I stumbled across a blog recently that made me ponder the above. When I was suffering from depression I made a list of things that make me happy- a Happy Thoughts List- to refer to if I was having a wobbly moment. It’s amazing how many things you can come up with, some of which are so small they barely seem like anything, yet the thought never fails to lift your mood. I have dusted off the list to publish here. Feel free to add your own.
The smell of chocolate-flavoured coffee on a Sunday morning
Crisp, cold sunny days
The smell of just-bathed babies
Pretty shoes
Fresh laundry smells
Licking the bowl
Feather pillows
Christmas trees
People who let you on the bus first when it’s raining
Snuggling in my bed
Waving to people from trains
Baked potatoes
Waking up and realising it’s the weekend
Singing along to the radio
Giving presents, especially for no reason at all
Dancing when I think no-one is watching
Fish fingers sandwiches
Photos stored on my phone
Meeting mum from her plane
Making cakes
Cuddles, hugs and kisses
The smell of baked plums, poached pears and Gluwein
Making wishes
The sound of children laughing
Smiling at Tube drivers as they cruise into the station- it really freaks them out!
Roasting a chicken on a weekday
Holding a sleeping baby
Childhood memories
Laughing with my family whenever we get together
The pop of a Champagne cork
Finding old letters, poems and cards written years ago
Not being a teenager
New (matching) underwear
Birthday presents
My home
Blueberry jam from France
Holding hands
Roaring log fires
Fluffy blankets to wrap round your legs on cold nights
Phone calls from old friends overseas
Gaucho steaks
The feel of fresh magazines
Going to a musical
Having a secret
Hearing a song that makes you want to turn up the radio
Spending all day lost in a book
‘Date nights’
Lavender planted in swathes that releases scent whenever you brush past it
Candles on cakes
Rose-scented face cream
Hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows
Having my nails done
Singing diners
Films with happy endings
PJs and fluffy slippers
Eating ‘al fresco’
Finding money you’d forgotten about
Coming home
I should also add:
The love of my husband
Nugget’s antics
My wedding photos
Wonderful!
I’d add the smell of freshly mown grass, freesias that scent an entire room, cuddles with sleepy dogs, secret smiles between lovers in a crowded room, when David calls me “sweetheart” or “darling” and laughing uproariously just for the sheer hell of just “being”.
I’m with you on the chicken by the way – such a clandestine moment, roasting a chicken on a Tuesday!
I do love your blog, it sets so many “I’ve been there/done that” bells ringing and never fails to make me smile.
I would agree with all of the above. I would also add the following:-
One day I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. I wandered out into the garden of my lovely new house (well new last March (2006)) and looked at the grass, the trees, the birds singing and the woodland glade style garden of my neighbours. All the sad feelings evaporated and a calm settled over me. It was lovely.