In a world of endless possibilities, it often feels impossible to find true happiness if you don’t have it all. I’ll often hear my grandkids talking about how they will “literally die” if they don’t get the latest cell phone or video game. I’m not one to openly compare their childhood’s to my own, but it does make me wonder – what is there to be happy about?
Truth is, we don’t need a huge house and a lot of money to be happy. Even the richest, most successful people will have their own hidden battles. Sure, money can be a huge root of happiness, but it won’t solve everything.
In my opinion, humans need to strip back everything we have and take it right back to basics. We need to recalibrate and enjoy the little things in life – from our lungs to the gentle wings of a butterfly.
It’s time to be grateful about the little things, so here are my 145 simple things to be happy about!
Simple things to be happy about
Cool breeze on a warm day
The smell of a roast dinner
The smell of cookies in the oven, for that matter
A “good hair” day
A smile from a stranger
Returning a smile from a stranger
Fresh, crisp bed sheets
A dishwasher and basin with no dirty dishes
Birds singing in the morning
Birds gathering around the bird feeder
Squirrels gathering around the bird feeder to pick up the food the birds dropped
The shape of clouds
The different shapes of the moon
A hot shower
Or a bubble bath
The smell of freshly mown grass
The satisfying “pop” of bubble wrap
New makeup
Cleaning off said makeup
A clean house
One of those “I can’t put it down” books
Uncontrollable laughter
The feeling of cool grass on your feet
The feeling of soft sand between your toes
A bunch of flowers
The smell of coffee
The sweet dog that lives across the street
Seeing a newborn baby in a cafe
Going to a friend’s house for dinner
Seeing your family
Hearing the gentle “pitter patter” of rain against a window
The gentle rumble of distant thunder
Having the exact amount of change in your wallet
A soft blanket
Homemade and healthy food
Alternatively, a huge and cheesy pizza
A comforting film
Watching someone’s face light up as they tell a story
Chocolate. In any form.
Every sunset
Every sunrise
The sound of the sea against the shore
A crisp glass of white wine
The satisfying noise of opening a soda can
Finding money in the pocket of a jacket
Finding the right shade of foundation
The purr of a cat
The feeling of the cat’s soft fur
Pressure washing the deck
Starting a new diary at the beginning of the year
A good hug
The smell of an old or new book
The smell of fresh lavender
Playing a great board game with loved ones
Having a good stretch after waking up
Simple things I love about spring
Ah…spring. Aren’t the changeable seasons wonderful? There’s so much to be grateful for in springtime, even with the temperamental weather!
The morning frost
The pure smell of spring
The sense of a fresh beginning
A spring clean
April showers
The flowers in the garden beginning to bloom
The sight of newborn lambs in fields
Chocolate at Easter
If you celebrate it, Easter itself
Watching the grandkids run around the garden on their Easter egg hunt
A cool yet bright spring day
Hearing the buzz of happy bumblebees as their favorite flowers open up
Simple things I love about summer
I mean, who doesn’t love summer? Sure, you’ve got the sunburn and the constant biting of bugs, but there’s so much more to be happy about than frustrated about.
Getting an ice cream from an ice cream van
The smell of sunscreen
The warmth – obviously
Visiting the beach or the lake
Sunbathing
Reading a book in the sun
Gardening
Swimming in a lake, the sea, or a pool
Watching freckles appear on my skin
Wearing floral clothing
Wearing colorful bathing suits
Inviting friends over for drinks in the evening
An afternoon nap where your skin is still warm enough you don’t have to wear a blanket
A good ol’ barbecue
Going on vacation
Making and eating a fresh salad
Watching the kids play in the garden
Driving in a car with the roof down
Picnics in a meadow
Sitting by a cooling fan when it gets too hot
Noticing a better mood (thank you serotonin!)
Longer daylight hours
Simple things I love about fall
Fall is my personal favorite season out of the whole year, and I think a lot of you will agree with me. Sure, the weather is getting worse as the months go by, but fall is exceptionally wonderful.
Stepping on a satisfyingly crispy leaf
Watching the seasons change in the color of the orange trees
Darker evenings and mornings
Sitting by a crackling fire
Going on vacation to a lake house or cabin
Watching your favorite films
Getting candy ready for trick or treaters at Halloween
Preparing your grandkid’s costumes for Halloween
Everything about pumpkins – especially carving! (You’re never too old)
Warm coffee and hot chocolate
The smell of cinnamon
Curling up on the couch under a warm blanket
Apple cider – even better, hot apple cider
Bonfires and toffee apples
Fireworks
The flickering of candles
The overall feeling of coziness
Simple things I love about winter
Winter is far more than receiving gifts at Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Even darker mornings and evenings means going to bed earlier and staying in longer!
The first fall of snow
The first footstep into a bed of fresh snow
Rolling the perfect snowball
Wrapping up in sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves
Hot cocoa with those little marshmallows
The satisfaction of knowing that you don’t have to go into work because of the snow
Watching Christmas movies!
Making small and meaningful gifts for your family and friends
Making a big batch of warming soup with croutons
Preparing and eating all the delicious roast dinners
Decorating the Christmas tree
Looking at twinkling lights
Looking at twinkling lights without your glasses on (it’s truly magical!)
Seeing your breath in the cold air
The satisfaction of warming yourself up indoors
The chance to start afresh with a new year
Hosting festive parties
Pajama days
The natural rosy blushed cheeks
Frozen lakes
No humidity means no frizzy hair
Hearing your youngest grandchild laugh for the first time
Simple things I love about family
Being a mother and a grandmother, not a day goes by where I’m not grateful for my family. I love the huge moments, like finding out I was going to be a grandmother and when my eldest daughter got her dream job, but the little moments are equally enjoyable.
And hearing them say their first words
Being told your child or grandchild loves you
When someone helps you tidy up in the kitchen
The smell of a clean baby
Buying and making things for your grandkids
Teaching your grandkids how to read
Watching your children grow into wonderful people
Hearing the grandkids laugh
Watching the grandkids in their school plays
Allowing the grandkids to lick the bowl after you’ve made a cake mixture
Preparing the snack cupboard in anticipation for when the grandkids come over
Knowing you are making lifelong memories for your grandkids to remember you by
Sharing the joy of being a grandparent with your friends
Treating your friends as your family
Having a loving, balanced, and respectful relationship with your partner
Getting to love your family and friends
What makes you happy?
As you can tell by this enormous list of the simple things in life that make me happy, I want you to consider what gives you true joy. Sure, you’re allowed to be ecstatic about getting a degree or a pay rise or a new car or a new pair of shoes – but what makes you truly happy?
We have to step back in life sometimes to appreciate the small things. We must be grateful for the air that fills our lungs, the very air that keeps us alive enough to experience such wonders of the world. It can be as small as making a great cup of tea, to something as big as going to the Grand Canyon.
Mindfulness is something that I try to practice every day. It comes with a lot of time and patience, believe me, so don’t expect to become a master immediately!
Sometimes, when life seems to be going a bit too fast for you, you just have to take several steps back to be grateful for the things that make your life so wonderful.
We are all so, so lucky. It’s time we give some appreciation to the little things in life that make us happy!
