I saw this over at Reader Voracious and it seemed like the perfect way to reset my attitude. I have been grappling with some very stressful things lately (kids, job, Health, the meaning of life, etc.) and my mental health has taken a hit. It’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the terrible things, but I don’t want to spend another minute in The Land of the Bitter and Sad. So, without further ado, here’s a list of 50 little things that make me happy!
- Silly repartee with my daughter
- Hugging my son
- Long phone calls with my mother
- Sweet texts from my boyfriend
- The smell of yeast when baking bread
- Cuddling with my cat
- Hiking along one of the beautiful trails in the Pacific Northwest, admiring snow-capped mountains, fields of wildflowers and gem-like lakes
- Playing Brahms on the Piano
- Sunshowers
- The smell of sagebrush just after it rained
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Pretty yarn on the needles
- Blackberry hibiscus iced tea
- Sleeping under a heavy comforter when it’s cold out
- Guitar lessons with Ted and Claire
- Getting lost in a good book
- Geeking out over a spreadsheet
- Watching Amelie
- The heart-shaped splotch on my cat’s back
- Taking off on a jet plane
- Weekend car trips
- Wandering through a bookstore or library
- Fresh-baked almond croissants
- Answering the door to see my boyfriend standing there with a shy smile on his face
- Meeting my mother at the airport
- Cooking with my mom
- Cutting in to the good fabric
- Wearing a quirky hat
- Kitty purrs
- Silence after a snow fall
- Autumn leaves
- Autumn sunshine
- Making dinner for someone who appreciates it
- Wearing pajamas all day
- Listening to music that reminds me of my father (Louis Prima, Bill Evans, Chet Baker, Palestrina…)
- Singing loudly along to music while driving somewhere
- Tidying up my apartment
- Eating out somewhere new
- Reading cookbooks
- Decorating cookies
- Jogging when in shape
- Using good quality art supplies
- Colorful sunsets
- Hunting for four-leaf clovers and sand dollars
- Joking around with my friends
- Wearing something pretty
- Drinking a good gin and tonic or a good mojito
- Walking in a park with the swallows circling you
- Spotting wild animals in their proper habitat: bears, cougars, foxes, coyotes, etc.
- Cat naps