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A Small Good Thing

June 17, 2017 by Jillian Leave a Comment

a small good thing

a small good thing

The documentary A Small Good Thing is named after an award winning short story written by Raymond Carver. At the center of the story is a message of the healing power of community. In the same vein, the documentary centers around 6 people who have chosen to find happiness by focusing on family and community.

The problem with today’s world is that it’s so convenient and we have everything at our fingertips, but that doesn’t equate to happiness. You can’t be truly fulfilled if you don’t have to work for anything. And what are we doing with all that time freed up by so much convenience? Browsing social media and watching Netflix, mostly.

Collectively, we also believe that happiness = success = money. We have a lot of material wealth but we also have the highest rates of mental illness and depression ever recorded. We aren’t happy and we aren’t connected with one another. We feel alienated and alone. Studies show that once a person reaches the $75,000 mark in terms of yearly salary, anything above that makes zero difference in happiness.

The material growth we’ve been pursuing is not reliable and it’s destroying our planet, literally and figuratively. So how can we live in a better way? A Small Good Thing follows 6 people in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts who are trying to live according to this philosophy. There’s a yoga instructor, dance teacher, college student, produce farmers, and a livestock farmer. What did they discover by simplifying their lives and taking a more holistic approach to happiness? You’ll have to watch it yourself to hear their answers. But here are some interesting and important ideas that I took away from the film…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Health & Beauty Tagged With: a small good thing, a small good thing film, berkshares, berkshire mountains, community, compassion, compassionate women, dharma, documentary, family and community, happiness, health & beauty, holistic happiness, holistic lifestyle, indra's net, key to happiness, local community, mental health, produce farmers, simple life, the importance of community, vegan

10 Essential Facts To Gaining Happiness

June 19, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

happy dog

Do you ever look at your dog (or a friend’s dog, or a dog at the park) and think He looks so happy. I want to come back as a content dog in my next life! With all the research and studies being done on the science of happiness lately, you don’t need to wait until you’re next life. You can be happy right now.

Today I watched a documentary titled, simply enough, Happy. This 2011 film is directed by Roko Belic and follows happy people all over the world to find out what makes them so gosh darn happy. It’s an inspiring, feel good watch and I’ve jotted down the 10 key points of this film to help you get started.

1. 50% of our happiness levels are determined by our genes. This is called our genetic setpoint.

“Most of us are born with a certain range of happiness that we fall in most of the time.” -Sonja Lyubamirsky, PhD. Professor of Psychology at UC Riverside

The rest of the pie has to do with circumstances (job, social status, age, etc.) and intentional activity (aka what you do). The great part about the intentional activity is that you get to choose what that is. You can change your actions.

happy chart

2. From your teenage years onward, you’re slowly losing dopamine synapses and dopamine neurons.

So you better use it or lose it – in this way, the brain is similar to any muscle in your body. Find experiences that release dopamine, the neurotransmitter in the brain that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness. The best way to do that is through physical activity. Studies show that aerobic exercise is the best releaser of dopamine, especially if you do it in novel ways. Examples: exploring outdoors, playing sports, or just playing in general.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Bits & Pieces, Health & Beauty, Movies, Tidbits Tagged With: 10 essential facts to gain happiness, adversity, aerobic exercise, authentic, be happy, bhutan, bushmen, community, compassionate, compassionate women, cooperation, dalai lama, documentary, dopamine, dreams, extrinsic, film, flow, friends, friendship, gain happiness, genetic setpoint, genetics, goals, gross national happiness, happiness, happy, happy the movie, have fun, hedonic treadmill, icharibachode, in the zone, intention, intrinsic, japan, kalahari desert, karoshi, meditation, monchu, movies, namibia, okinawa, passions, play sports, playing, purpose, san tribe, social bonding, sports, vegan, veggies, women

HEY THERE! I’M JILLIAN.

I live near Houston, Texas with my rescue dog Stella! I create cruelty-free recipes that are delicious, to demonstrate that it's easy to follow a plant-based lifestyle. Not only are the health and beauty benefits noticeable, but it creates a more sustainable planet and keeps our animal friends safe & happy. In our spare time, Stella and I also love watching movies, reading, snuggling, and taking long walks! LEARN MORE…

SHOW YOUR PITTIE PRIDE! This design was inspired by own rescue pittie, Stella, who defies pit bull stereotypes every day.

