Life’s Simple Pleasures. What makes you happy?

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  — Abraham Lincoln

With the effects of a seriously tough economy only beginning to lighten up a little, it’s easy to get and stay down when challenges of just getting by can feel overwhelming. Though it’s common to see lots of not-so-happy-looking faces these days, there always seems to be that annoyingly cheerful soul that just ruins our bad mood. Don’t they know times are tough? What makes them so different? They surely can’t be going through stuff as hard as ours…

It’s easy to get discouraged and stuck in a gloomy rut when things aren’t going well. Truth be known, that cheerful person may be going through worse things than you. The only difference is, they choose to be happy.  And, the good news is: the habits happy people exercise are easy to learn or at least borrow for a while.

Here are the Top 5 Happiness Keys:

1. Relationships -  Happy people reach out to friends, family and acquaintances, cultivating those relationships even when they are unhappy or grumpy. It doesn’t have to be anything terribly taxing. A short note to an old high school friend, a hug with your significant other, or a brief chat with the cashier at the grocery store checkout can make us all feel less isolated.

 

2. Gratitude -  Happy people remind themselves of the good things in their lives. Whether it’s good health, or a job they like, or having a short commute, or a good dinner, there is something to be thankful for even on the dreariest of days. So, no matter how dark the clouds, happy people choose to appreciate when it’s daytime.

 

3. Passions – Happy people – even those who work jobs they don’t like, or who may be going through traumatic events – make time for the things that make them feel most alive. Whether it’s crafting something or singing or biking or gardening, doing something you enjoy doing is essential to a strong sense of well-being. It’s marvelous, and often free, therapy.
   

 

4. Prudence – Resisting the urge to splurge on some ‘retail therapy’ and channeling that drive into a cleaning or renovation project is something happy people do. In our culture of buy now and pay later, we are often over our heads in needless debt which creates terrible stress and makes us very unhappy. The lift enjoyed by that self-restraint and satisfaction of a sparkling clean kitchen or that freshly re-finished coffee table will be more than worth the effort.

 

5. Simple pleasures – Happy people know that even on the worst of days Life’s simplest pleasures can help keep things in better perspective. Hard times pass, but those little delights that help brighten our day can be repeated – and enjoyed – again and again.

Here is a list of some simple pleasures, a number of which will surely make you smile.

1. the way babies smell
2. a handwritten letter
3. waking up in a good mood…for no real reason
4. singing in the shower
5. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
6. doing something nice for your neighbor
7. a home cooked meal
8. laughing
9. movie theater popcorn
10. playing hookey
11. coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
12. crisp cotton sheets
13. soft skin
14. old family recipes
15. the first daffodils of spring
16. sleeping in
17. an exercise endorphin high
18. window boxes
19. a perfect cup of coffee
20. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
21. a bubble bath
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs
31. a long walk that clears your head
32. a bear hug
33. The Beatles
34. smiling at a stranger
35. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
36. butterflies
37. staying in your pj’s all day
38. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
39. fresh herbs
40. a glass of wine
41. rainy afternoons
42. the funny things kids say
43. a novel you can get lost in
44. finding the perfect piece of clothing…on sale
45. clean laundry
46. the wind in your hair
47. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
48. sharing an umbrella
49. the smell of lavender
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings…even if they’re fictional
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door…
56. …or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain soda
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. geraniums on a windowsill
62. slow dancing
63. the smell of fresh-baked bread
64. cheesy, uplifting musicals
65. great stories
66. the smell of gasoline
67. the cold side of the pillow
68. love letters
69. old friends…
70. …new friends
71. really great advice
72. green lights all the way home
73. the sound of rain hitting the windows
74. sitting in a booth
75. holding hands
76. a great hair day with no effort
77. building a fort with your kids
78. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
79. fireflies
80. the perfect taco
81. hot chocolate – with marshmallows!
82. jumping in puddles
83. old photographs
84. birds hopping on the sidewalk
85. Ella Fitzgerald
86. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
87. your softest t-shirt
88. a new magazine in the mail
89. fireplaces with a fire in them
90. having exact change
91. a pull-through parking space
92. a baguette — crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
93. when a dog licks your hand
94. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
95. using your favorite dishes
96. reading your child a bedtime story
97. Girl Scout Cookies
98. flossing
99. kissing someone you love
100. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning
102. roasting marshmallows over a crackling campfire
103. the smell of fresh cut grass
104. puppy breath
105. morning songbirds
106. watching a thunderstorm at night
107. mom’s homemade pot roast with potatoes and carrots
108. baby feet
109. a silk blouse
110. homemade ice cream in July

Have some you’d like to add? Just join DiscoverEugene (for free) and put your simple pleasure in a comment.

For more info on how to be happy, visit www.IChooseHappy.org.