What is Happiness? + 2 Announcements!

July 08, 2018

You may be noticing an interesting thing about my blog. Don’t worry - it’s still me, your local friendly fangirl writer. But I will be addressing this interesting thing at the end of the post.

So, this has been an accurate representation of me writing my blog post this week.

Me: Wow, I’m actually on top of things and sharing my writing with my followers! *writes complete blog post about Camp NaNo novel, gets ready to publish it*
Life: You may want to rethink that..... *throws lemons*
Me: *gets hit on the head with lemons* What the heck?? *looks at lemons*
Me: Actually, this would be a good blog post topic. *types entire thing up on Friday*

Yeah, this has been kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing, but some really weird stuff happened on Thursday for me, and one of them has been quite interesting.



On Thursday, I was working like normal on a checkout lane in our local grocery store. I finished checking someone out, and the cashier next to me, out of the blue, just says, “How are you so happy all the time?”

I was like, “Um. What????”

To be honest, I’d never really thought of what I was doing as being “happy.” Sure, I was smiling to the customers, and asking polite questions, but I didn’t really think that qualified as “happy.”

So, of course, I took the question to bed and pondered it on-and-off for like an hour, along with some other stuff. But I didn’t get anything productive out of it.

But I’ve thought about it a little more since then.

I think there’s a difference between being happy and seeming happy. Anyone can feel happy, but is that true happiness? Or is that just the happiness that this world can offer?

I, for one, don’t think I was truly happy at that point; I was just being polite.

And I think true happiness can’t come from anything in this world. It can only come from God.

Am I saying that I’m not happy if, for example, we go to Florida? Absolutely not. If I went to Florida, I would be very happy. But that would be a temporary happiness, one that the world offers, and would probably fade as soon as I left Florida.

And to be truly happy, I believe that you need to know God, and know what he’s doing, and do it willingly.

Life isn’t always going to be cooperative, but we have to try our hardest. After all, didn’t the Blessed Virgin say on multiple occasions, “I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next”?

———————————————————————-

Anyways, those are just my thoughts on the matter. I hope you understood what I was getting at there.

Now, on to the announcements!
Maybe you noticed it. Maybe you didn’t. But you’re going to notice it now.

Did you see my About Me page?

Yep. That’s right.

Where’s the name you used to know? Who’s “Nicole Dust?”

Well . . . that’s me.

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, but I finally decided to do it just a couple days ago.

I decided to get a pen name.

And here’s why:

  • Right now, I really want to keep my personal life and my writing life separate. 
  • Also, I kind of still think it’s weird that people know my actual name.
  • Um. Pen names are cool! #secretidentity

I’ll probably keep my real name on my previous blog posts for now, just because I don’t have time to change them. But my About Me page is completely different.

A note to later readers: You may have noticed that in my previous posts, the names have been changed to say "Nicole" instead of my actual name. This is just because I wanted continuity and am still weirded out by the thought of my real name online. XD

I don’t know if my commenting name has changed yet. (Apparently it takes a while to change.) But my picture will stay the same, at least, for now! 

*exhales* Right. On to . . .
I’ll just say it now: I’m going on a mini-hiatus.

Now, before you all go, “Wait, what? She literally JUST STARTED blogging,” wait! There’s more.

By “mini-hiatus” I mean that I will be completely offline this week. So I won’t be able to write or publish a blog post then. When I get Wi-Fi, I will do my best to comment on all your amazing blog posts! I hadn’t been keeping up that well last week, and I just need a little time to refuel. (And, you know, I won’t have Internet this week.)

Don’t worry - that post I promised about The Blood Race will be going up. Just not next week.

Anyways, if you wonder, “Where’s Rachael - oh, wait, Nicole - gone?” I’ll be in a place where I probably won’t have Internet connection. 

See you guys in two weeks!

-Nicole (wow, I’ll have to get used to signing off like that)

Do you guys have pen names? Anyone know how to order Worlds Beneath? What did you think of the original topic? (I’ll respond to your comments as soon as I can, so don’t worry - you won’t go unanswered!) 

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14 comments

  1. When you commented on my blog I was like, who's Nicole. :D I guess I know now. I used to use pen name Eowyn. But I don't think google+ liked me changing my name so many times. :D But I do still think pen names are awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yeah, I was worried that something like that would happen! :) Sory about that...... And that’s a cool pen name!

      Delete
  2. I don't go by a pen name, but I really like yours! (I also apologize in advance if I accidentally call you by your previous blogger name in a comment.)

    I haven't read The Blood Race series, but my go-to place for book ordering is Amazon. I checked, and they do have the Worlds Beneath e-book for $7.95. (Barnes and Noble might have it too.)

    Have an fun hiatus!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks! (And it’s fine, I’ll probably forgot I have one at some point.) :)

      Thanks, Kara! And you should read The Blood Race! (I finished it yesterday, and it was great!)

      Thank you so much!

      Delete
  3. I love your new pen name! I obviously have a pen name since my real name is really common. >.<

    Have a good break!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Gray! I like yours too.

      Thanks! See you in a week or two!

      Delete
  4. Worlds Beneath is available on Kindle on Amazon right now. Kate is having some technical difficulties with the paperback, but she's working on getting it up soon!

    Enjoy your hiatus! I think your pen name is pretty! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooooohh, okay, that makes so much sense! I was worried that it would only be available online and then I probably wouldn’t read it. Thank goodness!

      Thank you so much, Ivie! <3

      Delete
  5. Your comments on happiness are really thought provoking!

    And, I love your new pen name Nicole. It's pretty! Believe it or not, my name is also a pen name - I have it for the same reasons you do (except I add that no one can pronounce my real last name...).

    Catherine
    catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks you so much, Catherine!!

      And wow, I didn’t realize that was a pen name. It’s a very convincing one!

      Thanks for reading!

      Delete
  6. I write and blog under a pen name too! It still feels kind of weird, knowing that all my dear blogger friends don't even know my real name... XD I'm sticking to the security of a pseudonym, though, hehe.

    Also YES to what you said about true happiness! Happiness from the world is only temporary - happiness from God is true, lasting JOY. Thank you for that reminder, Nicole. <3

    I love your blog!!! Hope you're having an awesome hiatus. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, pen name buddies!!! Haha, yeah, that’s true.

      You’re very welcome :)

      Thank you so much, Lila!!!! This comment made my day. And yes, I am, but I can’t wait to eat back to writing those blog posts! Thanks for reading!

      Delete
  7. This was such a great message. Like you said, true happiness/lasting joy can only come from God.
    Also, I love your pen name! I go by one online as well, even though IRL everyone calls me a nickname, it still feels too personal.

    Hope you have a great hiatus!

    ~ Ella Marie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Using my real name does feel a little too personal, in my opinion, so that’s why I started using my secret identity. *slinks off to the shadows dramatically*

      Thank you so much, Ella Marie! This comment made my day! <3

      Delete

Welcome to the comment section! I love hearing what you guys think and seeing you guys talk. Just remember to keep it clean, and as always, check back for my replies! <3
-Nicole