What’s Up Wednesdays: Just Cruising

To kick off this week’s speedlink, Stacey Robinsmith takes a moment to describe his recent cruise ship experience. He most recently enjoy a trip with Princess Cruises, but he has also sailed with Holland America and Celebrity Cruises. He enjoyed the central gathering place aboard the Grand Princess and his kids liked the Youth Centre. That said, the food with the other cruise lines was superior to Princess.

Many of spend our time trying to get our ducks in a row and Bill Peebles is no different, but he also appreciates the wonderful moments of serendipity that profoundly impact our lives too. It was perhaps through a sheer stroke of good luck that his cat happened to wander into the apartment of the woman who would become his wife and the mother to his children. It can’t be just coincidence when the stars align in our favor, right?

A humble photo can tell an intricately complex tale, but it is still only a single moment captured in time. Sean Singleton posted a picture of him with his kids the other day, and a friend commented that he is “such an awesome father.” But how can the friend glean such a conclusion from a single picture? The picture doesn’t depict the meltown and lecture session that preceded the happier moment. It’s only natural that we want to share what we look like at our best, but Sean is sure that he’s not “always an awesome dad.”

When you receive an income tax refund, it effectively means that you have provided the government with an interest-free loan. You’re only getting your own money back. And that’s why Connie Mei explains there are many ways for you to use your tax refund that are far smarter than splurging on a shopping spree. It’s a better idea to pay down your debt, invest in your retirement or build up your rainy day fund.

Happiness, in many ways, is a choice. While you cannot control the many things that happen in your life, you can choose how you respond to them. To this end, Dan Western lists nine little things that happy people don’t do. They don’t feel sorry for themselves, because they maintain a positive attitude. They don’t need to be the center of attention, they don’t take things for granted and they don’t act selfishly, because helping others can be a great source of happiness and self-fulfillment.