Last week, Andy’s back went to spasms so I had to drive him to a massage appointment one evening. Bored and with nothing to do in the waiting room, I began leafing through a small book on the coffee table titled 14,000 Things to Be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer.The author kept a list for 20-something years and then threw it all together for a book. (What can’t be published these days?)
Some things that made Barbara Ann happy were:
- Absurd – leprechauns, red leotards, Sun-In hair lightener , the TV show “Dallas”
- Admirable – world peace, love, justice
- Redundant – happy times
- Obvious – wine with a friend, fresh flowers, D.H. Lawrence, wedding cake
- Inspired – smell of Play-doh, X-acto knives, little boxes of breakfast cereal
The little book was a much needed gratitude adjustment for me. I’ve started my own list. It may not be publishable but it’s a great reminder that we’re all so very different – and that’s a little fantastic (to borrow a phrase from the Fantastic Mr. Fox).
Here’s something from my list: seeing a car go by with a dog sitting in the passenger seat like a person.
Won’t you share one thing that makes you happy?
That moment when I'm playing my guitar, and the feedback starts to creep in... and as I start shaking the note I'm playing, the feedback gets just a little louder, and louder, and louder... And I take a step to the left and the feedback changes pitch simply because I moved...
ReplyDeleteThat feels about as good as seeing that the bowling ball I just threw is about to give me a strike...
Which is almost as good as that first moment when I hear the coffee pot finish its gurgling and I know the coffee's ready...
I have a couple ....
ReplyDelete* Seeing a lone bird perched on top of a building or telephone pole and just chirping as loud as it can.
* Being able to see the planes ascending and descending at Reagan airport from my Bethesda apartment. As someone with a former fear of flying, there's something calming about watching planes come and go all day without incident.
* Watching respectable men in expensive business suits sprint for the metro with briefcases flailing, even though another train will come in three minutes.
Cleaning out a closet (or even a drawer), and taking what I don't need to the local thrift shop that benefits our women and children's shelter. So satisfying!
ReplyDeleteThe sound and vibration of a cat purring makes me really happy! So does the smell of freshly brewed coffee. And the feeling I get playing the really low notes on my bass guitar. So many things make me happy, including spending time with friends like you, Mandy!
ReplyDelete