Top Tips for a Happy Life

[Emil Miller]

Tip 294 - Have a 'healthy week' now and then; it's probably good for you.

These come now and then for me, usually after having too many beers or over-indulging with food (or both). I'm doing one now, though the odds are it will only last while about Thursday at the latest.

Snap! I'm off the booze and have been for 10 days. I am also doing a lot of walking and have cut down on my meagre food intake to the extent that I am able to wear my clothes much more comfortably than previously. There are few things that give more satisfaction than reaching into the wardrobe and finding a jacket that, having become too tight to wear, now fits perfectly. A few weeks ago, I had a hard session with the whisky and wine and the following day determined to do something about it. I am now contemplating a pair of winter waking boots so that I am able to continue fighting the flab over the coming months.The other noticeable benefit is feeling lighter and able to move more quickly. There is no doubt that carrying excess weight is a strain on the heart and also looks disgusting.

[LitNetIsGreat]

10 days is a long time without booze. Do you feel any better for it?

When I cut down or go a few days without beer I have to substitute it with something else as I still need to drink a couple of pints of something instead. I've gone for some raspberry and apple juice, proper stuff not cheap dilute, which is quite refreshing. Hopefully it will help to keep my head clear this week.


With so many tips and clues required, having a happy life feels like an awfully challenging task...

I know it's complicated stuff. I'm sure there's a tip about keeping things simple somewhere, if not we should add it because it's a good one.

[Vonny]

Snap! I'm off the booze and have been for 10 days. I am also doing a lot of walking and have cut down on my meagre food intake to the extent that I am able to wear my clothes much more comfortably than previously. There are few things that give more satisfaction than reaching into the wardrobe and finding a jacket that, having become too tight to wear, now fits perfectly. A few weeks ago, I had a hard session with the whisky and wine and the following day determined to do something about it. I am now contemplating a pair of winter waking boots so that I am able to continue fighting the flab over the coming months.The other noticeable benefit is feeling lighter and able to move more quickly. There is no doubt that carrying excess weight is a strain on the heart and also looks disgusting.

hehe! I'm glad to see this tip.

I know that alcohol is a hard drug, but honestly when I come here and see this: :cheers2: it cheers me up, somehow. It's kind of funny to see you guys partying. (not that I'm partaking myself.)

However, I think it is good to let yourself "dry out" completely from time to time, or on a regular basis, at least for a couple of days. That way you never need to worry about becoming addicted, and your body can restore its depleted nutrients.

And also, when these things are an occasional "treat", be it drinks, candy or whatever, it's much more enjoyable than if we make a steady diet of it. I bet you learned this growing up, Emil! (Raise a child a certain way and he returns to it, as Emil is here.) It's one of those things "old school" parents used to teach.

[Emil Miller]

10 days is a long time without booze. Do you feel any better for it?

When I cut down or go a few days without beer I have to substitute it with something else as I still need to drink a couple of pints of something instead. I've gone for some raspberry and apple juice, proper stuff not cheap dilute, which is quite refreshing. Hopefully it will help to keep my head clear this week.

It's a bit like giving up smoking in that there's a tendency to feel pretty down to start with but it seems to get easier with time. I definitely feel better physically i.e. not so sluggish, although I don't sleep so well and am subject to even weirder dreams than usual e.g. Last night I was telling someone that WS Maugham attended Dr.Niehans clinic in Switzerland for rejuvenating injections of sheep's glands in order that he could retain an erection. Now this is true, but in the dream, Maugham was standing nearby listening.
I tend to drink soft drinks as a substitute for alcohol and, in line with my walking regime, I walk about a mile to a coffee bar two or three times a week and sit outside reading a French newspaper; trying to imagine (unsuccessfully) that I'm in Paris.
However, although they are a welcome escape from the old plonkers who infest the pubs, coffee houses are regularly invaded by women with baby buggys who, thankfully, insist on going inside.
After an hour reading the news, I then do a bit of shopping and walk the mile back to the underground station.
I will try to keep the regime going for as long as possible just to see if I get to the stage where I'm able look down and see my belt buckle; so there's still some way to go.

[blithe spirit]

With so many tips and clues required, having a happy life feels like an awfully challenging task...
You only need one tip really...
#295 - Lower your expectations...no, Lower...LOooowerrr....

[LitNetIsGreat]

You only need one tip really...
#295 - Lower your expectations...no, Lower...LOooowerrr....

I have come to find this essential in my line of work. I was offering the same advice to some trainees the other day.


