identify 100 things that make me happy (besides money)

91. Raspberries and vanilla ice cream (a gift I once received from my ex-father-in-law an hour after I had a baby!)
92. Dove chocolate, Swedish fish, and Dots (yes, I love candy!)
93. Getting to know a friend at a deeper level
94. Providing comfort to someone who’s hurting
95. Writing on high-quality paper with a high-quality pen
96. Drinking diet Coke
97. Being sincerely appreciated (for pretty much anything)
98. Sitting on the patio, drinking a glass of wine, on a perfect late spring day, and watching the sun go down
99. Traveling to parts unknown, taking in the sights, and falling into bed contented and exhausted later
100. Completing my list of 100 things that make me happy!

81. Looking at photographs of my daughter over time
82. Remembering Megan
83. Knowing, because he’s told me, that my ex-husband forgives me for leaving him
84. Planning and installing a flowerbed
85. Having lunch with a friend
86. Practicing active optimism (one of my 43things goals)
87. Practicing daily gratitude (one of my 43things goals)
88. Smiling at strangers
89. Making regular philanthropic gifts
90. Air conditioning on a summer day

71. Lamplight, which lets me read until dawn if I wish
72. My camera, so I can ‘capture the moment’ and augment my memory
73. The scent of coffee
74. A glass of champagne to celebrate a special event
75. Hearing someone whistling a happy tune (especially since I cannot whistle)
76. Jewelry given to me by my very special man
77. A day (or more) off work
78. Mastering a new skill, especially now that I’ve grown older
79. Giving a gift to a loved one for no reason at all and watching their delight
80. Reading (and writing!) an inventive passage of prose

61. Remembering that I paid my own way through college, twice
62. Chocolate custard ice cream in a waffle cone on a summer day
63. Seeing a bank of daffodils in bloom along the roadside in the springtime
64. Making and serving a dish that a loved one longs to eat
65. The joyous laughter of children
66. Purchasing something that is beautiful just because it is beautiful, so I can enjoy it over and over again
67. Sunshine dazzling a new snow
68. Holding a baby and having it smile at me
69. Having a “psychic moment” with my man, when what he’s saying is what I was just thinking
70. Re-reading books from my childhood, and especially while reading them to a much-loved child!

51. Having a colleague ask about my vacation, and be genuinely interested in what I have to say; returning the interest and listening to her talk about her break from work
52. Getting my CDs imported into iTunes so I can listen to them away from home on my iPod
53. Corresponding with someone who has cancer, and helping to keep up her spirits with encouragement and fun books
54. Reading about how neuroscience affects adult learning
55. Keeping up with friends on Facebook
56. Planning for health and fitness
57. Executing my plans for health and fitness
58. Making a list of books I plan to read this year (one of my 43Things goals)
59. Discussing books with literary-minded friends
60. Reading a novel just for the pleasure of reading

41. Wearing the warmth of a down coat in winter
42. Visiting an art museum
43. Laughing at standup comedy
44. Burning scented candles
45. Achieving a long-desired goal
46. Researching pretty much anything that interests me
47. Doodling, especially when bored
48. Viewing the harvest moon in October
49. Pie, especially fruit pies
50. Making a new friend

31. My medications, which keep me healthy
32. My doctors, who helped me get well
33. My glasses, which help me see clearly
34. My car, which has safely and reliably carried me where I want to go, in reasonable comfort
35. My laptop, a tool that enables so many of my pleasures
36. The Internet
37. Small gestures of generosity
38. Comfortable shoes
39. Kindness from others, and kindness offered to others
40. Cinnamon raisin oatmeal

21. Cuddling with my man
22. Sleeping until I wake up naturally
23. Exploring Second Life
24. Taking photographs in Second Life
25. Coming to the sanctuary of home after a hard day
26. Writing something that communicated clearly in the workplace
27. A cold, crisp glass of sauvignon blanc
28. Working at my own pace
29. Wearing comfortable clothing
30. Hearing birds singing on a late spring afternoon

Continuing…
11. Photographing loved ones, so we can remember the good times later
12. Traveling to the desert southwest, USA
13. Breathing easily, without any asthma complaints
14. Driving alone on a sunny day to a destination I’ll enjoy, listening to music and singing to myself
15. The scent of roses
16. Sitting by a fire on a cold day
17. Watching snow fall on a day when I don’t have anywhere to go
18. Sitting with my feet up
19. Singing karaoke at home with my sweetie
20. Listening to the troubles of a friend and finding out later that it helped them

I’m going to post these things here, and number the things that make be happy.

1. My wonderful man, Vishal
2. My wonderful daughter, Katie
3. Writing, especially writing for an end goal
4. Doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
5. Spending time with friends
6. Spending time with my dogs, Christmas and Diva
7. Remember my loved ones, now departed
8. Reading good books
9. Watching good movies
10. Listening to good music