Completing a painting, whether it’s good or not, makes me feel happy. — Crow by Pat Bean
“If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem.” — Richard Bach
20 Things that Make Me Happy
I’m not one to give advice. The choices I’ve made in my own life have not always been perfect, and often disastrous. But I was recently thinking about things that have made my life better, which I did feel good about sharing. I came up with the following.
Having a dog and walking her daily:
Not taking anything personal unless it makes me feel better.
Realizing people are more concerned about how they look than how I look.
Writing and bird watching.
Watching birds, like this snowy egret, makes me happy, too. — Photo by Pat Bean.
Believing in myself.
Accepting that I’m not perfect – and even prefer it that way.
Learning something new every day.
Getting enough sleep, but not occasionally missing out on a special opportunity to keep going until I drop.
Smiling
Hugging someone
Laughing often and loud, especially at myself
Beating a pillow with a tennis racket when I’m frustrated, or simple screaming the anger out.
Eating chocolate
Taking a hike in the mountains, or forest, or beside a stream, or on an ocean beach.
Completing a project.
Saying no when I don’t want to do something.
Not breaking promises to myself.
Giving myself credit for reaching goals, like finally publishing my travel book or simply finishing a painting.
Doing something I’ve never done before.
Watching sunrises and sunsets.
So, what’s on your list?
Bean Pat: Live to Write https://nhwn.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/write-now/#like-18435 Good advice for us writers.
Now available on Amazon
Pat Bean is a Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder. Her book, Travels with Maggie, is now up on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/y8z7553y Currently, she is writing a book, tentatively titled Bird Droppings, which is about her late-bloomer birding adventures. You can contact her at patbean@msn.com
Pat Bean's blog 
Do you own a tennis racket? ________________________________
Yup! I do Suzanne. It was an exercise I learned at a workshop and it truly works. Hugs.
I love your list. You have many items I would consider for my own list. It would be a good exercise. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks JoHawk.
Love your list! Our lists have things in common the hikes, the chocolate and saying no when needed. I think I will add to my list the fact that even though i didn’t plan it, life has threw at me some experiences that I am happy I lived and learned from it.
That’s a great idea. Sometimes I think I’m glad life didn’t go as I planned it because it has been so much better than that. Thanks.
That painting gives you something to crow about.
Thanks for the chuckle Steve.