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Little things that make you happy.

318 replies

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 15:02

Thought I'd start a nice, light hearted thread about things that make you happy! I notice a lot of light hearted threads end up a bit down in the dumps, so for those who just want to share, need a bit of cheer, or are generally nosy parkers (like me! 😂), I thought this could be a bit of fun.

I'll start (and try and make it brief!)

  • Family. Yes, yes, twee, sickly, blah blah blah, but it's true.
  • Christmas. Festivities and seasons changing in general.
  • Books! Give me a good book, a nice box of tea, and I'm happy.
  • Cheese. Any cheese. My DS had a milk allergy as a youngster and I had to cut it out too as I was breastfeeding. God I missed cheese. I celebrated so hard with a cheeseboard when he passed the milk ladder that I made myself poorly. 😂
  • Flowers in my window. I love watching how the light changes the shades of the petals during the day.
  • A good black comedy. Anything Shearsmith and Pemberton does me.
  • Oversized men's sweatshirts. Fuck women's jumpers, men's are the way to go and I will die on this hill.

Off to make some sarnies to take to MiL's - v. interested to hear other people's little joys!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
MyStylish40s · 01/01/2025 16:10

A hot bath
when my hair is freshly done (hairdresser)
Watching birds at the feeder
Watching ddog sleep
A glass of wine
Morning coffee
Seeing the spring bulbs poke through the ground
Snow on the mountains
A confirmation email when I order or book something
Seeing my DC happy
When the house is clean and tidy, freshly mopped floors
Bees and butterflies in summer
The late spring and summer garden in full bloom
When I check my bank account, and I’ve been paid

Ladybyrd · 01/01/2025 16:11

@GiddyRobin Oh no, I mean, I do them myself! I'm not exposing those gnarly, calloused, corny plates of meat to polite society! I do like a good soak with some bath salts in a designated washing up bowl though and get the old clippers and graters out.

SereneCapybara · 01/01/2025 16:13

I love threads like this.

Top one is getting up early before the rest of the family, brewing fresh coffee and putting out food for the birds and foxes, taking a moment to feel the air, whatever the weather, and listen to the dawn chorus, then watching from the kitchen door as the sun rises, the foxes and birds come into the garden and have breakfast. One of my favourite moments of the day.

Sitting around a dinner table with both my adult DC home, them making everyone laugh and being appreciative of home cooking. Love it.

Folding laundry into neat rectangles. weirdly calming and satisfying.

Reading a good book in a deep bath.

SereneCapybara · 01/01/2025 16:16

BigDahliaFan · 01/01/2025 15:36

Watching my dog walking along proudly when she's found a particularly good stick!

I've never had a dog but I LOVE seeing dogs proudly carrying sticks in the woods. They are spreading the joy far and wide!

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 16:18

@CharliesAngles
That must sound brilliant! My dad was musical but I've got two left hands. DH is a violinist...and a pianist....and plays cello...and flute...and EVERYTHING. I'm so jealous. (Well, unless he takes it upon himself to woo me with said instruments. Maybe not the flute!) 😂 I keep trying to get the kids into guitar so they can play me some Dylan, but no such luck. <sigh> They're their father's spawn through and through!

Sarnies made and I am absolutely loving everyone's happy things! @Icequeen01 and @SpicyMarge - my feline loving heart just melted. We've got four, three rescues apart from one who was a feral cat's kitten. He's insane but we love him. It's so nice to see these little sausages getting a new lease of life and comfort.

It's also so lovely to hear such nice stories about children and DH's. I appreciate mine so bloody much (even if he is too talented for his own good and a terrible fiend for giving me Bailey's), I don't know what I'd do without him. This thread is gorgeous.

I thought of a few more quick ones:

  • The smell of lavender when you walk past a bush and sneakily grab some. Same with mint.
  • Watching the birds fight for worms after a storm!
  • DH when he decides to be romantic and reads aloud.
  • Bob Dylan's Christmas album! It is so silly and I love it. 🤣

Where is everyone buying their stationary? I need some new stuff but I'm not sure where to browse this year. I also have pen pals as a pp said so adore lovely paper and pens!

Off to fall over in the snow on the way to Mil's now. 😂

OP posts:
GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 16:21

Ladybyrd · 01/01/2025 16:11

@GiddyRobin Oh no, I mean, I do them myself! I'm not exposing those gnarly, calloused, corny plates of meat to polite society! I do like a good soak with some bath salts in a designated washing up bowl though and get the old clippers and graters out.

