To envy the joy that football fans feel? (For example) I don't think I feel 'ecstatic' about anything

[CoffeeAddictionUnderway]

Just watched DH absolutely beside himself because his football team won some 'important' match.

My feeling - envy. Envy that he and all the fans on the TV seemed so utterly consumed with joy.

I honestly don't think I ever feel like this. I actually googled once to see if I had inadequate dopamine receptors .

AIBU to feel envious (not of the football...just the joy)? What can I do to bring more joy to my life? What brings you joy?

(Unfortunately, we're having fertility issues and not managed to have children to date, so if your answers could maybe avoid things involving finding joy in your kids just to humour me that would be great - or I might start to feel really depressed!).

That's very true about small things.

DH and I have been watching Trapped and I'm positively giddy about the final episode.

I also shed a few tears yesterday listening to the track Two Fingers yesterday.

But I'm easily moved .

It's interesting reading what does it for other people apart from football. For me, pets and recorded music just don't cut it, they lift my spirits a bit but absolutely no comparison to live sport (and I agree, football isn't the only exciting sport).

Theatre is amazing though, I get a real buzz from that. Live music, maybe, certainly in my teens and twenties I loved it but can't think of anyone I'd want to see now.

There are other things that lift my spirit and that I love (gardening, beautiful scenery, nature etc) but that's totally different to the excitement of a good football match.

I'm a lifelong football fan and oberover the years my team has had all the highs and lows. I still experience and display extremes of emotion if I'm having to watch from the distance of the pub.
I still go to gigs and experience that euphoria too.
My other source of joy is what i feel every time I experience King's Day in Rotterdam. It's wonderful being out on the streets. Sadly I can't go this year.

Oh, I forgot. There's seldom a day at work where I don't feel a sense of real overwhelming happiness to do what I do.

Running does it for me!

The joy of a half marathon.... Nothing compares to the sight of a looming finish line!

Last one I did few weeks ago had a 'stadium finish'.... Running into the Madjeski stadium to a cheering crowd, seeing the finish, the clock, your family. Think I'm addicted to the adrenalin.

Clock's right about the smaller things I think.

I do love a firework display set to music though. Anything amazing and visual with music can makes me feel ecstatic.

I can remember driving across the Millau Viaduct in France on a day where there were little clouds actually in it with beautiful scenery peeping in and out of them. We happened to have music on in the car that sort of 'went' with the beauty of what I was looking at. It all just fitted and was incredible.

I'm loving hearing about the little things that you can savour that do make a difference. I guess it really is true about stopping to smell the roses isn't it?

I read a book about meditation by this Buddhist monk once who said that even washing the dishes can be a relaxing / joyful experience if you do it slowly and mindfully. (I did actually try and do it once, and it was definitely less 'boring' than usual.... Never tried it again though, but maybe I should!)

ilovesooty you have to tell us what your job is now!

I think the last time I felt that kind of happiness was in 2004 when Wales won the Grand Slam op, so I sympathise. I'm 34 now and everything seems to have got less exciting since then.

I always feel like I'm a stupid child snd need to grow up if I get teary and emotional over positive things though, to the extent that I hide from DH as I don't want to admit how childish I am. He wouldn't be remotely critical (more pleased I was happy, if anything) so heaven knows why I do that.

Growing things is a nice hobby and also quite satisfying, tbf.

I'm a Newcastle fan so my weekend was good but it hasn't been that good in a long time!

I try to get my more consistent highs from doing something myself, e.g Running, trying out a new bath bomb and having a long soak in the bath, a bit of colouring in, going on long walks. These are all small things but give me great pleasure.

I also love going to watch the early film showing at my local cinema at the weekend, it starts at 10am, it's a different classic every week and afterwards I go into the cafe and have lunch (creamy mushrooms on sourdough bread) and then I walk down to flower market. I'm a creature of habit but I love this weekend ritual