happy

Cold Days/Warm Bed

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This past week has had me appreciate the comfort of my own bedroom. After feeling the below freezing temperatures against my face- and the wind chill factor pretty much as soon as you walk outside- it’s nice to have something to look forward to.

For me, I come home after a twelve hour day and immediately find my comfort zone. I change from my work clothes into pajamas. I enjoy a quick meal. And before sleep- I pour myself a cup of tea or coffee.

By then I am watching the clock and see that it’s almost 9. Waking for work is at 4:30- getting into bed is the next part of the routine. In the summer, the ceiling fan was on to circulate the air conditioning. In the winter, the gas fireplace in the bedroom goes on.

I close my door and let the room warm up. A quick bathroom break and brushing of my teeth ends my day. Now it’s time to get into bed and fall asleep. But alas, my phone keeps me awake a bit longer. At least until it falls out of my hands and lands on my face.

At this point I’ll call it a day. Usually I’ll turn off the fireplace. Sometimes I’ll forget and wake up with a feverish dream. That’s a fun experience.

But at least I’ll be warm. Not like the next day when I have to go back out to brave the weather at work.

Come On Get Happy

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Sometimes I overly express that people should be happy and take care of themselves. The truth is that it’s also totally okay to not happy. Look at my life. I’m a tall, thin guy who has trouble finding pants. And that sucks.

But music makes me happy. And something about music from decades ago is great for chasing away my existential blues. Those classic pop songs that you can sing along with.

Sometimes I wish I could write music. Music that others would sing for generations- even after the Hits no longer held the charts.

I also love discovering unique music at thrifts stores that was tossed aside. I’ll pick up all sorts of music from 1920’s thru to the 1980’s. Albums that no one knows or would ever need to know. They get play time now in my home.

Am I making people happy? I don’t know. Maybe in some inadvertent way. Buying an album at a thrift store ensures money goes back where it’s needed. Playing those albums brings joy to me and sometimes my family. That joy gets spread in the world to their friends.

So maybe I can make people happier.

I’m Fine. I’m Just Not Happy

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I’m fine. I’m just not happy.

And it sucks. Because my mood affects my family. From September to December I become easily irritated and miserable. Every year like clockwork. It’s also the reason I take a vacation in October every year. Which helps.

But I need to try and find new ways of improving my feels that last longer than a couple weeks. I want to do more stuff on my own. I’ve thought about playing more video games. The problem is my family likes video games as well. I also kinda suck at first person shooters, so I’d get more angry.

Maybe a new hobby is in order. Maybe read more books? Maybe drink more booze. Or less booze? Maybe I should just ride it out like I do every year.

I dunno. Any advice?

I’m fine. I’m just not happy.

Scream Real Loud

Posted on by Josef Havelka

It’s the little things in life that bring me joy unexpectedly. Like this morning when I got a Facebook notification:

Pee-Wee

Ahhhhhhhh!

So much fun to have one of my childhood idols do something as simple as click an icon for me.

The rest of my day couldn’t bring me down. Thank you Mr. Herman. lol

Happy Talk

Posted on by Josef Havelka


In the early 80’s there was this strange phenomenon called “The Mini Pops”.  I owned a VHS copy that got played over and over until it finally just gave static lines.  This was my first introduction into “real music” and not just Disney songs from Jungle Book and Snow White.  We also owned a “Christmas” Cassette and the “Let’s Dance” cassette.  Car rides with my mom were the best.

This was also my introduction into pop music.  I knew the words for “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Video Killed The Radio Star” by age seven.  But one of the songs that stuck with me was “Happy Talk”.

Captain Sensible?


The Mini Pops did a cover of Captain Sensible’s version who originally did a cover of the song from the musical “South Pacific”.  The song is fun.  It shouldn’t have been a pop hit even in 1982- but it was.  For a young child, the song was catchy and inspirational.  

Talk about things you’d like to do.

You gotta have a dream-

If you don’t have a dream,

How you gonna have a dream come true?

This is today’s earworm for me as well.  But the words are uplifting still.  If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?  I am constantly making new dreams and doing my best to achieve them.  Perhaps in my youth, this song hit my subconscious and remains locked there.  Maybe this is the motto that drives me to keep writing and doing more for my life.  It’s what I like doing…

Keep talkin’ happy talk.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Posted on by Josef Havelka


Happiness is hard to come by.  Maybe it’s seeing an old friend.  Perhaps it’s coming home from a really good day at work.  Could be enjoying your favorite meal or hearing a song that sparks emotions.

Searching out happiness is an ongoing journey.  Sometimes it just happens and you had no idea it would.  Other times, what you think will make you happy really doesn’t.  I’m looking your way money and material items.

Remember to take the time to relish in the moments of bliss that come by.  Go out and have a laugh.  Enjoy the company of an old friend.  Happiness is contagious, share it often.  You’ll be glad you did.

Positive Mental Attitude 

Posted on by Josef Havelka

One of the few things I took from my father was his attitude towards life.  (I also took his asshole personality and tweaked it a bit, but that’s for another day.)  My father wore a necklace for as long as I can remember with PMA engraved on it.  He told me that it stood for Positive Mental Attitude.  It’s a mantra that I have since adopted in my day to day life.

 

What a bunch of hippy, dippy, baloney.

 

The other side of my father’s necklace had NMA engraved.  It stood for Negative Mental Attitude.  He wore the necklace with NMA against his chest and PMA facing outwards.  He told me it was in order to keep the negativity inside and express positivity outwards.  It’s about the most spiritual my father was in life.  I’m not a very spiritual person but I do believe in being kind.

This world has too much negativity flowing through its veins.  It’s never going to disappear.  The best we can do is try and not add to it.  Everyday I try and act positive towards my family, friends and coworkers.  Sure, I poke fun at them from time to time, but I’m also ok being on the receiving end of a good natured joke.

Teaching my children to have empathy and be nice to others is my way of trying to move the next generation forward.

To quote one of my favorite films, Brazil, “Listen, kid, we’re all in it together.”

…well, that’s a pipe of a different color.