identify 100 things that make me happy (besides money)

I posted my list in groups of 5 and over the course of about 4-5 months. Every time I went to put up another post, I would read through my list to make sure I wasn’t putting something up that I already had posted. I know my list is genuine because I would catch myself smiling as I read each post. This journey became quite the conversation piece for me. I have shared the list not only with the 43things people, but also with many of my family and friends. It’s amazing to hear the reactions from some of the people I have the closest relations to. Many are surprised by at least one entry and most could have named off at least 10 things they knew they would find on my list before even reading it. I will always keep a copy of this list on my computer desktop and will print it out to keep with my other paper keepsakes. I’ve realized quite a bit about myself from this exercise and hope to continue to find things that make me happy. Thanks to Deni H and the rest of the original group for getting me started on this one.

96. Being behind little surprises. I watched a program on tv quite a while ago about simple surprises that can make a person’s day. It was sort of a pay-it-forward idea in it’s very simplest form. Surprises ranged from secretly paying the toll fee for the car behind to sharing homemade goodies with employees of a service you frequently enjoy to leaving public transportation passes in public restrooms for others. I felt myself smiling through the majority fo the program, so I realized it was something that really struck me and decided to put that into action. While most of my surprises are for people I know, I occasionally leave quarters in gumball machines for unsuspecting sugar-addicts and share dog treats with pets of other vacationers while traveling. I love sending flowers and cards for “little things” and have used large quantities of balloons for other surprises. It’s just nice to be nice to others.

97. Leftovers. Athough it is nice to have a good variety for daily meals, I love having leftovers available so that I don’t really have to put that much effort into coming up with something to eat. Having leftovers even makes creating new meals a whole lot easier. Leftover taco meat and fixings leaves the door open for a wide variety of menu possibilities. Reunions, holidays, celebrations and other get-togethers usually brings about several days of leftover food. Potato salad always tastes better after a couple of days anyway! I grew up in a household where every meal was cooked for an army. It was nice because we always had enough food for the family and anyone else that happened to show up around dinner time. We also had enough for us to grab something quick the next day before the game or on our way out the door. I still believe the key to a good healthy diet is the presence of a good meal in quick form.

98. Blushing and getting others to do the same. The only thing I can say about this is that blushing is a natural way of showing the rest of the world how good we feel on the inside about something. If you can get me to blush, I’ll give you credit for knowing me well enough to be able to make it happen. I guess that’s what makes me happy. People knowing others or discovering others in a way that really says who they are should always be a happy thought.

99. Untouched snow. While I love carving up a mountain and tearing up fresh snow on a pair of skis, I love to look out the front window and see a fresh blanket of snow in it’s most undisturbed form. I remember playing the yard after a snowfall and carefully retracing my footsteps in an attempt to leave as much of an undistrubed blanket as possible. It brings a sense of calmness and that makes me happy. After a few moments of the calm, though, I’m ready to put on some gear and roll up a snowman, make an angel, or fly down that mountain.

100. Being asked to do something important. It’s good to know I’m a solid enough individual to be asked to do something important. Whether I have a skill that has been recognized and can be used to help others or an individual or group has enough faith in my ability to complete the task, it’s makes me feel good to be worth something to somebody. This has to be the case for everyone. Even if the person was asked to do something really small, the point is that they were thought of and given a responsibility in the grand scheme of things. Whether it’s the Maid of Honor or the punch server, you meant enough to someone to be given that title.

91. Grilling. Not much of a mess and it usually means the weather is pretty nice. Just about everything tastes better when cooked over flames and there is something to be said about presenting a meal you cooked over a fire.

92. Windchimes. It’s a little nutty, but I think they sound really cool. It gives me almost a sense of peace to hear the song of the wind. I especially enjoy bamboo windchimes as the sound is not as sharp. I’ve never had one, but I’d sure like to get one when I have a place to hang it.

