35 things that make me especially happy

I’ve made a conscious decision to set my personal default emotion to “happy.”

That makes sense to me because, unless there’s something specific to be unhappy about, why not at least start from a happy place?

Today is International Happiness Day, so I thought I’d share some of the things that make me especially happy. By the way, it’s a veryĀ incomplete list.

1. Ā  When my family is happy

2. Ā  Walking through Anthropologie

3. Ā  Dogs!

4. Ā  My iPod

5. Ā  The first glimpse of palm trees when landing in San Diego

6. Ā  The first glimpse of the skyline when landing in New York

7. Ā  Ā Smiling babies

8. Ā  Just knowing Starbucks is nearby

9. Ā  Good hair days

10. Being surrounded by books

11. Ā Fall

12. The Quiet Room at Miraval

13. When things work

14. Ā Knowing who to call when they don’t

15. Ā Warm feet

16. Ā Massages

17. Ā Ocean views

18. Ā Remembering to use my Groupons before they expire

19. Ā My birthday

20. Being told “yes”

21. Ā A large bucket of movie popcorn and a large Diet Coke

22. Ā Binge watching Downton Abbey

23. Ā Great seats

24. Ā When the Yankees win

25. Ā Driving my KIA Sorento

26. Ā Random acts of kindness

27. Ā Cottages

28. Ā Seeing that cardboard box of cronuts at Vons

29. Ā An empty middle seat next to me

30. Ā Getting screeners at the end of the year

31. Ā  Laughing with Michael

32. Ā  Sleeping through the night (this has not happened in years but would make me very happy)

33. Ā  Sleeping on a long plane ride (this has only happened in business class on SwissAir)

34. Ā Going to lunch with my friends

35. Ā Nice comments from my readers

31 thoughts on “35 things that make me especially happy

  1. Only 35, Lois? I would imagine there would be a zillion things that make you happy, because you exude happiness in all that you are. But these 35 will do; I’ll meet you for Cronuts and Starbucks in SD (or Miraval) ASAP! xo

    1. It’s a date, my friend! And, yes, I started with 25 but that wasn’t enough and I could have gone on for pages! You should be on that list, too! xo

  2. YES – set the default to happy!!! That way, no matter what happens you can always “restore default settings” — I love it!

    This week happiness is laughing until I my cheeks hurt with people I adore, breathing deeply, and taking the time to find joy in the moments – every single one of them.

  3. What a great attitude, I love it! This is inspiring and was fun to read…. a Starbucks nearby always induces a smile from me. That’s for sure! Thanks for sharing your happy list with us, I need to make one!

  4. HA! I love this list! Especially that song, that I’ve created a Pandora playlist around. My super happy place is Pier 1. Oh I could spend hours in there and buy nothing at all. Listing this stuff is great…especially when, you’re not so happy – and that, for me will happen next week. Just how it goes!!! šŸ™‚

  5. It really is a state of mind that is so affected by our choices. Good for you to decide it will be your choice to focus on the happy things and either skip over the negatives or not even see there.

  6. I didn’t realize today was international happiness day! That is a great list of things. I think I would put Cats and Sheep on my list of things that make me happy.

  7. Such a wonderful idea – the happy list, like a prayer could be chanted – I wish to make you laugh 100 times a day!
    I love You happy and sad always.

  8. This is a wonderful list of all things yummy and happy! I so enjoy jotting down all those things which turn my world with joy, it serves as a great reminder for those times when I’m feeling not so ‘up’ šŸ˜‰

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