Do you ever have that feeling, that you look around you and think ‘oh how beautiful’ and you really feel it in your body? Consciousness in the moment that makes you experience everything more intensely. And I think that really has a function. If you’re becoming more grateful, you will experience more happiness, without changing anything in your situation.
Need inspiration on how to do that? Read along my list of 50 things that cost (almost) nothing and make me feel happy. I am curious whether they also apply to you or you perhaps have additions. The order of 1 to 50 does not rank any of them, they just happened to come to me in this order.
1. Sleep in when you normally can’t
2. Take a walk in your favorite neighborhood or forest
3. Using a bike route without traffic lights
4. Have a drink on the terrace with dear friends or a good book
5. Create the perfect picnic with fresh homemade things that you love
6. Paint or draw outside
7. Knead dough
8. Get or give a massage
9. Feel the sun’s rays on your skin
10. Consistently care for plants and see them grow as a ‘reward’
11. Learn something new
12. See and talk to friends
13. Have something to look forward to
14. Enjoy a sunset together without having to say anything
15. Pet an animal
16. Tidy up your house (and especially feel the result of that)
17. Exercise
18. Cook for someone else
19. Get under the clean sheets after a fresh shower
20. Not having to do anything for the rest of the day
21. Set small goals that you can easily achieve and cross off
22. Preparing healthy food to make eating healthy easier for you the next few days
23. Opening your freezer and finding a prepared frozen meal when your day is not going well
24. Not having to mind time for a day
25. Putting on warm, fluffy socks in the winter when you don’t have to leave the house anymore
26. Cuddling with your (occasional) partner
27. Feeling your muscles relax in the sauna
28. Taking a warm bath
29. Deep cleaning your house/mopping through your house
30. Making your own jam and being able to enjoy it for a long time
31. A walk with the dog
32. Realizing that there is still a recording/episode of your favorite series waiting for you
33. Cycling on perfectly smooth asphalt
34. A cappuccino in the sun
35. Hearing the birds sing
36. Observing animals and their behavior ‘in the wild’
37. Experiencing the fresh air of the forest when you live in the city
38. Walking barefoot through the grass
39. Feeling and seeing progress in sports because you keep practicing consistently
40. Braiding hair
41. Feeling grateful for the fate that you just avoided, like a near collision
42. Good discussions that give you new insights
43. Having great sex, just the way you like it
44. Going to the museum on the free day
45. Building a sandcastle
46. Sitting in front of the fireplace or campfire
47. Looking at the stars until you see one falling
48. Discovering a beautiful book because someone recommended it to you
49. Looking at old photos and reliving the moment
50. Writing this all down 😊
And maybe you’ll think about this list during your next coffee in the sun. Hopefully it will taste even better then 😉
Love,
Bridget