Things That Make Me Happy

• Sunshine
• Chocolate
• Dancing -- any kind of partner dancing
• Experiencing a perfect dance connection for an out-of-this-world 3-minute song
• Making a newbie dancer feel a little more confident
•  Hot chocolate on a cold day; smoothies or watermelon on a hot day
• Fresh fruit (not from the store) 
• Laughing (especially laughing so hard my stomach hurts or I can't stand up)
• Kittens
• Adult time.  No kids! 
• Solitude.
• Seeing someone I care about that I haven't seen in a long time
• Saying no to something I don't want to do
• Saying yes to something I do want to do, and not feeling guilty about it
• Smiles from people I know; smiles from strangers
• When someone remembers my name; when I surprise someone by remembering theirs
• Getting an email from a friend
• Love notes from my husband
• Hugs and forehead kisses
• Bubbles
• Music, anything fun and uplifting
• Watching a good performance
• Wild flowers along the highway
• Butterflies.  Butterfly migration season.
• Blossoming trees and tiny little green shoots poking out of the ground
• A walk through a nursery (plants)
• Yard work
• Building things, repairing things, painting walls, or doing other home improvement projects
• Seeing the finished product my hands have made
• Finding edible food to pick in my garden
• Eating and sharing a delicious meal from a new recipe I tried
• Warm rain
• Running
• Hiking
• Rollerblading, ice skating, basketball, tennis, bike riding, kickboxing
• Going someplace I've never been
• Trying my hand at something I've never done before
• Driving a stick shift. Laughing when I stall or squeal the tires, re-familiarizing myself with the stick
• Riding the teacups or similar spinning ride
• Merry-go-rounds.  How fast can you make it spin?
• Twisting up the chain on the swing and spinning back out.
• Those swivel/spinning seats on the playground
• Spinning around until I'm dizzy
• Rolling down a grassy hill
• Daisies
• Listening to the birds sing
• The full moon on a clear night
• A walk in the dark
• Walking barefoot on soft grass
• The sound of the surf, the feel of the sand between my toes, & the salty sea air on my sun-kissed skin
• Beautiful sunsets (especially on the pier)
• Laying down on my tempur-pedic bed
• The silence of a kid-free house
• Sun warmed laundry that smells like the air outside
• A clean bathroom (especially if I didn't clean it!)
• Sitting next to a warm fire on a cold day, dressed in sweats and slippers
• Wearing something that makes me feel pretty and feminine (and not feeling guilty about it)
• Perfume -- I like to smell pretty too
• A foot massage from my husband
• Noticing that my husband did a chore without my asking
• The sight and smell of freshly mowed lawn 
• Executing plans with success
• Picking an apricot off the tree and eating it right there
• Picking strawberries
• Ladybugs and green lacewings, especially in my garden
• The smell after a rain
• The smell of new books
• Rich dirt in the springtime
• Fairs (without kids): roasted corn, real lemonade
• BBQs and/or picnics
• Sundresses (in my dreams, right?)
• Free outdoor concerts
• The absence of fighting/whining/crying
• Listening to my husband tell funny stories
• Fresh air blowing through open windows
• Holding hands/taking his arm
• Feeling safe
• Soft touches that don't tickle
• Encouraging words 
• "Thank you, Mom."
• Christmas lights
• Halloween: pumpkins, decorations, and dressing up
• Birthdays: celebrating the birth and existence of someone
• Art museums
• Compliments: giving and receiving
• Magic tricks and street performers
• Rainbows in the sky
• The smell of orange blossoms
• Eating the batter before you bake the brownies or cookies
• Fresh chocolate chip cookies or bread straight from the oven
• Old fashioned milk shakes and fries
• Jumping in a pile of leaves
• Feeding the ducks
• Leaning back and looking up at the leaves from a swing on a tree
• Seashells
• Windchimes
• Prisms casting rainbows
• Water fountains
• The look in his eyes
• The amazing things people are capable of
• Witnessing kindness between people
• Bright colors
• Blowing dandelions
• Eyes -- they are the windows to the soul
• Finishing something
• Writing
• Stand-up comedians
• Stumbling upon chalk art in the park
• Murals, sculptures, interesting architecture (like downtown San Diego/Horton Plaza)
• The Tiki Room at Disneyland
• Great sex
• Smell of fresh herbs
• National Geographic
• Exploring a national or state park (without kids)
• Seeing the leaves change color
• Fireworks
• Sand Castles
• Truth and Authenticity