What Makes You Happy?

There’s a lot we could be talking about this week.

The pandemic.

Vaccination rates.

Earnings.

Markets.

Stimulus bills.

Instead, how about we talk about something nice?

What makes you happy?

What does “happiness” even mean?

Is it a temporary state? Is it a long-term thing?

I’ve heard happiness called being mindful of small moments of joy.

I like that definition because it implies that happiness is a practice that we can cultivate.

Is there a special recipe for achieving happiness?

Maybe.

I’ll start. My personal recipe for happiness might be:

SIMPLICITY + HEALTH + FAMILY + FULFILLING WORK + READING A GREAT BOOK + GRATITUDE = happiness

If I can get some of that into each day, I can call it a happy one.

I’ve also found that simple things bring me joy, even when I’m stressed or not feeling my best.

• Visiting / Talking with / Zooming with any of my 6 grandchildren.

• Listening to some mellow jazz.

• Sitting in front of the fire with my wife, Karen, while the snow falls, and the wind blows outside.

• Watching the neighbor kids play football / soccer / tag in the open space behind our house.

• Losing myself in a great escape book (or movie).

• A relaxing evening with Karen – playing cribbage, Scrabble – and listening to good music.

What do you think?

What’s your personal recipe for happiness?

What simple things feed your soul?

Has it changed over time? Has it changed over the last year?

Drop me an email and let me know. I'd love to hear from you.