Happiness

Positivity is a very important part of life, although sometimes it can be hard to keep the positive feelings going. Every month I'm going to pick one word, and I'm going to write a post about that word. Words can have different meaning, it depends on how you look at them and who you are as to how you analyse that word.

Happiness 

Have you ever really sat there and just thought about one single word? One single word could have a different meaning to everyone on this planet, yet it could have the same meaning at the same time…what does happiness mean to you?

Here's how google defines happiness … but why leave it for someone else to define what that word means? That word is worth so much more than this.

happiness

ˈhapɪnəs/

noun

noun: happiness; plural noun: happinesses

1.     the state of being happy.

"she struggled to find happiness in her life"

synonyms:	contentment, pleasure, contentedness, satisfaction, cheerfulness, cheeriness, merriment, merriness, gaiety, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, joviality, jollity, jolliness, glee, blitheness, carefreeness, gladness,delight, good spirits, high spirits, light-heartedness, good cheer, well-being, enjoyment, felicity; More
antonyms:	unhappiness

First and foremost happiness is a word, but if you forget about that factor for a moment then you will realise that it's so much more than just a word. You'll realise the true meaning of happiness, you'll realise that there may not actually be a true meaning of this word, it can be a feeling, an emotion, it can be a way of life and it's defined differently by everyone. 

It's thought that happiness is basically living the perfect life, it's often seen as living your life full of positivity, prosperity, and good health. How can you define a word as any one thing when it can mean so much, or so little, to each individual. 

To me happiness is the most important thing in life, everything that you do should be to gain complete happiness, and if there's something occurring in your life that isn't making you happy, then it probably shouldn't have any involvement in your life. I think that to be happy in life is to be the greatest that you can be, if you're living a life of happiness, you're more likely to spread that happiness around you. If there's one thing in the world that we were brought here to achieve, its happiness.

The more I think about this word, the more I begin to realise that happiness is a word that's hard to define, it's something that you can only truly know of once you've experienced it. What if you were to experience something in your life that made you drastically happier than something that you thought truly gave you happiness…how can we ever truly know what happiness actually means?

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy."

- Anne Frank

1. 

Making September Happen

I haven't done a goals post in awhile, maybe that's why I feel like I'm never getting anything done ...

With the start of September and Autumn just around the corner, I've decided it's about timeI start doing my monthly goals again, so here goes!

Monthly Goals

1. Read 4 books and review them all. I love reading, but sometimes I feel like it's hard to fit it into every day life, but 4 books in 30 days honestly doesn't feel like all that much. I'd say I'm more likely to struggle with the reviewing of the books than the reading of them because I need to take into consideration the time it takes to write said reviews, but that's why it's a goal!

2. Review films. Once upon a time I loved writing reviews and would do it all of the time. It's not that I don't love doing this, maybe I just watch too many films? But I'd like to post more film reviews onto my blog. 

3. Celebrate Mike's Birthday. It's my fiance's birthday towards the end of the month, and I'm not really sure what we're going to do, but seeing as it'll be a year since our engagement, it'll be special. 

4. Blog more. I've been doing really well with my blog recently, I often take breaks that last for months at a time, but it's time to break out of that habit.

5. Stop hitting snooze. I feel like this is a bad habit that everyone falls into, but it's now became a problem and something that I really need to break free from. 

6. Find a wedding photographer. We're getting married in October 2018, and I'm SO excited! We're tying the not in lovely Iceland, just us two, so the pictures really matter because we won't have a lot. 

Weekly Goals

1. Blog twice a week. 

2. Send out snail mail.

3. Active 2/3 times weekly.

4. Keep on top of tidying on days off.

Daily Goals 

1. No eating out.

2. Read every night before bed.

3. Bed at 10:00PM

4. Skin care routine

Have you set any goals this month? 

Drop a comment below, I'd love to hear them!

Adventure Time

I can’t help but look around me and take note on how much beauty there is in the world. I often find myself feeling quite jealous, thinking about how lucky people are to live in some of the most beautiful cities and countries in the world, oh how I envy them.

For as long as I can remember I have always been an adventurous person, wanting to venture out into the big wide world and visit all of the amazing places I have dreamed about for so long.

