Rev Kane, Celebrating 10,000!

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Michael Kane

Rev Kane, Celebrating 10,000!

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Thank you!!!

So my goal for this year was to reach 10,000 followers across my social media accounts and I’m very excited to say that I hit the mark this past week!

rev kane, slower pace of life, can make you happy

A slower pace of life can make you happy

First off I want to say thank you to all of you who support the Ministry of Happiness in all of it’s various forms and outlets, I deeply appreciate your interest and support.  As a reminder of what all of those ways are, below is a list, just click on the links and please feel free to share with others if you like what we do here. ~ Rev Kane

To subscribe to the blog and get every post in your email:  Follow this link

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

Links to my books, first my book about hiking the Appalachian Trail and also my first book of poetry, Otherness.

 

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Take Time to Stop and Take in the Beauty Around You

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Michael Kane

Take Time to Stop and Take in the Beauty Around You

Appalachian trail, happiness, hiking

Fall on the AT

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. ~ Dale Carnegie

We are all busy people, we have jobs and families.  We have responsibilities and commitments.  The last week and a half at work have been especially stressful.  I was out of the office for the most part for four weeks so the work has piled up and the deadlines, well the deadlines are best addressed by a better writer than me, Douglas Adams.

It’s been a hard time for another reason as well, one that  I was only aware of apparently on a subconscious level until my sister reminded me today.  It’s been two years since my granny past.  She was an incredibly important person to me and I miss her dearly.  I wrote about her before in a piece called, Happiness is Granny, and here’s a picture of her from a couple of years ago.

happiness, granny

My granny looking cool

Add to the mix people acting especially stupidly lately, things not going the way I’d like.  I’ve also been very quietly dealing with what I can only describe as some personal emotional devastation lately.  I’ve worked through most of it, in the next week it comes to ahead for me.  All of this has amped up my stress levels pretty significantly.  However, Thanksgiving is coming and it is by far my favorite holiday and I’ve got a nine-day Christmas break coming as well.  So things will get better my friends.

In the middle of all of this the other day I walked out of my office in a pretty high level of frustration and looked out at the mountains west of campus.

happiness, photography

The view from outside my office

I was instantly reminded of my favorite teacher in high school, Mr. Sullivan, the first person to truly teach me the lesson that we have to appreciate the beauty all around us.  You see our classroom faced the Catskill Mountains and there were many beautiful views like the one above.  He would on those days suddenly stop class, turn to us, command us in his best Shakespearean voice, “to the windows children, to the windows, look at the beauty, look at the beauty.”  He was a magnificent human and an even better teacher.

As a traveler an adventurer and a photographer I often put myself in magnificent places where there is beauty all around.  It’s how I get great photos, it’s not much talent, just me being smart enough to put myself in really great places like the Himalayas, Ireland, Havasupai Falls or even Burning Man. You can see over 1200 of my images on my Instagram account @ReverendMichaelKane.

happiness, burning man

One of my favorite photos from Burning Man this year

It’s easy to stop and appreciate the beauty when you’re at an event with thousands of pieces of art, or in the highest mountains on earth.  The real trick, the truly important trick, is to remember to do this in everyday life.

happiness, flowers, photography

A picture I stopped and took while driving between meetings this spring

We have to look at beauty everyday.  While we’re in the middle of driving kids to soccer practice, when we’re walking to our cars from our office or taking out the garbage.  Those are the moments it’s truly important to stop and drink in the beauty that is all around us.  Doing this will bring you happy days my friends. ~ Rev Kane

Some Other Posts You Might Enjoy!

My Polar Bear Adventure

My Himalayan Trek

Burning Man

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Happiness Resources: Making Change Happen

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Michael Kane

Happiness Resources: Making Change Happen

happiness humor change

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself ~ Leo Tolstoy

Tonight a couple of quick resources related to making and keeping positive change in your life.  I especially like the first piece it has a lot of great advice, so give it a read and have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

 

First a great piece on the Anatomy of Change

Personal Growth: Four Obstacles to Personal Change

Five Steps to Positive Life Change, this one is a little more theoretical and wordy

 

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Goodbye Anthony Bourdain

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Michael Kane

Goodbye Anthony Bourdain

anthony bourdain, suicide, travel, adventureI woke up this morning to the news that Anthony Bourdain had died, or more accurately had committed suicide.  It made me incredibly sad, if you read this blog and follow my travels it will come as no surprise that I saw Anthony Bourdain as both a kindred spirit and someone who I looked up to.  His life, being paid to travel, explore and tell stories would be my dream life.  So many people like and looked up to him, his popularity spread across a lot of age groups.  In the last five years I’ve twice been given what I consider to be an amazing compliment.  Both times, by younger women, I was told you kind of remind me of Anthony Bourdain, one even added, you know the attractive older guy thing.  I’ll take that compliment and comparison every single time.

