Tag: spread the love

happiness recipe

Ian HunterLeave a comment

I came across this recipe recently. Its very simple and anybody can make it. Interestingly the ingredients do not include relationships, money or material possessions.  Note that it recommends serving to everybody you know which implies that you will achieve your own happiness by giving to others. 

Ingredients

2 heaped cups of Patience

1 heart full of Love

2 handfuls of Generosity

1 headful of Understanding

a dash of Laughter

an endless supply of Kindness

plenty of Faith

Instructions

Combine patience, love, and generosity with understanding. Add a dash of laughter and sprinkle generously with kindness. Add plenty of Faith and mix well. Spread over a lifetime and serve everybody you know.

Pink roses

addisonLeave a comment

By our Cheeky Monkey website manager and guest writer Addison West

I woke up early on a September Sunday somewhat grumpy for reasons I cannot remember.

As I skulked through Carroll Gardens doing my errands for the day, the nice weather lifted my spirits slightly.

My last stop was a flower shop for something to bring home to my partner.

Later, walking down my block with the bunch of pink roses I had picked out, I heard a man say: “Wow! ¡Qué lindo!”

I turned and saw my barber and his buddies working on a car.

“¿Para tu novia?” he asked with a smile.

Yes, I said.

I was no longer grumpy.

Stay cheeky in 2024

Ian HunterLeave a comment

Here I am on December 31st 2023

Getting ready to welcome in a New Year

Reflecting back on the last 12 months

My cycling App just told me I covered over 2000 miles

Well short of my 5000 mile annual goal

My bum was in the saddle for over 140 hours

Other challenges in my life interrupted my cycling for a few months

I have forgiven myself for sacrificing some goals 

Smartphones are very useful tools

Creating slide shows and videos of this past year

Reminding me of all the places I visited

All the fun times I had with others

Its really difficult to pick out the best moment of the year

I had so many of them but here is a sample

They are not listed in any ranking order

Watching my grandson perform in a production of Oliver Twist

Spending quality time with my daughter and her family in England

Chilling with my son in Nashville TN

Witnessing my wife being inducted as a Rotarian 

Chatting with my sisters on WhatsApp

Visiting relatives or hosting them at our home

Cycling with my biking buddies

Holding my wife’s hand when we walk

Being in the company of good friends

Exploring new places with dear friends

Waking up every day next to my beautiful bride

The above list can be summed up in one sentence

Being with those I love dearly comes in first place

Owning stuff comes in a very distant second

The Cheeky Monkey hopes you all had a great 2023

Stay cheeky in 2024