When I think about what we do in our everyday lives, maybe take a trip down to the park, I can’t help but think about how much more there is to see. You’re not going to look back in years to come and remember that time you visited that park down the road, but what you will do is look back and think of all the amazing things you have done in your life, the chances you’ve taken that have made a difference.

You can live your life doing the same old thing day in and day out, or you could live your life by exploring the world. Imagine zip lining at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda. I assure you that if you took the time to do this one-day, you would remember it for the rest of your life.

What is life without a bit of adventure? I couldn’t live without the excitement and thrills; I couldn’t and wouldn’t enjoy leading a boring life.

Do you like heights? I love them and for as long as I can remember I have always loved abseiling and rock climbing and I make it my goal to abseil somewhere amazing, when I think about it, the excitement it brings to my life is incredible, the thought of abseil off somewhere like the story bridge in Brisbane, Queensland is just too much to handle. One day I will keep telling myself. The view would be incredible.

I think everyone needs to take the time to travel at some point in his or her life. Do you really want to grow old having never seen the Niagara Falls? Its beauty would leave you mesmerized; the power of the water is just incredible. I can’t wait until it’s my turn.

I actually find it hard to believe that in a world with so many destructive things, we still have these beautiful places, monuments and structures. The just take my breath away.

I can’t wait to travel more and learn a little bit of different languages, not a lot, just enough to have a simple conversation with a local.

It’s always nice to get away, no matter where it’s to, but why not make it an amazing place to be? A change of scenery can really help a person; I know it would help me a lot. It can really help you grow as a person, to take in the culture. Imagine being stuck in a rut, packing up your bags, jumping on a plane and then taking a drive up to the Grand Canyon…tell me that won’t put your life into perspective. It’s going to make you feel amazing, just by standing there and looking.

I want to learn about other people’s cultures, how people on the other side of the world live. I can watch it on the television a million times but it’s never going to be the same until I see it for myself, and do you know what? I bet it’s nothing like I ever expected.

I've been to Rome and have seen the  amazing structure that is the Coliseum, and it's breathtaking.

I want to visit  Paris to see the Eiffel tower and Egypt to visit the Pyramids of Giza. I want to go and visit the 7 wonders of the ancient world…well the ones that have not been destroyed. Life is too short to sit here dreaming about it, there comes a time when you need to make it happen. I want to visit the Great Barrier Reef, to see the northern lights would be an absolute dream; the beauty of it would be incredible. I want to visit the Colossus of Rhodes in Greece and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, walk along the Great Wall of China and see so much more.

I want to know the danger of visiting a live volcano and travel to the base camp of Everest. I want to do so much with my life, visit so many places and most importantly not regret a thing.

No regrets.

The world is here for us to explore, and I can't wait to see it.

Never ignore your dreams.

Do what you enjoy in life, never stop, never let anyone stand in your way.

This is your life, the only life you will ever have and you need to make the most of it, starting from now.

Don’t sit there waiting around for your dreams to come true, go out and make them happen.

Guest Post: The Lovely Alicia

Hello lovelies, today we're doing something a little different and getting to know another lovely blogger, you can check Alicia's blog out at Alicias Planet or give her a follow on twitter at @alicias_planet

1. What is your favourite word?


Probably mad. I don’t know why but everything is just mad, someone does something funny, it’s mad. Someone does something stupid it’s mad. It’s just become my catchphrase!

2. If you owned your own business, what would it be and what would it be called?

Me and my friend always talk about how cool it would be to set up a restaurant/takeaway that sells healthy protein food for people who are into food prep for the gym. So they could come in and have a made to order burger or salad that would be super healthy. Then next door there would be a takeaway dessert shop that did absolutely everything for people who weren't so interested in the healthy food. Don't quite know of a name, something funny for sure! 

3. I you could only watch one film for the rest of your life, what would it me?

Definitely Shutter Island. I went through a stage of watching the film constantly, and I could happily sit down and watch it now. The plot twist in the film has just shocked me for life. If you haven't watched it I urge everyone to. It's got Leonardo DiCaprio in so it's a winner. 

4. What's your favourite flower?

Probably a Lily. I just love them. They're my mom's favourite as well so maybe that's where I get it from?

