When I was a kid I loved listening to my parents talk about their childhoods and experiences growing up. I really enjoyed hearing the funny stories about siblings and old friends, their former life plans, the reality of how things actually happened, even mistakes and regrets. I have always felt that I know my parents better than most kids do. I remember thinking several times that if I could absorb everything they told me, I would have the opportunity to completely skip the chapter of life where one makes his or her own mistakes because I would have already learned from theirs.Totally didn't happen! The point is that mistakes are just part of life and the ones I have made are experiences that got me where I am today. Is my life perfect? No. Am I living my life the way I thought I would be when I was 12? Goodness, no. I don't have a billion dollars, I don't live in a mansion, I don't have the best of all THINGS. Even if I did, would I be any happier than I am now? NOPE! Am I happy? Yes, absolutely. Aside from the large obvious things that can contribute to survival, I believe the simple things in life are what really make us happy. They are what give us a reason to keep going. I think everyone has simple pleasures, but I don't know if we always take the time to appreciate them. So, now, I'm going to do just that by sharing some of my own personal simple things to be happy about.
Actually, first, I'm going to explain what I mean by "large obvious things". Jobs, bills being paid, food to eat, healthy family, etc. These are GREAT things to have and appreciate. I feel fortunate to have a husband in the military because although the rest of the country has been faced with job losses, that is not an issue we have had to deal with. 'Grateful' doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel about the well-being of my family, or even of their existence. They are MY existence. This isn't what I'm talking about. What I am talking about are the little things in life that just make your day a little sweeter. The things that turn 'sustaining' into 'living'.
•Morning time babies
•Root Beer
•My few beloved TV shows
•The sight of fall colors and decor
•Coffee time!
•Good morning texts
•Suuuper comfy PJs
•Pringles
•Digital photo taking, selecting, deleting, sharing
•The happiness of kids blowing bubbles
•Sidewalk chalk
•Lindt truffles
•Waking up to kids, not an alarm clock
•Being 10 minutes from my parents house
•Baby girl fashions
•Teaching my daughter to play with babies
•Teaching my son how to draw
•Popcorn and movies
•FACEBOOK!
So this is just a random off-the-top-of-my-head list. All these things make me happy, though. You might find some of them dumb, but that's okay. You can find the things within your own life that make you happy. The thing is that if you don't take the time to appreciate them, are they really making you happy? Open your eyes and give in to your surroundings because life is only as good as you let it be!
