Hazel's Roots Photography

We’re headed to Wyoming today. Why you may ask?

Because years ago we decided we were going to try to make it to all 50 states before the boys went to college.

Will we make it to all 50? Probably not. But it’s forced us to find little excursions and reasons to spend time together. Like there’s a place in Iowa where 3 states all come together! We’re going! And we’re going to stand on the corner of each state and know we made it, together. Illinois✔️Wisconsin✔️Iowa✔️.

Arkansas is only 30 minutes from our baseball tourney in Branson, MO? We’re going.

It’s been such a fun way to explore together and also quietly count down the years until they graduate from high school and walk out into the world on their own.

Everytime I do I senior shoot like this gorgeous gals I think…..how many more will we check off our list before my own senior is in this same spot.

Anyway, when you see some random images from the Wyoming state capital or a local buffalo farm you’ll know it’s because we’re filling up our list with states and family memories while we still can ❤️

How to be happy……

Some of yall may know that I recently went back to school. Not because I have some big plan about what I want to do with the extra education or anything but just because I deeply yearn to learn more about why we humans do all the things that we do.

Anyway, I’ve been studying happiness and wanted to share this really fascinating thing.

I’m definitely a pretty woo-woo gal but I find it so powerful when science backs up what we seem to already know in our bones. It can sort of give us permission to lean into our more dreamy, creative, and cozier sides without feeling guilty or like it’s not a worthwhile endeavor.

This amazing researcher, Martin Seligman created this idea called the PERMA model. It outlines 5 areas that contribute to happiness and well-being (each letter of the model stands for one of the components). The idea is that when you work to develop and maintain these 5 areas that you can increase your well-being. Here they are

1) (P)ositive Emotions
Gratitude journaling and mindfulness activities can help with increasing the amount of positive emotions we have as can positive affirmations!

2) (E)ngagement
think creative activities to help your mind escape and enter a place of flow. This could be anything from watercolor to dancing to just discovering something new out in the world.

3. (R) Positive Relationships
this one kind of speaks for itself but you know just a reminder to spend time with people who bring you up and bring you joy and or never stop building the communities you need to support you through all the different stages of life

4. (M) Meaning
uncovering your values and or journaling on what’s really important to you is a fun place to start

5. (A) chievement
this doesn’t even have to be “new” achievements but just recognizing all you’ve done and or all you’ve learned is a good place to start.

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