Why does happiness sometimes seem so far away, pointless, and unobtainable? How can we truly be joyful in a world that is so full of instability, uncertainty, hardship, and injustice? What concept of happiness might encompass all of that? What will make us happy?

There are so many questions about happiness, from how to define it to what it takes to experience it. But once we stop seeking the happiness that the world defines, we start to realize that the choice to feel happiness has always been available to us. We should not leave our happiness to fate. It is in our hands; a decision we should make.

How To Choose Happiness Everyday

It is not enough to simply recognize that happiness is a choice. Choosing happiness still requires a conscious decision. It might come easy to some, but more challenging for others. You’ll need to practice and try to choose happiness every time. How?

Meditate. Schedule some alone time to meditate. The capacity to disengage is even more important as our environment becomes faster and noisier.

Surround yourself with the right people. Spend time with people that represent the person you aspire to be. Time spent with the wrong group of friends will drain your happiness.

Embrace daily affirmations. Affirmations can reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and alter perspective. Daily affirmations should be carefully crafted, rooted in truth, and focused on present needs for the maximum effect.

Eat healthy. The state of our physical well-being will always affect our emotional and mental wellness. Taking good care of our physical health can significantly improve our mental state.

Help others when you can. Our sense of happiness increases as our sense of purpose grows. Do your best to increase and sustain this by performing acts of kindness, compassion, and service to others.

It is crucial to start small when pursuing happiness every day. You won’t constantly feel happy and will still experience negative emotions which are necessary for us to appreciate happiness more.

Halloween can bring out the best of our creativity. It’s amazing how many inventive Halloween costumes individuals come up with. If you have time on your hands, you can go for a DIY Halloween costume, otherwise, opt for store-bought outfits that still look pretty impressive and deserve to take home the prize for the best Halloween costume at any gathering.

The unique and creative costume ideas originate from pop culture allusions, even though many people may stick to traditional concepts like a black cat, a witch, a ghost, or some other form of a ghoul.

If you’re running out of ideas for a witty and creative costume, that’s so scarily good it’ll leave everyone wide-eyed or laughing, we got you! Check out these ideas:

Wednesday Addams Many missed the timing to be the iconic Wednesday Addams on Halloween last year. This year is the year!

Barbie With the hit movie comes a wide variety of custom ideas. You can be the trending ‘80s roller skater Barbie or recreate Margot Robbie's look at the press tours!

Queen Charlotte From Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Bridgerton fans will surely love the idea of being Queen Charlotte for Halloween from the Georgian dress to the hair, crown, and grandeur.

Ariel From The Little Mermaid Channel your inner mermaid princess, whether you’re the one with the fins or after she got her legs. Both can work with the right outfit.

Janine From Abbott Elementary Anyone will recognize Janine’s style from the most popular television show at present. Don’t forget to exude a positive can-do attitude.

Mario and Luigi From The Super Mario Bros. Movie Bring a friend and dress up together as Mario and Luigi. Putting together the costume is easy and perfect for last-minute prep!

Rihanna At Super Bowl LVII Who will forget the all-red look during Rihanna’s return performance that shocked the world? Complete this look in minutes!

The best Halloween costume may not be the best for everyone, and that's okay. Go for the one that you like best and rock it with confidence!

In the midst of fall, as the weather turns cooler, the excitement over apple picking season is also picking up. This classic fall treat brings families together in a festive spirit. If you are interested in participating in apple picking but are a first-timer, then you’ll find the following information useful.

Apple Picking Season Guide

Early-picked apples are tiny and acidic. Late-picked apples are more likely to be softer, taste floury, and deteriorate quickly, so it is crucial to find the right time to pick them. Apples mature at different rates depending on the variety such as early, mid, and late types. Apples are typically harvested between late summer and late October, with September being the preferred month.

Avoid being influenced when choosing apples by their visual appeal. Some apples ripen externally before they begin to ripen within. Even though the apple's rich crimson exterior shows ripeness, the fruit's interior is still transitioning from tart and starchy to sweet and crunchy.

The best tips to determine ripeness is to look at the following:

• Gently tug, it should not need a lot of force to pluck from the tree.
• The flesh is cream or white
• Seeds are brown
• Yellow peel inside the stem indentation
• The taste should be crisp and juicy
• Firm and not soft

After harvesting, you can store the apples for several weeks with proper storage. However, any apples that are bruised or damaged should first be set aside since they may deteriorate more quickly.