93. Vacationing. It’s pretty hard to say that vacationing doesn’t bring a person a bit of happiness. No matter how many things go wrong, the stories a person brings back are priceless. It even seems like those disasterous vacations end up having the best stories when a person gets back. Although I’ve never really vacationed on my own, I can say that who you spend the time with can make a big difference in how good the trip is. Whether it’s for relaxing or for getting out and enjoying some things you might not usually get to do or see, vacationing has a way of creating happy memories in the way of thoughts, photos, experiences and flavors.

94. Magazines. I’m not a book person. I have the attention span of a 3 year old and can’t sit still long enough to make it through the first 19 pages in any Dr. Suess book. However, magazines allow me to pick and chose what I want to spend time checking out and there are usually 4-5 things on a page, so nothing takes real long to get through. In addition, the things I’ve learned from magazines have, (whether I like to admit it or not), gotten me through some tough stages in life. There is a magazine out there for just about every interest and written at every level. They aren’t shy about addressing issues such as puberty, sex, drug addictions, weight problems, difficult people and the secret lives of celebrities. In addition, they are available just about everywhere. As a collegiate athlete, I can recall a single magazine being read by every member of the volleyball team over the course of the season. During long road trips, we would try to each bring a different title so we could pass them around to pass the time. The content makes for great conversation starters and can make or break you depending on how you use it. I would definitely jump at a job that would allow me to explore some of my interests while sharing with the public on a great page layout.

95. Looking through old photographs. I would say that many of the items on my list, so far, are things that I probably have a picture of me enjoying. Old photographs bring a smile to my face. Many of them give me the “what was I thinking” grin, but there are a few that I proudly display in an attempt to achieve that look again. It’s easy to remember many of the things I’ve done in my life, but it’s even better to have a snapshot of that memory in order to accurately tell the story. Grandma has a story for just about every photo in her albums. I hope that some day my collection of photographs is as great as hers so I can share my stories with the next generation.

86. Eulogy speeches. As morbid as this sounds, I love how a eulogy explores everything great about a person. When I was a senior in youth group, our pastor made us each write a eulogy about the person sitting next to us and then had us write one of our own. It was interesting to see what my fellow youth group attendee wrote about me and even more helpful to realize what I cherished most about what I had done with my life and what kind of a person I had become. A couple years after the exercise, I was asked to write a eulogy for my grandfather’s funeral. It was amazing how many calls I got from the family with ideas of what to put in the speech. Even with all the wrong that surrounded the life of my grandpa, there were enough good things to say about him to speak for at least 20 minutes. People like the Pope and Mother Theresa would be easy to speak about, but what about those that end up in prison for committing terrible crimes or even figures like Hitler and Sadaam Hussein? Even these people have great traits that would most likely be expressed in the eulogy. What would people say during your eulogy speech?

87. Live sporting matches. I’ve always been an athlete and, naturally, I love the sporting atmosphere. I’ve attended athletic competitions for every age group from preschool to people well into their 60’s. I’ve been in the stands for rodeos, basketball, football, volleyball, hockey, baseball, soccer, softball, wresting, track & field, and many other not-so-well-known events. From first timers to professionals, it’s all good. Give me a hotdog and a good look at the competition and I’ll be happy.

88. Working out. I never knew how happy working out made me until I kinda fell off the routine for a while. Now I know that breaking a sweat and getting a bit winded makes me more tolerable for others and more enjoyable in other aspects of my life. Organized group workouts work better for me than being on my own. I love the social aspect and enjoy being around others who care enough about themselves to do something good for themselves.

89. An unexpected day off. I always seem to plan things for days I know I’m going to have off. I’ll schedule appointments, set an agenda, and run ragged the entire day doing a million things and won’t actually chill out and take the day off. Unexpected days off, however, leave a huge block of time for me to do something out of the ordinary or do nothing at all. I would be better off if I got two days off at my job each week. One day would be best as a scheduled day off and the other would be one where I would show up for work and get sent home for an unexpected day off. That way I would still be able to schedule my appointments, but I’d also have another unknown day to do something else with.

