Birthday Wishes

Yesterday was my birthday. It was the first year that neither of my parents were any longer able to call and say happy birthday, so in some ways felt a bit odd. At the same time though I had a lovely day with friends on the coast and in the sunshine.

I was also presented with a birthday cake and was able to make a birthday wish. In Finland the wish is made when you blow out the candles, where as in England it is when you cut the cake, so I took the easy solution and made the same wish twice.

I would love to let you in on what I wished for but of course everyone knows that birthday wishes have to remain secret or they won't come true!

Let's just say that I was very grateful for the company of lovely people yesterday... and if my wish is granted at some time in the future then I will certainly let you know.

In any event thank you to all those who made yesterday a special day. I wait with anticipation to see what the next year of life brings with it. If there is one thing I am certain of it is unlikely to be boring!

This One is for You Dad!

I decided that today I should dedicate this post to my Dad, whom of course I still think about every day and whom I miss more than words can describe.

Dad was someone who was obsessed with numbers. He could sit for hours and play with figures, adding, dividing and multiplying them...and he would find them anywhere. In my wallet I still have five pound notes which my Dad had kept because the serial numbers were special to him in some way. He had dated each of them and kept them for the last thirty years before he died. Now they are one of my most important possessions.

He especially loved the way numbers worked together. I think he found their logic and predictability comforting, in ways that he never found about about life itself.

If my Dad had still been here then he would have loved today, which is one of the reasons why this post is dedicated to him.

Today is exactly a year and half since this blog started (on 20 January 2012), it is the weekend when it will reach 100,000 hits and also the 300th post that I have written.

My Dad would have loved all those significant things happening at the same time and he would have made me repeat them to him until they were clear in his head. Then he would have sat with his calculator and come up with some sort of theory about them.

He was a complex, eccentric and unique man who was not always easy to be around but who loved me - and whose love I carry with me every day of my life.

I am not completely clear on my own views on life after death, but I still hope that my Dad is out there somewhere watching over me. No one can prove that there is another life waiting for us after this one, but no one can prove that there isn't either. So Dad, if you're reading this I hope you enjoy all these big numbers and you are sitting with your calculator analysing them somewhere up there in heaven. Thank you for being the person you were. I miss you more than you will ever know.

Somero Community

Someone asked me the other day why I bothered writing this blog. I got the feeling that the man who asked was the type of person who thinks that things in life are only worth doing if you are paid for them. Actually I have known a lot of people like that, but not many of them are in Somero, which is probably one of the reasons I enjoy living here so much.

In fact the real answer to his question is simple. The first response is that I enjoy writing and taking photos. So in my view it makes sense to write and take photos! The second is that Somero is an important place to me. Not only is it home to me and to my children, but it is also somewhere where the word "community" still means something. And perhaps this blog is one small way to celebrate that.

We live in a world where families don't keep in touch as much as they used to. Where single people sometimes don't talk to anyone else for weeks. Where people can die and no one can notice for days or even longer.  Community is something which has disappeared in many of the places where it once used to be.

But there is still a community here in Somero. Maybe I can try and explain that a bit. For example, this evening I ordered pizza from the Didim pizza shop in town, and after I had paid and left the shop, the guy chased me out to the car because he had seen the children and wanted to give them lollipops.

Earlier today I went into the bank (Säästöpankki) to pay the mortgage and just as I had done so, the lady who made the transfer asked me if I had enough money to last for the rest of the month. She didn't need to do that, she just wanted to make sure we were ok.

Over the last week I have been on my own with the children and have been invited for lunch or tea three times by friends in the town. Anyone who is a single Mum of young children will know that this does not happen everywhere, and will also know what a luxury that is.

Somero is a place where you can be friends with your son's teacher and the bank manager on Facebook and where you can telephone the library, sport's centre, doctor's, chemist or bank and you are answered by a person and not a machine.

This same week one of my neighbours appeared at the front door with a box full of blueberries she had picked from the forest. Just because she thought the children would enjoy them.

And on the street last weekend I bumped into two people I hadn't seen for a while. Both asked how I was and actually stopped to hear the answer. How often does that happen these days? They also told me their news, and both encounters finished with a hug.

That is what I mean when I say there is a sense of community in this town. The examples above are just some of the reasons we feel at home living here, and one of the reasons I enjoy writing this blog. And don't plan to stop any time soon!