For lengthy storage, keep apples in the refrigerator at 34 to 40°F. To enhance the humidity around the fruit while still allowing for airflow, put it in plastic bags with perforations. Have a basin of water on the fruit crates to keep the apples from drying out and prevent them from losing moisture. Storage areas like garages and cellars are preferable.

Now, are you ready for your apple picking season? These tips will make sure that you are well-equipped and can enjoy your apples!

Autumn is the time of year when people wind down after the summer, return to work and school, and make holiday plans. A fall getaway offers just the right kind of restorative break to help you get ready for the long winter days ahead.

Check this list of some family-friendly destinations and activities you can do this fall.

1. Visit upstate New York to pick pumpkins

Get your pumpkins ready for Halloween! Visit the Aurora Village in New York and bask in the beauty of the fall colors and their reflection on the adjacent river. You can also sample some great-tasting wines.

2. Take a glamping trip in the Great Smokey Mountains

Summer is over which means the crowds are pretty much gone. You can glamp just a few miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, near the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The pricing is also more affordable at this time at the well-renowned Under Canvas Resort.

3. A rafting and kayaking trip in Sedona

The mild temperature is perfect for kayaking or rafting down the Verde River in Sedona. Experience the thrill of these activities while admiring the red rock formations and the vibrant sceneries of fall. Go to a wine-tasting event or to the thriving art in the city.

4. Extend your summer in Florida

Catch the last of the summer on the warm beaches of Florida. Experience summer without the crowd since it is practically off-season. It is also turtle nesting season which means you might get a chance to watch hatchlings race towards the sea.

5. Take a walk in Central Park

If you simply want a family-friendly and chill activity, stroll around Central Park. appreciate the magnificent colors and explore what’s nearby from statues to the zoo.

It is the best season for travel because of the crisp, chilly air and vividly colored scenery. Whether you wish to travel to the mountains to see the turning leaves or swarm to warm coasts to enjoy a few more beach days before winter arrives, autumn is the perfect time.

National Child Health Day is an annual celebration that falls on the first Monday of October. This year, October 2 is Child Health Day.

This day honors the nurturing care and guidance that kids require to develop into strong, healthy adults. It emphasizes children's health, encompassing nutrition, disease prevention, safety, and both physical and emotional well-being.

Every child has the right to the best possible health. Children need help and opportunity to develop, from what they eat to the words they hear. Parents are frequently concerned about chronic illness, mishaps, or pediatric ailments, as well as the physical and mental wellness of a child. The day is a great chance to help the kids in your life, whether it's through their surroundings, what they eat, or the amount of TV they watch.

On Child Health Day, numerous health organizations and healthcare providers across the nation host a variety of events and programs to educate parents about the value of prenatal and newborn care, routine doctor visits, a healthy diet, physical activity, and ways to avoid and treat injuries and illnesses. Numerous organizations, including the Maternal and Child Health Library and the Health Resources and Services Administration, promote this nationwide celebration.

The well-being of our kids should always come first. National Child Health Day is a reminder of this and an opportunity for us to endorse the awareness campaign wholeheartedly. There are countless resources offered by the several organizations taking part in the campaign. You can use them to instruct yourself and your kids on healthier lifestyle choices.

It is a small step you can take for yourself and your loved ones. A step that can greatly affect your children’s future for the better.

Everyone will experience grief at some point in their lifetime. Grieving is a private and individual experience. The new emotions can seem overpowering and perplexing. Often the thoughts and feelings are not organized or logical. It doesn't adhere to any timetables or plans. You can feel a range of emotions including being sad, angry, isolated, or empty.

It's crucial to keep in mind that every individual's mourning process is unique and might be complex. You can recover from a loss by giving yourself permission to feel sadness in your own way. The stages are:

Denial - This is the initial reaction many people experience. A typical defense tactic that might aid in reducing the impact of the unpleasant situation's initial shock.

Anger - Anger has a disguising function, whereas denial may be viewed as a coping strategy. Many of the feelings and pain you are carrying are hidden by your anger.

Bargaining - This stage allows you to maintain hope in the face of excruciating agony. If your life can be returned to the way it was prior to the loss, you’ll be ready to give up everything.

Depression - Depression appears to be a peaceful stage of grieving, in contrast to the aggressive feelings of rage in bargaining.

Acceptance - Acceptance is the last of the five stages of grief. We don't stop feeling the grief of loss when we reach a point of acceptance. Rather, we are no longer fighting against the facts of our circumstances or attempting to change them.

As you go through the grieving process, take the time you need and let go of whatever expectations you may have about how you should be responding.