90. Looking at greeting cards. As much as Hallmark gets a bad reputation for creating holidays just so we have to buy cards for others, I think I’m probably just as guilty because I go looking for reasons to send cards. I can spend quite a bit of time looking through the cards at Hallmark and other card merchants. I don’t even have to necessarily be looking for one card in particular, but checking out the section just because I have time is really enjoyable for me. I’m the kind of person that will find a cool card and purchase it just so I have it on hand when the right person/occasion comes along for me to pass it on. Halloween and April Fools Day are two of my favorite holidays to send cards. I’ve found that the card selection isn’t the greatest during these two holidays, but the content in the cards is pretty great. I just love greeting cards!

81. Sneakers. I’ve been an athlete for most of my life, so I’ve spent a lot of time in a pair of athletic shoes. I’m the kind of person that would rather have a pair of socks and a set of sneakers on than anything that actually lets my feet breathe. I wear them all year. You never know when there is going to be a reason to run, climb, dance, or just move. Sneakers can take you anywhere. My shoes make me happy because they make me comfortable.

82. My education. I’m currently working at a hotel. I clean rooms for very little pay and exert quite a bit of energy in the process. I don’t fit in at all. I have a BA and I’m working with some people that didn’t even finish high school. My manager has less experience as a manager than I do and our front desk staff, (who think they’re better than the housekeepers), have trouble running basic computer programs. Everyone should have a job like this at some point in their life. I’m glad I’m having this experience now. I went to college and got my degree. I used that degree for 2 years while earning additional accredidation with the time I spent at my job. Now, as I wait to the leave for work in the Peace Corps and have taken on this transitional job, I’m realizing just how much I value my education. Just knowing that I have options and that I don’t have to work at this job for the rest of my life makes me happy.

83. Hearing the words, “Thank You”. It means I must have done something that was appreciated by someone. No matter how big it was, it made an impression and that person made an effort to make sure it was known.

84. Doing things for my parents. My parents have done a phenomenal job of raising and providing for my sisters and me. They went without for many years just so my sisters and I could do the things that have shaped us in to who we are today. I need to do things for them as often as possible for the rest of our lives. Taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, and doing other tedious things makes their life a little easier and makes me feel better about giving them what they deserve. In the future, I hope to be able to provide for them financially as well. No matter what, I need to continue to thank them for everything they have done for me.

85. Pot Luck. My sister lives in Indianapolis now. She said they call this “Pitch In” down there. Whatever you want to call it, it always means good food and and a few interesting dishes you probably wouldn’t even think to purchase ingredients to prepare. Presbyterians are notorious for Pot Lucks. As a college student, these gatherings were always the greatest. The more mature in the community provided some good’ol home cooking and there was always enough to take home a little extra. Not only is the food good, but it’s a great time for some good conversation. Perhaps the Last Supper was a pot luck!

76. Fishing. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do this. Some of my greatest fishing memories have been with my uncles. My uncle Bob took me fishing in a little stream in Northern California. It was a great trip. I don’t remember ever catching so many fish in one day. Unfortunately, the game warden showed up and shared the fact that the stream was off limits to fishermen due to spawning. We had to throw the fish back, but it was still fun. Other great fishing trips include fishing in Humbolt Bay where I caught a baby shark and doing some lake fishing off my uncle’s boat. I prefer casting from a dock or just off-shore, but I won’t complain if someone wants to put me on a boat for the day with nothing but a cooler, a rod and a bucket of bait. There is some sort of peace in fishing and peace always brings me happiness.

77. Writing letters. I’ve been doing this a lot lately. I’ve listed it as one of my goals, and I’ve been progressing rather well with it. I’ve always enjoyed getting letters, but I’m finding a new enjoyment for writing letters. My voice is really starting to come through and I’m finding that writing helps me to keep my thoughts straight. I love knowing that a small piece of work in my handwriting will probably bring happiness to the recipient.

78. Watching movies. Isn’t that why we go to college? To watch as many movies as humanly possible in an attempt to better know the world we are soon to enter? I went to a small liberal arts university and movie watching was one of the things to do. There were a couple of winters were classes were cancelled due to excessive snowfall. Many of the dorm lounges and most of the rooms became mini-theatres. We had a Titanic-a-thon one weekend and routinely swiped all the new releases from the video rental stores. What would America do without movie entertainment?

