What Works Wonders: Wake UP January!

image courtesy of an artist & blogger I admire
Geninne's Art
her FB Page
her Twitter feed

This post is inspired by my 8 months of  Happy Rambling@ Happy Rambles (a private online gratefulness journal) .

A short background story about my happyrambles:
I read about Happy Rambles,  mentioned in the old blogsite of
Laughter & Lime blogger
and fellow Amsterdam Running Junkie
Marijn

From May - August, I attempted to log daily missing a day in the week or a week in the month etc.
It was not until September - December 2013,
that I successfully logged in daily for 4 consecutive months!
Great feeling. :)

Inspiration came as well from many years of reading self-help books, self-improvement blogs, and the results of what I've learned through the years in my own pursuit of acquiring a lighter being: leading a simpler but mindful life.

image courtesy of
notsalmon.com

I thought it fitting  that this post will be the first post for the new year. A post about what makes me happy, and what makes life lighter and brighter for me.

My guiding words for the first quarter of the new year are 3Ms: mornings (are new beginnings!), mindfulness (creates happiness!), motivate (empowering others, empowers self!).

inspired by the morning & sunrise themed blogposts & pictures
archived here at My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands
and my own desire to start each day positive & strong in 2014
I created the Morning Milers Challenge Event on
Happy Feet in the Netherlands FB page

The pursuit of a life lived with mindfulness is the heart of why I created
My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands
which in turn gave me the courage to finally begin running, and document the adventures
@ Happy Feet in the Netherlands blog

Motivating others, just as I received motivation is something I've always dream and aspired.
Why only dream when you can make it happen?!
So, Running4Badges Challenge Event was born last year, end of November.

Words means a lot to me. I love reading the words of others (letters, messages, books, blogs etc), as much as I love writing words of my own for others.   They give me, courage, hope, joy, strength, and many more magical things in life.

When I write words, I would like others to feel all these magic that life offers all of us.

What I will be sharing is not new, and many others, who is in the same path in life have written about it, and  will be writing perhaps exactly the same.

image courtesy of
Google Images

My intention is to be one of those silent  but strong voices who contributes to adding a quiet brightness in the lives of others in a very simple way: by sharing my own serenity.

I believe, the more people with like minds, share the word of positivity, the more it will spread and grow in all of us.

What Works Wonders will be lists of how I am able to see positivity every day, no matter what the circumstances are! For January, in keeping up with the theme "Wake UP!" and following my guiding words, here is my top 5 list of how I "Wake Up  the Soul!" and keep life positively moving:

1. Be grateful when you go to sleep.
2. Be grateful when you wake up.
3. Do at least 10 minutes exercise/OR any physical activity everyday (which ALWAYS leads to more in the end).
4. Do 3 things you've been procrastinating first thing in the morning. OR at least before noon.
5. Celebrate & share the lightness of your being - no reservations!