Oh phew! I'm so glad it's not just me. 🤣 I love those graters. My feet shock me so I file and polish and scrub, but I'm afraid no decent nail tech needs to be aware of them and end up scarred for life! Have you tried apple cider vinegar on them? Apparently it's good but I'm not sure if I want them to smell bad as well as look bad!

OP posts:
MrsSethGecko · 01/01/2025 16:22

My dog. She's a dickhead, but she's my dickhead and I love her.
A pot of tea when I get home from work.
Fish finger sandwiches.
My electric blanket.
The little birds on my bird table.
Fairy lights.
Books.

lonelywater · 01/01/2025 16:22

Toast. That so much pleasure can be got from something so simple is some kind of miracle.

Gardendiary · 01/01/2025 16:22

Thanks for the thread op, this might be one for my list. It’s so nice to read 😊
I love going for a walk in the park with a friend and then sitting in the outside cafe and catching up on everything.
When teen ds is showing me something he is interested in and he’s so engaged and doing such a great job of explaining it.
Hearing my dd laughing with her friends - she’s nd and sometimes struggles with relationships so it’s lovely to hear her being happy.
My garden, in June specifically, in the early morning when the light is low and the dew is on the rose petals and there is that crisp fresh smell mingling with the flowers and everything is perfectly still.

daffodilandtulip · 01/01/2025 16:24

"Posh" tea or coffee - and drinking it in silence before the teens appear.

Fresh flowers.

A nice candle.

Cheap bubble bath.

A good sunset.

A dog walk where no one is in sight.

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 16:27

Gardendiary · 01/01/2025 16:22

Thanks for the thread op, this might be one for my list. It’s so nice to read 😊
I love going for a walk in the park with a friend and then sitting in the outside cafe and catching up on everything.
When teen ds is showing me something he is interested in and he’s so engaged and doing such a great job of explaining it.
Hearing my dd laughing with her friends - she’s nd and sometimes struggles with relationships so it’s lovely to hear her being happy.
My garden, in June specifically, in the early morning when the light is low and the dew is on the rose petals and there is that crisp fresh smell mingling with the flowers and everything is perfectly still.

I have to reply to this one before I embark in the snow - you captured my senses! 😂 I know exactly the feeling of those early June mornings. Cobwebs on the trees still wet, everything smells fresh and promising, and like you're the only person in the world awake. It's so, so nice. I'm a total weirdo and stand there on the lawn with bare feet just...being.

My DS is ND so I understand. ❤️ It's so special when they find their little group of people who just...get them.

OP posts:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 01/01/2025 16:27

Listening to my dog's squeaky dream-barks.
A lovely long walk in terrible weather and home for a hot shower.
A chat with one of my kids (adults, I'm past the age of discussing the ins and outs of Tracey Beaker, thankfully).
The couple of times a year when I'm starting a new book (writing, I'm not the world's slowest reader) when it's all 'potential' and less 'how the hell do I get them out of this?'
A large cup of tea in bed.

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 16:29

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 01/01/2025 16:27

Listening to my dog's squeaky dream-barks.
A lovely long walk in terrible weather and home for a hot shower.
A chat with one of my kids (adults, I'm past the age of discussing the ins and outs of Tracey Beaker, thankfully).
The couple of times a year when I'm starting a new book (writing, I'm not the world's slowest reader) when it's all 'potential' and less 'how the hell do I get them out of this?'
A large cup of tea in bed.

I'm a writer too! And I know exactly that early phase of "Oh my God, how do I sort this scenario?!". It's the editing that kills me. Losing those scenes that aren't needed, but wanted.

OP posts:
Cheersmedears123 · 01/01/2025 16:40

Mine is waking up in the morning at the weekend, all warm and comfy, and being able to go back to sleep. Then waking up to find a cat has joined me for a snooze.

AshCrapp · 01/01/2025 16:44

Eating steak and chips. The feeling of having finished tidying and working for the day. My wonderful DC.

