I've always said I'm a simple guy. I find moments of joy in the little things. Here's an example:

The other day on the Org, someone was asking for help with finding a weird 45. I sparked me thinking about a song I've long searched for. I can't find any record of it on the internet at all. Until that post. It made me go back to Discogs again and look for the record. (It wasn't there in the past when I looked for it.)

I found it. It was $5, and I bought it straight away. It showed up today. I'm about to go play it and record it to digital. It's just a silly 45 called "We Called Him E.T." on red vinyl, that I remember having as a kid in the very early 80s. I've never found it since high school. Until this week. I was just so happy opening that package earlier.

It's just an example of appreciating the little things in life. I'm happy when my coffee is just right in the morning when I get up. I'm happy when I cook for people. I'm happy working in a garden. Taking a hot shower, then moisturizing my beard with coconut oil, and using some Lush™ product on my face. I'm happy with a new concave cutting board I just purchased recently. I'm happy being barefoot more than having shoes on. I'm happy when one of my cats comes in and wakes me up in the morning, or does a figure 8 between my ankles when I'm in the kitchen.

We have to choose to be happy. We aren't owed happiness from anyone, but ourselves. We can't be happy 24/7, but we can find something every single day to be happy about. It comes from being grateful. Gratitude changes everything in your life. Your perspective, your attitude. I live with an alcoholic (one of those functioning types) who has a piss poor attitude about everything. I tell him "You need to change your attitude". His response, "it's the only one I have". I think "and that's why you're unhappy". He's miserable and thinks I'm flippant about things like bills, or whatever. I'm not. I just focus on something that's worthy of my attention.

TrivialPursuit said:

I've always said I'm a simple guy. I find moments of joy in the little things. Here's an example:

The other day on the Org, someone was asking for help with finding a weird 45. I sparked me thinking about a song I've long searched for. I can't find any record of it on the internet at all. Until that post. It made me go back to Discogs again and look for the record. (It wasn't there in the past when I looked for it.)

I found it. It was $5, and I bought it straight away. It showed up today. I'm about to go play it and record it to digital. It's just a silly 45 called "We Called Him E.T." on red vinyl, that I remember having as a kid in the very early 80s. I've never found it since high school. Until this week. I was just so happy opening that package earlier.

It's just an example of appreciating the little things in life. I'm happy when my coffee is just right in the morning when I get up. I'm happy when I cook for people. I'm happy working in a garden. Taking a hot shower, then moisturizing my beard with coconut oil, and using some Lush™ product on my face. I'm happy with a new concave cutting board I just purchased recently. I'm happy being barefoot more than having shoes on. I'm happy when one of my cats comes in and wakes me up in the morning, or does a figure 8 between my ankles when I'm in the kitchen.

We have to choose to be happy. We aren't owed happiness from anyone, but ourselves. We can't be happy 24/7, but we can find something every single day to be happy about. It comes from being grateful. Gratitude changes everything in your life. Your perspective, your attitude. I live with an alcoholic (one of those functioning types) who has a piss poor attitude about everything. I tell him "You need to change your attitude". His response, "it's the only one I have". I think "and that's why you're unhappy". He's miserable and thinks I'm flippant about things like bills, or whatever. I'm not. I just focus on something that's worthy of my attention.

You are right; one has to find small things every day to be happy about--part of living in the moment. I like all of my ducks in a row, knowing what to expect from day-to-day. I get thrown when something unexpected hits me between the eyes. But, that's life. And you have to rebound from the unexpected. Focusing on the positive about TODAY is the only way to go.

Listening music makes my spirit fill with joy.

214 said:

Listening music makes my spirit fill with joy.

Yes

Need to beat long term depression. It's one kick in the teeth then another. Family and friends make me happy i include my friends on the org.

[Edited 5/1/17 5:03am]

purplethunder3121 said:

214 said:

Listening music makes my spirit fill with joy.

Yes

Specially if i listen to it when the sun is gone and throughout the night.

Watching sports...preferably NBA and NFL. Not sure what it is, but it's a huge stress buster for me to watch the games, even if my favorite team isn't playing and I find that I hardly think about things that bother or stress me out while watching.

Making someone's day less shitty.

Healthy family and making money.