One of my friends on Facebook this morning captured it very well when she wrote he was one of us.  I really got what she meant, he might have been this mainstream CNN chef guy, but in fact he just felt like he was one of us.  What do I mean by one of us, well, complicated, a bit of a square peg, not quite normal.  I tend to drift towards the people who don’t quite fit, who are a little off, people who are more than they seem and often yes, this also means they are at least a bit damaged.  Anthony Bourdain, although I never met him, very much felt like one of us.

Suicide has been very much in the news with the death of Kate Spade earlier in the week and a report that suicide rates in the United States have been climbing over the last ten years, alarming so in some places.  The message about suicide and mental health gets hammered home when it’s someone famous, someone who seems to have everything the rest of us dream about.  Recently, I posted what Will Wheaton wrote about his own mental health, depression and anxiety it’s a really amazing read.

I’ve written in the past about my own depression, my own brush with suicide, the fact that thankfully when I had the gun in my mouth I was too much of a coward to pull the trigger.  I know that I’ll never commit suicide after that moment, after years of working on my own issues, but I’d be a liar if I said that I no longer understood that feeling.  That I still don’t have those momentary thoughts where I think it’s all pointless, those moments where the mouth of the well of despair isn’t wide open and inviting me to jump back in.  So I understand how someone who seems to have everything can end up back in that well. I’m sorry Anthony Bourdain found his way back there.

In my biography I call myself a sampler of life, I love life in all of its myriad of differences, love exploring every bit of it, finding new things, new kindred spirits and experiences.  Life is so short and tenuous, but such an amazing adventure.  It is always my hope that those who struggle can get a glimpse of that, can find a way to reach out to the people who care about them in the hard moments, although it often doesn’t seem like it, please know they are out there.  What I want for everyone today is a long comforting hug from someone who cares.

Goodbye Anthony Bourdain

anthony bourdain, suicide, travel, adventureAs you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks — on your body or on your heart — are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.  ~ Anthony Bourdain

 

 

 

 

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Happiness is Not Safety

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Michael Kane

Happiness is Not Safety

maslow happiness safety
The quote above has been flowing around the internet and possibly truer words have never been spoken. If you don’t move forward, take chances, risk yourself in some way, you stagnate. True, you revert to a place that is more predictable that is safer, but is that better, is that someplace you’ll truly be happier?

I say no, and I give you this example. Remember the first time you fell in love, remember that amazingly terrifying feeling of falling helplessly and loving every second and every breath you took during those moments. You never get there, you never feel that way without making a change, taking a step forward. Yes, often that feeling was followed by the normal rollercoaster of love, but would you avoid the downside, trade that most amazing feelings, for being safe and never hurt but never knowing love. No matter the pain you’ve felt I don’t think you would.

So be bold my friends, identify the step and take it, boldly, bravely and take the happiness you deserve and along the way, remember to have a good day my friends ~ Rev Kane

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We All Need More Kindness

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Michael Kane

We All Need More Kindness

kindness, quoteNo act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted. ~ Aesop

Recently, I’ve been thinking about aliens and first contact.  One of the theories around how people will react to that news is that we will all pull together under the idea of having a common adversary if you will.  That first contact will usher in an age of compassion and understanding for the human race.  It seems sad to me that what we believe, what it may in fact take, to bring the human race together would be first contact. That we need an existential outside threat to our very existence in order to be kind to one another.  Why can’t we all just get along?  Well I’ve been thinking about how we maybe we can make some progress in that direction, I think we all need more kindness, gratitude and forgiveness.

We all need more Kindness

kindness happinessI understand we all have busy lives, I understand we’re all doing what we can to live good lives and to be good people.  So I know better than suggest that you all become angels.  No doubt, there are Angels Among Us, I’ve written about them but that’s not what we need.  I think all we need is for all of us to do a bit better, to find ways to show more kindness.  We can do it in a hundred little ways that take almost no effort.  You can let some one go in front of you in line, let someone into to traffic while you’re driving.  You can hold the door for someone and not just if they are a step behind you, but once in a while hold the door for that person whose more than a few steps out there.  Smile at people, say hello and hell instead of shaking your friend’s hand give them a hug, we can all use a little more physical contact.  Doesn’t take much, but if we all just did one extra thing tomorrow, what a beautiful Monday it would be.

