Inspired by the pet peeve/collective rant threads I’ve been seeing, and how many relationships seem to be imploding, and all of the other stressful stuff that Dopers are going through these days. At the risk of being Pollyannaish, I thought it might be nice for us to share some of the little things that make us happy.
My list includes:[ul][li]Good turkey sandwiches, with some nice macaroni salad on the side. I’ve been getting simple turkey sandwiches (turkey and mayo on French bread) from the local Safeway for a long time, but one day last week I had a sandwich with some macaroni salad on the side for lunch … it was so good that I went to the store on my way home last night and got the same thing for dinner. And I’m thinking about doing it again tonight![/li][li]When my friend does his two weeks. My best friend is a Lt. Col. in the Air Force Reserve, and is lucky enough to be able to do his two weeks at the same place where he works as a contractor. Usually when I call his office, I ask, “Is Steve D. available?” and the guy he shares a phone with replies, “Sure, hang on.” But when I call and ask for “Colonel D.,” I get “Yes ma’am, just one minute please.” [/li][li]The Gipsy Kings. I was only vaguely familiar with these guys until a few weeks ago, when I scoured iTunes for music to play at my office Cinco de Mayo party. I discovered that I love the sound of the lead singer’s voice, and I have been happily listening to them all month![/li][li]My GPA. With all of 3 graduate classes under my belt, I have a 3.6 average; higher than I ever had as an undergrad.[/li][li]Dating. I ended a years-long dating haitus in December, and despite a few false starts (and one public moment of despair) I remain ridiculously optimistic about the process. I know full well that dating sucks, and I grumble to my friends about how so many men seem to be the complete opposite of what I’m looking for, yet I keep my Match.com and Onion profiles active and up-to-date and I’ve cleaned the rust off my flirting skills. I have this nagging, way-too-optimistic, completely-unlike-me feeling that something good is around the corner…[/li][*]Terry’s Chocolate Oranges. Best. Candy. Ever.[/ul]So, what’s making you happy these days?
A new job. Not many hours, but more money is more money, and the faces our supervisor made at orientation were extremely funny.
New nail polish. Nothing makes me happier faster than a new bottle of nail polish.
Being this much closer to finishing my second degree.
Seeing a friend who’d been off on a Disney internship–completely unexpectedly. I went to the library to return some books, and as I was walking out, he came walking in. Best sight I’d seen in weeks, his smile.
Dating, too, kind of. I just slid out of a very short, very screwed-up relationship, but it’s not the end of the world.
The weather. It’s hot and gorgeous outside, and I spent four hours in it today–without getting sunburned!
Dopers who’s IDs begin with “M”
Cold beer on a hot day
Hot chocolate on a cold day
Compliments/recognition out of the blue
Smiles from strangers
Hearing “Lola” by The Kinks on the radio
When someone goes out on a limb and demonstrates wit, and recognizes that I understood them when the whooshed everyone else.
My college GPA. It was only 2.4, but it was more than 15 years ago–safely irrelevant in my distant past.
Friendly cats
Prozac. It’s small. And it makes me happy whether I like it or not.
Coming home from work on a lovely spring evening and going out in the garden for a couple of hours – whether working, or looking around, or sitting down with a book.
Sunshine, especially when there’s a nice breeze and fresh spring air. Even nicer with a little scent of honeysuckle.
Rabbits, dogs, cats, baby goats and lambs and kittens and puppies. Especially these rabbits.
Dark chocolate.
Happy children.
Having good friends who share my twisted sense of humor and think the strange things I say are funny.
Flowers. All kinds–daffodils, irises, roses, violets, pansies. The best are little wild flowers in unexpected places. I love having wild violets in my yard. It’s like a gift from the earth.
Dirt. In South Florida, it’s white limestone. In Georgia, it’s red clay. In northern New Jersey, it’s red sandstone. I don’t know why I didn’t become a soil scientist or a geologist.
I like overcast days. Give me a cloudy day over a sunny one any day.
Waking up in the middle of the night, thinking it’s time to get up, only to discover I’ve got another 5 hours left.
Laughing long, hard, belly laughs with my husband.
Playing with my cats, or just seeing them lying in the sun, completely blissed out.
The plants I’m planting growing and thriving.
Clean sheets.
Going for lunch with my mom.
When I was feeling bad last year, I started a gratitude journal, and made a point of writing down five things I was grateful for each day. It might sound trite and silly, but I think it has helped me change my worldview. Your life really is what you make it, and how you perceive it. If all you focus on is the negative, you certainly will have a negative life.
The Gipsy Kings are awesome live. Caught them in HK last year outdoors and they allowed a bunch of girls (of course!) on stage to dance as they played Bamboleo.
For me, when one of my horses comes in first; when my daughter practises the “piano” (still keyboard until she passes Grade 4) without being asked; when my wife asks me if I’ll still be such a kid when I’m 80.
[/li][li]The Gipsy Kings. I was only vaguely familiar with these guys until a few weeks ago, when I scoured iTunes for music to play at my office Cinco de Mayo party. I discovered that I love the sound of the lead singer’s voice, and I have been happily listening to them all month![/li][li]My GPA. With all of 3 graduate classes under my belt, I have a 3.6 average; higher than I ever had as an undergrad.[/li][li]Dating. I ended a years-long dating haitus in December, and despite a few false starts (and one public moment of despair) I remain ridiculously optimistic about the process. I know full well that dating sucks, and I grumble to my friends about how so many men seem to be the complete opposite of what I’m looking for, yet I keep my Match.com and Onion profiles active and up-to-date and I’ve cleaned the rust off my flirting skills. I have this nagging, way-too-optimistic, completely-unlike-me feeling that something good is around the corner…[/li][*]Terry’s Chocolate Oranges. Best. Candy. Ever.[/ul]So, what’s making you happy these days? 