Have you ever made a list of things that make you utterly, ridiculously, jumping-up-and-down happy? Do you have a running list in your head that you refer back to when you’re having a bad day or when something gets under your skin? I think you should. Putting all the things that make me happy into list form was a pretty fun exercise. Nothing is too big or small to add. I’m printing it out for my fridge!
Life can get crazy. We get stressed and flip out over stupid stuff. We stop calling the people who matter. We ignore those closest to us that are most deserving of our time. We neglect our own needs. We rush around and check off things on our never-ending mental to-do list. The list goes on… and all for what?
Share something from your “What makes me happy list” below in the comments!
Waking up early, making coffee, and sitting down with Dagny for a bit before work to surf the web. I absolutely love my morning quiet time on the couch and it’s one of the top things that make me happy. So I’m putting it first.
Afternoon naps on a rainy day. Or just naps in general.
Birthday and holiday celebrations and decorations — just celebrating special moments.
Dagny rolling over and offering me her stomach for some tummy rubs. Pure joy (for both of us)!
Waking up and realizing it’s still the weekend.
Getting the grocery store’s promos for the week in the mail and seeing that a bunch of my favorite brands are on sale this week.
Getting through BODYATTACK and feeling strong at the end.
Logging into my blog’s WordPress dashboard and seeing that I have new comments. Love hearing from all of you!
Getting a package. Surprise or not, I love it when the postman pulls up to my door with something that’s NOT a bill.
Snow!!! Watching it. Walking in it. Playing in it. EVERYTHING SNOW.
Taking the time to write out a special thank-you note (like these beauties!) to someone who deserves it.
Calling my parents is one of the things that makes me happy.
Breakfast food including pancakes (Kodiak Cakes protein-packed mix is my fave), waffles and French toast.
Logging into my credit card account online and seeing a $0 balance, meaning no interest. Recently paid mine off and SO PROUD.
Seeing those around me happy and successful in their personal and professional endeavors.
Sitting under an umbrella on the beach and watching the waves crash.
Buying new workout clothes even though my collection is already quite complete.
Seeing someone’s face light up after giving them a compliment.
When someone acknowledges I’ve worked really hard on something.
Trying a new fitness class.
Writing on my blog and growing Oui In France even more.
Discovering a new-to-me part of France (like Corsica) or visiting a place I love.
When your American debit/credit card works in France… the first time.
Going to bed early and waking up early the next day.
A Starbucks chai tea latte.
Snuggling up with a good book. Currently reading: Left of Boom: How a Young CIA Case Officer Penetrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. I saw the author’s iAmA on Reddit and was hooked.
Getting an email from a friend I haven’t talked to in a while.
Getting a good deal on something.
Pizza from this place in town that has excellent thin-crust pizza.
Getting my nails done — although it doesn’t happen much in France.
Using my new Le Creuset Dutch oven. I finally just bit the bullet and bought one when a friend from home was here and wanted to cook for us. So far, I’ve made a bunch of things AND LOVE IT.
Not having plans and just doing whatever you feel like.
Admiring (and sometimes buying) the beautiful spring flowers. The ones at the park and the ones in the florist both do the trick. The picture below is one I took in the park down the street. They last about a week but are so incredibly beautiful. I’m not a plant person and usually kill anything green, but something about vibrant flowers just gives me an immediate boost. They’re a metaphor for life in a way since they only last a short time. Our lives are short too and if we never take time to appreciate where we are in the moment, what’s the point? Flowers make me focus on the now, appreciate it for what it is and just be. If we don’t, we might miss something important.
What’s on your what makes me happy list? Tell me about things that make you happy below in the comments!
Read Part 2 of things that make me happy here.
Such a fun list! I’d like to add some French related ones: getting complimented on my spoken French (I am still so self-conscious of my speaking abilities!) and going to buy a baguette and they give you one that’s fresh and warm. Miam, miam!
Thank you! I don’t think I ever fully appreciated flowers until I moved to France. They’re everywhere, even at regular neighborhood parks. Since I go everywhere on foot here, I think I take in my surroundings more and admire the blooms at the florist (among other things).
Love this list and looking forward to part 2!
Beautiful Pix Diane ! Great Article ! For me it’s surviving stage 3 cancer and becoming cancer free ! I’m so thankful to be alive ! Also my mum and wonderful incredible friends, you included !
Thanks very much and big congrats on surviving cancer. I so appreciate your being here!
I LOVE cinnamon ice cream and only find it very rarely. In my NJ hometown, a homemade ice cream shop used to make it but now I’ll find something similar when the seasonal gingerbread/pumpkin flavors come around. In France, I don’t think it exists. I could go for some right now! Love your list!!
Great post! For me: a ride through the drive-thru safari park, swimming on a hot day, birds chirping (especially a mocking bird-I love the different songs!), a great cup of coffee, seeing my sons in a great mood/happy, a novel that grabs me and pulls me in, an improvement with the numbers on the scale, when my students have an a-ha moment, and when I feel serene. I can’t wait to see part 2. Thanks!
Love reading these — thanks for sharing your list! Agree with you on a lot of them and especially love my cup of coffee in the morning. What do you teach?
A life lived according to nature requires only the bare necessities.
3. My husband just graduating from college…..YAAAY!
4. Travel in general. Life on the road is great.
Excellent list! Congrats to your husband! What’s on your travel list for the next year?