The little things in life

[TooPatient]

The thread about satisfaction in life got me thinking.

What are the little things in your life that make you happy? These things are important and so often get lost in the rest of life.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

My family
my friends
my fur babies
PS
work
shopping
sunshine
pool/ocean/lake/pond
snow
starry skies
first spring flowers
FOOD!
Books

 

[yssie]

Waking up to find a post-it on the commode saying "I love you!"

 

[TooPatient]

some of the little things that make me happy:


waking up next to FI
taking a long hot bath every morning before work
Being greeted by Lilly (cat) as I go in to take my bath
the smell of fresh ground coffee
the 15 minutes driving around the lake together on the way to work
stopping at the store together to get stuff for dinner
being greeted by Sentra (dog) who is thrilled to see us
cuddling up on the couch with FI to watch TV (or movie)
waking up in FI arms when the movie is over
kisses from Sven (cat) before bed

 

[mrscushion]

I dunno, kenny''s shrimp thread kinda made me happy today because I''m always amazed at the original, cute things people do. I certainly never paid much thought to pregnant shrimp or raising shrimp babies before!

Other than that, I love cuddling with FI on the couch and reading our Kindles together. Sometimes we take a break from reading, put on a funny song and do a completely ridiculous dance through our living room. That makes me happy.

Last Fall, the two of us went apple picking in New England on a sunny day. One of the best days I''d had in a while. It doesn''t take much.

 

[purselover]

*I work in a fantastic neighborhood - after having worked in a less than desirable part of town before I am that much more appreciative of being able to get coffee in the middle of the afternoon
*I have a DH who really helps my day run that much smoother, he makes my coffee when I wake up, blends my smoothies for me it saves me a ton of time
*There's a great running path right next to our apartment, it's convenient and I just love seeing all the ducks/geese around there

ETA: there's also nothing like a glass of wine with dinner, desserts and coffee

 

[Haven]

I''m re-posting some of what I wrote in the other thread:

- The smell of coffee as it fills up my kitchen in the morning.
- My long walk with the pup around the neighborhood. I love this time of year, especially. All of the flowers are coming in, and there are birds chirping all over the place.
- Quiet time with my DH when we''re both home from work. We like to sit right next to each other on the sofa and read our own books at the same time. It''s fun to be smushed up together but doing our own thing.
- Blasting my favorite music on the car ride to work.
- I have a lot of beautiful things in my home that make me happy every time I see them--artwork from Etsy artists, books I''ve cherished since childhood, hand potted mugs that remind me of the times and places I bought them.
- Hanging out with my cats and my dog. They are the best cure for a fast-paced life, nobody knows how to slow down like house pets. Seriously.
- Taking a long breakfast to read my newest magazine over hot eggs and coffee.
- A hot shower.
- Riding behind a car with a happy dog in the back seat. Best. Thing. Ever. I''ve been known to follow a particularly happy backseat dog out of my way a bit.
- Discovering a new author or musician that I really enjoy. I love the feeling I get knowing that there is more of her work out there to enjoy.
- Catching DH''s eye and sharing a smile from across a crowded room.
- The moment I take out my contacts for the day. Bliss.
- Pulling on warm pajama pants on a cold night.
- Sunday morning breakfast with DH. We do a full spread and take a long time to sit and enjoy the meal together.
- Getting the pictures DH sends to my Blackberry during the day (nearly every day) of the kitties and the pup cuddled up together.
- Thunderstorms at night.
- Sitting in the yard with DH and the pup when a big train goes by. LOVE it.
- Sitting in the yard by myself when a big train goes by.
- Good, long, satisfying conversations with old friends.
- A cold glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day.
- Daydreaming about the future.
- Discovering a new flower or plant in the yard that we didn''t plant ourselves.
- Fresh rosemary.
- Meeting a neighbor while walking the pup who has lived in his house for 48 years, and listening to his stories about what our town was like back then.
- Bike rides with DH on the path right outside our backyard that goes to the lake.
- The feeling I get when I finish grading the last paper in my giant pile!
- Warm brownies with vanilla ice cream on top.
- Those rare moments when DH squeezes my hand and says something sweet completely out of the blue.

