Small glimmers of happiness- what are yours?

[Mindfulme3456]

I'm interested in the little things, maybe seemingly insignificant things that bring joy to your life. Lately I've been thinking about the notion of finding happiness in everyday life to avoid things seeming mundane when I have no big events like holidays coming up. For example- the first page of a new book, growing herbs, a coffee in the garden... What little things bring you joy- I'd love to know, no matter how small.

Fresh flowers on the hallway sideboard. A new bar of soap. Watching the bats in the garden on a summer evening. Clean sheets. Hanging washing outside. Robins getting excited because I've been digging in the garden. Clean windows. Starting a new novel. Watching the bulbs come up. Christmas baubles. My morning swim. Spending time with my teenagers. Getting a good parking spot at work. Apricity. Petrichor. Birdsong.

Bees pootling about

One of my pleasures is learning new words, and I've just learned two from the above post!

A nice bath/shower followed by my favourite pj's and clean sheets.

🥹🐸🥹

Awwwwww, how lovely!

I am loving how so many of you love birds and flowers! I do too. SO much. Daffodils, viola, tulips, crocus, yellow marigold, pansies, chrysanthemum, poppies, begonia, roses, daisies, buttercups, bluebells, snowdrops, forget-me-nots... oh and sunflowers!🌻

May I also add in the first bees of the year (brings me so much joy!) 🐝 As well as seeing the first ladybirds. 🐞 Then the butterflies! 🦋

I love seeing my adult DC too, and also exploring woodlands, and also going to the beach. Walking along the beach, having the waves lap over my feet is just so lush!

Seeing a random squirrel in my garden. 🐿️ Also (as some posters have said,) seeing the birds come down onto the lawn and munch the food I have given them! 🐦‍⬛ And I enjoy the birdsong/dawn chorus!

A gorgeous sunny day, from dawn til dusk. Just lovely. Soooo many people seem to have been much more happy and cheery this past 5-6 weeks because of (mostly) nice weather. ☀

Oh, and a gorgeous little snuggle from my lovely 18 year old super-affectionate cat. 🐈

And one of the most amazing dopamine-inducing sights for me - in the first few months of the year - is a really good starling murmuration!

A wash load out on the line just blowing in the breeze in the sunshine. There’s nothing like it.

My slow cooker either s delicious cooking in it.

My lawn, new grass seed, feed & weed, a week after it’s rained. The first cut of the lush Green new lawn after the winter.

A warm, sunny day with my windows open, fresh air through the house.

My bath is under a window, so fill it up, hot bubbly water with the window open bowing fresh cool air down on my head while I’m in the bath, an audiobook or podcast on. BLISS!

Birds singing

The little black and white wagtail birds

Watching squirrels in the park

Daffodils, Bluebells and Snowdrops

Walking along the beach with the waves lapping my toes.

A beautiful sunset.

The older I get, the more I’m appreciating nature.

Laying in a hot bath listening to Stephen Fry read P G Wodehouse or Sherlock Holmes.

Walking into a coffee shop early in the morning when it’s empty and the sun is shining on the bare wood floors.

The smell of coffee in said coffee shop.

Seeing flowers in the ditches and the first daffodils.

The sound of a lark.

My dog wagging his tail when I walk into the room, even though he’s stretched out half asleep.

My allotment. Absolutely fills me with so much joy!

Nice weather in March. Like just a bit of sun, even it isn't very warm. It's like a gift.

There’s 2 Monkjack deer in the field opposite that I can see every day, majestic, calm, beautiful beautiful creatures that make my day.

Also, 6.30 in the evening, everyone is home after work & school. Tea is cooking, everyone doing their own thing but they are home, safe, where they are meant to be, in our lovely little house together. No one knows it, but it fills my heart with contented calm.

Thinking about the last 2 days:

Having a wfh day and being able to have a coffee in bed looking at the sky getting brighter outside .

Kit Kat chunky's.

My heated throw and watching a good film.

The view from my office when having a meeting on a higher floor and watching sun going down over the city.

Having the teen dc's significant others round for dinner and them all playing a game together laughing while I was cooking, pure joy.

my garden but its not a small glimmer, its a blooming huge one.

Thrush singing in the tree outside my workplace.
Laughing my head off at some nonsense the kids have sent.

In the garden this year I've seen over 25 different species of birds. I can identify 15 by sound reliably and I'm getting better with the rest. I love spending time with the birds. Siskins were new visitors this year, and that was just great

Each new thing sprouting in the garden brings me happiness (except the dock weeds).

I love laying out the seed packets alongside my garden notebook and planning the years planting schemes. it's such an optimistic thig to do.

The cat purring when I say his name.

Warm weather, penpal letter, coffee and biscuits after work, walking my dogs in the local forest and watching them run around happily, my electric blanket on a cold night, my first coffee of the day.

Looking up at the stars on a clear night.
Listening to the rain while snuggled up in bed.
Smelling the first cut of grass signaling spring has arrived.

@ChipChippers I love that sketch! Often quote it.

A Christmas tree in a bay window!

Hot water bottles

I pull over to take pictures of sunrises and sunsets to send my DD - it makes me smile how much she loves them.

Pulling on an old hoodie / coat and digging into the pockets and finding a shell or a stone - my DS would have handed me the treasure when he was smaller . He is 15 now and I love finding them (I have 10000000 coats so I know I’ll still uncover them!)

Sun coming through the gap in our blinds.

That first breath when you leave the airport and you’re on holiday - the warmth, the smell, the JOY!

Walking through our estate and seeing tiny flowers just poking out of the random spots - nature always wins

Bird song when you’re in the garden,
sitting with a cuppa in silence listening to them all chirping

Blue tits - we’ve had a family in our garden last year and I so hope they’re back soon. Due to my favourite purchase of last year - the bird feeder 😜

Breaking the spine of a new book

I'm not drinking at the moment but the sound of the first glug of wine into a glass. On par with bird song 🤣

Flowers for me right now please don't attack me on these flowers but I'm absolutely loving the tesco 3 pound roses and carnations. They last for ages and the colour combinations are wonderful.
The orange ones are bringing me deep joy.

Watching an active pair of black birds on my walk to work each morning. The buds getting busy about to burst into blossom.
Yy fresh bedding.

Rainbows, sunsets, birds at the bird feeder, my puppy, bubble baths, hot chocolate, new socks and my home made granola.

I was driving today and saw a middle aged woman (probably my age), alone, on a bench with her feet up on the railing gazing out to sea. It was a beautiful calm, misty sea.
It made me feel unexpectedly happy seeing her relaxing like that - enjoying the view.

Oh and seeing a robin.