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Feature-length documentary that uncovers the Jewish history of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and the customs & traditions the Jewish people there have contributed to.

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compassionatewomen

Compassionate Women
First banana nice cream of the year! 🍌 I made a First banana nice cream of the year! 🍌 I made a chocolate peanut butter flavor with chocolate flakes, topped with organic strawberries. And Cece got her own little side of nice cream minus the chocolate! 🍨
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#nicecream #icecream #icecreamlover #glutenfree #plantbased #crueltyfree #dairyfree #veganfood #vegansofinstagram #veganlifestyle #vegana #veganeats #veganfortheanimals #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #vegansnacks #veganism #vegans #veganfoodlovers #veganfoodshare #vegan #vegandessert #healthylifestyle #healthyfood #healthyeats #homemade #dessert #foodstagram #yum
It was a beautiful day at the park. Lots of turtle It was a beautiful day at the park. Lots of turtles! 🐢 And a photograph project taped to a tree 🤔
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#park #parks #nature #naturelovers #naturephotography #nature_perfection #walking #stroll #turtle #turtles #pond #greatoutdoors #trees #dogsofinstagram #dog #dogs #dogmom #doglovers #rescuedog #pets #dogsonadventures #pitbull #pitbullmom #texasgirl #texas #photooftheday #photos #photographylovers #photogram #furbaby
My favorite place on Earth. Got super sun burned b My favorite place on Earth. Got super sun burned but totally worth it! 💗
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#rescueanimal #rescueanimals #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #ranchlife #ranch #animalsanctuary #animalrescue #animalovers #animalsofinstagram #animallovers #animalfriends #animal #animals #equine #furbabies #adoptdontshop #donkeysofinstagram #donkeylove #donkey #donkeys #horses_of_instagram #horselife #horse #horselover #horseoftheday #horsestagram #horsesofinstagram #horses #texasgirl #farmlife
Some of the beautiful horses of Miracle Ranch Resc Some of the beautiful horses of Miracle Ranch Rescue at sunset, although they are stunning any time of day 🐎
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#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #horselover #horselove #horseofinstagram #horseoftheday #horsestagram #horseaddict #horses_of_instagram #horselife #rescueanimals #reels #rescueanimal #animalovers #animalfriends #animallovers #animalsofinstagram #animallover #animalsanctuary #animalrescue #animalrights #animals #ranchlife #video #videooftheday #veganfortheanimals #furbabies #cuteanimals #texaslife
Some of my newest plants! And new booty pot 🍑🌱
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#plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantlady #plantaddict #plantsofinstagram #plantlife #plantas #plants #plantaddiction #plantmama #plantcollection #plantlove #plantlover #plantmom #plantparenthood #plantlovers #plant #houseplants #succulents #cactus🌵 #lithops #carnivorousplants #ivy #cactusysuculentas #cactuslover #nature #nature_perfection #houseplant #veganlife #vegansofig #plantbased
Gluten free (and vegan) sourdough bread from a loc Gluten free (and vegan) sourdough bread from a local bakery. It's been so long since I've had real sourdough, it was very flavorful 👅 Cece gave it 2 paws up 🐾
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#sourdough #sourdoughbread #bakery #bakedgoods #homemade #homemadebread #bread #breadlover #glutenfree #glutenfreevegan #glutenfreebaking #veganfood #vegansofinstagram #veganfortheanimals #veganeats #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #veganism #veganfoodie #veganfoodlovers #veganfoodporn #veganfoodshare #veganlove #vegana #healthyfood #healthyeats #healthyfood #delicious #foodstagram
🕸️🕷️ . . . #nature #nature_brilliance #n 🕸️🕷️
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#nature #nature_brilliance #nature_perfection #naturelovers #spiderweb #spiderwebs #spider #greatoutdoors #thegreatoutdoors #walk #photooftheday #photographylovers #photo #photogram #veganlife #vegansofig #animalovers #animallovers #animallover #bugs #beauty #beautiful #texaslife #texas #texasblogger
Cece thought my groceries from Target were for her Cece thought my groceries from Target were for her 🥹🥹 I'm excited to try some of Tabitha Brown's new vegan items and I hope the vegan peach rings are good 🤞🍑
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#veganpower #veganfood #vegansofinstagram #vegancommunity #veganlifestyle #veganfortheanimals #veganeats #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #vegansnacks #veganism #veganprotein #vegans #veganfoodie #veganfoodlovers #veganfoodshare #glutenfree #healthyfood #healthyeats #healthyfood #plantbased #crueltyfree #snacks #target #popcorn #candy #vegana #veganfoodporn #yum