There are reasons to be grateful

gratitude happinessDevelop and attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward, achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.                   ~ Brian Tracy

There is a lot of evidence that demonstrates that there are many benefits to showing gratitude.  It’s funny, we seem to understand this each November, you’ll see your Facebook feed fill up in that month with lot’s of statements of gratitude, but it’s important the other eleven months as well.  It doesn’t take much to show gratitude, just a minute at the beginning or the end of your day to think about all the things you’re grateful for, but maybe we can all go just a little further.  Maybe we find some time this week to thank someone for something they might not even know they’ve done for us.  Tell someone who has inspired you, that they have, thank that teacher who changed your life.  Or call your parents, grandparents, or a friend and tell them just what they’ve done for you.  Again, if we could all just show a little more gratitude, next week would be a wonderful week.

The power of forgiveness

forgiveness, forgive, happinessThe weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute  of the strong.           ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Over my life, this has always been the hardest one for me.  There’s a line from the movie Sin City, “never give an Irishman cause for revenge.” Now, I don’t want to malign the entire genetic line of the good people of Ireland, I love that country.  I’ve had some cycling adventures there that were truly spectacular.  But there does seem to be some truth in that statement when it comes to the Irishman in my own personal line, including me.

I was a very angry man when I was younger, and I held on to that anger.  What they say about anger is true, it eats you up inside.  It ate me up, the anger also helped fuel my depression.  I knew for a very long time I needed to forgive the people I was angry at, but it took me a very long time to get there.  It’s really hard work to get to a place of forgiveness but it’s worth the work my friends.  It helped me become a happier person and can help you as well.  There are benefits to forgiving others.

Have a Happy Day My Friends

To come full circle from where I started tonight, how much better would the world be if it was a lot kinder and more forgiving, if there was more gratitude expressed on a regular basis?  The thing is my friends, that all comes down to us, all of us, if we start by being grateful, by forgiving more easily, by just being a little kinder, by our sheer numbers the world becomes a better place and we all have happier days.  ~ Rev Kane

Our Best Posts of 2017

Believe  in Yourself and Be Happy

Happiness is Blue Poop

The Dalai Lama on Tolerance and Patience

Happiness is Art:  Van Gogh

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Happiness Resources: Positivity & Positive Psychology

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Michael Kane

Happiness Resources: Positivity & Positive Psychology

positivity happiness

Tonight everything on the positive side, some resources related to positive psychology the official term because the psychology of happiness didn’t sound sciency enough. Also some resources from the less technical area of positivity. Give them a read and have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

Staying positive and its impact on your life

Rewire your brain for positivity using the Tetris Effect

How Positivity and Happiness can Protect you from Disease and Help you Live Longer

Mindfulness, Positive Thinking and Gratitude

A nice list of 10 Top Positive Psychology Websites

 

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Happiness Resources: Meditation

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Michael Kane

Happiness Resources: Meditation

happiness meditationMeditation is the dissolution of thoughts in Eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity. ~ Voltaire

So tonight some resources on meditation, a simple yet complicated idea that can have immense benefits for you in your life including helping you have a happy day ~ Rev Kane

First a piece to describe, What is Meditation

Now a piece about how to get started, The Basics of Meditation

A second take if you don’t like the first, Meditation for Beginners

The Health Benefits of Meditation

Meditation Will Make You Smarter & Happier

Rewiring Your Brain for Happiness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Happiness, Friendship and Hiking Surprise

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Michael Kane

Happiness, Friendship and a Surprise

appalachian trail, hiking, friendship

The amazing Warner Hill

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light ~ Helen Keller

So recently I was back east, my siblings and I threw a surprise 75th birthday party for my mother.  It was a good trip, the party went well, my mother was totally surprised.  I got to see all of my siblings, nieces and nephews as well as some good friends.  So a really wonderful trip.

Along with the opportunity to see my family I also took a couple of  side trips, did a little photography in several cemeteries and had dinner with a couple of old friends.

sign, cemetery, photography

Sign says it all

On my way out-of-town I had plans to see a friend who I had hiked with on the Appalachian Trail, the Mad Hatter, who is now living in the Berkshire Mountains.  So I headed over to his new home and he suggested we take a small hike and have a lunch on the trail.  I of course said yes and as we headed to the trail he asked if I knew where we were going, I didn’t.  He told me it was someplace I knew that had significance for both of us, I was intrigued.  Honestly, I’m rarely surprised in life, so I was a bit excited as this was certainly going to be a surprise wherever it was.

