10 Personal Ways to Happiness

So today I thought I would share all those little things that make me happy. None of these are earth shattering but all of them lift my heart. Of course, they are very personal to me so I would love to hear what brings you joy – please feel free to leave a comment below.

Animal Company

For any of you that know me you would probably have guessed that this would be one of the first things I would mention in my list of joyful moments. I love animals and grew up in a home filled with dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs – although not all at the same time. While I don’t have any fur-babies right now, even meeting a dog in the park can make me happy.  I now know almost all the local dog fraternity and am on first name terms with many of them 🙂

Tree Hugging

I find trees absolutely amazing and have even been known to hug a trunk on occasion. There is something about the peace of being below the canopy of all those leaves that seems to make time stand still for a second or two. Trees also come in so many varieties, they bring us blossom in the Spring and glorious colours in the Autumn. Many trees have lived lives far exceeding our own in length and have born witness to so much history – that is amazing in itself.

Paddling Time

My natural home is the beach and I grew up on the coastline, first in Kent and then in Devon in the UK. Living in a land-locked part of the country now, being able to dip my toes in the sea is one of the things I miss the most. The beach for me isn’t really about hot weather as I am not a huge sun worshipper, so I enjoy walking on the beach in Winter just as much as I do in the warmer months.

Cloud Watching

If I need a few minutes of true de-stress time I simply lay on the floor in my lounge and watch the clouds whizzing overhead through my patio door. This can be enjoyed whatever the season and you can even take it outdoors, laying on the grass or sand.

Wonderful Water

I always use showers to wake me up and baths to relax me and I have to say I have always loved water. When I was a kid I used to play with it all the time – endlessly pouring water from one container to the next – what can I say, I was an only child ☺ I also love swimming but go very rarely now. My favourite place to swim would of course be the sea.

Immersed in History

I love history  and so if I have a free weekend you will find me heading to a National Trust house or similar. One of my favourite places to head is Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire.   It’s got such a wonderful atmosphere there and when you are sitting in the garden you can almost imagine Jane tending to her flowers.

Food Glorious Food (and Drink)

Of course many moments of pleasure come from eating or drinking something delicious. Even a great cappucino and a half hour chilling out in a cafe can help me boost my mood. I also used to enjoy winding down with a glass of wine but have found the sulphites in it don’t agree with me. Now, a cheeky pink gin and tonic fills the gap.

Walking to De-Stress

I love walking and try to make sure I get out for at least an hour every day, longer at the weekends. Walking is a great way to de-stress, you can clear your head, get some much needed exercise and oh yes of course meet maybe a few dogs and cats along the way!

House Watching

When I am out and about I love looking at all the different styles of houses around me and I image the people who live there, not just right now but also through history. Of course I don’t know who actually lives there so it’s just from my imagination but hey,  there’s nothing wrong with a little daydreaming.

So, over to you. Let me know in the comments what makes you happy, I would love to know.