identify 100 things that make me happy.

There’s something about watching the first raindrops fall, knowing torrential weather is about to unfold. Somehow, it’s exhilarating and comfortable at the same time. I really don’t know how else to explain it, but to say that that feeling, that edge-of-the-knife feeling, is wonderful for me.

There’s nothing that says “I’m thinking about you” like being handed a bag of fresh oranges by the couple down the hall.

I’m very proud of the places I’ve visited in my lifetime, and I love marking off new places that I see. I don’t think we’re able to have any decent perspective on life unless we see the world outside of our own little bubbles. Being on vacation (escaping!) is one of the most enjoyable experiences I can think of. My three favourite places yet are Disney World, Seattle, and Wales. I consider myself open-minded, and attribute it in large part to my travels.

As a musician, I love music (it follows, right?). I almost always have music playing in the background, or the foreground, for that matter. I think that it’s an essential part of my life, much the same as sleep, exercise, or prayer are essential parts of my life.

The pinnacle of musical experience, however, has to be live shows. With musicians for parents, I’ve been hearing music performed in person since before I could speak, and I am so grateful for that. Every band I love I want to see live – they’re inseparable things! So yeah, live music certainly makes me happy.

Pulling freshly-washed, clean, and fluffy clothes out of the dryer is great! I have great memories of being a kid and getting warm jammies to sleep in; I wanted to stay awake just to enjoy the feeling of warmth against my skin. I also love getting warm towels right after stepping out of the shower. After getting myself clean and then being forced to step onto cold tile where the vent’s blowing on me, there’s nothing better than wrapping up with warm terry cloth. I know, it seems like such a simple thing, but it make life so much more comfortable!

Since I was really young, I’ve loved chocolate. I mostly love dark, rich, “real-tasting” chocolate. Somehow, mainly through my grandparents’ friends from Switzerland who used to bring us bags of amazing Swiss chocolate when they’d come to visit. My favourite chocolates are anything made by the Swiss chocolate brand Lindt, but I’m always up for trying new types. And of course, dark chocolate is the best.

I probably do this one more than I’d like to admit, but there’s something about manipulating pictures that alludes to manipulating beauty, coaxing it out of the environment… and I love it.

I’ve had cats since I was five years old, and I’ve always loved them. I love how furry and cuddly they are, how they massage you with their paws when they’re happy, and how they purr and run around your legs. My cats have kept me company when I’ve been lonely, and they’ve given me something to come home to. I swear I’m not becoming the crazy cat lady, because I prefer people by far, but I still never underestimate how happy these little animals make me feel.

I love the feeling of looking over at the alarm clock, afraid of what time it will be, and then slowly realizing I don’t have to wake up for anything. I love waking up to the news that it’s okay to fall back asleep. I love opening my eyes to find my room lit up with the sun and to feel awake and ready to face the world. I love the comfort of my bedding wrapped around my shoulders when I can lie there, awake, thinking about the day before me. All in all, sleeping in is a luxury, like chocolate for my mind.

It’s strange for me to think of a color as being a source of happiness, but I realize more and more that, for me, it is. I’m drawn to items that are green, have a bedroom (for at least the next couple of weeks) that’s painted green, and enjoy wearing clothes that are green. I feel good surrounded by it. It reminds me of life, of growth, of warmth, of sex, of newness, of acceptance, of advancement. Green traffic lights, green M&Ms, green grass, green markers…