The Appalachian Trail

On the Appalachian Trail I was hiking on my third day with my friend Backtrack, I talk a lot about Backtrack in my book Appalachian Trail Happiness. We were sitting eating lunch when along game a happy looking fellow carrying a stuffed Mad Hatter on his back.  This of course, was the Mad Hatter.  We would end up being on the trail together for a month or so, he was a faster hiker but we ended up being in several places together including some great little cabins a night or so after we met.  It’s a funny thing about experiences like hiking the AT, you sometimes cement deep friendships in a short period of time, it was like this with the Mad Hatter.  We’ve actually become better friends since the trail and he’s one of those people I have a feeling he’s someone I’ll be friends with for a long time.

Appalachian Trail, hiking, happiness

White Blazes make me happy

Once we hit the trail he again asked if I knew where we were, I didn’t, he smiled and was quite pleased that it would be a surprised.  The trail was beautiful, fall is my absolute favorite time of year to be hiking and there isn’t much better than New England in October.  The ground was a multi-colored carpet of leaves, the trees were changing, so reds and yellows were interspersed with the deep green of the evergreen trees.  There was a light rain falling but the weather was beautiful and truly I felt lighter than I have in a long time walking up that trail.

Appalachian trail, happiness, hiking

Fall on the AT

We hit a point on the trail, a beautiful little fern field and honestly at that moment it should have clicked where I was but I was enjoying the walk and the conversation so it didn’t register.

Appalachian Trial, hiking, happiness

Fern field on the Appalachian Trail

It was literally a few yards further when I saw the sign, I smiled and Mad Hatter asked, know where you are now?

Warner Hill

appalachian trail, hiking, friendship

The amazing Warner Hill

I had just recently posted something about Warner Hill and seeing that post gave Mad Hatter the idea.  I’m so glad it did, Warner Hill had been one of my absolute favorite spots on the Appalachian Trail during my hike.  I had come there with another good friend, Bryan, while doing my first full test hike after hurting my knee.  The hill in July was amazing, lush green, great view and more blueberries in one spot than I have ever seen.  There were hundreds of tall bushes full of berries, it would not shock me if there are hundreds of thousands of blueberries on this hill.

Warner Hill, Appalachian Trail, happiness

Warner Hill

We had a Mad Hatter picnic, sitting on an emergency blanket in the light rain.  He introduced me to a sandwich he’d been introduced to decades before in the Alps.  Slices of apples with hard cheese and brown mustard on good bread, it was absolutely delicious.  We had a pleasant conversation, I was elated, to be in this wonderful spot, with a wonderful friend, to have been surprised by him and to hear the story of how he’s become happier now than he may have ever been in his life was truly a blessing.  It was one of those lovely perfect days that we just don’t have enough of and I’m indebted to him for that time.

Mad Hatter, hiking, happiness

The Mad Hatter

I try to pull a little bit of wisdom each week from what I write in these posts.  This week it’s easy my friends, take the time to be with the people who are close to you, the people who make you happy.  Not just to say hello, not just a note or a card, find a way to see them, spend time with them and do something amazing with them, life’s too short, not to.

Have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane

Other Posts about Hiking and Happiness!

Appalachian Trail Happiness: Acceptance is the Way

My favorite Appalachian Trail photos

Appalachian Trail Happiness: My Readers Favorite Posts

 

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Happiness and the Pace of Life

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Michael Kane

Happiness and the Pace of Life

You must always be yourself, and do things at your own pace. Someday, you’ll catch up ~ Natsuki Tayaka

slow down
As I have gotten older I’ve noticed something about myself, I’ve really started to slow down. I have noticed I walk slower, I drive slower and most importantly I act slower. The result of this, other than annoying drivers on the freeway, is that it allows me more time to think, more time to focus. I may not accomplish as much as I once did but what I get done I believe I get done with more purpose, perhaps even more mindfulness.  It has even left me the space from time to time to have a mindfulness day.

The beauty of a slower pace of living I truly believe is that it allows you to adapt more appreciation for the life going on around you. A cliché perhaps but there is an advantage to slowing down and smelling the roses. The least of which is that you get to smell the roses, and roses quite frankly smell pretty good. So a few resources below, some thoughts by others on the subject, take a little time my friends, slow down a little bit and have a happier day ~ Rev Kane

Slow down from the fact pace of life

The Pace of Life in 31 Countries

How to Slow the Hectic Pace of Life

 

 

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