You're Not Really Finnish!

I have a Finnish passport and a Finnish mother. I eat Finnish food and speak the Finnish language and have chosen to make Finland my home.


But at least ten times in the last month someone has said to me "I can tell you're not completely Finnish!"  The last time was on Saturday when I was dancing with a friend I met a couple of months ago.

Every time I hear these words they are said with a smile - and never meant as an insult. But it's the way that most people see me. "Not completely Finnish."

Of course they are right in many respects. I also have a British passport and my Dad was English - as is my mother tongue. But this is not what these people mean when they tell me I'm not Finnish. It's none of that.

What they mean is that I am not afraid to talk about the way I feel. And this is what makes people say, time and time again "You're not completely Finnish."

They are right. I love living in Somero and I am not afraid to say so. Why should I be? It's a good place to live, and for the first time in my life, I feel at home somewhere.

I also see nothing wrong with saying if I am feeling happy or sad. Over the last year I have cried many times, sometimes in front of others. And if I love someone I tell them.

Of course Finnish people do these things too, but I guess I am still seen as being more open than the average Finn. Some people like that and others may feel threatened by it. But personally I would rather be the kind of person who can express how they feel, than the kind of person who never does so. It's a personal choice of course, but this is mine.  If that means that I am not entirely Finnish, then there we are.

Last night on Facebook I wrote that if you love someone then you should tell them before it is too late. Thirteen people "liked" this comment. Six of these were Finnish, so at least I know I am not alone.

Life is short and as we all know it is fragile. So do something today. Whether you are Finnish or not, tell someone important to you that you love them.

I am going out dancing again this evening. If one of my dance partners today happens to tell me that in their view I am "not completely Finnish" then I will smile, because if it is the fact that I have the confidence to laugh, or cry or say "I love you" out loud, then in my view that's fine with me.

Kerrankin Suomeksi

Päätin tänään kirjoittaa myös suomeksi, vaikka suuri kynnys minulla on edelleen. Kynnys tulee minun riittämättömyyden tunteesta. Pelkään että en osaa tarpeeksi hyvin, ja pelkään tehdä virheitä. Mitäköhän ihmiset ajattelevat kun suomenkieleni on täynnä kielioppi virheitä? Joka tapauksessa, lopputulos on se, että en kirjoita suomeksi lähes ollenkaan.

Mutta samanaikaisesti kun myönnän tämän, olen myös se sama ihminen joka aina sanoo muille

"Älä välitä mitä muut ajattelee...seura sydäntäsi...tee niin kuin sinusta tuntuu oikealta. Tärkein on yrittää, ja elää elämäsi niin, että et tule katumaan mitä et ole uskaltanut kokeilla!"

Olen ehkä parempi antamaan neuvoja kun seuraamaan niitä.

Monet ihmiset on minulle lähin aikoina sanonut että he joskus katosvat tätä blogia, ja tykkäävät kuvista, mutta ei saa kiinni mistä kirjoitan koska eivät osaa englantia.

Minä kuulen tämän hyvin usein, (viimeksi lauantaina torilla...hei tas Veijo!) mutta en ole tehnyt asian eteen juuri mitään, koska pelko riittämättömyydestäni tässä asiassa on ollut liian kovaa.

No, nyt päätin muuttaa tapani ja yrittää seurata omia neuvojani.

Riittämättömyyden tunne on aihe joka on moneelle suomalaisille tuttu - ja niin monet asiat jää tekemättä, sanomatta ja kokematta juuri tämän pelon takia. Tänään minä päätin että tämä on turhaa pelkoa.

Jokainen meistä joka on joskus menettänyt tärkeän ihmisen, tietää kuinka lyhyt ja hauras elämä oikeasti on. Minä ainakin tiedän sen. Elämä voi päättyä koska tahansa, joten on pakko tarttua kiinni siihen kun tässä vielä ollaan.

Pelkoja virheistä ja epäonnistumisesta ovat normaali osa elämästä. Mutta omasta mielestäni on parempi yrittää... ja ottaa sen epäonnistumisen riski kuin ei yritä ollenkaan. Itse ainakin arvostan paljon enemmän ihmiseä jotka ottavat riskit (vaikka ei aina onnistuisivatkaan) kun he jotka elää jatkuvassa pelossa eikä tee juuri mitään.