5. If you won the lottery, what would be the first 3 things you would do?

I'd give my mom and dad a large sum of it so they're settled for the rest of their lives. I'd book a really long holiday to Thailand and Australia because it's always where I've wanted to travel to. I'd give a big sum to cancer research too! 

6. What do you think has had the largest influence on the person you are today?

Probably my Grandad passing away. It was the worst time of my life, but it's made me such a stronger person, and I'm always pushing myself to make him proud.

7. What's something you've never done before that you've always wanted to? Why haven't you done it?

Ermm, I've always wanted to go traveling for a month or more to Australia or Thailand, but I got into a relationship, no regrets ... I think ;) and I was busy with work and now I'm off to college and then to Uni. So unless my partner can take a month out of work and come with me, I don't think I could leave him for that long, even if it is a dream of mind. I'll make it happen one day!

8.  What's one thing that most people don't know about you? 

Well only a select few people know about this but who cares. I got myself into a bad amount of debt that I'm still spiraling in. I pay a bit off each month and then end up spending it again. I've been in the same amount of debt for about a year now lol. I need help!

9. What do you order at Starbucks?

I'm not much of a Starbucks girl. I usually grab one at the airport services, but when I do have one it's strictly no coffee, I can't stand it! So I go for one of the coolers, either the caramel or the fruit ones. Starbucks is wasted on me.

10. Wat's the ont thing you'd most like to change about the world?

The danger! I can't stand what's going on in the world right now, not just in the UK, but across the world. There is so much devastation and death, I just wish it would stop, but sadly there seem to be no end. 

Did you enjoy getting to know the lovely Alicia as much as I did? Remember to go and check out her blog and give her a follow on twitter, you won't regret it! 

Blogger Recognition Award

I can't believe I'm currently writing another Bloggers Award post, I feel so appreciated at the moments, it's amazing. I'd like to thank the lovely and beautiful Liz from Natural Hazards And More for nominating me for this fantastic award!

The Rules:

1. Thank the blogger that nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Write a post to show you were nominated and share your award.
3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
4. Give 2 pieces of advise to new bloggers.
5. Select 15 other bloggers that you would like to give this award to.
6. Let them know they have been nominated, and provide the link to the post that you created.

Wonderland Warblings - A brief Story

I was in my second year of University when I first started my blog, however it wasn't always called Wonderland Warblings. When I first started my blog, it was at a time that I was struggling with a lot of things going on in my life, struggling with living alone, and choosing the wrong course at university. The original plan for my blog was to get my writing out there as I really loved the idea of becoming a journalist one day. The name of my blog was One Journalist and their Camera, and it was mainly just for me to share photography and hints and tips and really meaningful posts that were always complimented by fantastic imaged. This changed when I stopped enjoying this, I enjoyed the writing, but I didn't like having a "niche" as they call it. Now, Wonderland Warblings, is just a place for me to talk about anything and everything I want to, and I'm really happy with that. 

My Advice:

1. Always write for you. It's all well and good writing what people want you to write, but if you're not enjoying what you're writing about, what's the point? This is your blog, don't let anyone tell you how to run it. 

2. Promote your blog everywhere. Use Twitter because the Blogging community on Twitter is absolutely thriving, you will meet so many fantastic people, you can join in on so many blogging chats, and it's just the best place to promote. Use Instagram because most bloggers take fantastic photographs, or are even photographers so they use Instagram a lot, it's another great way to get yourself out there. Use every form of social media you can get your hands on, whether that be Facebook, Pinterest and so on and so forth. Get on sites like Bloglovin that will help you build your following.

My nominations:

1. Fern at Life With Ferine
2. Sarah at Sarah Trademark
3. Amy Maria at Miss Amy Maria 
4. Gemma at Life 0f A Gem 
5. Alicia at Alicias Planet 
6. Billi at Billi Loves Beauty 
7. Clare at Not Accounting For Looks 
8. Anne at Anne The Ginger 
9. Anne at Weird Hacks.com 
10. Mag at Forever Book Blog 
11. Faye at Faye Jessica  
12. Taylor at Tea Time and Books Blog
13. Okoto at Okoto Enigmas Blog 
14. Kyles at Sex Mental Health and Rock n' Roll
15. April at Travelling Wanderer 

Again, thank you so much to the lovely Liz for the nomination, you're absolutely fantastic! 