79. Old t-shirts. I have one t-shirt I’ve been wearing since 7th grade, (that’s over 12 years!). I stole it from my aunt when I needed something to sleep in one night during a sleep-over at her house. It’s a red UNLV shirt with most of the screen printing worn off. I would never wear it in public, but it will never be worn by another soul. I’ll be wearing that shirt until it falls off me. The fabric is so soft and it seems to have fitted itself to me. I have a couple other shirts that fit into this category. They, too, are pretty worn. They’re the ones I look for on a day when I’m not feeling so great and the ones I mourn for when I get a new stain or tear in them. Of course, they already have stains and many have small holes, but they’re my good shirts and who wants to have their good shirts ruined by stains and holes?!

80. A window seat on the airplane. This has to be the thought of many people as they wait to check their luggage. Although I love the extra leg room in an aisle seat, nothing beats the view of an international city from the window of an airplane.

71. Passionate educators. I’ve had some great teachers and known some people that really do a lot for education. In elementary school, I had a handful of teachers that absolutely loved what they did. All of them were older women and each had their own way of getting to their students. It wasn’t until just a few weeks ago that I realized how fortunate I have been. We have new neighbors with children. During a conversation with them, I found out they will be attending the same school I went to and will have two of the same teachers I had when I was in 1st and 4th grade. Following the converstation, I thought how fortunate those kids are and how fortunate our school district is to have those two teachers be the first taste of our district’s education these people get. Mrs. Yon and Mrs. Salisbury are fabulous people and strong teachers. Another teacher that sticks out in my mind as being a passionate educator is my high school math teacher, Mr. Kachena. He always carried chalk around in his pants pockets and had the chalk dust to prove it. The way he introduced new concepts and challenged us to think beyond the problem made me look forward to his class. He was my basketball coach, volleyball referee, math teacher, chemistry teacher, and role model for my passion for education. In college, I had a few professors that got us so involved in the lesson of the day that we routinely left class well after the time class was supposed to be over. The energy they brought into class was often distributed amongst my classmates and me and continues to be distributed to those we teach. I believe everyone comes across people that are passionate about their field. I’ve been fortunate to have come across these individuals since 1st grade and continue to meet others all the time.

72. Christmas carollers. I must admit that I haven’t actually gone caroling too many times. The most recent time I can remember was a couple years ago with a small group of misfit singers from my church. We didn’t sound that great and the weather wasn’t real nice, but the people we visited sure seemed to enjoy it. I love hearing carolers in the mall, on the street, and in just about any other place. It would be great if caroling was done throughout the year. Spirits would be brighter and the sounds of the season could be readily shared with others without need for a place to drop coins.

73. Rearranging furniture. New furniture arrangements always make a room liven up a bit. It seems like I’m more apt to have people over when I move things around a bit. It’s almost as if I purchased something new I want to show off, but actually it’s just a different perspective.

74. Paying for a meal. I’ll never forget the first meal I was able to pay for on an evening out with my friends. It was for my roommate’s birthday during my first year in college and at a Mexican Restaurant that was shut down not long after that visit. I grew up in a family where eating out was a treat that only happened 6-8 times a year and usually at a fast-food establishment. When I started making my own money and got the chance to go out with my friends, I started picking up the bill to share my appreciation for getting to spend some time with some good people. I don’t pay all the time. It’s also nice to be treated to a meal every now an then. Mr. Schreiner, my high school track coach, is completely my inspiration for this entry. I ran track at a school 15 miles from my high school. We didn’t have a program, so Minto took us in as a co-op team. There were only a few of us that made the trip every day for practice and competition, but we really enjoyed it. At the end of our first season with Minto, we got ready to leave the practice area when Mr. Schreiner came out of the school with a grocery sack. He approached the 6 of us and told us that he really enjoyed having us as a part of the program and would like to take us all out to eat. Unfortunately, he said, there wasn’t money in the budget for that and it wouldn’t have been fair to the other athletes in the program. Then he reached into his grocery sack and pulled out a box of Macaroni & Cheese for each of us. He said it was his way of showing his appreciation for us by providing us with a good meal. To this day, I am yet to find a better way of displaying gratitude. I look forward to the day when I can treat my athletes to a good meal.