Joten tässä se on. Pieni kirjoitus suomeksi. Korjaamatta, mutta aito. Kukaan meistä ei voi olla enempää kun se, mitä me oikeasti ollaan, mutta sekin on ihan ok.

 Hyvää päivänjatkoa kaikille.

The Rock

Anyone who knows me knows that I love words and the way they can have different meanings to each of us. Yesterday I rang one of my closest friends, Liisa Kortelainen. I asked her to shut her eyes for five seconds and tell me the first word that came into her head. I decided that whatever she said, my next blog post would be based on that.

"Kallio," (rock) she said.

One of the greatest compliments I ever received was from an old friend of mine who lives in the UK. We have been friends for more than twenty years, but because we now live in different countries we see each other only once every few years. At one point he was going through a very tough time and went to speak to a therapist. To help him get through, he was asked to think about the positive things in his life, including important friendships. He mentioned our friendship and told me later that he had described it to the therapist as a rock.  This was because he could rely on it, it was solid, and it never went away, no matter what the circumstances.

Rocks have reminded me of that type of solid relationship ever since then. We have all been through disappointments in life, but on the flip side there are those people who you know will never let you down.

A solid relationship, be it a friend, a family member or a partner, is just like the rock that my friend described and that came into Liisa's head when I asked her.

Rocks are beautiful, ever-lasting and solid - and can stand the most brutal storms imaginable. They can withstand crashing waves, torrential rain and falling trees. You can trust them. No matter what happens, rocks can take it, and they won't let you down. Exactly like those special people you can rely on completely.

So thank you Liisa for that word. We all need a few solid and beautiful rocks to get through life. And I hope you know you are one of mine!

That Magic Moment

       

A series of moments. That's all life is at the end of the day. But some moments are inevitably more significant than others. 

It might be the moment you meet your soulmate, or the moment when your child is born, or when you receive a piece of news (good or bad) that will impact the rest of your life. 

The thing about these moments is that we are very rarely able to predict them in advance. They just happen, and when they do your life can often be changed forever. 

I was made to think of this today when I was out for a drive with the children. We were going down a country lane in Somero and suddenly in front of us we saw a mother and baby deer crossing the road. Although our car was no danger to either of them, both deer panicked when they saw us and ran in different directions. The mother continued crossing the road into forest and the baby ran back into the field they had come from. 

The baby stood staring at us for a while, probably wondering what to do next. Then just as we were about to leave, we saw the mum waiting quietly just a few metres away, covered by the trees. 

Neither of these photos would win any prizes in a photographic competition, but I like them both, because they represent a moment which came out of nowhere and which we will probably never see repeated. 

It reminded me that you can never be sure what life has in store for you. Just one moment can change everything. And the best we can do is to make the most of the moments we have and to keep our eyes open for the moments when magic can occur. They are the ones worth waiting for. 

Minttu is Two

Somehow, without me even noticing... Minttu stopped being a baby and became a little girl. And a little girl with attitude!  Yesterday she celebrated her second birthday in style.

She enjoyed an ice cream party with several of our friends and was lucky to receive lots of lovely presents too.

Minttu opening presents with Manu

In English, we refer to the "terrible twos." If you have never heard of that expression, you can guess what it means.

Minttu definitely has a little bit of that too, as I saw when we were in a cafe today and she threw her sandwich on the floor, then smeared cream all over her hands and the table. That was after screaming when I tried to do her hair. And when Minttu screams you can hear her in Turku.

But she is also one of the biggest reasons that it is worth getting up in the morning.

My lovely friend Elvi

Anyone who is a parent knows how quickly those first years go and how important it is to savour each childhood moment (even when they are screaming!)

My hopes for Minttu are that she never loses that naughty sparkle in her eye, that she always enjoys good health and that she receives as much joy as she already brings to others every day. And I also hope that she still has her two-year-old spirit when she is Elvi's age.

Anne and Vuokko

As someone wrote on my Facebook page a few days ago... sometimes if you want to understand life you need to talk to a two-year-old, and if you look at the glint in Minttu's little eyes, I think that is probably very good advice.

Minttu and some of our friends

Something to Smile About - Janne Raappana and Taikakuu.

