Be Happy

Being happy is something we all strive for. It is conducive to good mental and physical health and causes us to be productive and strong contributors to society. These elements are important for me as a dancer so I can keep my body strong.

Other benefits of happiness: Shared camaraderie. We as human beings gravitate towards people with infectious smiles and laughter, much work can be accomplished when joy is involved. Let’s state the obvious: It’s refreshing to be around those who make us feel good about ourselves and each other.

While this is a great emotion and state of being, not all of us can actually experience these things for ourselves. We may pine to just be able to have a smile crack the corners of our mouths and chase the blues away. This can cause frustration. In part maybe it’s because we would love to have happiness for ourselves but don’t know how to get it.

What if you are one of these people in which happiness eludes you? Here’s some very basic things you can try to see if it helps you.

Please understand, I am not a counselor, I am not a medical doctor. This article is written with the intention of giving a few basic helpful hints to feeling a bit “blue”. If you are experiencing severe depression, suicidal tendencies, thoughts of horror or anything extreme, please, please, get help from a licensed professional. I want the best for you, now please go get it.

1.                  Be around happy people. As stated above, their positive attitudes may become infectious and rub off on you. You may learn a few things from them and how they stay in a happy state of mind.

2.                  Don’t be so hard on yourself with “anything”. Do what you can do, do what you need to do, and don’t let anyone pressure you to do more than that.

3.                  Give yourself “Self Care Days” and cater to your needs.

4.                  Invest in yourself. Go back to school, start an “at home business”, journal, learn a new language or how to play an instrument.

5.                  Separate the wheat from the chaff. Not all undertakings are worthy of our time. If there’s anything in your life that is stressful, please don’t give it one more moment’s attention. Do away with it; this is the chaff that you should discard from your life.

6.                  Light exorcising. Take a walk in comfortable shoes and clothes during weather that is not too hot or cold.

7.                  Visit museums. Museums are a great way to divert any worrisome tendencies you may have that could possibly be keeping you from experiencing happiness. (Window shopping in a mall has this effect on me personally, it’s the noise level that rattles me.)

8.                  Fun hobbies. Coloring, puzzles, gabbing with friends on the phone, watch comedies on TV, any art or spectator sport.

9.                  Amusement parks. Get on a roller coaster and scream, laugh and feel free. No one will judge you because they’re all doing the same thing.

10.              Pray. Meditate. I’ll let you decide what this means to you. All I know is that sometimes I have to reach beyond and above myself to achieve that which I cannot do for myself. Although, the action of reaching out, is in fact, in our own hands, but first we must attempt and reach.

My biggest recommendation: Get Up And Dance! But of course you knew I would say that ;)  Put on your favorite tunes and dance like a maniac.

These are just a few things to try to kick start your happiness. If your sorrow continues, I repeat: get professional assistance. Depression at that severe a level can be serious and nothing to mess around with. I suffered with some depression, and understand. Please do not take this light hearted article to judge me or my understanding.

Be well beloveds, now go take care of yourself.

Joy is peace and happiness is the expression of it.

Happy Valentine’s Day

For the hearing impaired. We have included a transcript

Noelle Notes 2-14-16
4:36
Transcribed by Jay K.

Hey beautiful. I hope everyone is doing very well today. And I’m still sick. Nothing to
be worried about though. I know a couple of you got worried “You’re sick again, Noelle,
what’s wrong did you go to the hospital?” It’s not that kind of sick, it’s just a stupid
cold thing. I’m working on building up my immune system, so until I get it down it’s gonna
be bumpy. So, this was just a bump and yeah I don’t feel too good but nothing like last
time. This is pretty minor in comparison. I just need to get over it. It’s just a head
sinus thing, well you know how you feel when you get sick, kinda icky, but this too shall
pass. It’s not holding me back from dancing, teaching and whatever I have to do.

I do have to go to sleep pretty early but, it’s all ok. Let’s see, well Happy Valentines
Day, that is tomorrow, although by the time this video goes up it may actually be 1 in the
morning so if it is Happy Valentines Day to you. And go squeeze your beloved, and you know
what, if you don’t have the special partner in your life that’s ok, cause you know I’m sure
you have siblings, parents, somebody you love. Valentines Day doesn’t always have to be for
lovers. It can be for just people who love each other. Friends. You know. It’s just fun.

We have a special lover’s surprise for you guys. My husband and I did a beautiful photoshoot
today. And I promised I would share some really interesting little cheats that you can do
for gifts and it doesn’t cost anything really. If you have a camera and you have somebody
who’s half way decent at photography you can do an incredible photoshoot. If you know
anything about lighting you really can do a lot of graet and creative things. So, we went
at it today and we gave each other some really special Valentines Day gifts by doing that.
And when times are tough that’s what you do, right. You make a moment. Happy Valentines Day.
Please do know that everything and anything that you may see us do, we don’t spend a fortune on
anything.

