Here is my happiness list for this month’s Pink of Perfection project hosted by Sarah. Last year I went through a bit of a depression and decided to write a list of the good things that happened each day to cheer myself up. I only made two (very short) lists and they did sort of work but when I read back on them today, they don’t make any sense. Here is a chance for me to write a list that WILL make sense and for me to look at when I am feeling blue.

These are the things that make me happy:

  1. knowing that I lucked out with my husband who is incredibly supportive and is always on my side
  2. when my older son comes up behind me and gives me a big tight hug
  3. when my younger son crawls to me and uses my knees to pull himself up, completely taking me for granted
  4. listening to either of my sons laughing
  5. knowing that I have great parents who love me unconditionally and a brother that I can vent to about anything and who can understand me even when I am talking really really fast
  6. cuddling with a warm dog on a cold night
  7. lying around lazily in the sun reading a really good book like Shadow of the Wind – and falling asleep and then waking up and reading some more
  8. having lunch with my husband (while the kids are in daycare) at really nice restaurants
  9. picking up my kids at daycare and seeing them smiling and laughing as they run/crawl towards me
  10. living practically next door to a REALLY nice and modern library (where I’ve enjoyed many an afternoon)
  11. knowing that I have amazing friends, and that I can count on them in difficult times
  12. having a great boss, who respects me and values me, and who I can count on to always have my back, as well as being at a job I enjoy with people I respect, AND I get to work from home in my pajamas
  13. being healthy and having healthy children
  14. not having to worry about food and shelter

OK this list is sort of all over the place. But I am rereading through it and thinking, man, I do have it good. I need to take time out sometimes and really appreciate what I have. How can I possibly ever be unhappy? But I do get moody at times and I will try reading over this list next time I get in a slump and hopefully it’ll zap me out of it.

Update (Aug 6, 2008): Sarah has just published all the completed July project posts.  I’ve read through most of them and they are all such lovely lists.  I didn’t think other people’s happiness lists would make me as happy as mine but I found things I loved in each of them, and they ALL made me smile and feel warm.  And some of them are SO creative!  Definitely a great picker-upper if you need one.