Moments that make you explode with happiness

Hearing the excitement of my neighbour’s dogs being taken for a walk.

Getting off an aeroplane somewhere I love and it's bright and warm

Seeing an elderly couple smiling and holding hands, still clearly in love

Seeing my dog, who isn't large, carrying the largest sticks in the world - she struts along with such pride.

Getting into bed, made up with freshly washed bedsheets, after a warm shower and wearing my favourite pajamas, to read a book whilst sipping a hot drink, bliss.

The sunrise in nature on a clear morning on a walk with some amazing music on makes me feel mild euphoria. It honestly touches my soul.

Nature. It’ll be a spectacular a spectacular view from the mountains, or the sun sparkling on the ocean, or deep fog in a valley, or the first glimpse of desert sands. It’s that moment of deep understanding that we came from earth and will go back to earth, that this is the way it should be.

Equally - and call my a hypocrite - every single time I see my city’s skyline after I’ve been gone a while. Nothing like the feeling of coming home.

When a cake turns out of the tin perfectly 😂 Probably because I’m too lazy to butter and flour and rely on spray canola oil!

When my DC win at their chosen sport. The pride they feel in their achievement is everything. In fact, watching any young person set a goal for themselves, work hard towards it and meet it, that’s yessssss! moment: always brings me to embarrassing tears.

My adult kids all together and laughing.

My little house, all mine and perfect for me. Whenever I wake up and realise that nobody can tell me not to paint or not to have a dog.

When my dog decides we've had the last walk of the day and burrows under her blanket with her nose against my arm.

And sometimes just randomly, walking along as the sun comes out or at work hearing my colleagues banter.

Being sat round my dinner table with my four boys eating a roast dinner, listening to their chatter and feeling immense love and pride for them.
There's no better feeling to me.

My brain hardly ever does this. Only on the rare occasions I get amazingly good news, such as a successful job interview.

Seeing a hedgehog snuffling around in my garden
Sunlight or moonlight shining on fresh show
A beautiful sunset

My daughter (2 on Monday) learning new words or doing one of her gorgeous funny mispronunciations.

My son (4) getting excited about telling me something (currently about space; anything about space) or being kind to his sister.

The pile of books waiting to be read at my bedside.
The light at dusk.
Having both adult children home.
My elderly dog bringing me a shoe every time I come home.

Just a very small thing. I saw a very tiny toddly girl walking along with her dad by the rather underwhelming Christmas lights on the village's only roundabout:

"Ooh, I like the cow!" she said.
"It's meant to be a polar bear."
"It's a cow."
"You're probably right."

Walking my dog today, she was so very happy and adorable, bouncing along, looking up at me with such a delighted expression, wagging her tail at passers-by - my heart filled with love and happiness to see her enjoying life so much.

When I see my youngest daughter walking along holding her 90 year old grandads hand and the two of them chatting away with no concept of the 80 year old age gap, gets me every time

🧡

Also when the sun shines on the bark of trees especially silver birches and you really get to see why they're called silver birches.

My Dw being so appreciative of little things in life when at times she's faced so much adversity and loss in her life.

1. Seeing dogs do important work. I just love the connection dogs can have with their handlers, from assistance dogs all the way to farming dogs.
2. When speech delayed children find a way to communicate even if it's not verbal and you can see it click with them and those around them.
3. When kids friends feel comfortable enough to help themselves to food or drink or the TV remote.

• Seeing my 2 grown children successfully forge their way in the world - they both struggled so much as kids and they now both finally have good friends and a passion for what they want to do

• Snuggling in bed with DH at night and in the morning

• Whenever I go walking through the countryside. I love walking and exploring. The Lake District is a happy place for me to be.

Seeing dogs with their heads out of car windows.
Watching Gene Kelly on roller skates (trust me,it’s mindblowing)
Hearing a load of geese fly over,the honking is hilarious

My daughter speaking - she's 5 with autism and isn't verbal yet so whenever she says something, anything, I feel joyous 😄❤️

Children playing and being happy

Christmas

Getting a yellow sticker bargain 😄

The first Monday morning of the summer holidays where anything feels possible

xx

Recently when my 12 year curled his lip at someone spelling ‘doughnut’ as ‘donut’. It gladdened my heart.

Otherwise, looking at paintings in the Prado, eating a particularly good grapefruit, being out in the garden on a starry night with no moon.

When my three adult children are altogether and hearing their banter . Not sure when the next time will be because one in Oz ,not sure when he will be home .