Happiness

[trixtah]

Things that make me happy (in no particular order, and not exhaustively - I'm bound to think of something I've left out):

• Drinking nice coffee or other nice drinks;
• Eating nice food;
• Making something work, with little angst (such as doing something techie at work, or even fixing the lawnmower). Also, the few times it happens for me, creating something new;
• Using a piece of technology that suits the purpose for which it was made and works well (of course, there's a time and a place for going into rhapsodies in that line - people get pissed off if you sit too long at a green light listening to your perfectly-tuned engine tick over);
  
• Seeing or hearing compelling and beautiful things - natural or manmade;
  
• Stimulating conversations (in person and virtual, although I do prefer the former) that allow me to make connections, whether intellectual and emotional internal ones, external inter-personal ones or broader "how the world works" ones;
• Fulfilling the role of catalysing those kinds of connections for other people, or otherwise supporting their reaching a goal (internal or external);
  
• Cuddling up with a cute babe, especially ones who like to engage in the aforementioned stimulating conversations... and other not-so-intellectual pursuits (it's all about balance, eh?);
• Something that engages and works my body, as well as engaging my mind. Sex is good for that, when it's going well; tai chi - even so soon - does the same thing.

If anyone else feels so moved, I'd like to see other people's lists on this topic. :-)

Comments

[saluqi.livejournal.com]

A comment I saw in a locked post recently made a lot of sense to me. It was something to the effect of the goal being not so much finding things that make you happy, but to stop making oneself unhappy. There are things that lift my state of mind tho'.

a clean and tidy house

improving at something, especially something challenging

my doggles, and not just when they win, watching them run or sleep is enough

nice food and wine

regular exercise

hanging out with people who have tasty brains

everything ticking over neatly in my relationships and friendships

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Yes, certainly for attaining that sense of contentment with life in general, learning to not make oneself unhappy is a bloody good start.

I like your list and your doggles are so exceedingly spunky that just watching them hangout is enough. :-)