75. I can/I will attitudes. Having been a small business manager, I know how great it is when an employee tells me he/she is willing to take on a task to make my job a little easier. I try to have the I can/I will attitude in the bulk of my day to day activities. I grew up in a household where this type of attitude was expected, so I try to live up to that expectation with everyone else as well. This attitude is also great when it is found in children. It sparks curiosity and urges them to grow into areas they might not have otherwise explored. If everyone had an I can/I will attitude towards everything in life, we could eleviate poverty, hunger, and a whole host of other evils in the world.

66. The face of an answer. I love having people approach me with a question. It’s a bit awkward when in a store as a shopper and another shopper approaches me as if I was an employee of the store. However, it’s nice to know that I’m an approachable person. I love helping others and knowledge should always be free for those who ask.

67. Karaoke. Even listening to bad karaoke makes me happy. I’m happy for those people that had enough guts, (or alchohol), to get up and make a fool out of themselves. I’ve been one of those fools on more than one occasion. I don’t consume alchohol, but I’m usually on enough of a natural high to be able to ham it up no matter what. I’m not so good with lyrics, but I have fun making it up and usually leave in good spirits.

68. Hot springs. Natures whirlpools. I’ve left the beaten path to soak in some springs on many occasions. Sulfur doesn’t usually appeal to me, but when it’s hiding a pool, I’m more than willing to smell past the initial aromas and get to the source of the stench. I have to admit that I’ve used these facilities to bathe in on more than one occasion. I’ve taken my razor, bar of soap and a bit of shampoo to the wooded sights and cleaned up with all of nature looking on. Bashful? Not me! There’s nothing better than much needed bath with a great view.

69. Salvation Army kettle drive. I love the ringing of the bell and everything it stands for. I’ve been a ringer and always a dropper. My pockets don’t hold change for long during the ringing season. There is always a kettle around the corner and a cause for the dollar to go toward. Thank you Salvation Army for the happiness you share with others through your kettles. I was frustrated with Target this year and their decision not to allow ringers on their premises. I admit I usually shop at Target, but during the holiday season I did my business elsewhere. Did you know Home Depot allows the kettle?

70. Youth ministry. I attended youth group meetings every other Wednesday during the school year for every year of my junior high and high school days. Jonathan Kelley was our pastor at that time. He was great. We would get together and prepare a meal as a group, eat together, have a devotion and then get a bit rowdy in one of his crazy games. Our youth group was an interesting group of kids. We didn’t usually hang out together, but somehow found a way to enjoy eachother every other week. After the first couple years, I found myself becoming better friends with some of the people in the group than with some of my classmates at school. The environment was different and the level of conversation seemed more to my liking. I struggled with my faith, but I think my involvment with the group is what helped me to get a handle on it later on. In college, I joined a church in the town were I attended college. I got roped into leading the youth group. Most of the group was unruley adolescent boys. They sure were a handful. We did many of the same things I did when I went through youth group, but we also got together every summer for a fun outing. One year we went to Valley Fair. The trip was planned so we would spend a night in a campground close to the park and then return the following day after a day of rides and too much fair food. Camping with those kids was an experience. I loved it! It was a new experience for many of them. Cooking, sleeping and “using the outdoor facilities” proved to be memorable for all. Another trip took us tubing down a river in Nebraska. We all turned a nice bright shade of red and pruned up pretty good. We lost one shoe, a cap, 2 towels and a pair of sunglasses. At least we didn’t lose any of the kids. Although the experiences were all in fun, it was good for a good group of kids to be able to spend some time together in a “clean fun” environment. Faith is dwindling in the youth of America. I’m all for programs that keep it alive.

61. Cooking for others. I come from a long line of great cooks. My grandma, mom, aunts and sisters are at home in the kitchen. I have an extensive knowledge of balanced family meals and know more about using the range than the microwave. I find great joy in sharing this gift with others. It’s great cooking for people my age. Many of them are amazed at how easily I can put together a large meal and that I can do it all without the aid of a recipe. This is a special part of me and one that I’m not shy about flaunting.

62. Wrapping gifts. Christmas, weddings, birthdays, etc……Although I wouldn’t say I have the greatest of giftwrapping skills, I know that it makes me happy. I’m all about using every scrap of paper and finding new and unusual ways to disguise “anticipated” gifts and cover the odd ones. I’ve used macaroni & cheese to add some “shake” to the not-so-shakeable gifts and used egg cartons to make ordinary boxes turn into robots and other odd figures. It doesn’t matter how much tape you use…….it’s all in the unusual display.

63. Hiking. My dad has a way of finding crazy trails for us to explore. I can recall numerous family vacations where we would stop for a short break and dad would find some nature trail for us to explore. They always started out being one of those 1.1 kilometer “easy terrain” trails to a hidden waterfall or some other fabulous destination. After the first 3 kilometer’s of the 1.1 kilometer trail, we would all start to wonder about this great trail dad found. The terrain would change to an elevated climb and have us sliding along walls in an attempt to get to the destination. There was a lot of complaining, but there was also a lot of learning and general bonding. We were forced to stick together and had to help eachother out at some point in the hike. Now that we look back on some of those hikes, we laugh and generally have a good time reminiscing about them. Now that I’m at an age where I can enjoy the hikes without my trusty guide, (aka dad), I love the journey and look forward to discovering more destinations. The world is an amazing place. It’s even more amazing when seen with a backback and a good pair of shoes.

64. Volunteering. Some countries have mandatory volunteer requirements for citizens. I think the world would be a better place if America would implement such an idea. Volunteering encourages us to experience with others what we might not do on our own. Uniting for a common cause is the foundation of our country. This must be encouraged with future generations in order for us to thrive at a whole. I enoy sharing my gifts with others and getting to know them through the process. I get all warm and fuzzy on the inside knowing I made a difference and didn’t expect a thing for it.

65. Direction. Not only my sense of direction, but my ability to make the choices that will put me in the right spot to get to the next step in my life. I’m a believer in maps. I have no problem navigating my way around the world and have a mental map of where my life is headed. Not many people can say they have either. I’m happy to have been blessed with direction.

56. The sound of kids singing. Christmas concerts are the best, but the sound of kids singing in a classroom or even chanting on the playground brings a smile to my face. They say music is universal. It really does make the world go ‘round and it’s nice to see the younger generation taking the reigns.

57. The zoo. While I love seeing animals in the wild, the zoo atmosphere brings a smile to my face. If it weren’t for zoos, many kids (and adults) would never see some of the most facinating creatures on earth. There is just something youthful and exciting about spending the day walking around the zoo.

58. Giving massages. I’ve been told I give pretty good massages. I think people just like being on the receiving end, though, so I think pretty much any massage is a good massage. Massages connect people in a way not many other things can. I love being able to take someone away from everything else in their life and put them in a total state of relaxation. It’s my way of giving them a bit of paradise amidst the chaos of life. I think my favorite part about giving massages is getting the favor returned.

59. Deep conversations surrounding philoshophy. There aren’t too many people that can hold their own in a philisophical conversation. The frequency of these encounters are few and far between, but the effect is amazing. It can be an intelectual battle, but also a gentle nudge toward extended growth. These types of conversations leave you believing the world can be changed and definitely would if the parties involved in the discussion were in charge. Hope, realization, and exploration…..sounds like a good day to me!

60. Conversations about spirituality. I love out-of-the-blue moments that leave the floor wide open for a chance to share about religion. It took me a long time to find my spritual comfort zone. Now that I’ve found it, I love sharing that with others. I can feel my heart light up when I have no other answer for a question than “It was GOD’s next stage for me”.