What makes you happy?

Being here and relatively content. H has Alzheimer's but we cope. We have sufficient income to make life very comfortable. I get out with a friend one afternoon a week. I have a loving family even though I don't see some of them often. H is 80 in 3weeks and although we won't have a party, family are coming and who else does one need? I am happy with the life we have, what more can I ask? And if I sound smug I have learned over 78 years to be grateful for what I have. That doesn't mean life is perfect, but whose is?.

What a lovely thread.

Sitting on the sofa with DH, no words needed.
Family visits.
Seeing my first GC (now 9 weeks old) smile at me with real recognition in his eyes.
Baking for a party.
Birdsong.
Sunsets at Whitstable.

I agree Elrel, my second husband and both 'decided to be happy' after our own personal tragedies, and we are!
Seeing my Golden Girls (gold finches) flocking round our feeders, spotting a new bird species visiting, watching the sun rise, sitting in the garden late on a summer afternoon with a glass of wine looking for crocodiles and elephants in the clouds - it really makes me happy that we see the same things! Teenage grand daughters choosing to come here to slouch on the settee and ignore me instead of ignoring their mother!
Winter sunshine. A new tune mastered on the piano. A good book finished in one go. Good friends well fed at my table. Having time just to be.

What makes me happy ? A gin and tonic in the garden on a summers day, with my blackbird singing his head off on the roof - and my husband sitting beside me.

We've been married 46 years next week.... and they said it wouldn't last !!

Misslayed - I love your list, especially the teenage granddaughters!!

Q What makes grandparents happy?
A Being able to give them back......lol

My kids and grandkids, a day out by the seaside, sitting in the sunshine in my garden, sitting outside a nice cafe people watching

Watching and taking part in the Somerset carnivals makes me happy.
Also, just feeling well and spending time with my family.

When my favourite flowers come into bloom and I can go out to admire them.

Thanks to all - have found this very uplifting in itself. Feeling a bit low as redundant last summer and can't get another job. Benefit ran out and have to wait 6 yrs for pension. (Recommend ppl
to sign WASPI petition if they haven't already). No personal money is hard and feel guilty about asking DH for handouts or doing things costing money/buying things. Having worked nearly all my life find it hard to think of things that make ME happy as I have spent my life thinking about family and job. But when I do see GCs they are lovely and I do enjoy that.

When my DGC say something funny or sweet, give me a lovely smile or a hug. There is no doubt for me that they are top of my list.
Sometimes, just sometimes,I'm happy when they leave..

A good book. The excitement of a nice holiday.A nice glass of red, all spring to mind.

Taking a yoga class on the beach...the feel of warm sunshine and gentle breezes on my skin, the rhythmic sounds of the ocean and the sight of the seagulls flying overhead. At that moment I am happy, I am thankful and I am grateful.

Oh yes Imperfect I forgot sunsets at Whistable! Perfect.

just waking up each morning and finding myself alive!!!! lol
Meeting up with my bowling pals for a game which is usually full of laughter and stupid happenings.
My husband, today when i was out shopping and making my way back to the car i had a little 'squiggle' in my stomach because i knew he was at home waiting for me.

Happiness is a 20th Century invention!

Seeing a buzzard or red kite soaring overhead. A lovely warm day on the beach. A smile from my new little grandson and thinking of all the fun we two will have in the future. A lovely book that I have read and re-read since I was ten years' old. The boxer dog I "dog sit" for who is so gentle and loving. Many many things........................

Waking up on a spring morning knowing that winter is over . A lovely sunny day and being out in the garden .
Going out for the day with my adult children , snuggling on the sofa with Larry (cat) and sharing some ice cream with him .
Watching a really good film on TV , there are so few.
When I have done all my jobs and I can get the sewing machine out .
So many things I am grateful for ...

I'm generally a content person, but every now and again I become aware of being 'happy' in the moment. Having been away for some time and then being ill since my return it's a while since I've visited the care home where I'm Chaplain. Yesterday I called in and felt really, really happy to be there and see the lovely residents and staff again. Most of my 'happy' moments are centred on being with certain people, especially my husband and close family, but also others who can bring a smile to my day.

Driving up to my caravan at the weekend after being at work all week.

Like a lot of the others I agree it is the small things in life that make me happy, the sun shining, watching the flowers blossom in the gardens, seeing my family happy all the little things like that brighten my day.

Sunshine, books, walking and being in the open air, being with my family, cooking (and other mundane tasks), living where I do, my garden, my house, the countryside, the beautiful coast, old buildings, seeing other people happy.

The view from my windows - truly life-enhancing - we are very lucky.

Siting in bed and soaking up the sun through the south facing balcony doors

My 10 month old DGS's smile - it is impossible to be miserable when he smiles at you - it is a whole body action!

The love of my dear kind daughters.

The days when OH's PD is under control and he is able to do some of the things he wants.

Seeing my Australian granddaughters on Skype.They light up my heart.Such bright happy little faces.They sing and dance for me and tell me all their little adventures.On Sunday we played hide and seek and we all got very giddy and excited.Bless my son for playing the game and pointing the laptop in all the places I told him.
Also my friends grand children always make me happy as does my dog.
Children and animals always make me happy.

Every time I remember that I don't have to go to work my heart fills with joy. I love the start of NZ autumn, the sun has lost some of its harshness and the nights are cooler.

I do love the sound on Narrowboatnan's boat tho!

A new happiness: seeing a photograph of my new GS, wearing a Spurs babygrow. My dad would have loved that!