What Makes Me Happy
It’s been a long, cold winter, those of us not living in Florida would agree. Too many days cooped up inside. Bundling up to go outside, and dearly wishing we were inside. Frankly, it has gotten a bit depressing, this weather.
But today when I woke up, something was just in the air. (Besides pollen. Lots of pollen. Gesundheit.) I don’t know what it was, but I just felt….
Happy.
Was it the sunshine? The tulips fighting their way up, despite last week’s snow? The three-day weekend we have ahead of us?
I’m not sure. But I do know what does make me happy:
Squeezey hugs from my 8-year old. Seriously, they can cure what ails you (if she doesn’t cut off your airway in the process).
My son’s laughter. He has the best laugh – contagious, uncontrollable, and goofy. Even when he is the only one who thinks he is hilarious, his laugh will win you. Every time.
Tulips. Preferably sitting in a vase in my kitchen. Seriously, is there a happier flower?
Seeing a new follower on my blog. Or a comment on a post. (Hint, hint.) Or new follower on Google+. (Ahem.) I know. It’s a bit shallow, but we all need affirmation right? “You like me, you really like me!”
Hearing the words “No homework tonight!”. That shouldn’t be a thing, I know, but this Singapore Math that they do? Let’s just say that some nights, helping with the homework is even less desirable than repeatedly hitting myself over the head with a two-by-four. I’d rather clean my oven. Or clean your oven. And that’s saying a lot. My daughter loves math, and last night even she was muttering “This is a really stupid way to do it. This is stupid.” (We don’t use the word “stupid” in our house, but seeing how they were teaching multiplication even had me agreeing with her.)
Chocolate chip cookies, still warm from my oven. Or maybe a still-warm, perfectly baked brownie. You really can’t go wrong with either. Which leads me to…
My kitchen. Sitting in my kitchen makes me happy. It used to be my least favorite room in the house, but thanks to mass destruction caused by renters, I have a shiny new kitchen with big shiny toys and I spend most of my time in here – it’s my new office, as well.
Cruising. No, not the kind we did at 17 in our cars (down main street and through the McDonalds), but the kind on the big shiny ship. Sitting on deck in the warm sunshine, breeze blowing, heading towards our next tropical island, “Mango margarita? Why yes thank you” and eating dinner together every night – one that I didn’t have to cook or clean up after – that’s happiness.
Finding shoes that I love, actually in stock in my size…and on sale. Win win win win win.
Oh…and the song “Happy”, by Pharrell Williams. You can’t hear it and not dance in your kitchen/car/soccer field/grocery store. Really.
So I wanna know:
What makes you happy?
14 Comments
HonestAndTruly
All of that. And definitely NOT the forecast I just heard of 50s and rain for the next 6 days. Grrrr. OH and having a house. Wish me luck, as we may go look at one today that JUST came up so shouldn’t be under contract before we see it. Again.
PS that homework? Send him over here. We have fun doing homework in our house. The boys could do it together 😉 Because I’m a masochist. And married to a math teacher.
mamaslosinit
Okay the cruise lines kind of freak me out, but everything else about this list I can definitely stand behind! All happy things!
Jenn
aw, c’mon, Kathy…nothing like being on a ship with 3,000 of your (ahem) closest friends!
gracefullkari
HOLY CRAP your kitchen makes ME very happy.
Gorgeous.
I had a kind of sucky day but reading your blog post made me happy.
And that should make YOU happy.
🙂
Jenn
Yes, Kari, that makes ME VERY happy. Sorry about the sucky day.
And, after 10 weeks of dust, construction and too many crock-pot dinners, that kitchen makes me VERY happy. Its a good place to sit with a cup of coffee and a few girlfriends and have a chat!!!
wombatcentral
I’m with you on the weather–it was brutal. Thank goodness for FL, so we all have a place to go to escape! Love your kitchen, also love squeezy hugs and belly laughs. We always laugh when my daughter does! And you can’t NOT be happy listening to Happy! 🙂
Thank You Honey
We just had a dance party to “Because I’m Happy”! Cute post. Love your hints! Have a fun weekend! xo
Jenn
You can’t not dance, can you? Dance parties with the little ones are awesome! I hope your little guy loved all the pictures with his stowaway!!!!! (I bet that made HIM happy!!!!)
Kimba
I don’t think I can top children’s laughter, a GREAT kitchen (jealous here), or the whole shoe thing. Maybe just add a day when all my writing flies onto the page, when I can’t seem to type fast enough.
Jenn
Yes!!!! That must go in the list, as that makes me do a happy dance, too, in the biggest way.
gigglesandmusic
How can you not smile when you hear that song ‘Happy?’ We play that several times a day and even our principal played it when the kids were released today. I’m sure she was happy for the three day weekend too.
Oh, and cruising in high school brought back memories—round and round downtown–one time one of my friends put 72 miles on her car and we never left town. But, I much prefer the boat kind now.
Jenn
What was the attraction of “cruising”, anyway? Down LaSalle Street, turning on Main to head back up Columbus drive…and thru the McDonald’s parking lot, where the manager would (kinda) run out to shoo us away. The lot of a small-town teen.
Susan Werner
What makes me happy? First of all my Grandson, a clone of his father, who spent many a weekend night on a Belden bed and the dock, before he and his brother would attend swim meets in Norfolk, Newport News, Hamton roads, etc. and the memories of raising some Great Lakeland terriers who were not only my friends, but great show dogs who slept at my feet when they returned from their careers. Been trying to remember happy tonight after such a tiring and traumatic week. Thanks for the push.
Jenn
Lovely thoughts, all of them.
After writing this, I had a dreadful day. I needed to reread it myself…and then pop in my earplugs and dance around the kitchen to “happy”.
Thanks for reading, and sharing!!!!