I don’t want to give you guys the wrong idea, not that we’re cheap, but we do have to be
very, very frugal with our income. So we do our best to find ways like for Valentines Day,
we did something that cost us nothing at all, but we were able to produce really beautiful
photos and I can’t wait to show them, share them to you all. I think you’ll like them a lot.
So why not take this opportunity to get with your friends or your loved ones, or your lover or
whoever it is and celebrate Valentines Day in a special way. Make somebody a special video,
take pictures, make a day of it. A beautiful photoshoot right?

So thank you all very much for your support and your love. I hope I give an ounce of that back to you.
THis is one of our props. Amazing. I love fabric, right? You know that by now. This is one of the
things I utilized in our photoshoot. I think you’ll like how we used it. So many blessings to
you, stay safe, keep spreading the love. Happy Valentines Day. Sending my love to you.

Freedom!

Freedom 12-6-15
6:41

On this cold night and I can't sleep I decided to watch Les Miserables. It's a very
intense times Ive seen it about 6 times, actually make that 7. I forgot I watched
it on the way home two years ago when I toured with my company back east in NY. Everyone
in the plane around me was checking me out, I could not stop crying to save my life.
It's one of those heart wrenching stories it is so beautiful. Redemption, forgienes,
justice, mercy, kindness, love. It's really a great film, watch it, or read it.
Isn't it Victor Hugo who wrote that? I could be wrong. Read it.

And a lot of people really don't understand what this film is about. It is about
God moving through us to show love and mercy and there are many other themes but
that is one of the biggest ones. It's about an uprising and a revolution, common
folk became warriors to fight for what they love. They didn't want to be controlled
any more. When watching this film, I'm realizing something, our heart beat strong and
loud, our hearts desire to know truth we really do. I just want to reach out to you
and encourage you.

God can use many things to open doors to open our hearts. He can use films, songs,
dances, other people, a kind heart, a smile. Be wise. Be like Jean Val Jean and
don't push away that person. Because I don't know if you know the gravity of all this.
You know where I'm coming from . The thing is, we could be the ones tying a noose
around our necks and not even realize it. I almost did it, I almost pushed away my
husband. But I didn't. On February 10 quite a few years ago, I found my true love.
I found it in my husband, I found it in my Lord and Savior. He was there for me
every step of the way. Every February 10 is more than just an anniversary for my
wedding day. It is truly when I became the bride for the Lord. And I gave my heart
to and I surrundered my callousness, my bitterness, my hate, my envy, my jealousy,
my pain, my fears, my insecurities, I laid it all at the foot of the cross. And
before I said I do to Kristopher I said I do to the Lord. And it's such a sweet soft
knocking on my heart. Just like a soft knock on the door and I said hi.

It's really kinda dopey sounding. I didn't have a very climactic transformation at all.
Leading up to it was anothe story, car accident that almost killed my mom. It was
pretty traumatic all the events leading up to it. But my salvation day was so beautiful,
and soft and gentle. Just beauty and peace. So I had two fathers who led me down the
aisle. Ive had many dads. The two that were there: One was my biological father. THe other
one was my step dad. He was a Jewish man, he was something else. ANd they both led me
down the ailse and they both held my hands. And then they gave my hands to the preacher.
And then they gave my hands to my husband. But more importantly, my husband gave my
hand and he said, "You have my hand, take my hand, now take the Lord's." And I took the
Lord's hand. It was a beautiful day. I want you to know it takes a lot of courage to
take that step. That step into freedom, but once you do, you will breathe like you have
never breathed before. All that crustiness around your heart will fall away.

Oh sure you'll remember the things of old. It just won't hurt as much. And sure you'll still
have those scars, but you know what you can be healed, you can be whole. YOu can then show
off your scars. Take those skeletons out of your closet and make them dance, that's what
I do. YOu'll no longer feel shame, you'll no longer feel the need to impose that upon
other people. You can be friends with God and reconsiled. So I encourage you, go ahead
watch or read Les Miserables. And just open your heart.

"And to love another person is to see the face of God." Quoted from the film: Les Miserables.

Quake Vision

Original AirDate: 11-18-15

   7:52

In my vison, when I first saw this I thought it was ood because we saw who did it and 

ok fine somebody hit the pole then I'm thinking ok this is gonna fall. But what struck

me oddest right then and there I was triggered with a vison. Because after the big quake

this is how everything looked and it's like all of this is flattened. That pole every time we walk

here reminds that its an inevitability. 

I'Ve been warning a lot of people. And I guess that anybody would know that we are gonna 

have major quake in this area it's just the way it is. No one needs to be clairvoyant or

psychic Imnot any of those things but I just don't think the severity of what ive seen in 

my visions in penetrating in anybody's heads because we did get through the Northridge quake.

I wasn't here I was in Vegas with my family. But just because one was lived through and

survived thankfully and gratefully, we can't let that build up a haughtiness or

pridefullness in our spirit you have to be prepared.

I just have this feeling because of what Ive seen in my vision that this is just not going

to be a severe quake, I keep seeing...  I hear people saying, "It wasn't supposed to be like

this." and I think it was over a 7.3 magnitude but it's the way it was shaking too and how

close to the surface it is going to be. There's just a lot of factors innvolved. Watch out for

the firehydrant. So that's what concerns me: Is that just because one quake was survived

...but remember all the damage. Again I wasn't here but we felt it in Vegas. It was pretty

severe there even, the damage that was done. I just want everyone to be safe. I don't want

anyone to get hurt and I wanna make sure that people know.

I hope that post serves as a reminder. That wasn't created by a quake someone ran into that

thing which is scary enough. You can see how out of place it is. If you turn the lense that

way I mean look at that it's really creepy looking to have something that you  normally see 

standing almost perfectly errect--not. It's very disconcerting. But everything was like that.

Everything was gone, reduced to rubble. And I'm on my knees. This is why I keep saying it

alarms me to know where I am in my vision after it happens and I'm on my knees and I'm saying,

"They didn't listen I tried to warn them and no one listened to me." 

I don't know why I have these visions. I hate them. THere's some things I'd rather not see.

And really the strange...I don't know if it's irony or not, I'm losing my vision yet I can 

see this stuff clearly. What is that. It's like my life and the journeys I've been on would

make one hell of a film. I don't know what this means, I just want people to be safe and

careful. But yeah it's a very strange, surreal thing.

Be safe everybody, please. Be thoughtful. Think about your surroundings, know where the

exits are. My dad ingrained that in my head. Have a plan. Be wise. Be prepared. I think

most catastrophies that do happen not that they could be avoided but I think they could

be less severe if people were prepared.

I want to be 100% wrong with this vision I don't want to be on my knees in the rubble

practically screaming, "They wouldn't listen." Even my worst enemies I wouldn't want to

have this happen to them. I mean my heart hurts any time anyone is hurt in any way. It

just puts everything into perspective. I'm told by so many of my mentors, they say, "You have

gifts that you should be grateful for you should be thankful for." I always tell them the

same thing: If you saw them the way I did I don't think you would be grateful for them I think

you would run for the hills and beg whoever: God - demons, I don't know you'd beg whoever to take 

them away from you. I appreciate the heads up but they're just so dramatic and graphic and I cant

escape them because they're right there right in front of me.

It's not like I'm thinking them up I'll just be walking like when I saw that lamp post bent

like that. I was just walking and I saw the whole thing - the earthquake. YOu know it just

hits me like that. I was thinking that much except trying to see where I'm walking. Anyhow take

everything for what you will. But if I'm even slightly right guys please be prepared. Know this comes

from a place of love and not condemnation in any way shape or form. I don't know how anyone

could read condemnation in that. Im just trying to give you a heads up.

All right that's all-love you!

Autumn Joy

Do you feel the briskness in the air? Isn't it beautiful? Oh my gosh this is like...

look at how magnificent that is. I don't know if the video can pick it up. Can you see

that? It's so glorious. This reminds when I was back east with my mom and she would take

us to the pumpkin farm. It was in the Catskills upstate New York and it'd be cold like it

is today. This is crazy this is California, Los Angeles, winter type day. 

Let's go over here. I want to find more leaves let's go back over here. This makes me feel

like I did when I was a little girl. She'd sayd, "Noelle slow down." I would run, I just loved to run.

I didn't know where I was going I just wanted to feel like I was free like I was flying.

These have just fallen from the tree you can tell by their color, they're pretty damp. They

haven't been given enough time to fall from the tree. They should be this beautiful red,

burgundy color. I think it's getting too cold too quickly the weather keeps bouncing back and

forward and it's confusing the trees. Oh here's one. This is pretty close. This is beautiful.

And it feels so good. 

What I find amazing is that we're seeing the signs of a life cycle. This is the autumn of the

life cycle. It gives back to the earth so then it can nurture it and prepare the soil so then

when spring comes it keeps the ground warm, and it keeps the seeds warm so that when spring 

comes the fruit from the seeds will grow.