Janne Raappana from Taikakuu

I woke up this morning needing a bit of sunshine. And I don't mean that big yellow thing in the sky. You know what I mean. Before I left the house today I wrote on Facebook that I hoped the day would bring something worth smiling about. As I write this it's nearly three in the morning and I am happy to say that it did eventually- and in an unexpected way.

Every now and then we all feel that we need a bit of inspiration from somewhere, and today mine was delivered in the form of an interview with the lead singer in the band Taikakuu, Janne Raappana.

Ämyri dance venue in Somero

Taikakuu (Magic Moon) is a very well known band here in Finland, performing at dance venues all over the country with about 150 gigs a year. This evening they were at Ämyri in Somero and I could not resist the opportunity to interview Janne, who, (even though he didn't know it), has already sung to me so many times in the kitchen, in bed and in my car.

What is it like to spending a life on the road, being away from home so much?

"It reminds every one of us in the band the importance of having a place to go back to, somewhere to call home, especially now we all have children. As much as we can, we take our holidays at the same time as the children are off school. We've been really busy this summer so far, but luckily we've got a three week break coming up. We all need it."

The members of Taikakuu - Janne, Emil, Samppa and Miikka.

As well as having toured every dance venue in the country, Taikakuu have also performed in Malaysia, Sweden and Kuala Lumpur.

"It was such a different experience in Malaysia," Janne says laughing. "We'd been asked to go there by the Finnish Embassy to introduce the country to a bit of Finnish culture. We played some "humppa" (traditional Finnish dance) music and the audience had no idea what was going on. The Malaysians must have thought it was some kind of military music, because they all stood there and saluted. It was really weird, but I guess they found us exotic!"

I told Janne that this blog is read by people all over the world, most of whom will not have heard of Taikakuu. If they listened to just one song, which one should it be?

"I would say the first track from our new album. It's called Tunne (Feeling), because it sums up where we are as a band right now. Even people who don't understand Finnish will get a feeling from this song and will hopefully get something from it. To be honest even to Finns I don't ever explain what my lyrics are supposed to mean. Music is a personal thing, and the same words will mean different things to different people. A track about loss might be about death to one person or a broken relationship to another. Both are completely valid. Why should I go and spoil that?"

https://www.facebook.com/TaikakuuOfficial/app_271545776251423 (you can listen to the track Tunne through a link from Taikakuu's Facebook page).

"In terms of my own inspirations I listen to all types of music but I would say that one significant artist to me is Laura Pausini. I don't understand Italian that well, but I feel as though I understand her. Just through the music."

I asked Janne what he dreamed about. He thought about this for a while before answering.

Miikka on drums

"A life which hasn't lost it's happiness, because without it things can be really tough. I know, because I've been there. The thing is, no one else can make you happy. You have to do it yourself. Tough things happen, but the trick is to find the good side to everything that happens. And there always is a good side if you dig deep enough. You need to take the time to find out what you really want in life. You need to understand your own dreams before you can achieve them, and only you know what those are.
Myself, if I am remembered for anything, I would like it to be for making people feel good...positive. I would like to remembered for being someone positive."

Of course I had to ask Janne what he thought about performing in Somero. "We always like coming here," he said. "There's such a long dance tradition in Somero with Unto Mononen and Rauli Badding Somerjoki coming from the region that I guess the people here are quite traditional in their musical tastes. Somero is always a good place to perform."

Janne says that the next step for Taikakuu is to plan a concert tour in Finland, but that they've had such a busy schedule they simply haven't got round to it yet. "That's next on our list" he says, smiling.  

I hope I am remembered for being someone positive, Janne says

With my own history as a disc jockey I've been lucky enough to see many bands performing live, but Taikakuu remains one of my favourites, and if you get the chance to go to see them, go. You only need to spend a few minutes with Janne Raappana to know that he is genuine and that his songs come from the heart. He sings about things he cares about, things that really matter. And you don't even have to understand the words to get that.

Today's chat was just the bit of inspiration that I needed when I left the house this morning. So thank you, both Janne and Taikakuu, for being with us here in Somero tonight. We hope to see you again very soon.

Kesäkuvat Somerniemen torilta (Summer Pictures)

It is a beautiful day here today (28 degrees and very sunny). Cameron and I decided to go to the Saturday market in Somerniemi to enjoy the summer atmosphere, the sunshine and of course some doughnuts. As I had my camera with me I decided to take some shots that will remind Finns living abroad of the Finnish summer. Any Finns anywhere will understand why I picked these particular images!

