Happiness is rocking a Tutu at BlogHer 10.

I’m sad.

Bit of a backassward statement to start out with on a post about happiness, no?

But it’s true.

I am.

Sad, that is.

Very.

It’s a long, complicated story that the Internet will likely never know, but really…you don’t need to know the details. Knowing that I am the equivilent of emotional roadkill right now is enough for public consumption.

But it is OK that I am sad.  I have been sad a lot in my life.  It tends to happen when you have a personality that lives and feels intensely. I am also suspect that I have some weird antenna attached to my head that broadcasts “DEAR UNIVERSE: PLEASE HIT THIS PERSON WITH SUCK AND LOSS”.

(It does not help that I also make some really piss-poor life decisions, either. Just so you know.)

So, yup.

I am a sad, blue, sob-sack right now and the chances of that continuing (to some degree) in New York City at BlogHer are pretty high. So…if you see me feeling down or sad or curled up in the fetal position in the ballroom throwing chocolate at myself, you’ll know it’s a bit more than social anxiety and being overwhelmed with so much estrogen packed into one hotel.

Oh, and I may be wearing THIS:

I look pretty good for feeling like suck, no?

That would be all the years of training as an actress. And I have a feeling I will be utilizing that gift A LOT this week. (But don’t worry…I can promise you one thing–I will be VERY, genuinely happy to meet YOU. Promise. No faking needed with that at all. I love and am genuinely interested in meeting people and can’t wait to see old friends and make new ones. So, don’t tiptoe, just come and say hello. :) )

So, why am I wearing this tutu in NYC?

Because I am trying to raise funds and awareness so that a sweet little boy (who happens to be the nephew of a much-loved friend) can die at home in the care of his mother and loved ones instead of in a hospice center. There is an event at BlogHer called “Tutus for Tanner”. We all participate in a 5k, we all wear tutus.

And I will be wearing mine all day on Friday because I think THAT much of this cause.

Not that it is hard…I feel like the princess of BlogHer in this thing.  I had my boss, Jo, ask one of her BAZILLION crafty friends to whip up a tutu for me to wear on behalf of Where Women Create and Where Women Cook (new website coming soon!) and in support of Tanner (and Catherine). AND OMG THIS TUTU IS FREAKING AMAZING IS IT NOT???? (Big, huge thanks to Shea for making me this concoction of awesome.)

Children should not die.

They shouldn’t.

It is so very wrong and it rips me to pieces.

I am all for any organization or people that helps a sick or dying child and their families.

And I am going to be doing a lot more to help those people and organizations along.

Starting now.

I love what I do.

Sure, there are days when I want to take the Internet, wad it in a ball and huck it in the trash (and on really bad days I don’t even want to sort it and recycle first), but doesn’t everyone have those days with their job?

Still, I take a great deal of pleasure in blogging, social media and am endlessly fascinated by it.

But…

What I do isn’t every useful.

I have conversations with friends and loved ones that are nurses or cops about saving lives or putting their own lives at risk to protect and serve and I have moments of true shame at times. It’s hard to feel like a contributing member of society when you are talking with a friend that just took down a drug dealer that shot at a fellow officer on their shift when your “to do” list at work consisted of picking up bedazzled Snuggies so they could be used as giveaway prizes, you know?

I would say that 90% of the time this blog of mine and my online interactions are pure entertainment.

But then there is that 10% when I am helpful to a grieving or struggling person or inspire someone or in this case, help a couple of REALLY great causes in one shot.

This whole post was inspired when  TheDivaCup asked me to participate in their “Happiness Project”. (Yes, THAT product. I have never used them, but so many of you are fans, I thought, ‘What the hell, why not?”. And who knows? Maybe you all will convert me one day. BUT THAT IS A POST FOR ANOTHER DAY, MY PEOPLE!)

I write what makes me happy or how my perception of happiness has changed and they donate $100 to the charity of my choice.

I wanted it to go to Tanner, but because he is not a registered charitable organization, I am making a donation on my own and am working with The Dream Factory, an organization that helps not just dying children, but critically or chronically sick kids have their wishes come true because of how very much they go through.  They have a campaign going right now called “Give a Smile” that is making donations for small things like tweets and widgets. I love things like this because it is so very easy for us all to do and costs a few seconds of our time.

At the end of the day, this is very small way for me to help someone.

Hopefully a lot of someones.

And to help my readers help someone if they so choose.

And that?

Gives me more happiness than I can adequately express, friends.

And it came in the nick of time.

Funny how helping people does that, no?

The material contained in this posting is not intended to be representative of the views or advice of Diva International, Inc.  This posting has not been produced or paid for by Diva International Inc.  Please note that information concerning the use of The DivaCup published on this blog may not be accurate. Please refer to The DivaCup website www.divacup.com and the FAQs for information, and to address any questions or concerns regarding The DivaCup, the DivaWash or Diva International, Inc.

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Part of bringing happiness to your life is simplifying things so you can enjoy it to the fullest. What makes you happy? How has your view of happiness evolved over time? The DivaCup offers a simple, worry free, eco-solution to women worldwide every month. Not a tampon, not a pad, finally a better way! www.divacup.com. The DivaCup is donating $100 to The Dream Factory charity.