Questions To Free Your Mind

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

If age wasn't thing and you didn't take my chubby, rosy cheeks into consideration, then I would probably say that I would be in my late 30's or early 40's. My brain has always been a lot older and wiser than I actually am, I've always been the kind of person that views life in a different way to those of similar ages. 

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

Never trying. To fail something is a far greater achievement than to never attempt it. To never try something means to not have the courage to attempt it, you can't fail if you don't try, but you also cannot succeed.

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don't like and like so many things we don't do?

Most of the time in life we don't really get a choice, even if we think that we do. Lie throws obstacles into our lives that often distract us from pursuing what we really hope to. Sometimes in life you have to do the thing that you don't want to do and you don't get the opportunity to do the things that you desperately want to do. It's just life really, it happens to the best of us. 

When it's all said and done, will you have said more than you've done?

I honestly hope not, I hope not more than anything, but I probably will have. I have too many dreams in life, I'm far too ambitious. I have so many dreams that I don't actually know if it's possible to achieve all of them. Our journey in life is far too short, but I will give it my best shot, I'm feeling hopeful. 

What is the one thing you'd most like to change in the world? 

Animal cruelty. All animals deserve love and attention, especially when they have never hurt anyone and would never even consider doing so. People can be inhumane, it breaks my heart. To look into an animals eyes and see love is one of the greatest things you could ever experience. The moment that you look into their eyes and see pain and fear is heart breaking. If you don't care about an animal, you should never have chosen to get it, but it should be given to someone who will give them everything that they need. Animal cruelty needs to stop. Animals are just as important as humans, and if you think not then I feel truly sorry for your lack of judgement. 

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you happy?

There's so much that could honestly make me happy, I would do so much to change the world, and to make those around me happy is the greatest gift that you can receive. Working with animals, particularly marine animals would be a dream come true, being the person that gets to look after them and keep them from harm.  

Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

In some respects, I am doing what I believe in, my life is almost perfect. With my ob? Definitely settling. I came out of University and found the first job that I could because I needed the money, and I didn't get round to moving on. 

If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

I would treat every single day with a bit more care, life is already precious enough as it is. 

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

I don't think that I have had control over my life in the respect that I was stuck in the education system for my entire lie, forever doing what I have been told I needed to do and having a constant flow of assignments.  

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

Both. I have always been the kind of person that tries to make sure I am doing the right things. I'm a good person and every single thing that I do in life is with the best intentions. I often get scared of doing things wrong, I'm scared of messing up.

You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?

I would explain to them that the person of which they are criticising is a good friend of mine. I'd let them know that it's unkind to be so rude towards another person. I always try to have the nicest people as friends, I try not to have negative people in my life. I'm a good person, just like each and every one of my friends. At the end of the day, life is too short to have people in your life who could turn on you at any moment and hurt you or your loved ones.

If you could offer a new-born child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Take every opportunity you get with open arms because what comes around once may never come around again. Have no regrets. 

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

It depends on whether it was the right thing to do. Breaking the law is something that I would never do. Everything I do in life is with the best intentions and that's something that will never change.

 Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

In the words of the late Robin Williams 

"You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it" 

Everyone is a little crazy, it just takes the right things to show it. 

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

I am a unique person. Like everyone on the planet there is only one of me. I look like me, act like me, talk like me and I am the only me who exists on this planet. I do being human differently to everybody else, because no one else is me. 

How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

We are all individual people. Each and every one of us are separate being to everyone else. This means that we don't have the same interests as one another. One thing could make someone the happiest person in the world, but could make another completely miserable.  

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?

Travel more.

Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

If you had of asked me this a few months ago then I would have said yes, I would have said that I often find things hard to let go, but that's not the case anymore. So no, I am not. 

If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

There are so many amazing countries in the world that I don't know if I could choose. I'd love to live in Rome or NYC.

Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

I press it twice, not because I think it comes faster but because I feel a need to do it twice rather than once, if I press it a third time then have to press it a fourth. I do it with everything, pressing the button to cross the road, I can’t help it and just think it’s something I do.

Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

I'm a huge stress head, I worry about everything in my life and I just can't stop. I wish there was a button to turn it off. I would much prefer to be joyful.

Why are you, you?

