The first time I saw a 'Happy List' was on the radiator of my older sister. A piece of paper with 100 items on it, stuck firmly to the heater with a Dennis the Menace magnet. I always thought it was rather a good idea, and thought to myself that I would get around to doing it one day. As with so many things in life, that day never came around. Until now.
Thinking about the things that make us happy in life is an exercise in gratefulness. It is a way to remember that, despite what we may encounter in day to day life, good things exist. Life is worth living for big things and for small. I intend to look back to the list in those moments I find myself in need of a quick glimpse of happiness.
Take a look at my 101 if you want, and then I encourage you to make a list of your own.
101 Things That Make Me Happy
1. Sunshine
2. Community
3. Kids laughing hysterically
4. Singing
5. Writing a song I like
6. Ice cream
7. A good book
8. Window seats
9. Live music
10. Open fires
11. Slippers
12. Alison Krauss
13. A good harmony
14. Trees
15. Clothes that fit
16. Feather duvets
17. Good food
18. Making my family laugh
19. Making my family proud
20. Skype
21. The smell of old books
22. Thick snow
23. Bird song
24. Travel
25. A good view
26. Spending quality time with Jesus
27. Spending quality time with friends
28. Walking in torrential rain
29. Being silly
30. Playing music really loud and dancing like crazy
31. Jonsi
32. Coming in from the cold
33. Cosy clothes
34. Impromptu road trips
35. Christmas
36. The Sound of Music
37. Hugs (from the right people!)
38. Water fights
39. Youth work
40. Stories of hope
41. Strangers being kind
42. Brooke Fraser
43. Holding babies
44. Laughing
45. The sound of wind through trees
46. The smell of rain
47. My Fair Lady
48. My itunes ‘Happy’ playlist
49. Seeing old friends
50. Making new friends
51. Tea
52. Cakes
53. Candles
54. Blu Tac
55. An accessible Saviour
56. Dressing up nicely
57. Sticking my tongue out
58. Antonio Banderas
59. Colourful clothing
60. Nice make up
61. Watching ‘The Biggest Loser’ while eating doughnuts
62. A good riff
63. Mistakes kids make when learning to talk
64. Having nerdy conversations
65. Looking back and seeing changes for the better in your life
66. Avoca
67. Having lots of fun with friends
68. Scotland
69. Fresh air
70. The countryside
71. Hearing people talk about their dreams
72. People who believe they can make the world a better place
73. Feeling inspired
74. An empty laundry basket
75. A new dress
76. Being given flowers
77. Hearing someone’s story
78. The stars
79. Buying house decorations
80. Chatting with kids
81. Making a difference to someone’s day
82. The Redwoods
83. Indian take away
84. Grandfather clocks
85. Going to bed feeling like I’ve achieved something
86. A good loooooooong bath
87. Fairy lights
88. The Sea
89. St. Andrews pier
90. Central heating
91. Showing people places I love
92. Hats, scarves and gloves
93. Taking pictures
94. Take off and touch down on a flight
95. Going to the cinema
96. Climbing trees
97. National Geographic
98. Fail Blog
99. Fleetwood Mac
100. Jazz
101. Knowing that I am alive for a reason and that ‘what we do in life echoes in eternity’ (102 - Gladiator)
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Friday, 26 August 2011
About a month ago, a friend posted a blog idea on to her facebook page. This woman had decided to take part in what is known as a 'Day Zero List'. Intrigued, I looked at what this was. The idea is simple; write a list of 101 things you would like to do over the next 1001 day (approx. 2 1/2 years).
I don't know what it was that gripped me about this idea so thoroughly. I think it is very easy to feel like you drift from day to day, doing the same old things for no particular reason. The very British idea of 'getting on with it, what-what'. I've never been one to desire a life like that, but it is not necessarily an easy thing to find your way out of.
Having done my (current) share of travelling and working in coffee shops, I am now settled as a (slightly) mature student, about to go in to second year. As such, my potential for being able to go off and adventure whenever I want has been somewhat severed. Nothing in me feels as though I am in the wrong place, but particularly recently, I have been feeling more restless and lacking in direction. It is probably because of this that I found myself so captivated by the idea of getting myself some goals, whether they be frivolous or serious.
I technically started this on the 1st of August (felt right, beginning of the month being a Monday), but so far I have not done much. It was the same friend who initially posted the idea who suggested to me that I write a blog on my experiences, almost as a form of accountability. I must admit, the idea of posting things on the internet as a sort of diary has always been odd to me. My thoughts are my own. They are private. No one should be in my head. Bless them, if they were it would not take long to find the monsters lurking at the back. However, I have no intention of writing to the world about how much I luuuuuuuuurrrrve James Franco/shopping/my boyfriend/cats etc., so it's more of a journal of my day zero experience than it is a diary of my most intimate thoughts.
So, here I am, writing my first ever blog entry and wondering whether anything I have to say could be interesting to anyone at all. For the moment, I shall publish my list, and then go and eat the lunch I should have had 2 hours ago. http://dayzeroproject.com/user/hannahelizabeth
I don't know what it was that gripped me about this idea so thoroughly. I think it is very easy to feel like you drift from day to day, doing the same old things for no particular reason. The very British idea of 'getting on with it, what-what'. I've never been one to desire a life like that, but it is not necessarily an easy thing to find your way out of.
Having done my (current) share of travelling and working in coffee shops, I am now settled as a (slightly) mature student, about to go in to second year. As such, my potential for being able to go off and adventure whenever I want has been somewhat severed. Nothing in me feels as though I am in the wrong place, but particularly recently, I have been feeling more restless and lacking in direction. It is probably because of this that I found myself so captivated by the idea of getting myself some goals, whether they be frivolous or serious.
I technically started this on the 1st of August (felt right, beginning of the month being a Monday), but so far I have not done much. It was the same friend who initially posted the idea who suggested to me that I write a blog on my experiences, almost as a form of accountability. I must admit, the idea of posting things on the internet as a sort of diary has always been odd to me. My thoughts are my own. They are private. No one should be in my head. Bless them, if they were it would not take long to find the monsters lurking at the back. However, I have no intention of writing to the world about how much I luuuuuuuuurrrrve James Franco/shopping/my boyfriend/cats etc., so it's more of a journal of my day zero experience than it is a diary of my most intimate thoughts.
So, here I am, writing my first ever blog entry and wondering whether anything I have to say could be interesting to anyone at all. For the moment, I shall publish my list, and then go and eat the lunch I should have had 2 hours ago. http://dayzeroproject.com/user/hannahelizabeth
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)