Tag Archives: happiness

What’s Your Happiness Baseline?

Posted on January 23, 2023 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week Have you ever noticed how your happiness baseline—that bundle of things you consider essential for satisfaction—is constantly shifting? That’s because it’s based on what you’re currently used to, and what you’re currently used to is, well, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

Preparing to Give Thanks

Posted on November 23, 2022 by mitchteemley

“Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~Epicurus “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ~Alphonse Karr “Piglet noticed that even though he had a … Continue reading →

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Not What I Expected

Posted on November 21, 2022 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week It was an unseasonably warm autumn. Not what I expected. But, hey, it gave me a chance to install a bird bath, something my wife had wanted for a long time. And, being a bird-whisperer, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Scheduling Happiness

Posted on November 14, 2022 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week It was 1987 and, thanks to the tremendous growth of the mutual fund into which I’d wisely poured our money, we were taking our first real vacation together. It was autumn, and so we’d opted for … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

On Being Free

Posted on November 8, 2021 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week You can never be free in the future. You can only be free in the present. But take heart— it’s always the present. ~MT~

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Are We Happy Yet?

Posted on June 23, 2021 by mitchteemley

“I can’t wait until I’m financially able to afford who I really am.” ~Unknown “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Movies, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

How My Life of Happy Materialism Came to an End

Posted on April 15, 2021 by mitchteemley

Photo by Brandon Green (unsplash.com) When I was a young man, I began searching for the meaning of life. Along the way, I wrote a travel journal, a mix of prose and poetry, and labelled it Fool’s Odyssey. London was so … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir, Poetry, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

A Safe and Cozy Place

Posted on March 5, 2021 by mitchteemley

A year ago this month, our sense of safety plummeted. Until then, “Be safe” was reserved for anxious mothers sending off their children. But amidst a worldwide pandemic, it became the new “Have a good day,” the new “I care.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

The Real Thing

Posted on January 31, 2021 by mitchteemley

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise!” ~Romans 1:25 Don’t just talk about what’s Real. Show it. Be it.

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Contentment

Posted on January 25, 2021 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week During a recent Sunday drive, my wife and I stumbled across this wonderful old covered bridge above. It was an ordinary day (our original plans had fallen through) made special by warm conversation and a light … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments