5 Little Moments of Happiness
Our lives are filled with things that make us happy. In fact, I think that we often have so many happy moments in our lives that we often forget the tiniest gratitudes. I was sitting at the dining table last night to do my German homework about life stages vocab and grammar when I was confronted by two German words:
- die Freude: the happiness or pleasure
- die Baustelle: the building site or job site
They’re interesting words for a a chapter on life stages, huh? They’re also interesting when you think about the happiness we get from little moments in our personal building sites – the place where we become who we are – our homes.
So today, pause. What are the little things that bring happiness to your home and to your life? Here are some of mine.
1. The pause right after our family sits down for dinner. We’re together. We have food to share. And in that moment, everything is peaceful.
2. Fresh vegetables and fruits. Sliced. Arranged on a plate. Consumed raw.
3. Walking in the front door after a long day. Being home. Unloading the school books, the grocery bags.
4. Standing at the window, watching the people outside with their sleds and children, their dogs, or their cross country skis over their shoulders.
5. Finding a letter from the United States in our mailbox because that means it isn’t a bill. It isn’t a project. It’s just something fun from someone who cares… and writes in English.
Just listing these things makes my day feel sunnier. I know I’m not alone. What are the bits and pieces we easily overlook… but mean so much in a really good day at your house?
January 21st, 2010 at 7:51 am
Those are great Katie. My daughter smiling, laughing, and leaning her body into mine while hugging me are some of my favorite everyday things. Watching Matt pull into the driveway, and letting Dublin out the front door to greet him are high on the list too. :)
January 21st, 2010 at 7:59 am
1. Seeing my children asleep in their beds. A sleeping child is such an image of peace and calm.
2. A clean kitchen sink. It’s more rare than you think around here.
3. Welcoming my children home from school. They walk to and from school and they are full of energy when they come home.
4. Sitting in my living room chair in a sunny window. How I miss summer.
5. Freshly shaven legs. ‘Nuff said.
January 21st, 2010 at 8:03 am
I love this post! When my son was heading out to soccer last night and asked if I’d eat dinner with him, I said yes and sat down and ate an early dinner w/him. This time next yr. he will be in college! Every little moment of happiness is a gift. And Katie, I linked to you today! My new kitchen post is up (Part I yesterday, Part II today, and Part III tomorrow!)
Sandy
January 21st, 2010 at 8:58 am
One of my favorites lately is getting into bed after putting the kids to bed, a pile of books to read on the nightstand, my ipod with all of my music and an episode of Mad Men to watch and my ds with The Diabolical Box ready to be played. I always pause at this moment and feel the stress of the day being lifted and feel so grateful for who and what we have.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:27 am
Great Post Katie, it goes right along with my goal to living a more fulfilling life. For so many of my years I have lived to work. I would put in 60 hrs a week, I would hardly know when a weekend would come and go. In fact there was a time just a little over a year ago when I worked 3 months without a day off! All becuase I thought by making more money I could buy more things, thus making my life happier. I noticed though not only did it not make my life happier but it also was hurting my health and taking me away from my family. Now I only work to live. I know longer work overtime, I no longer bring my work home to work on it on my free time. Part of this change has been what has brought my families decision to move to Germany, to bring us closer to other family members and to live a more enriching life. Which leads me to my five moments of happiness.
1. The joy I feel when I pick up my son from daycare: Everyday when I come to pick him up he jumps up and yells Daddy, he is all smiles and happy to see me and happy that he gets to go home and spend time with the family
2. The smell of Sunday breakfast: During the week we all have small breakfast as we get ready to go to work and school, but on Saturday my wife always makes it a point to make a big breakfast for all of us. There is something about the smell of bacon, sausage, eggs, and bisquits that lets me know that a relaxing weekend is here.
3. feeling of energy after a good work out: There are many days when I will be dragging or not want to do it, but once I get into a workout and work up a good sweat the feeling afterward is great and give me a burst of energy.
4. Walking around our pond: We have a pond in our neighborhod and everyday after dinner we take a walk around our pond, watching the ducks and geese and the kids running and playing is very relaxing.
5. A good snowfall: Now this one may sound weird, but living in Texas the last two and a half years I have found we never get snow! well this year we had two good snowfall, my son and I ran into the backyard and caught snowflakes on our tounges. We recieved about an inch and a half enough for him to make a snow angel but not enough to make a snowman. In fact my son just turned 7 and has never made one. I know many may hate all the snowfall Germany gets ,but one thing I am really looking forward to is helping him build his first snowman.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:05 am
I’m going to pause when I get home tonight and consider MY five little moments of happiness! Great post!
January 21st, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Hands-down, being in my home when it’s clean and organized. Everything in its place. Such a calming feeling.
When my cat, who thinks he’s a dog, comes up to me, looks at me, makes a talking noise, then reaches his little paws up and puts them on either side of my face, then butts his head against my chin. It’s a feline hug, and it’s the best feeling in the world.
The smell and feel of bread dough as I make it.
The feel of the tropical air when I visit Miami in the winter. LOVE IT.
The giddiness I feel when giving someone I care about a present that I know they’ll love.
January 21st, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Another great post!
Taking the wind-scented laundry off the clothesline outside.
Watching our two neighborhood foxes play out in the snow under the moonlight.
A hot shower on a cold day.
sitting together in the living room at night reading with a fire in the fireplace and the jazz station on.
I’m feeling so relaxed just writing those things, now it’s off to run errands :o)
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:02 pm
I wrote a research paper on happiness in Graduate School. As part of the final product, I asked family and friends what made them happy. A lot of the responses to your post remind me of the responses of my family and friends.
Some of my happy moments:
a hug from my son
holding my husband’s hand
the joy on my dogs’ faces when I come home
Hearing my class call “Good Morning Mrs. Carrabba!”
Sitting in my rocking chair on the back deck, looking at the pond with a cup of coffee in my hands, and my dogs at my feet.
Thank you for another wonderful post!
April 9th, 2010 at 10:17 am
This makes me so happy to read! I agree with all of the above.
My happiness?
Cooking with my husband
Watching the sunset from my TINY porch at my TINY apartment, thinking how big and small the world is all at once.
In the morning, the first steaming hot coffee with milk and cinammon
Weekend walks along the river with my husband
The smell of freshly baked bread