A Drift of Quills: It’s All About the Happy

Happy people don’t have the best of everything, they make the best of everything. Today on A Drift of Quills we’re getting our happy on. We’ve got lists! Do lists make you happy? How about lists of happy things? Read on to find out what makes us smile!

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Happy x10

Thinking of this topic had me humming Julie Andrews songs. Just a Spoonful of Sugar. My Favorite Things. Whistle a Happy Tune. (Am I dating myself? And can you tell I used to watch a lot of musicals?) Happy things—happy thoughts—are like magic. You hold them for a little while, think about how they make you feel, and pretty soon they’re lifting your spirits and bringing out the smiles.

Ten seems a really small proportion of the number of things that make me happy. How do I narrow the list? Stick with the Most Important things? No, that changes… Should I go alphabetical? Fun, but not practical. Choose 10 random things? Okay, Random Important things it is! In no particular order, here are 10 of the many things that make me happy:

1. Hanging out with my kids (They’ve grown up to be such cool people!)
2. Sitting on my bench swing under the maple tree (sadly seasonal). I like to work out story problems there—or when the grandkids are here we tell each other stories. So fun! They call it “the Story Swing.”
3. Typing “the end” (of my book/s). Yes, I know that editing and revisions follow, and I am not a fan, but there is such a thrill of accomplishment when I reach that point!
4. Watching the birds splash and flap and compete at the bird bath
5. Reading (without interruptions). All day, if I wanna! And on into the wee hours! (Been there, done that, and… maybe I shouldn’t. I need my anti-ogre rest.)
6. Music (my music, and I’m picky!)
7. The ocean or, barring that, a river or lake. It’s troublesome finding a beach in the high desert! I have been know to turn on the sound of ocean waves. Loud.
8. Houseplants (I’m told I am a plant lady instead of becoming a cat lady… I’m taking “green” to new levels)
9. Chocolate (dark, because milk chocolate is a color, not a flavor!)
10. Fixing/repairing/making/doing things on my own. I’ve always liked doing things on my own, but now I have to. And sometimes it’s scary. Overwhelming. Frustrating. When I accomplish a thing, it’s often worth a shout. “HA! I did it! Did you see that? Woot!” (Like anyone’s watching… Hehe!)

I feel like I’m just barely getting started with this Happy List. And just like I predicted, thinking about all the things that make me happy has lifted my heart. Best medicine I’ve had all day! Want to feel better? It’s all about the happy.

For a bonus, here are a couple of Happy Quotes for you!

“Grateful people are good people, and good people are happy people.”
~Dennis Prager

“Happy people are those who use a lower threshold in order to label an event positive.”
~David Niven

 

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P.S. BROADDUS

Author of The Unseen Chronicles
Parker’s website

When it comes to a list of joy and happiness, the fact that it’s springtime and Easter are going to be somewhere on the list. With that, I’ll jump right in – ordered according to how they came to mind, as opposed to a hierarchical list.

1. I have so enjoyed getting to watch movies and shows with my wife and kiddos this winter. We have gotten to participate in some amazing stories, some of which I grew up with and am finally getting to share with them! (I’m looking at you, Star Wars: A New Hope). I found unexpected delight in getting to dive into a story with the kids, and interestingly, was able to appreciate the story in a way I hadn’t before. That was cool. A sampling of the kind of thing I’m talking about: we’ve been reading Little House on the Prairie, Hank the Cowdog, and Nancy Drew. We’ve seen Home Alone, The Court Jester, lots of old Disney movies, (Robin Hood! The Lion King!), the 1977 version of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings series, and more.
2. The weather. Every day with blue skies and white puffy clouds hanging high over our green, rolling pastureland feels like nothing more than a miraculous gift after winter. Every daffodil is like finding water on Mars. Getting to take off the heavy coats and soak up warm sunshine feels like coming out of a tomb. Which brings me to…

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PATRICIA REDING

Author of the Oathtaker Series
Patricia’s website

 

… I believe that finding joy and expressing gratitude are two of the most important things we can do for our health—physical and mental. So . . . I am grateful for moments like:

1. Grandbaby. The top of my list right now has to be the grandbaby that I am awaiting. She, due in August, will be my first. I am beyond elated!

2. Children Meeting Goals. Great joy comes when your children meet their goals at any stage in life. My middle child will graduate with her dual Masters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh this spring and will then begin in her new position with the Mayo system. No one could be more deserving of the success she is experiencing, and I could not be more proud of her.

 

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What makes you happy? Why? Be sure to share below—we love hearing from you!