It's a bit like giving up smoking in that there's a tendency to feel pretty down to start with but it seems to get easier with time. I definitely feel better physically i.e. not so sluggish, although I don't sleep so well and am subject to even weirder dreams than usual e.g. Last night I was telling someone that WS Maugham attended Dr.Niehans clinic in Switzerland for rejuvenating injections of sheep's glands in order that he could retain an erection. Now this is true, but in the dream, Maugham was standing nearby listening.
I tend to drink soft drinks as a substitute for alcohol and, in line with my walking regime, I walk about a mile to a coffee bar two or three times a week and sit outside reading a French newspaper; trying to imagine (unsuccessfully) that I'm in Paris.
However, although they are a welcome escape from the old plonkers who infest the pubs, coffee houses are regularly invaded by women with baby buggys who, thankfully, insist on going inside.
After an hour reading the news, I then do a bit of shopping and walk the mile back to the underground station.
I will try to keep the regime going for as long as possible just to see if I get to the stage where I'm able look down and see my belt buckle; so there's still some way to go.

Ha, I love the dream, sounds like one of Freud's case studies. It sounds like you've got a good routine going there as well.

[Vonny]

I tend to drink soft drinks as a substitute for alcohol

I've done this too, some, since I quit alcohol. (I tend to let them freeze, as I used to the beer!) I get one that's made with sugar and not high-fructose. It really tastes better. Then I split a 12-ounce bottle with my friend. There's so much diabetes in this country, (land of soda pop) that it's horrifying.

[papayahed]

Tip 296: Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself once in a while. To much severity is the other side of the indulgent coin.

[Delta40]

Tip 296: Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself once in a while. To much severity is the other side of the indulgent coin.

Don't laugh at yourself all the time either.

[Emil Miller]

I've done this too, some, since I quit alcohol. (I tend to let them freeze, as I used to the beer!) I get one that's made with sugar and not high-fructose. It really tastes better. Then I split a 12-ounce bottle with my friend. There's so much diabetes in this country, (land of soda pop) that it's horrifying.

Drinking soft drinks as a substitute doesn't mean I like soft drinks as such but it fills in the gap that's left by the times when I would normally drink beer etc.
To my mind, soft drinks are not particularly appetizing.

[Vonny]

Drinking soft drinks as a substitute doesn't mean I like soft drinks as such but it fills in the gap that's left by the times when I would normally drink beer etc.
To my mind, soft drinks are not particularly appetizing.


This brings us back to ...


Tip 57: There is no such thing as 'too much tea'.

10:30 in the morning, and I'm on my fourth cup. Life is good, and the world seems manageable!


And don't forget sparkling water. Do you have Talking Rain in the UK? Oh I shouldn't advertise. Any will do.

[Emil Miller]

This brings us back to ...



And don't forget sparkling water. Do you have Talking Rain in the UK?

It sure does, I drink quite a lot of tea during the day but not usually at night which was when I used to drink beer etc.

I haven't seen (heard ?) Talking Rain in the UK but there are plenty of alternatives.

[kevinthediltz]

Tip 233: If life gives you lemons then make lemon sorbet or something a bit fancier than lemonade, after all it pays to be an overachiever.

Reminded me of one from the book of Ron White.

Tip #297: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And then try to find someone who's life is giving them vodka, and have a party.

[Vonny]

Reminded me of one from the book of Ron White.

Tip #297: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And then try to find someone who's life is giving them vodka, and have a party.

:cheers2:

We need more of these for all the different forms of alcohol. We need a 'tipping vodka bottle' emoticon! We also need a marijuana one, (for those in Amsterdam, of course.)

[papayahed]

Reminded me of one from the book of Ron White.

Tip #297: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And then try to find someone who's life is giving them vodka, and have a party.

haha, I was reminded of that saying as well but I couldn't remember the comedian.

[papayahed]

At a previous job we made a list much like this, the only one I can remember is:

When done playing with your putty put it away lest it get hard.

:cornut:

Perhaps an explanation is in order. We made homemade silly putty and somebody left it out one night and when we came in the next day it was a rock. However, this can be expanded I think it can apply to many things.

[kevinthediltz]

Another I just remembered:

Tip #299: Something that is almost infinitely improbable is actually extremely likely to happen almost immediately.

Douglas Adams gets credit for this one. :)

[prendrelemick]

Happiness:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0SbVFxl64A

[kensington]

So you're laughing at the way foreigners speak. Isn't that a bit...you know...racist? I mean, I don't care myself, but apparently there are people with scary avatars policing the forum, and you might find that you're drawing some attention.

Racist? Wow, that's extreme. In fact it's:icon_bs:

[JuniperWoolf]

^...Vonny?

[kensington]

^...Vonny?

No :)

[MystyrMystyry]

#300 - Laugh at Vonny

[Jack of Hearts]

Tip 231 Always have a good dog when gathering sheep

Otherwise you risk an apoplectic fit:incazzato:.


You're talking about Nelly! Who loves nothing better than to stare menacingly at sheep all day and, apparently, rolls around in excrement.







J

[kensington]

#300 - Laugh at Vonny


Goodness, laugh with her, not at her. :wink5:

[prendrelemick]

You're talking about Nelly! Who loves nothing better than to stare menacingly at sheep all day and, apparently, rolls around in excrement.







