list 100 things that make me happy

81. Checking things off my to-do list
82. Checking books off my to-read list
83. Adding things I’ve already done to my to-do list just so I can check them off
84. Cheers
85. That oh-so specific shade of purple that I can never quite describe
86. Dancing like an idiot
87. Exceeding my own expectations
88. Calling people fool, (as in “I know that, fool!”)
89. Cooking
90. Indoor plumbing
91. Doing ridiculous things, like dancing barefoot in the rain, not because they’re on a list, but because it just feels right in the moment
92. My terrible eyesight and the ability to change my perspective of the world just by taking out my contacts
93. Shaving my legs after not shaving for a while
94. Discovering something that’s been right in front of me, completely unnoticed
95. Hiding glitter and confetti in birthday cards
96. Sex
97. Fog
98. My spider catching (and releasing) technique
99. Marine biology
100. Finishing lists of things I love

61. Feeling like a kid when sitting in an automatic car wash
62. Scarves
63. Honeysuckle blossoms
64. Swings
65. Finally slipping into cozy pajamas after a long day
66. Colorfully painted ceilings
67. Creepy music
68. Galvanized steel tubs
69. Buttons I can push
70. “A whole nother”
71. Head-butts from kitties
72. Autocorrect
73. Learning how to like wine
74. Figuring things out without Google
75. 9
76. Photic sneeze reflex
77. Clean water
78. Bic lighters
79. Warm snuggly blankets
80. Learning the etymology of words (like blanket, where did that come from?)

41. Almonds
42. Hot baths with all the junk in them (oils, oats, epsom salt, etc…)
43. Ice nail polish in Free Fall
44. New pens
45. Watching a new episode of True Blood in the dark
46. Driving and singing
47. Jeopardy
48. Color combinations like teal, lime and granny smith apple greens; or a harvest pumpkin orange and slate gray
49. Cicadas
50. Ice makers
51. Letting Elmer’s glue dry on my hands and peeling it off
52. Casseroles
53. Olive oil
54. Found money
55. Playing guitar long enough that my fingers finally stop hurting
56. Indoor pools
57. Baked cinnamon chicken
58. Cold bottles of beer
59. Silver jewelry
60. Soft, old t-shirts

21. The way my puppy struts her stuff
22. Light layers
23. Sleep
24. Untamed gardens
25. Fresh paint
26. Lemons
27. Thinking about how crazy humans are
28. Office supplies
29. Alcohol
30. Remote controls
31. My cat “helping” me sweep by attacking the broom
32. Crossword puzzles
33. Music makers
34. Beach houses
35. The feel of old books
36. Getting checks
37. Crafts
38. Art
39. Iced spearmint tea with honey
40. Finishing a project

1. Making lists of things that make me happy
2. Privacy
3. Food
4. Crashing thunder
5. That pretty little bird with blue wings and rust orange breast
6. Dangly earrings
7. Mason jars
8. Finding out someone was thinking of me
9. Dreams, and trying to figure out what they mean
10. Sneezing
11. Pretty handwriting
12. Knowing how to drive a stick
13. Ending sentences with…
14. Chocolates
15. Making people laugh
16. Boots
17. When my kitty snuggles up in one of my sweaters
18. The smell of gasoline
19. Opening a new jar of peanut butter
20. That feeling of possibility when you first start out on a road trip

I’ve done this a couple times before and I think it’s time again.

I got in trouble the first time I did this. My boyfriend (at the time) read my personal journal that contained my list. The really awkward moment came when he realized that his name wasn’t on it. Oops.

Well, I’m single now and therefore have no worries about offending anyone with my new list. I may, however, end up making this a list of 100 things I love about my cat but it will be 100 things I love nonetheless.