Happyhettie · 01/01/2025 16:46

Birds on the bird feeder
Hearing a good song on the car radio and turning it up loud so I can sing along
Books
Audio books
Log burners and real fires
Clean bedding night (I’d change it every day if I could)
Seeing spring flowers starting to grow
Growing flowers from seeds

DH
Meeting new dog friends or new cat friends when you go out
Sewing

lovemycbf · 01/01/2025 16:51

@GiddyRobin I avoided pedicures for years because I thought my feet were awful, I ended up with a problem with a nail so had to go to a podiatrist and was dreading it but it was actually ok.
I have been going every 6 weeks for a few years now and so pleased I went!
Do give it a go as honestly the podiatrist has seen it all and some worse cases, she actually really helps with my feet problems

lovemycbf · 01/01/2025 16:54

Icequeen01 · 01/01/2025 15:59

When I seen Little Cat enjoying our fire. I used to watch her left out in the freezing cold and not let indoors for days. Now she's been signed over to us she has a warm fire and her own heated pad. She will never be cold again.

Aww that's so lovely 🐈‍⬛❤️
We have a former stray who adopted us ❤️

Hestermofet · 01/01/2025 16:55

Some new stationery

GiddyRobin · 01/01/2025 16:58

lovemycbf · 01/01/2025 16:51

@GiddyRobin I avoided pedicures for years because I thought my feet were awful, I ended up with a problem with a nail so had to go to a podiatrist and was dreading it but it was actually ok.
I have been going every 6 weeks for a few years now and so pleased I went!
Do give it a go as honestly the podiatrist has seen it all and some worse cases, she actually really helps with my feet problems

This gives me hope! TMI FOR ALL, FEET!!!

....
...

My big toe ended up banged up from ballet and then jogging, and quite honestly it's just nasty. There's no fungal infection thank God, but it's just barely in existence as a nail and ugly. I just file it and paint it. 😂 But I think I might give this a go now, you've given me a wee bit of hope! I don't know why feet are so embarrassing - they're ugly no matter what we do, but I've just silently suffered for years. Maybe this can be my New Year's Resolution!

OP posts:
Judgejudysno1fan · 01/01/2025 17:04

secondtimemumma · 01/01/2025 15:16

A great idea for a thread.

Family. A good muddy walk. First flowers of spring. Curling up on the sofa with a cuppa. Christmas

First flowers of Spring is just lovely. Warmer weather is on its way.

Little things that make me happy are

The bed made before school run
My husband laugh and silly jokes
My kids all happy and smiling
Finding a good museum
Watching carpet bagger on YouTube go round the museums etc.
Fresh flowers
Cadbury chocolate
Candles
A clean house

DancingNotDrowning · 01/01/2025 17:04

the start of a new notebook

a freezing cold Diet Coke in a can

but most of all seeing my two oldest adult DC laughing together this holiday. They are very different people and are still young and struggle to see eye to eye but watching them chat and laugh and hang out has been the best.

TheMasterplan23 · 01/01/2025 17:11

-Crackers with Brie and mango chutney on top 😋
-Coming home to my gorgeous dog who is always happy to see me
-Tulips….they’re just so beautiful
-seeing my husband and DC enjoying food I’ve made them

motherofonegirl · 01/01/2025 17:12

Seeing a robin and thinking lost loved ones have come to visit me.

Birds getting ready for bed late on a summer evening - I love the sound of them chatting busily to each other.

The sun rising on an early morning dog walk, especially if it heats the dew which begins to rise.

Looking down at clouds nestled in the valley below when I'm up on the moor walking the dogs.

Having the fire on and some candles to create a warm and cosy room.

Seeing my dogs bound through the heather having fun up on the moor.

My dogs always light up when they see me - waggy tails, smiles, ears pricked and they come to me for a cuddle, even if I have just popped to the loo or upstairs.

A walk in the woods.

Seeing great expenses of wild countryside, especially countryside with hills or mountains.

A crisp cold glass of New Zealand sauvingnon blanc and a steaming bowl of pasta pesto.

First cup of tea in the morning or after arriving home from work.

Catching a glimpse of my teenage daughter when out and about or at school having fun interacting with her friends when she doesn't know I'm there.

So many small things that bring pleasure, we should stop and think about them more often.

BeAzureAnt · 01/01/2025 17:20

The first cappuccino of the morning
Sunrises
DH making a really dumb joke.
Hearing DH whistle whilst he is cooking
Doing crosswords with DH as well as NYT Spelling Bee. He always gets the pangrams before me.
The feeling of relaxation after a long walk
Lying in bed and listening to rain/wind or both
My cat sitting next to me
Seeing the bulbs come up in the garden
harvesting tomatoes from my plants
cutting bouquets of sweet peas for the house in the summer
the intensity of light in the late afternoon
Watching the kestrels hover with their wings over the parkland.