Because I am who I was intended to be.

Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

Sometimes when I look at myself, I think I have been one of the best friends some people could have, maybe I am bias and I think that because I am me. I'm a really anxious, awkward person with low self-esteem and sometimes if I haven't seen someone for a very long time I find it hard to deal with the situation, I find it hard to act as myself. I'm always there for my friends, I try to help with anything as much as I can. 

Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

Losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you. If someone can live so close to you then it shouldn't be so hard to continue the friendship, unless it wasn't meant to be. At least if someone moves away then there is very viable excuse. 

What are you most grateful for?

My fiance and family in general.

Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

I would lose old memories, it means all of the pain from my life would be forgotten. It would be like an empty book and I could start again, recreating the story of my life. 

Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

I don't think it is, something can't be certain until you have tried it.

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

My biggest fear is to lose my loves one. The moment that I lost my gran and granddad was the most heart breaking day of my entire life, I can still remember it like it had just happened, I can still remember how I reacted. Knowing that this pain is something I'm likely to experience again in life, leaves me feeling scared, scared of feeling this way again. 

Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?

All I can remember from 5 years ago would be all of the hatred and tears I shed from my school life. I wouldn't say any of that matters anymore, but I wouldn't say it's forgotten.

What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?

When I was little we lived in this area with woods near by and I remember being in them with both my siblings and my friends. I'm not sure how it happened but there was a small fire, and I just remember running to my uncle to tell him and him coming over not being able to find it…The reason that he couldn't find it was because the idiot had sat on it and put it out. This will always be one of my fondest and funniest memories. It's so hard to come up with the happiest memory because I just have so many. I had a really good childhood, filled with plenty of laughs. 

At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

When I'm writing.

If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

Nothing, you have nothing to lose. We as humans are so scared of the unknown that we find risks extremely hard to take, we are scared about the effect it could have on our life.

Have you ever been with someone said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

Sometimes you don't need words to fully understand each other, especially when it's someone close to you.

Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

People care too much about what other people believe in. People usually believe that it's pretty much their way or the highway. It all boils down to discrimination of other religions. 

Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

No. Something that is good at one point could turn on to be evil. You can't figure this out without experiencing it, it's one of life's flaws. Things should be labelled with good and evil, it would save so much hurt.

If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

Yes. I would go traveling for a bit, that's definitely something I would do. I would buy my mum a little house and make sure she's happy.

Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

More work of which I enjoy doing. If I enjoy it then why wouldn't I want more of it? I like to have things to do, I like to keep myself busy. I like to feel as though I'm being productive. 

When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

I'm a very anxious person and one thing in life that truly does scare me is risks. I want to be able to risk everything for something I believe in and I hope one day I can but right now I can't. I too scared of messing up with everything and making those who love me disappointed and that's one thing I really don't want.

If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

My family and dearest loved ones, I'd spend the entire day with them and wouldn't budge for a second, I'd just treat it like a normal day with them. 

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

Definitely not. Life isn't about how good looking you are or how famous you are, at the end of the day that doesn't matter. What matters is the people in your life who love you now for who you are. Life is a precious thing and you shouldn't want to reduce it for something so meaningless. Life is about being happy, being in the spotlight, not being able to be a private person wouldn't make me happy, It would probably make me very unhappy…I'd hate it. Yes I would like to be prettier, I really would, but this is my life, this is who I am and I shouldn't want to change it for anything.

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

To be alive means to be breathing, but to be truly living means to be enjoying life to it's fullest, to be happy and doing what you want to do in life. Everyone is alive but not everyone is truly living.

When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

When risking what we have is all we can do.

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

Because the stage in between making the mistake and learning could involve something horrible. The consequences could be of that with great effect on our lives and that's one of the scariest things.
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I'd be happier with me, in today's society I fear that everyone is judging me and I take it far much to heart, I'm such a sensitive person. I would do whatever I love whenever I want to and I wouldn't have anything to fear.

When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

Usually when I'm in bed, I notice it a lot then. When I'm on a bus or walking and I have my headphones in I feel like I am breathing really loudly and start panicking about other people hearing it too.

What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

Writing, I love writing and I think my blog expresses that.

In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?

I would like to think so.

Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

I am making them for myself. One thing I would never do is give someone control over my life.