Happy First Day of Winter 2016!

Hi Everyone!

Well I guess it’s time for me to share Happy First’s again! For those of you that are new to my email list or blog, I used to send a Happy First message on the first of every month (and also some other “first” days). It was something I have said for years to family and friends, for example, Happy December 1st! I founded Happy First in 2007 to celebrate new beginnings (my egg logo has many meanings- new beginnings, breaking out of your shell, whatever it represents to you!). Some of you may know I am a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivor– I shared my story years ago on my blog and through that blog post I have met some wonderful survivors and connections were made between people. Feel free to share it with anyone that may need an uplift.
Just as I didn’t want my cancer to define me, I don’t want my grief to define me-it sure has changed me-but I want Happy First to be positive and uplifting and about overcoming. So hopefully Happy First will be a happy place for you to go to! I’m still working on my website, etsy and other fun things, shaping it to be a new place for my art and ideas, shifting from tees (for now at least) to illustration projects and other things as they pop up.

Thank you all for your emails and comments after I posted my grief story. I was overwhelmed by the responses-didn’t expect the personal stories and words of encouragement some of you have sent me. And I want to answer each one of you back personally, it is just taking me a while! But thank you.

One of the first emails I received really struck me and is the reason you are getting this Happy First Day of Winter picture today-this is from Ashley, someone I don’t even know-she made me realize I must get out there and share happiness, even if on some days it is really hard-

“I am so very sorry for your loss. I know that there are no words that can be said to make things better, I wish there were. I just want you to know that I somehow stumbled upon Happy First during a particularly sad and low time in my life, and your words and ecards always brought light and happiness into my life.  I would always look forward to your emails on the first of the month and would send your cards to family and friends. Thank you for that. I’m sure I’m not the only person you have never met who’s life you made better. Just wanted you to know 🙂 sending lots of love and light your way. ”

And another response I wanted to share is from a dear friend, Cyndy, who lost her son to suicide 7 years ago. I got permission from her to share this, hoping it will help others. She truly uplifts and inspires me.

“Thank you for sharing your journey of using art to heal.  I do the same and know that it can be very therapeutic to “lose yourself” in creativity.  I’m glad to hear that you are learning to get through the days of grief.  The “why?” questions are so difficult and I’ve realized that it is the “how?” questions that move us forward.  How do I live this day through the pain?, How do I move forward from this day?, or How do I help others by what I have been through?  “Why” questions take us back to a place that cannot be changed, but “How” questions take us to wherever God is leading for the future.  I have to remind myself of this on a regular basis.”

Today I just felt the need to share and uplift-the Holidays can be a really tough time for a lot of people.

Please pass this post on to those who may need it and feel free to comment.

Oh and now some fun stuff-you can get my snowman on  notecards and notepads. Right now they are available on my Etsy shop, and eventually will be on my site too! And the Happy Flowers Coloring Book is available both on Amazon and  Etsy.
If you go to my artist facebook page, you can see a video that shows all of the pages in the coloring book! (Soon I will figure out how to post videos here!).

Here’s some fun pics! Sorry about the placement, having some technical difficulties! Anyway, Happy First!

Deb