream of the video.
Please visit
tmservo433's diary for the videos of this event. You can still REC it. You can join
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
tmservo433.
Connecting Kansas:
Democrats Unite in Emporia
by tmservo433 ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
So our latest hero, tmservo433 provides a great re-cap to the event we promoted here for him.
At the time Paul Davis spoke, I had an in room headcount of 166, which is a heck of a turnout. Sam Brownback couldn't bring in 200 in the Kansas City Metro when Rick Santorum came to town.
Kossacks showed up. Several Kossacks were in the hall, as well as individuals who noticed I still had on my Netroots gear, and were happy to come and tell us how they are working for change in our communities.
tmservo433 is doing great work seeking out Kossacks and moving his state's progressive agenda forward.
Please visit tmservo433's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to tmservo433.
Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
The Los Angeles Kossacks ranks have increased by 40% in the last few months. New members attended the latest recreational field trip to see the retired space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles.
Back Row L-R: Vyan, Chiwere, susans, Otoelbc, mommyp00ka, Ducktape
Front Row L-R: Robin, 714day, Little Loner, Moody Loner, jakedog42 and grandaughter, SanFernandoValleyMom
Please visit susans's diary for details on the Space Shuttle. You can still REC it. You can join Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to susans.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Monday, August 4th
Asheville Kossacks Connect for Lunch Before Moral Monday's Event with Reverend Barber!
Followed by a stroll through downtown to the Mountain Moral Monday event
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Rosetta's Kitchen
111 Broadway St • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. DawnN
5. Lamont Cranston
6. Gordon20024
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, August 9th
Northern & Central Florida Kossacks Meet-up
with (D) DC Koller who is running for House Representative against Rich Nugent
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Vetwife's Home
Kosmail Vetwife for address • Inverness
ORGANIZER: Send Vetwife a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Vetwife
2. Vet
3. Gordon20024
4. nancyjones
5.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Fl Meetup update.. Short diary..lots of Info
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Saturday, August 9th
LA Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Guild Restaurant
611 W. 7th St • Downtown Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. Shockwave
3. navajo
4. Meteor Blades
5. Knucklehead
6. SanFernandoValleyMom
7. Otoelbc
8. Chiwere
9. Vyan
10. 714day
11. Ducktape
12. Mugwump Blues
13. Just Saying
14. Just Saying's friend
15. Panorama City Chick
16. jakedog42
17. Santa Susanna Kid
18. La Gitane
19. Susan from 29
20. gmats
21. Dave in Northridge
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Maybees:
Joe Bacon
Bruin Kid
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Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
Saturday, August 16th
Nashville KosKats Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Shipwreck Cove at the Elm Hill Marina
3361 Bell Road • Nashville
ORGANIZER: Send ZenTrainer a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. ZenTrainer
2. Jon Sitzman
3.
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Maybees:
Patrick is Lucky
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Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, August 16th
DC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: National Mall
at the Smithsonian Metro stop • Washington DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Sunday, August 24th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. kathny
2. belinda ridgewood
3. rubyr
4. joanbrooker
5. mconvente
6. ericlewis0
7. No Exit
8. sidnora
9. gchaucer2
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Maybees:
BaritoneWoman
jfdunphy
David Nir
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup Sunday August 24 at Spitzer's
Pikes Peak Region Kossacks
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Saturday, September 13th
Pikes Peak Region Kossacks Inaugural Meet-up!
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Panera Bread
7344 North Academy Boulevard (general address) or 7351 Atlas Walk Way (mall address) • Colorado Springs
ORGANIZER: Send thanatokephaloides a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. thanatokephaloides
2. tmservo433 (visiting from Kansas)
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Our First Meeting: An Announcement
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.