To ask what little joys you find in life?

[PeapodBurgundy]

I've got myself into a little rut of self pity and can't seem to get myself out of it. Objectively things are tough at the moment, but I find myself jumping to the negative in everything, which isn't helping matters.

My usual go-to pick me ups genuinely are off limits for a period of time, but I know this will pass and things will start to fall back into step again.

I need to start focusing on the positives more. What little things do you see/do that give you that little moment of joy or satisfaction?

Today's 'happy' has been the TAAT of the batshit AIBU threads some people have posted. I could be much worse!

I try and draw something every day. Just something small. A leaf, or a shell from the jar of shells I keep on my desk. I put it on my day list ('draw something') and take the time to do it.

Elevenses. And 4pm snack. I wish there was a proper name for 4pm snack.

Clean sheets
My dog
Chatting with my children
Meeting up with friends even better if they have instigated meet up

O meant to always say

Starting my day with 5 minutes of Duolingo, I've been learning German for nearly a yearr.
Doing a 10 minute (or longer if I have time) Get Fit with Rick work out every morning.

Hearing small children laughing.
Breakfast in bed on Sundays
Wandering round gardens - my own or other people’s
Walking barefoot on grass.
Just standing for a few moments in a patch of sun

Birds, walking in my favorite place on earth, tea/ coffee, snuggling my kids, driving in my car listening to tunes. Horses. Laying in bed scrolling at the end of the day. The smell of fresh sheets. Overnight oats. Going on a run feeling the buzz after. Reading a good book. Laughing with friends& family

Me too!

The neighbours kids playing. The set up of our roads mean they live on a different road and their garden boarders the edge of our garage block which our house is next to. So I've never seen the kids. But they play in the garden all year round. Easter egg hunts, bonfire night, Christmas...the laughter is infectious

The first cup of tea of the day. Usually with just the cat for company, and preferably in the garden if weather permits.

A shower with my favourite shower gel.

Crafting while watching a box set.

A swim or bike ride.

Really good coffee from my favourite mug.
A new hardback book.
Fancy shower gel/body lotion.
Sitting in the garden watching the birds and bats flit about at dusk.
When dh and dc are all on our bed chatting and laughing together ❤️
It's been a very stressful and hard 6 months - I'm grateful we all seem to be happier/more positive 🙏

Watching the birds, a cuppa in the garden.

I am recovering after a bout of being very unwell. I've been reading a lot around how you can use your inner voice/narrative/monologue to create positive pathways in your thinking and, in turn, affect the release of happy or stress hormones.

It may all be woo nonsense but I find it really helpful to proactively look for the positives and opportunities for gratitude in most of my interactions, and 'verbalise' them in my head.

Eg. My dog walk could be 'Christ I'm running late, she's sniffing so slowly, oh that cloud looks a bit stormy" but I actively choose to think the thoughts of "Am I not so lucky to live on the beach? How great to be well enough to walk this everyday. I am grateful I get to do this walk each morning" etc. I truly believe it's helping me live a more positive life and helps me find real joy in everyday moments.

I promise i am normal and not a mad hippie!

Eating the free blackberries that I've picked.
Hot Sunny Days.
Watching a good game of Sport like the women's Euros.

Walking my dog everyday by the river in the sunshine... I have had a tough year but being outside in the fresh air and closely watching the changing seasons each day whilst observing the wildlife around me, calms my anxiety and makes me appreciate life so much more.

Choir practice
Monday nights on TV - Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge one after the other: try to shout out my answer before the contestant does!

Watching the birds on my garden feeders.

Seeing ducklings or lambs while I am walking

Line dried bedding.

Bin day, I'm a bit odd.

I wonder if I’m one of the persons to receive an ice cream from you. Last year sitting on a bench outside Iceland and a little girl asked if I’d like one as there was one left in the box and it would melt by the time they got it home. Her mum was waiting a little bit away eating hers. I said thank you lovely little lady and took the lolly. Little girl skipped away to her mummy. Made my day

A bath. I live in a rented house, and the bathtub is humongous. I rarely use it as it takes forever to fill. But once in a while, a delicious soak in the tub is truly special. There is a Velux window over the bath, so I lie there, watching the clouds go by and feel at peace.

An early morning run or walk just after dawn when the sun is rising
My cats sitting on my knee
My DD leaning on my shoulder to watch TV
A good book
A podcast on the way to work

I had to do something similar with a swift once, it was amazing! To this day I am (quite obviously) telling people about it :-D

OP, helping someone/something gives you that feeling of dopamine - rescuing swifts, giving out lollies, feeding the birds!
Also learning something new - even just a general knowledge fact a day.

And sitting outside, watching birds or not - also calms/rejuvenates.

Learning to crochet has also been amazing for me during v stressful or down times. It keeps my hands busy and takes the edge off any mental spiralling. The Woolly Hugs folks here are always up for a bit of help too…so you get to help out and gather nice friends as well)….!

Yes! I'm old and I have so much good stuff I was saving for a special occasion - but every day now is a special occasion. I'm wearing a fabulous pair of trousers I was saving for best. And I couldn't be bothered to cook or fuss when it was 'just' me - those days are gone.

Try the Mini crossword too if you really want to start your day in a rage with the Americans idiot way of spelling!

First Caffeine of the day.
Weather being good enough to hang the washing outside.
Being old enough that I no longer give two hoots what anyone else thinks.

A coffee and some toast with marmalade.
Watching the seagulls flying overhead, their snowy white bodies against a sunlit blue sky.
Hearing the skylark singing in the field near us.
Trees
Growing a few vegetables and herbs.
Tidying the garden.
Chatting to the cats.

A cup of tea
A good book
All my electrical devices being charged 😂 (this is weird I know)