J


Yes, and those are her top tips numbers 1 & 2

[Jack of Hearts]

Haha!







J

[kensington]

Haha!







J


aw, the men of LitNet! :)

[Paulclem]

Top Tip No. 301 Never waken a sleeping Jack Russell.

This is off the internet, but is true. How my fingers have suffered since we got this dog.

[Paulclem]

Top Tip No. 302 Don't try using oven gloves if you happen to waking a sleeping Jack Russell. The flesh doesn't tear, but but the pain is just as crushing.

[Paulclem]

Top Tip No. 303 Don't get a Jack Russell.

Of course I jest - just in case my wife reads this about her little boy. Grrrr

[JuniperWoolf]

Tip 304 - If you work in a place that has a kitchen, try your hardest to make the cooks like you, because if they hate you they WILL do disgusting things to your food.

I work with a few people who are hated by the cooks. It's strange, they have no idea why they keep getting sick...

[Paulclem]

Tip 305 - Don't go out at dinner time and have omlette and chips in a local cafe when you have to go back to an office full of choccy bikkies and a meeting that included banoffee cheesecake.

Banoffee cheesecake - superb and irresistible........mmmmmmmoooooooaaaaaaaaaaaargh. .......guts.........

[Paulclem]

Tip 305 - When you're nearly 48, don't go jumping backwards off walls, like you might have done at one time, in order to rescue new looking bikes from the local brook. It is unlikely to end well.

( My jeans and coat are in the wash as we speak).

[qimissung]

Tip 305 - Don't go out at dinner time and have omlette and chips in a local cafe when you have to go back to an office full of choccy bikkies and a meeting that included banoffee cheesecake.

Banoffee cheesecake - superb and irresistible........mmmmmmmoooooooaaaaaaaaaaaargh. .......guts.........

I say, Paul, your top tips always sound like a Mr. Bean movie! :lol:

[Paulclem]

I say, Paul, your top tips always sound like a Mr. Bean movie! :lol:

They do today. My daughter thinks my raison d'etre is to be an embarrassment to her.

My wife was just running through a list of who and when she will tell about the jumping off the wall episode. She thinks my Mother in Law will like it.

My stuff's in the drier now.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Tip 306: It is far better to enjoy what you enjoy and ignore other people.

Genius. :santasmil

[Paulclem]

Tip 307: Stick to tea otherwise the coffee you drink might start making you feel wierd....again...

[Paulclem]

Tip 308: Don't bother with that typically British, stiff upper lip, I can get through this with plenty of lemon tea and paracetamol for breakfast attitude about going in to work sick. I did, thinking I would feel fine the next day, and then the next until I look back at days of snivels and headache, and realise I could have had a full week off!!!

Bah. Now I've only got the weekend to recover. :ack2:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Tip 308: Don't bother with that typically British, stiff upper lip, I can get through this with plenty of lemon tea and paracetamol for breakfast attitude about going in to work sick. I did, thinking I would feel fine the next day, and then the next until I look back at days of snivels and headache, and realise I could have had a full week off!!!

Bah. Now I've only got the weekend to recover. :ack2:

Ah, good tip I could have told you that though. I've just had the last three days off myself. That makes about 7 days sick this year already. That's a record.

[Paulclem]

Ah, good tip I could have told you that though. I've just had the last three days off myself. That makes about 7 days sick this year already. That's a record.

I like to think I'm tough - but for a whole week!!! My bravado exhausts me.

It's two or three years since I had any time off. The last time was with labyrinthitis - an inner ear infection that affects your balance. It makes you lurch about like a drunken man, which would be interesting except you feel vomity with it.

[qimissung]

I wish I were sick.

Tip 309: Don't Teach unless you manage to have decent people who are your administators and live in or near Lake Wobegone where all the children are above average. :D

[LitNetIsGreat]

I like to think I'm tough - but for a whole week!!! My bravado exhausts me.

It's two or three years since I had any time off. The last time was with labyrinthitis - an inner ear infection that affects your balance. It makes you lurch about like a drunken man, which would be interesting except you feel vomity with it.

Two or three years? You should be sick more often. I've been trying to shake off an infection for the last two/three weeks, it keeps coming back, it's cost me £45 in antibiotics this month alone and I've not been able to have a drink since Saturday.


I wish I were sick.

Tip 309: Don't Teach unless you manage to have decent people who are your administators and live in or near Lake Wobegone where all the children are above average. :D

You had me at "Don't Teach"...

[Paulclem]

I wish I were sick.

Tip 309: Don't Teach unless you manage to have decent people who are your administators and live in or near Lake Wobegone where all the children are above average. :D

In the UK we have "sick pay" if we're sick. I don't know what your system is Qimi. My brother used to count his annual sick pay allowance leave for the year as part of his holiday as a matter of course. He did have a crap job job though.

[Delta40]

Tip 310: Never believe that Tax Agents and Accountants know what they're talking about.