There''s so much! I love writing it all out, it makes me happy just thinking about these things.

 

[CurlySue]

- hugging my FI as soon as he walks in the door after work
- snuggling with our dog on the couch
- Weight Watcher giant fudge bars - virtually guiltless and soooooo good!
- giving someone a compliment that I know is meaningful to them
- SUNSHINE!!!
- my morning cup of coffee... particularly awesome when I get up early and enjoy it in silence - so peaceful!
- catching strangers singing in their cars while we''re stopped in traffic or at a stoplight - cracks me up!
- the smell of bread baking
- lying in a hammock
- hearing anyone laugh at one of my stupid jokes

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I do a mental gratitude list (5 things) daily and try to make a written one monthly. I find it really helps to be reminded of all my blessings b/c bottom line is life is good. No matter what crisis, stress, heartache, anxiety, illness, etc, if I am breathing I am pretty happy. A great exercise is to write the alphabet vertically and fill in something you are grateful for for every letter. I have yet to complete the whole alphabet b/c some letters are tough but it gets me thinking and I always get very close.

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 4/20/2010 2:45:24 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I do a mental gratitude list (5 things) daily and try to make a written one monthly. I find it really helps to be reminded of all my blessings b/c bottom line is life is good. No matter what crisis, stress, heartache, anxiety, illness, etc, if I am breathing I am pretty happy. A great exercise is to write the alphabet vertically and fill in something you are grateful for for every letter. I have yet to complete the whole alphabet b/c some letters are tough but it gets me thinking and I always get very close.

That sounds like fun.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 4/20/2010 2:49:05 PM
Author: TooPatient

Date: 4/20/2010 2:45:24 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

I do a mental gratitude list (5 things) daily and try to make a written one monthly. I find it really helps to be reminded of all my blessings b/c bottom line is life is good. No matter what crisis, stress, heartache, anxiety, illness, etc, if I am breathing I am pretty happy. A great exercise is to write the alphabet vertically and fill in something you are grateful for for every letter. I have yet to complete the whole alphabet b/c some letters are tough but it gets me thinking and I always get very close.

That sounds like fun.

Try it! It forces you to really think and be more creative than the standard answers. The great thing of practicing gratitude is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to feel grateful and angry/depressed/stressed/scared/etc at the same time.

 

[CasaBlanca]

Fortunately, I can say...I savor it all. The little things to me, are bigger than the big things.

I should explain, I seem to be living in an self created Walt Disney World. Snow white and the seven dwarfs, surrounded by singing critters...that is me! I hear music (not voices) and skip every chance I get. I find beauty in a weed flower, so when I see a real one it is even more beautiful. Sunshine, fresh rain, And just laughter. I could continue to add more, but I think there is NO LITTLE THING really, in life.

Life itself is the wonder I most appreciate.

PS. don''t worry, I haven''t had my chocolate yet. The sappy sentimental side will subside with the first bite.

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

Catching my 6-month-old son smiling at me, for no reason at all

Waking up dreading the thought of going to work and then realizing it’s the weekend and I have the day off

Resting under warm blankets with a cool pillowcase against my face

DH gently scratching/rubbing my back while we’re watching TV

Watching an elderly couple hold hands

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

Date: 4/20/2010 2:45:24 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I do a mental gratitude list (5 things) daily and try to make a written one monthly. I find it really helps to be reminded of all my blessings b/c bottom line is life is good. No matter what crisis, stress, heartache, anxiety, illness, etc, if I am breathing I am pretty happy. A great exercise is to write the alphabet vertically and fill in something you are grateful for for every letter. I have yet to complete the whole alphabet b/c some letters are tough but it gets me thinking and I always get very close.

This is a wonderful idea. My husband is at a crossroads in his professional life and is starting to feel hopeless. After reading this, I called him and suggested that he try doing this to help keep things in perspective.

