It’s All About The Little Things
Happiness has always been a struggle for me. I like to think this is something other people can relate to. I have very high highs, and very low lows, but most of the time my neutral is a bit on the low side. I’ve always wanted to be that person who is super happy all the time and sees the world as sunshine and rainbows. I remember always being the most optimistic, positive kid. I truly believed that everything would work out for the best and that I could manifest anything. I miss that part of myself and often resent the world for beating it out of me. Throughout the past few years, after getting through the worst of my trauma recovery, I’ve been desperately trying to figure out what makes me happy so I can incorporate as many of those things into my life as possible. Particularly in my day-to-day life, because while it is easy to feel happy on a one-off day, it is much harder to feel happy on a random Wednesday.
I wish this was me writing about how I figured it all out and have a long list of things that make me happy, but I’m still deep in the thick of this journey. I know my loved ones make me happy, so I try to spend time with them as much as possible. Aside from that, the list is a bit bare. I should specify that when I say the list is a bit bare, I mean it is lacking substance. Of course, things like eating yummy food, watching a show I like, or buying something new for myself all make me happy, but I’m looking for a bit more depth than that. I’m looking for happiness that is more along the lines of enlightenment and peace and less immediate dopamine hit if you know what I mean.
It’s not all negative though, because I have noticed that it is usually the tiniest things that make me super happy. For example, there are geese that decided to nest in a grassy median I pass on my way to work. Every year they come back and nest there and I get so excited when I see them. I literally almost cried tears of joy the other day when I saw a little baby goose walking with the two grown geese. I don’t know why these geese and their little geese family make me so happy but it does. I get that same giddy feeling as if my heart is smiling when I take a long walk on a sunny, warm day. There is something so calming about taking a beat and getting to, “stop and smell the roses,” as some might say.
While I don’t expect anything to change overnight, I hope to find more moments to take a breath and fill myself up with little everyday joys. Sometimes I wonder if I’m struggling with finding happiness or more so struggling with making the space and breaking down the walls necessary to feel happiness. Who knows, maybe it’s a combination of both. I’m hopeful that a combination of seeking out happiness in the world around me and making sure I’m in the right headspace to receive that happiness will do the trick over time. What makes you happy? It doesn’t matter if it’s the big things or the little things, I’d love to hear what works for you!