I bought a silver necklace from a Mexican called Leobardo Aguilar who has told me that I am now guaranteed to find love...so this is one very valuable piece of jewellery!

I bumped into my lovely friend Keanne van de Kreeke, who is a children's illustrator from Somerniemi and also got chatting to Veijo, whose picture I took selling new potatoes. He reads this blog sometimes and I promised to write a special note in Finnish for him.

I hope these summer images bring back good memories to Finns everywhere who appreciate the special things about the Finnish summer.

Eli, vaikka mun suomen kielitaito ei ole kovin hyvää, (pyydän etukäteen anteeksi virheistäni), lupasin tänään Veijolle (jonka tapasin Somerniemen torilla) kirjoittaa tänään viestin hänelle suomeksi.

Joten hei Veijo, tässä se on! Oli kiva tavata tänään. Olin tänään torilla käymässä poikani Cameronin kanssa kun oli niin kaunis kesäpäivä. Kun kamerani oli myös mukana, päätin ottaa myös kuvia kesä imagoista jotta suomalaiset ympäri maailmaa muistaisivat miltä se suomen ihana kesä oikeasti näyttää!

Ostin perunoita ja kirsikoita ja ruisleipää, ja hopean kaulakorun Meksikolaiselta nimeltä Leobardo Aguilar, joka lupasi että korun avulla tulen varmasti löytämään rakkautta....tapasin myös hyvä ystäväni Keanne van de Kreeke, joten matka torille oli hyvin kannattavaa monista syistä.


Toivon Veijo sinulle, sekä kaikille suomalaisille ympäri maailmaa, oikein hyvää kesää täynnä aurinkoa, iloa ja rakkautta. Nähdään!

Keanne van de Kreeke

Bad Hair Day

When you live in a place where the people speak a language other than your own mother tongue, life can sometimes be frustrating.

I speak Finnish reasonably fluently, but there are still words and expressions that I simply can't find a proper translation for, and those are the times I wish that different words existed and I didn't have to settle for an "almost" translation.

Languages are an integral part of a country's culture and I have always felt that when you choose to live in a country other than your own, it is up to you to make the effort to speak their language, not the other way round.

But having said that, no two languages can ever be substituted for each other completely, and there are always words and phrases that don't properly exist in the new language. I have found myself spending five minutes explaining something which in English I could say with a single word.

For anyone who is familiar with both Finnish and English, you will no doubt have experienced the same thing. In English, when I hear a story of achievement, I may well respond by saying "I'm impressed!" Translate that into Finnish and it's just not the same thing. Of course it's even more basic than that, as the Finns don't even have the word for "please". Coming from a family where politeness has always been drummed into us, asking for something without saying please afterwards has always been difficult for us, and sometimes we just had the English "please" anyway. Even though no one expects it here.

Anyway. Words have always been fascinating to me, as enriching as they are challenging. And sometimes, even though a phrase doesnt exist in a language, it can still easily be understood.

In English, everyone knows what I mean by a "bad hair day". And if this is a new concept to any non English speakers reading this, just look at Minttu's photo and you'll soon understand what it means!  Have a great weekend, wherever you are.

Salo Evening Market

Every Thursday throughout the summer, the evening market in Salo (held on Thursdays) is packed with people, and today was no exception. It's part of the summer for those of us in this region.

Niko sits on his colleaugue's knee

There are stalls selling all the traditional Finnish summer goodies, such as strawberries, blueberries and new potatoes, as well as others offering jewellery, clothes, bags and second-hand items of every description. There is also a live band every week and several hundred people usually turn up simply for that reason.

Manoevering a pushchair round the market was tricky to say the least, especially as none of the three little ones wanted to sit in it. (An empty pushchair is just a little bit silly in a crowded market...)Thankfully we managed to make it home without losing any of them.

Luca enjoying an ice-cream

What you really feel at the market is s sense of Finns making the most of every minute of their summer holidays. In this country many people take four weeks off over the summer and enjoy a real break from work while the country and the weather is at its best.

My Facebook updates at the moment are full of Finns describing the details of their new-found summer freedom - what they are doing, what they are eating and of course never forgetting to celebrate the sun.