 

[Tuckins1]

- going for a jog on a beautiful, clear spring day
- looking at all the flowers all over the place!
- getting hugs from my students just ''cuz they missed me
- hearing my 2 year old god daughter tell me "love you aunt jackie"

 

[elrohwen]

my family
my bunnies
my friends
wine
beer
food
a good book

If you want something specific, watching my bunnies jump around like nutters makes me so happy. I just can''t be upset while they''re jumping for joy.

 

[princesss]

Driving with the windows down
Hitting snooze and snuggling with BF in the morning
Long walks in the park with the dogs
Puppy/kitty snuggles
Hearing my favourite band on the radio (I have to dance when I hear them - so if you see a goofball dancing down in the aisle in the grocery store it just might be me)

 

[dragonfly411]

Oh I just love this thread, I couldn''t even finish reading before I had to post my own!!
- waking up in the middle of the night to feel SO''s arm over me keeping me safe
- mockingbirds singing
- the sound of horses munching on hay, it might be my favorite.
- the sight and smell of fresh roses in my grandmother''s garden
- birds at the birdfeeder
- the little playful growls and noises Sasha (my dog) makes to talk to me
- the way Scout''s (other dog) right eye kindof tilts outward
- the smell of fresh laundry
- fresh brown eggs straight from the coop
- books....mounds and mounds of books
- plaid shirts (western style)
- green fields full of horses and cows
- sunsets
- the smell of the ocean
- dolphins swimming under our boat
- white pelicans
- horse smell
- saddle smell
- tobacco smell
- deer...I love deer
- and elephants
- fruit salad on a hot day
- family reunions
- roses waiting inside the door for me on a special day (including mother''s day b/c I am a doggy mom...)
- riding bareback on a hot summer day, sometimes in shorts...sometimes through sprinklers...sometimes in the rain
- rain
- the smell of rain
- the way rain feels
- rain showers under the trees
- the ocean
- swimming
- fresh bread
- fresh bagels

- butterflies... I love them
- cooking out
- The way SO gets a half grin when he''s telling me a fib (or trying to hide a toot) to see if I can figure it out... I don''t think he realizes he can''t hold his smiles in
- The way he tries SO HARD to act like he knows everything about horses.... he is completely clueless
- fishing
- the way the sun looks when it goes down over salt flats
- parrots in West Palm
- mist in the mountains when I''m driving through them
- rivers
- creeks
- springs... I adore springs... and spring fed rivers that are crystal clear blue
- playing in creeks and streams
- the fact that my dog thinks she is a laborador...she''s a yorkie
- driving with my music blaring and the window down screaming the song at the top of my lungs
- calves
- foals
- puppies
- bunnies
- kittens
- ducklings
- baby goats
- piggies!!!!!!! (I miss my piggy)
- cooking
- new foods
- FOOD

- movies
- hot chocolate or warm milk on cold nights
- heaps of blankies at night
- pillows
- sleep
- working out
- the feeling of utter relaxation, but deep challenge as I find a pose in yoga
- jewelies

- fun people like those on here
- dinner out with my girlfriends
- dinner in or out with my SO
- candles

This could go on so I''ll stop

 

[sctsbride09]

I love threads like this, so awesome.


-my DH and our families, not a little thing, but a must list.
-looking at/working in our garden
-playing with our pooches
-cooking
-baking
-the smell of fresh cut grass
-fresh basil
-blasting my favorite tunes while I drive
-holding my BFFs baby
-candles
-greek food
-watching a movie with DH in bed
-the way my dobie sounds when she snores
-champagne

-books

 

[PumpkinPie]

Date: 4/20/2010 5:36:53 PM
Author: dragonfly411
Oh I just love this thread, I couldn''t even finish reading before I had to post my own!!

- waking up in the middle of the night to feel SO''s arm over me keeping me safe

- mockingbirds singing

- the sound of horses munching on hay, it might be my favorite.

