I’m delighted to welcome Mim from Love From Mim to the happiness series. Mim is a mum of two, living in Australia. And, a fellow BiBs 2016 Inspire short lister. Mim has answered the happiness interview. Here is Love from Mim on happiness…
1. Name three things in life that make you happy. And, please tell us a little about each one.
My children would, of course, be my number 1 choice in what makes me happy! I’ve always wanted to be a Mum and now I have my completed family and two beautiful children. Motherhood gives me so much – constant challenges and constant rewards too.
My family and friends are my second choice. I have the most supportive group of family and friends a girl could wish for and they have been my rock since recently being diagnosed with breast cancer. The level of emotional and practical support has blown me away.
The third thing that makes me happy is chocolate! It was going to be Blogging but chocolate has to win ☺ Especially Cadbury’s chocolate from the UK. I live in Australia now and the chocolate here just isn’t quite as good!
2. What’s something you do to find your happiness when you’ve lost it?
Call my Mum or one of my best friends – they’re always there to pick me up or take my mind off something hard. And eat chocolate ☺
3. What cheers you up after a long, difficult day?
Big cuddles from my two babies and spending quality time with them playing a game, colouring or running around. It’s impossible to be anything but happy when my kids are having fun!
4. Does your job make you happy? If you are a SAH parent, does that make you happy?
Most the jobs I’ve ever had have made me happy but none so much as my current one in Blogging and freelance Writing. I love the fact that I can work from home, at a pace (usually rapid!) to suit myself and be as creative as I want to be in creating my own brand.
5. Share a happy memory with us.
After the births of both of my babies, it would have to be marrying my husband – twice! We got married in Australia in front of our family and friends here and then travelled to the UK to do the same there. One was a Summer lakeside, open air wedding and the other a couple of weeks later was a Winter wonderland – they were both magical!
6. Do you think money can bring happiness?
To some extent only – without the money needed to be able to survive and provide for your family, it would be unimaginably hard. However, the older I get, the more I realise that the happiest times in my life are not focussed on money and possessions but more of the love and support of my family.
7. Is your happiness influenced by the things you do or the way you think?
A little of the first but mainly from the second. I’m a naturally optimistic and positive person but in hard times, that can be difficult to maintain. I’m a bit fan of the ‘fake it til you make it’ school of thinking. Sometimes I feel down or sad or unhappy but I would not want my children to see this so, as parents do, I suck it up and put on a happy face.
8. Which would make you the happiest – a sun holiday, new car or a new job opportunity?
At this point, a new car, but only because I’m thinking of getting one! Generally, it would always be a holiday – the thought of lying on a sun lounger sounds pretty good!
9. Which wine makes you happier – red or white?
Oooh, let’s not be picky, ANY wine!
10. Share a quote that makes you smile.
That would be a quote, my good friend, Sarah tells me a lot – “you make your own sunshine in this life” – I just love it and it’s so true. Other people and other things can make you happy from time to time but it’s down to us to choose to be happy when we want to be.
I’m Mim, a 30something Brit living in Australia and a mother of a 2-year-old little girl and a baby boy. I’m an advocate of hypnobirthing, positive thinking and laughing at myself and I’m pretty much making up parenting as I go along. In November 2015 I was annoyingly diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer and after a successful lumpectomy, I’m currently undergoing chemotherapy. I started writing Love From Mim in 2013 on my first maternity leave but more consistently when pregnant with my second baby. It’s a place for my parenting, pregnancy, travel and home ideas and inspiration. Find Mim on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.
If you would like to take part in the Happiness Series by contributing a happiness post or by answering the happiness interview questions, I’d love to have you! Find out more details on The Happiness Series Page.
