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Happy Snippets

by | Aug 10, 2022 | Blog, Children & Teens, Daily Plan, Families, Mental Health, Trauma, Wellness Toolbox

Happy Snippets

By Carol Bailey Floyd, Retired Advanced Level WRAP Facilitator and Former Director of Programs, Mental Health Recovery and WRAP

I recently joined a writing group and was trying to decide what type of writing I wanted to do. I began by writing happy snippets—brief memories from my life—as an easy way to get started. Now my writing group calls me a “snippeteer!”

As I was writing these little snippets, I would email some of them to the people involved. I received really good reactions, so I knew I was on the right path, and it encouraged me to write more. A surprising thing happened as I wrote these little snippets of my happy memories throughout my life. I had often had trouble with bad memories and flashbacks over the years, but the more snippets I wrote, the more they diminished. These snippets were steadily improving the quality of my life! I get to own my happy memories, and since they are written, I always get to keep them. They are real reference points in my life now.

I have been involved for many years with WRAP. I live my WRAP every day. It helps me to stay in balance and have a fulfilling life. When negative things happen, like bad memories, I use wellness tools and action plans in response. I was so happy to discover that snippets are an empowering wellness tool and action plan.

Here is an example of a snippet from the past:

When my daughter Maribeth was about 3 or 4 years old, we made an apple pie together. It was on my bucket list and I was so happy with the process. We had so much fun, and Maribeth got flour all over herself—she looked so cute! The pie turned out great and we took it around the neighborhood giving out slices with paper plates and forks. What a wonderful memory!

I write snippets daily on my Facebook page as “Today’s good news.” I’ve been doing this for several years. These snippets help ensure that I am alert to the good news in my life every day. Emphasizing my good news is making negative thoughts occur less often.

I had always been sort of afraid of my bad memories. They seemed to imply that I had made many mistakes in my life and I would probably make many more. I felt shame and embarrassment. The snippets that I have been writing are clear evidence that there are fun and happy times in my life.

I feel like I am fortifying myself with the reality of all the good aspects of my life. I finally feel that I am not at the mercy of bad memories and flashbacks. What an amazing gift these little offhand happy snippets have given me!

Related Resources 

Explore WRAP principles and apply them to your life situation with these books and materials: