“Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.”
― Pearl S. Buck
Big Happiness vs. Small Joys
Happy ‘Big Happiness’ Friday! Many of us can recall when our elders talked about a simpler life and small joys. Daily happiness is made up of small and big moments. Andrea Reiser with the Huffington Post created a list of her 101 simple pleasures (see below).
May you find both big happiness and simple joys on this Friday!
Big Happiness. That Friday Feeling!
What are your small joys?
What makes you dance with joy?
Here’s Andrea Reiser’s list of her 101 simple pleasures:
- Feeling warm sand between your toes at the beach
- Seeing a baby light up with a giant grin
- Getting a handwritten note in the mail
- Listening to your favorite music
- Warm, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies
- A magnificent sunrise or sunset
- Cuddling
- Good chocolate
- Holding hands
- Laughing until you nearly wet your pants
- Inside jokes
- Spending time with people you adore
- A cloudless sky
- Your favorite flower
- Getting a call or email from someone you love out of the blue
- Watching your favorite childhood TV show
- Singing loudly in the car
- Hugging your babies, no matter how old they are
- Stargazing at night
- Lying in bed listening to the rain
- Finding money you didn’t know was in your pocket
- An icy glass of lemonade (or beer) on a hot summer day
- Getting a great parking space
- Sleeping in
- Fresh bed sheets
- Putting on clothes straight from the dryer
- A breathtaking view — water, mountain, cityscape, forest, whatever
- A picnic
- Plump summer tomatoes
- Bodysurfing
- A fireworks display
- Making someone smile
- Kissing
- The farmers market
- Helping someone in need
- The smell of a baby’s head
- Building a sandcastle
- Watching clouds float by
- A peanut butter and jelly sandwich
- Checking something off your to-do list
- The cool side of the pillow
- The smell of a thunderstorm (“petrichor”)
- Waking up and finding the alarm isn’t going off for another three hours
- Swinging on a lazy porch swing
- Snuggling under the covers on a stormy day
- A perfectly-timed, cozy snowstorm
- Relaxing in front of a roaring fire
- A great book
- A long walk on a cool day
- Cherry blossom trees
- A clean closet
- Unexpected good news
- The smell of a barbecue
- Bubble wrap
- An afternoon nap
- Finding an old personal treasure at the bottom of a drawer or in the back of a closet
- Hitting a bunch of green lights in a row
- A brand-new 64 box of Crayolas
- Cookie dough
- Your favorite movie
- Fresh-picked berries, still warm from the sun
- Not having to be anywhere
- Getting a giant hug just when you need it
- Minty breath
- Putting on a snuggly sweatshirt after a chilly afternoon at the beach
- A long conversation with a favorite friend
- The rare perfect errand day
- The smell of fresh-cut grass
- Tears of joy
- A fabulous bottle of wine
- Collecting sea shells
- Bubble juice and a bubble wand
- A newly-fallen blanket of snow
- Making s’mores
- The smell of fresh-baked cookies or bread
- Vibrant autumn foliage
- A foot massage
- Licking the batter
- Seeing a rainbow
- Candlelight
- Spring flowers blooming
- Hot chocolate on a cold day
- Finding something you made when you were a kid
- Puppy kisses
- Randomly bumping into someone you haven’t seen in a while
- A good hair day
- When something you were going to buy anyway is on sale
- Getting a caring customer service person on the phone
- A balloon
- Coming across an old photo that makes you smile
- The season premiere of your favorite show
- Riding with the top down
- A chocolate ice cream cone
- Taking a shower after a day at the beach
- When someone lets you know they’re thinking of you
- The smell of a sea breeze
- Hearing an old song you used to love
- A bright full moon over the water
- When a baby falls asleep in your arms
- Rereading a favorite childhood book
- City lights at night
