“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying. I agree wholeheartedly. While I certainly understand sadness and depression, having spent some time in that desolate territory, I do not wish to pitch my tent and dwell there.
Some days and seasons are hard to live through. Sometimes you have to recognize when you’re in a situation that’s over your head and you need help. Sometimes you need a listening ear, even perhaps a professional counselor, to sort through all the mess and confusion.
But research has shown that people who focus on happy thoughts and put a smile on their face, even when they’re feeling down, are just happier folks.
Today I’ve been thinking about some things that make me happy. Here are a few, in no particular order:
A child’s laughter
A good belly laugh
Dancing
The aroma of lilacs
Learning something new
Being able to say something in Spanish or French (the latter, I’m not tres bien at…imagine that accent “eggu” over the “e” in “tres”)
Laughing at myself when I do something silly
Doing something silly just for the heck of it
My kitty stretched out on my lap with her paws extended over her head, in a posture of complete relaxation
The ditties my husband makes up and sings to me in his slightly out-of-tune voice
Seeing my children do something kind for someone
The smell of molasses cookies baking
Cooking
Making a dish for a neighbor or someone who’s sick
Having a conversation with what would be considered an old person
Reading a good book
Reading a trashy novel every once in a while
Getting a letter from a friend
Hearing someone giggle
A thought-provoking quotation
Cartoons (both printed and animated)
Taking a mental health day from work
Puttering around the house
The smell of laundry fresh from the dryer
The feel of folding clothes
Finding mates for socks (the washer usually eats one or two)
Going on a scavenger hunt
Playing volleyball
Taking a walk and stopping to smell a flower or look at a beautiful tree
Good conversations
Meeting interesting people (I gravitate toward musicians and artists)
Trying to figure out what makes people tick (although this is often frustrating)
A beautiful, sunshiny day
Watching snowflakes outside my window
Hiking, especially in autumn
The crunch of leaves as you walk through them
Radnor Lake
Walking on a trail in the woods by myself
Wine with a good friend
Babies after a bath, with their flyaway hair (and hooded towels are just too funny)
Finishing a project and feeling like I’ve given it my best
Drawing, coloring, painting
Enjoying an art show
Reading the Psalms, pondering the Gospels, trying to fathom what in the world the apostle Paul meant by some of his writing
Speaking or writing words of encouragement to lift someone’s spirits
My family having a good discussion around the dinner table
A humble author
Watching TV with our entire family (seldom happens; we don’t have many shows we all like, nor are we all home at the same time)
Seeing positive developments in my children’s lives
Holding hands with John
Hearing Daniel say “I love you” as he signs off the phone
Having lunch with a friend
Watching Julie take pride in keeping her car clean
Laughing together at a joke
E-mail jokes from Jim and Gail
Knowing I’ve listened to someone else and tried to understand that person’s point of view without telling my own story
Singing
Making music on the piano
Finally enjoying singing in Latin at church (it took a while for me to get there)
Watching people in my congregation…especially during baptism and Communion
Hearing our children’s and youth choirs sing
A little Bach, a little Beethoven, some Three Dog Night, Elton John’s early music, The Eagles, Mozart, Norah Jones, Latin music, classical guitar…oh, there is so much good music and great musicians, this is just a mere sampling
These are just a few things that make me happy or bring me joy. There are many more that I can’t think of at the moment. Oh, one joy is knowing I’ve got food in the crockpot for dinner and I won’t have to think about it later in the day when I’m tired. This happens about once in a blue moon. 😀
Anne's Attic 