One of my favorite times of the year is autumn because this is when we can harvest the fruits

of our labor.

If there is to be true change

If there is to be true change,  true progress with anything

It has to start from the bowels and work its way up.

It has to start from here in the heart and work its way out. Otherwise it's just a white washed sepulcher a white washed tomb and there's still a whole bunch of crap left inside of it.

Copyright Sept 25, 2015 All rights reserved. 

Excerpted from NoelleRoseAndressen's YouTube video and her book: Dance Warrior (official trademark)

Skin Deep

Skin Deep

written by Noelle Rose Andressen July 28, 2017 copyright
Based on a "LIVE facebook video" transcribed by Anne S.

Good morning. I hope everyone is having a wonderful, beautiful day. As I traveled on my day today, I noticed one of my friends on social media was posting something beautiful and it made me think a lot. Actually, two people posted something very similar. It’s about beauty being in the eye of the beholder. Thank you to my two beautiful friends who were posting that. 

I think that pretty much everyone knows by now that I’m legally blind which means my vision is deteriorating. I have glaucoma and my peripheral vision is shrinking. That means things on the side are not seen well if at all. I used to have really outstanding peripheral vision and as a dancer I really appreciated that.

When I was reflecting upon “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, I thought that’s such a beautiful sentiment. What is that going to mean for me as my vision deteriorates further. I don’t know what the outcome is going to be. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Not to feel sorry for myself at all but to change it up, what does it mean or what will it then to me: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”? if I don't have my vision any longer.

We all get older, let’s just talk about that reality first. As we get older we age. Things happen, graying of the hair, our skin gets thinner, we lose all that cute little baby fat that we had and the circles and dark lines under our eyes get more pronounced. Our features change a little bit and our skin doesn’t do what we want it to do or what it used to do. We can’t eat the things that we used to eat, (although I don’t know how good it is to eat some of the things we used to eat. I didn’t have such a great diet when I was younger.)

What does that mean for us then, when beauty leaves us? Or our vision leaves us so we can't see? Where is the beauty then? We all talk about inner beauty, but what is inner beauty? I guess that’s going to be in the “eye of the beholder” too.

That tells me that it’s all about character and it’s all about personality. Our bodies are great. We all have this carriage, this vessel, this body, but what goes beyond it when beauty is fleeting (as they say) and like for me or some of you also have vision issues too, my heart goes out to you too. What do we do when we no longer can see the beauty of a rose or a butterfly; what do we do? For us as human beings when we relate to one another where do we go from there? Where is the beauty then?

I really believe it is in your character.

I thought maybe this gives me an opportunity to keep thinking and keep refining my character traits, my personality. No one has “arrived” no body’s perfect and nobody will be perfect so don’t be hard on yourself. I’m not cool all the time. I can lose it just like the rest of you can. We’re not perfect beings and to put somebody up on that pedestal (they’re always here, they’re always perfect, level headed), you’re setting them up to fail and you’re setting yourself up to look badly upon somebody because of that. That’s not character traits, that’s having stress. That’s having a moment; we all have them.

How about a behavioral character trait? If I’m more peaceful, does that make me a more beautiful person in the eye of the beholder? I guess it could but to me, what I want to work on (and sure that’ll help me and make me more easy to be around and not be stressed – I have a high stress job, and it makes it easier for everybody, well ok well that’s good.) and what is even more beautiful, at least to me, is somebody who speaks the truth in kindness and love; somebody who loves somebody and holds them accountable for wrong doing. Somebody who sees the best in somebody when no one else can. These are beautiful character traits. It’s all about giving, notice how that is? At least it is for me.

As I age, and as I lose my vision too, I want to be around people who can appreciate good character traits. I also want to be a person that has good character traits. Not that outer beauty is not appreciated. It’s what attracts us to people or things. It makes you say, “Oh let’s inspect this a little further and see what kind of beauty is there.” So you go a little bit further and a little bit deeper and you find out “Ok, that’s not just beautiful on the surface there’s beauty within too.”

Dwelling upon all this gave me another moment and another opportunity to become a better person and also to refine my character traits and also to rise above the mire and do the best that I can.

I won't give up, you don't give up!

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Noelle Andressen is an Emmy nominated writer, producer and music arranger. She has authored the 5 book series: "Dance Warrior" Book Series. The first book is set to be released very soon. She is also a dancer-choreographer that has had the privilege of being photographed by legendary dance photographer Lois Greenfield (photo release 2016). She's known for her many works on camera as an actress and behind the lens as a story-teller with her screenplays. She took this skill and applied it to her dance company: Rubans Rouges Dance and creates thought provoking "Dance Drama" that beckons you to "Feel the Experience" (TM/slogan mark).