Thanks so much to This Little Piggy Sanctuary for Thanks so much to This Little Piggy Sanctuary for letting me visit today! 🐽 Pigs are so full of personality, intelligence, and a lot more work than most people realize. These pigs (and resident ducks) are now living the good life in a safe, loving place! 🐷
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#pig #pigs #piggy #piglife #piggies #piglove #animalovers #animalrescue #animallovers #animalsanctuary #animalrights #animals #animal #animalfriends #farmanimals #friendsnotfood #animallover #animalsofinstagram #veganpower #vegansofinstagram #veganfortheanimals #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #veganlifestyle #veganism #rescueanimal #rescueanimals #texaslife #texasblogger
New Years resolution... Spend more time with donke New Years resolution... Spend more time with donkeys! 💙
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#donkey #donkeys #donkeysofinstagram #donkeylove #ranchlife #ranch #farmlife #animals #animal #animalovers #animallovers #sanctuary #animalrescue #animalrights #animalsanctuary #cuteanimals #veganlifestyle #veganlife #vegansofig #veganfortheanimals #equine #photooftheday #vegansofinstagram #veganpower #vegancommunity #vegana #friendsnotfood #sweetanimals #animalfriends
Trying my hand at aquatic plants 🌱 . . . #terra Trying my hand at aquatic plants 🌱
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#terrarium #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantlady #plantaddict #plantsofinstagram #plantlife #plantas #plants #plantaddiction #plantmama #plantcollection #plantlove #plantbased #plantlover #plantmom #plantparenthood #plantlovers #plant #waterplants #houseplant #houseplants #vegansofig #veganlife
I literally got the last bag of Beyond Steak Tips I literally got the last bag of Beyond Steak Tips left in town and I'm glad I did bc they're so good! Paired with gold potatoes, broccoli, and veggie gravy 😋😋
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#veganpower #veganfood #vegansofinstagram #veganlifestyle #vegana #veganeats #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #veganism #veganprotein #vegans #veganfoodie #veganfoodlovers #veganfoodporn #veganfoodshare #veganlove #healthylifestyle #healthyeats #healthyfood #vegandinner #foodstagram #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpics #delicious #dinner #foodphotography #yum #plantbased
My Thanksgiving cactus is blooming! 🌸 . . . #ca My Thanksgiving cactus is blooming! 🌸
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#cactusclub #cactuslover #cactus🌵 #cactuslove #cactus #cacti #blooming #bloom #flowers #flowerstagram #flowers🌸 #flower #houseplant #houseplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantlady #plantaddict #plantsofinstagram #plantlife #plants #plantaddiction #plantmama #plantcollection #plantlove #plantlover #plantmom #plantparenthood #plantlovers #beautiful #nature_perfection
I made sure to stock up on vegan supplies from Tra I made sure to stock up on vegan supplies from Trader Joes when I was in Austin last weekend. The salmon spread and ginger brew are *chef's kiss* 😘😘 I haven't tried the chocolate yet but I have high hopes for it! 
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#veganfood #vegansofinstagram #vegancommunity #veganlifestyle #veganeats #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #vegansnacks #veganism #vegans #veganfoodlovers #veganfoodporn #veganfoodshare #veganlove #traderjoes #chocolate #foodstagram #foodpics #foodlover #foodlovers #yum #veganpower #veganfoodie #yummy #healthyeats #vegana #snacks #foodblogger
From my first conference as a grad student this pa From my first conference as a grad student this past weekend in Austin! It was a great experience, especially having fellow students from my department there. The pollen in Austin tried to take me down, but did not succeed! 🤧
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#gradschool #gradstudent #gradlife #conference #symposium #texasgirl #texas #texasblogger #texashistory #history #historical #borderlands #austintexas #austin #presentation #vegansofinstagram #vegan #veganlife #vegansofig #phdstudent #student #photos #photogram #photooftheday #texaslife
My wall of historic photos from the Rio Grande Val My wall of historic photos from the Rio Grande Valley, courtesy of the public library in Raymondville, TX 😊😊
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#photowall #photo #photogram #photos #photoart #photographylovers #photographs #southtexas #riograndevalley #wallart #diy #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhite #oldphotos #historical #history #homedecor #homemade #texas #texasgirl #vintage
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