100 Days of Happiness

If you’ve read one page of this blog in the last six months, you know I am struggling. Losing my brother, has morphed into one of the most challenging events of my life. On a daily basis, I battle regret, pain, disappointment, grief and a thousand other emotions. Complicating my life even more, are my challenges with personal relationships, professional growth and a sense of fulfillment. To put it simply, I am not happy and have not been for a very long time.

Happiness is a state of mind. It comes and goes. I fundamentally believe to reach this state, I must seek it; conversations with friends who have battled depression, anxiety and the frustrations of life have reinforced this idea for me. So where do I look?

Several weeks ago, a blog post from Medium fell out of the sky into my inbox. The author seemed to be struggling just like me. Battling depression, he challenged himself to take a photo of something every day that made him happy. This forced him to seek happiness, recognize it, document it and save it for later. When depression began to sneak back in, he opened his phone and reminded himself happiness was around the bend.

At this point in time, I am willing to try anything. 13 weeks ago, I began the 100 Days of Happiness Challenge. I want to share this experience with you as it continues to make a difference in my life. 

Day 1

I love seeing a community rally together to ensure every girl has the prom of her dreams. 

Day 2

Up early this morning supporting Communities in Schools of Kent. 

Day 3

Seattle International Film Festival begins. 

Day 4

Because I am smart enough, I am good enough and gosh darn it, people like me. 

Day 5

Magazine project complete. 

Day 6

Not a blank white page. More like a world of endless possibilities. 

Day 7

At Boeing, spreading the word about Kent Youth and Family Services. 

Day 8

Look who I found wondering around the Seattle airport. 

Day 9

Just some kids from Oklahoma at the Seattle International Film Festival. 

Day 10

Ready for my close-up. 

Day 11

Nothing like digging through piles of vinyl records with this guy. 

Day 12

Playing tour guide today. 

Day 13

Happy Memorial Day! 

Day 14

I've seen 7 films in 10 days. 

Day 15

Spending my lunch break with Hemingway. 

Day 16

Writing poetry has saved my life on more than one occasion. 

Day 17

Took a long lunch, a walk, finished a book, stopped to smell this beauty, and now back at my desk... 

Day 18

Looks like a beautiful day to spend inside of a theatre watching 6 hours worth of movies. 

Day 19

Happiness is homemade burritos starting in a skillet. 

Day 20

1 sticker for every donor who has contributed since March; 65 in total. 

Day 21

Man, I have a thing for neon. 

Day 22

Found this beauty in our flowerbed. 

Day 23

Got my board on their feet today to talk about meaningful philanthropy. 

Day 24

I really didn't need a holiday, but Happy National Doughnut Day. 

Day 25

Two best friends unite. 

Day 26

For me, this is heaven. 

Day 27

Be still. Be quiet. Be alive. 

Day 28

From International Service to Community Service Chair, serving with these people is a complete joy. 

Day 29

Someone isn't cooperating. 

Day 30

Yay, for adult sippy-cups. 

Day 31

Jordan has arrived. 

Day 32

On point today. 

Day 33

I know, three weekends in a row. 

Day 34

Feeling insignificant isn't always a bad thing. 

Day 35

I have been volunteering in this space for two years now and have learned so much. 

Day 36

Nothing says, "Don't you dare shit here" like Virgin Mary doorbeads blocking the toilet. 

Day 37

My Seattle home. 

Day 38

Better than being in the office. 

Day 39

A beautiful day for a bike ride around Seattle. 

Day 40

Seattle summers on my deck, how I love you. 

Day 41

Make your own pizza bars always win my heart. 

Day 42

I mean it works for Frank Underwood. 

Day 43

Drinks with one of my favorites. 

Day 44

Need to send 150 care packages to the troops? Costco it is. 

Day 45

On most days, I could care less about the number of "likes" I get, but today the love has been overwhelming. 

Day 46

On the left, downtown Seattle. On the right, Alki (home). 

Day 47

Seattle Pride with this one. 

Day 48

A little light reading before bed. 

Day 49

Assembling care packages to send to the troops today in Rotary. 

Day 50

99 donors since Mar. 1. 

Day 51

Because it has been a week since I grilled something. 

Day 52

Called it. My volcano. 

Day 53

America! 

Day 54

Breakfast of champions. 

Day 55

Excited to get back to Oklahoma this week to celebrate these two. 

Day 56

I love photography and I love PhotoShop. 

Day 57

The things I'll do for a cheap flight. 

Day 58

Because it is never too early to think about an April Fools gift. 

Day 59

Reunited with an old friend today. 

Day 60

Frederick cuisine. 

Day 61

Grilling out with my little buddy. 

Day 62

Back in the 405.

Day 63

The OKC crew. 

Day 64

Last stop before Seattle. 

Day 65

My seat for The Decemberists. 

Day 66

Finally, a man to cook me dinner. 

Day 67

Giant sunflower I found on my bike ride today. 

Day 68

And then man ate ribs and it was good. 

Day 69

Mondays suck less with blueberry fritters. 

Day 70

In Washington, we mail it in. 

Day 71

I'll keep this one. 

Day 72

Just a couple of fundraisers getting together to talk effervescently about our jobs. 

Day 73

Drove up from Seattle to see Jim Adkins from my favorite band in the world (Jimmy Eat World) play in Bellingham. 

Day 74

Foggy hike to Snow Lake. 

Day 75

Home away from home. 

Day 76

Rereading one of my all-time favorites. 

Day 77

Still one of the best decisions of my life. 

Day 78

Spent my lunch break with the cool little dude. He is at kindergarten academy and eating a meal provided by our summer meals program. 

Day 79

Crossed the $80K mark today. 

Day 80

I could literally eat BBQ for every meal. 

Day 81

Officially cable free. 

Day 82

Honey dijon grilled chicken. 

Day 83

149 donors since Mar. 1. 

Day 84

Today seems like a good day to start a new project. 

Day 85

Left my running shoes at the office and had to break out the ol' shell tops. 

Day 86

It is Aug. 6 and I just hit my fundraising goal for the year. 

Day 87

Finishing one of my favorite books on my lunch break. 

Day 88

One of my favorite human beings in the world. 

Day 89

My favorite shirt, because I believe it to be absolutely true. 

Day 90

Got the right shoes on today. 

Day 91

Wilco!!! 

Day 92

UW Pike Chapter Advisor Transition Food. 

Day 93

Water balloon fight today here at Valli Kee. 

Day 94

Friday workflow. 

Day 95

My first trip to the Ballard Locks! 

Day 96

Booze is better in a copper mug. 

Day 97

Happy first day of school Bronchos. Welcome to the family. 

Day 98

Next up, a book given to me by one of my favorites. 

Day 99

My first Seattle Sounders match. 

Day 100

100 days in and one thing is apparent; people matter! 

Thanks for entering my world, 

-Nathan