Choosing Happy: Empowering Women from NY to LA

ByElisabeth McKnight

Good morning! Today I’m back with Choosing Happy and an old friend. Suzanne and I lived in the same town in Connecticut two decades ago and our parents are dear friends. We touched base in Manhattan this spring and she’s since moved to sunny LA. I’m constantly inspired by her amazing website, Striving Onward, where she and her team empower women to be the best version of themselves. I asked this beautiful girl to share her happy in life, with the hopes that she might be able to inspire you too:

When are you the happiest?
When I’m enjoying the vibrancy of life – a great song, a good book, a beautiful day at the beach. While I love being surrounded by friends and family, it’s important to me to feel happy without relying on anyone else or having to spend a lot of money. Recognizing the joy I feel in moments of solitude and simplicity are the most exciting because I know it’s happiness that will last.

What is your favorite pick-me-up?
Listening to my favorite playlists on Spotify, a funny episode of Seinfeld, a McDonalds ice cream cone (I’m convinced these have medicinal qualities), a peaceful drive, reading pretty much anything on Buzzfeed.com, catching up with a close friend.

How do you choose happy?
This is an interesting question – I choose happy because I feel so blessed already with what I have in my life. I also want the people that surround me to feel good when they’re around me, so I try to exude as much cheerfulness, generosity and positivity as I can.

There will always be things you wish were different, things you wish you had, people that offend you or treat you poorly. But focusing on the good and what you can control, gives you the opportunity to choose to be content with your life.

What things could you do more of that would make you happier?
I tend to overanalyze…a lot. I think if I could just learn more to let go and let things happen as they’re supposed to while living in the moment, I would avoid feeling disappointed and frustrated at times.

Happy List:

  • Pink
  • By the ocean
  • Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi (when that song comes on when you’re out dancing with friends you CANNOT help but doing some fist pumps)
  • 13 Going on 30 (may have watched that movie and then restarted the DVD and watched it again once)
  • John Vanderlyn’s Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (when I was living in Manhattan I would sit in the room and study it for hours trying to imagine the beauty and richness of the actual palace)
  • Flipping through a children’s book to remember the innocence and simplicity of childhood – If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Dr. Seuss, Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and pretty much anything by Judy Blume.

A bit more about Suzanne: Suzanne Davis is the founder of StrivingOnward, a digital community where women across the world can support and inspire one another in their roles as friends, wives and mothers. A social media junkie and publicist by trade, she loves reading classic literature, figuring out new witty hashtags #itsanart and flipping through fashion and interior decorating magazines. Having recently moved to Los Angeles from New York City, on an idle Saturday you can find her exploring new restaurants, brushing up on her beach volleyball skills and coming up with new and exciting ways to decorate her new house on a budget.
Be sure to check out Striving Onward for daily empowerment or follow along on instagram and twitter for additional inspiration. A few of my favorite posts include

2 Comments

  2. Just this post makes me happy & that is has been quite a while sine I've done something just for me! Fabulous endearing post…. I might have to cruise through the drive-thru @ McD's!! (lol & yay!) haha

    Reply

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