The Happy List

Recently an episode of a television show I like to watch introduced me to the idea of a “happy list”.  The premise was that one of the characters had just been through a cancer scare and had finally gotten a clean bill of health. She determined that she was now going to reprioritize her life and spend more time doing the things that genuinely made her happy.  She was no longer going to set aside those things and get caught up in the stress and busyness of life.  She declared that the saying, “life is too short” was true and it was time she made a “happy list” and began ticking off the things that brought her happiness. 

I happen to believe that there is a difference between happiness and joy.  Being happy is often a temporary condition depending on circumstances.  Lots of life events and moments can make us feel happy.  Sunny days make me happy.  At the moment I can’t exactly remember what those feel like, but I know sunshine makes me feel great.  Many of us think that if we just had a new car, or a vacation, or more money, or…… then we would be happy.  Joy is something deeper.  It’s an inner contentment that doesn’t change with circumstances.  We can be internally joyful even when we go through hard things. Joy is a mindset, a permanent deep feeling of the soul.

I’ve been struggling with the January blues this week, so while I know that my joy is still deep down in me somewhere, feeling happy seems like it might be helpful as well about now.  So, I present my “happy list”.  These are some things I can do or think about that make me happy even if it’s only temporary. 

 

Three things I’m good at:   writing, creating, planning

Three favorite vacation spots:  Hawaii, Oregon Coast, Western Canada

Three favorite movies:  Rain Man, Leap Year, Good Will Hunting

Three things I want to try or do again:  ziplining, horseback riding, hot air ballooning

Three things to do for fun:  outings with friends, wine tasting, camping

Three favorite books:  Small Great Things, Unbroken, The Day the World Came to Town

Three favorite activities: walking on the beach, taking nature photos, hanging with my grandkids

Three places I want to go: Italy, Outer Banks, Ireland

Three happy foods: fish tacos, loaded homemade BBQ burger, salsa

Things that always make me smile:  beautiful sunsets, hummingbirds, babies

Three best times of year:  summer, summer, summer

 

What’s on your happy list?