Do you ever think about the things that make you truly happy? If you don’t, you should. When you’re searching for peace, you think of them a lot. Trust me, I know.
I’ll give Maria raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, but she loses me at bright copper kettles. I mean, you’d REALLY have to love tea. I like tea, but I don’t care how the water gets boiled. Plus, I think you have to polish copper and I hate chores.
So, what does make me happy – or, rather, peaceful? In no particular order:
1. Sunshine.
2. My husband touching my face or hair. The touch of a cheek or gently holding the nape of a neck is intimate and lovely.
3. A clear, starry sky. For making wishes.
4. Intense, exhausting workouts. I don’t look happy while I’m doing them and I complain A LOT, but pulling a rope with a 400 lb. tire attached to the other end makes me feel strong, powerful and confident even though my face is purple and I’m dripping with sweat.
5. Watching my kids try anything. A new food, a new experience, a new activity; seeing them attempt something makes them achievers in my eyes, even if they fail.
6. Cold beer. Duh.
7. The beach. Sand between my toes, the sound of the waves, and saltwater making my hair look pretty without any effort – I’ll take that ALL DAY LONG. Combined with #1, #5 and #6? Heaven.
8. A clean house. I never get this one. Never.
9. A good movie. Throw in Milk Duds and it’s even better.
10. Puppies, good friends, flowers, board games, slow-dancing, campfires, music, and snuggling. Not all at once, but I didn’t want this list to get too long.
While things have seemed kind of bleak lately, I’m finding it helpful to come back to this list to seek out, and give myself, the things I can. Thankfully, that hasn’t resulted in too many Milk Duds, but don’t even come near me without expecting a snuggle.
What would your list look like? What are your favorite things?
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Casey
I love this. Every time I have a hard day, I make myself write down three things that went right that day. Because at least 3 things are always just right even if the rest is a mess.
My list includes an afternoon latte, converse high tops (because obviously), and making the time to read and comment on blogs. Oh and reading my library books. And my typewriter. And you. And that water at BlogHer that had the lemons and limes in it.
Meg
What an excellent list! Here are just a few of mine:
My daughter’s long braids flopping around while she jumps rope.
Reading quietly in bed while everyone is sleeping.
Finishing a difficult knitting project, and starting another.
How I feel after a long run or bike ride…even though I really didn’t want to go.
My garden. Nothing like veggies and flowers together.
Shannon
I want one of those snuggles.
My list includes a good book, my dog’s head on my lap, pie, and the sound of all three of my children laughing together.
Kir
I like your list, and I like you.
Sunshine, the beach, my kiddos, shoe sales, a 24 hour Law & Order channel and kisses. I’m ALL good. 😉
Caroline
Great list, Momo!
I have a lot of things but my most favorite thing lately is hearing my daughters laugh together like Beavis and Butthead. It cracks me up and fills me with happiness.
Of course 2 seconds later they’re fighting but fleeting moments are even more precious, right?
Arnebya
My list would look eerily similar to yours. Sunshine would be my number one too. Warmth on a cold day, from a fireplace or a nice, soft throw. My husband rubbing my head. It gets me every time. My son learning to read. Music. Tequila. Tequila and music together. Shoes. Cornbread. Naps. You.
AlisonH
Here’s my most recent absolute most favorite. I had knitted my younger grandson a soft cuddly blankie and had shown it to him while they were here and whatever, that’s a sleep thing, time to play, Gramma. (16 months old and all that.)
Then when he got tired and he’d had a bad night away from home and familiar things and he had been oohed and aahed over by countless aunts and uncles and cousins on his mom’s side and us here and he just simply had had enough. He wasn’t crying, but he looked very, very sad.
His mommy scooped him up. I asked him, “Do you want a blankie?” picking it up and holding it out to him.
In the first sentence he ever gave me as a response, an emphatic “Uh HUH” (I didn’t know he could say that) and he pulled it in fast between his mommy’s shoulder and his face and then snuggled down deep into all that soft green handknit merino wool.
His.
Leigh Ann
It’s funny how it’s sometimes harder than it should be to think of my favorite things. But they’re mostly a good book, a (rare) clean house, a cold beer with good friends, A warm cup of good coffee, seeing my kids being independent.
AnneG
Watching horses run, a hawk ride the air current, the sound of ocean waves, my mom’s potato salad, the smell of a campfire, the sight of my two sons – who have grown to be happy, well-adjusted adults.