Marja-Leena and Kari

The highlight of Niko's day was meeting his colleagues (Niko tells us every day about his alternative life as a police officer and how many issues he has been sorting out) and having his photograph taken with them. As you can see, Niko himself was off-duty this afternoon, so no uniform this time.

We bought some strawberries which were gone before we even got home and also bumped into our good friends Kari and Marja-Leena on the bridge. (I'm hoping that seeing them was a good omen...and they know what I mean).

We were able to practise our Spanish with an Agentinian who made us some lovely ankle bracelets and I even found some pistachio ice-cream, whice was a real bonus. Another thing ticked off our summer list. Let's anjoy the summer while it's still with us.

Bridges

I have always liked bridges. Each one is different and they all make it possible to cross something that would be difficult to do otherwise.

It's been a bit rainy here in Somero today, but so far we've been really lucky this summer - we've had lots of sunny weather. With a river going through town which joins together several lakes, Somero is an ideal place for going out on a small boat.

Earlier this week I went out rowing with some friends in Somero. As we travelled under the bridges, they reminded me about our need for a different type of bridge at some points in our lives.

You know that feeling where it's as though you are standing at the end of a piece of land and you're not sure how to get across the river below?

Sometimes it can seem as though there aren't any bridges anywhere which will help you across, and if you're not careful you're going to fall in and drown.

That's the point where you have to make sure you don't give up looking. Every river has a bridge somewhere. You just have to be persistent and keep looking for it. Then you need the courage to go and see what might be on the other side.

I am looking for a few of these bridges myself right now, as I know many of my friends are too. If you are one of them, I hope you soon find one which will help you get to a happier place. And soon. Keep smiling!

Land of the MIdnight Sun

Finland is a dark country. That's what lots of people think. And of course in the middle of December, they are right. But in the summer there is more light here than pretty much anywhere else in the world. And it is one of the reasons that so many Finns stay here in the summer rather than going anywhere else on holiday.

When I was a little girl I always used to think it was strange that Finns didn't want to go abroad during their summer holidays, because it seemed as though everyone in the UK spend the whole year looking forward to their week or fortnight abroad.

Having now lived here for almost five years though, I now completely understand why Finns want to spend their summers in Finland. It's beautiful, peaceful and simply magical here in the summer. No point at all in going anywhere else. Holidays in the sun are best saved for November or February.

My "roots" even though I was not brought up in this country, are in a small town called Lumijoki near Oulu in the north west of the country. That's where my Mum is now, back in the place where she was born and brought up.

This picture was taken just before midnight a few days ago in a place called Varjakka, which is in the municipality of Lumijoki on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Just before we went swimming at midnight....

When you live in a country like this....why go anywhere else?

Make Your Own Memories

I have lost three people close to me over the last year. This has meant a great deal of sadness on one hand, but on the other I have been made to think about things in a way in which perhaps I wouldn't have done otherwise.

My Uncle Pentti, my lovely Dad and my second Mum Anja were very different from each other, but each remarkable in their own way. At the end, of course, material things such as money and property mean nothing at all. But happy memories meant the world to each of these people. They were the things that each concentrated on the most.

These losses led to several conversations that I will never forget, both with these special people themselves and also with close friends of mine who are still here.

We all agreed that apart from the obvious things like holding on to love and family and friendship, the best investment you can make in your future is to create as many happy memories as possible. I firmly believe that it is worth taking the time to think about the moments when you feel the happiest, while you still have the chance to live them.

Some dreams may be big ones (I am still determined to dance salsa in Cuba..and I know a few people who may well come with me. Jill and Michael? Rob. Manuel? You up for it?!)

But other happy memories can be made from very small things. Special moments that can spring up without warning. The important thing is to remember to enjoy and savour them. For me, one of the times I feel the happiest is when I am taking photos, especially of nature.... and especially of squirrels. So when I went outside this morning to find out that someone had discovered my "secret" store of nuts and spread them all over the front yard the moment was right there in front of me.

Word of this magnificent feast had spread to three squirrels who spent the morning partying in the garden. If there is such a thing as a nut hangover then I am sure that all three of them have one right now. So anyway, I remembered my three special people, grabbed my camera, and created another happy memory. For those of you who, like me, are squirrel people, here are some photos you might enjoy.

But whoever you are reading this, why not take the challenge of creating yourself a happy memory today. It's not difficult to do, you just have to remember not to forget.