- the sight and smell of fresh roses in my grandmother''s garden

- birds at the birdfeeder

- the little playful growls and noises Sasha (my dog) makes to talk to me

- the way Scout''s (other dog) right eye kindof tilts outward

- the smell of fresh laundry

- fresh brown eggs straight from the coop

- books....mounds and mounds of books

- plaid shirts (western style)

- green fields full of horses and cows

- sunsets

- the smell of the ocean

- dolphins swimming under our boat

- white pelicans

- horse smell

- saddle smell

- tobacco smell

- deer...I love deer

- and elephants

- fruit salad on a hot day

- family reunions

- roses waiting inside the door for me on a special day (including mother''s day b/c I am a doggy mom...)

- riding bareback on a hot summer day, sometimes in shorts...sometimes through sprinklers...sometimes in the rain

- rain

- the smell of rain

- the way rain feels

- rain showers under the trees

- the ocean

- swimming

- fresh bread

- fresh bagels

- butterflies... I love them

- cooking out

- The way SO gets a half grin when he''s telling me a fib (or trying to hide a toot) to see if I can figure it out... I don''t think he realizes he can''t hold his smiles in

- The way he tries SO HARD to act like he knows everything about horses.... he is completely clueless

- fishing

- the way the sun looks when it goes down over salt flats

- parrots in West Palm

- mist in the mountains when I''m driving through them

- rivers

- creeks

- springs... I adore springs... and spring fed rivers that are crystal clear blue

- playing in creeks and streams

- the fact that my dog thinks she is a laborador...she''s a yorkie

- driving with my music blaring and the window down screaming the song at the top of my lungs

- calves

- foals

- puppies

- bunnies

- kittens

- ducklings

- baby goats

- piggies!!!!!!! (I miss my piggy)

- cooking

- new foods

- FOOD

- movies

- hot chocolate or warm milk on cold nights

- heaps of blankies at night

- pillows

- sleep

- working out

- the feeling of utter relaxation, but deep challenge as I find a pose in yoga

- jewelies

- fun people like those on here

- dinner out with my girlfriends

- dinner in or out with my SO

- candles


This could go on so I''ll stop

wow! impressive I often have people make gratitude lists in session with me - you would be an easy person to ask this of

 

[PumpkinPie]

I could list too many to write down. Being in my profession often reminds me of all of the positives in my life

 

[redfaerythinker]

Coming in the door and seeing my cat running to greet me saying "MOMMY" well that''s what i''m taking meow to mean!
Bubble wrap!
Eating lunch with friends
Snuggling up in the bed and reading a book
Shopping with my mommy
Seeing Brother Micah on campus being taunted by a big black man dressed like Jesus ( youtube brother micah if you don''t know what i''m talking about)
When FI grabs me and starts slow dancing even when there''s no music playing
When he sings "our" song to me
Those bath bombs from Lush
waking up at 2 in the morning and realizing that I can go back to sleep!
how FI always smells like bounce sheets
how my cat is NOT happy unless he is physically on top of me
When FI is trying to be mad but is really smiling, and I call him out because I can see his dimples and he yells "NO, dimple of ANGER!"

the cute little snuffly noise that my kittie makes when he''s happy

 

[Sizzle]

since the other thread was mine, I started thinking too.

White chocolate truffles
Sleeping in my huge bed with ton of pillows.
When a new movie come out
being able to afford to see that new movie!
Spending time with my daughter.
When I come home and my dog is just SOO happy to see me.
When I''m board and flipping through the channel and something good is on ( I LOVE that).

 

[Clairitek]

unadulterated sunshine to see my diamonds do their thing
cheap goat cheese from Trader Joes along with cheap water crackers
bottomless wine night at the local wine bar
my cat Charlie wants human contact so badly he practically burrows into my lap and hands forcing me to touch him
a local morning radio show called Preston and Steve... hilarious
discussing the content of said radio show with DH at the end of the day

 

[rierie26]

-That feeling when you open the front door and step inside your house after a long day of work.
-Wearing socks right out of the dryer.
-Seeing cute animal pictures, videos and in real life.
-The first Skype message of the day from my BF.