Happy Thoughts and tacos

Happy Thoughts just got bigger and a new vision is forming!

Part of me wants to learn the science of all these energetic shifts, but I think that would ruin the magic even if I could comprehend it.

Happy Thoughts are painted ALL OVER the new City Tacos opening in Ocean Beach, San Diego and that experience has unleashed something.

In Vervor, the first day I ever sold “365 Days of Happy Thoughts in a shop :) (this image is now on the back of the new happy thoughts!)

Listen to this crazy timeline: I received my first batch of ‘365 Days of Happy Thoughts’ exactly one year ago; this new version of me immediately and oddly boldly walked into shops and asked them if they’d sell them (excitement+survival=bravery). Through that process I was told to check out ‘Vervor’ on Voltaire street in Ocean Beach. I walked in and asked if he’d sell my product “365 Days of Happy Thoughts.” All he asked was “Are you local?" I said yes and he said absolutely.

He has no idea how that “yes” changed my life that day.

The owner of Vervor, Aaron, was currently supporting Sevahna who was starting the Voltaire Art and Makers Walk along Voltaire street to create a community of crafters and to liven up the street. By the end of September, 2022, Vervor had their one year store anniversary alongside the first ever Voltaire Art and Makers Walk. I participated in every Voltaire Art and Makers Walk that year up until December and am still selling “365 Days of Happy Thoughts” at Vervor (if you’re local, go check out the cutest lil store filled with all the artsy things!). I formed relationships with the vendors who created a community since the inception of the walk; it was beautiful to be part of something from the start with such genuine intentions.

Fast forward to a couple months ago, I finally made it back to participating in the walk amidst my own chaotic year and Sevahna had met the owner of City Tacos who had a lot of creative ideas to make the new City Tacos fit in with Ocean Beach. She connected him with the artists of the Voltaire Art and Makers Walk and I stuck my lil Happy Thought heart in the ring to see if I could add Happy Thoughts.

Happy Helpers made this the most amazing Happy Thought experience :)

Happy thoughts are now ALL OVER that place! I had people want to participate in painting happy thoughts and it was the first time I was doing a Happy Thought thing not alone! I found myself in a leadership position which was interesting to observe in itself; I LOVE the people this project has attracted and I’ve loved growing and learning together. I asked for things I never would have asked for if it weren’t for the people who showed up and asked me the questions. I recognized the energetic light in their eyes; it was the light I still struggle to let shine sometimes, but also the light that Happy Thoughts have entirely shown through. Initially there were going to be 17 painted Happy Thoughts… but NOW there are 29 painted Happy Thoughts! This whole thing grew because of my little happy helpers who shared the excitement of leaving a mark by spreading and sharing a little extra love. It was such a beautiful lesson in the bravery a group can hold and how bright that light can get. It was the sweetest and most humbling thing to have the artists pick Happy Thoughts they wanted near their BEAUTIFUL artwork, to have Jerry, the owner of City Tacos, choose happy thoughts to have painted INSIDE THE RESTAURANT, and to hear so many yesses that the ‘no’s were easy to quiet.

Savannah carrying the Happy Thought energy.

It is scary to take up space, ESPECIALLY in such a loud and visible way. I’ve talked about it in these blogs before, but I’m real comfy flying under the radar and this was not that. This entire season of life has required being seen in a louder and brighter way than I ever have before and that’s had some solid uncomfortable moments. While painting, we had opportunities to remember why we were doing what we were doing and Happy Thoughts did their happy thing to keep us grounded in love as our little light selves. I’m so grateful to have been graced with such awesome people surrounding this project. THANK YOU to to Sevahna for connecting us all, to Jerry and all the City Tacos crew for providing such a creative and safe space to be our authentic selves, to the artists for inviting us in, and to my Happy Helpers who showed up for Happy Thoughts growing! A special shoutout to Savannah, my Happy Thought partner in crime who showed up every damn day :)

The opening of City Tacos is a year after all these connections and creations were made; this is all cyclical and spiraling energy and I genuinely cannot imagine what next year holds. As David Bowie would say

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”

One last crazy thing,

Savannah (pictured above) is a graphic design artist (hit her up for her awesome work! IG: @savro_design); she made my new graphic for Happy Thoughts by Kristin.

At the new City Tacos, Jerry told us early on that he was going to have a built out van for artists to rent out to sell their stuff during the day (woo!). While we were painting the other day, the van showed up, and if this isn’t a manifestation, I don’t know what is...

I told him I can provide the Happy Thoughts, surfboard and cats… haha

My dream for The Happy Thought Project is bigger than products; “365 Days of Happy Thoughts” is my whole heart and I am ALL IN to see where they can go. At the same time, I know there is more than products to be had and I am giving that space to percolate and form in the coming months. I’m getting better at reading the room within myself; this feeling is reminiscent of before the Las Vegas ASD show, everything’s about to change again and I’m feeling a loss while looking to the future with eyes wide open.

While we are in Happy Thoughtlet limbo, the Happy Thoughts Podcast is on Spotify now! This is a thing that is happening outside me, I’m once again just along for the ride. The first episode will air Sunday 7/23/23 while I embark on a temporary journey sans my known business outlets; I plan to share the journey with Happy Thoughts and their impact along the way. I will be back in San Diego to receive the shipment of Happy Thoughts when they arrive; here’s to just doing our best!

Stay safe out there, kids, It’s a wild ride these days!