What makes you happy? I’m sure if you ever complained to your parents that you weren’t happy, they may have told you that you can’t be happy all the time. But sometimes happiness is a state of mind.
You probably know people who seem to be happy every time you see them. They are ready to smile and look on the world around them with a gentle acceptance of whatever comes their way. On the other hand, you may know a few people who seem to have a cloud over them and never seem to be happy no matter what is happening in their lives.
What does it mean to be happy? Here’s one of the dictionary definitions. Happy – feeling or showing pleasure of contentment.
We have those big life events that make us happy such as a wedding, a new baby in the family, or achieving a long held goal. But sometimes our everyday happiness depends on those little moments of joy like hearing a mockingbird sing or watching a butterfly light on a flower or hearing a little kid giggle. Happiness can be seeing a sunflower bloom or feeling the sun on your face after a rain. A chocolate chip cookie warm from the oven might make you feel a jolt of pleasure and that pleasure might be increased by sharing those cookies with your grandkids or the neighbors.
Sometimes just reading some happy words can do the trick. So here are some happiness quotes to boost your spirits and keep you smiling this week as you count the blessings in your life that up the happiness meter in your heart.
- Happiness is the only thing that multiplies by division.
- A poor man can be happy; but a happy man isn’t poor.
- Show me an optimist, and I’ll show you a happy-condriac.
- Happiness is a form of courage.
- Happiness has to be cranked up; trouble is a self-starter.
- We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it. — George Bernard Shaw
- When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. — Helen Keller
- The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. — Allan K. Chalmers
Now one last bit to keep you smiling even if you have to fill up your gas tank tomorrow. Somebody spotted this sign on an Amish buggy.
Energy efficient vehicle – runs on oats and grass. Caution – Do not step in exhaust.
What are some of the little joys in life that make you happy?
Comments 18
Flowers make me happy. I love to plant a seed and watch it grow and mature until one day there is a big pretty bloom to see. Also planting tomatoes or cucumbers, watching them grow, and finally getting to eat them, so good! I like cooking a good meal for my family that is their favorite. It makes me happy to see them enjoy it.
Author
Gardening – flowers or vegetables – can be work, Connie, but it’s one of those things we do that gives us a bountiful reward. It is good to plant a seed and watch it grow. And bloom.
I’m guessing those great meals you fix spreads some happiness around.
Besides normal things such as spending time with family (especially the grands), I find happiness in the scent of clean sheets fresh off the clothesline, fresh green beans slow cooking in the kitchen, the view of my lake from my sewing room window, and those first flowers in the spring to name a few. Throw in some good music, a long phone call from my sister or best friend, and a plate of warm brownies and I’m “drinking from my saucer” of an overflowing cup of happiness!
I love the happiness quotes!
Author
Great happiness list, Lavon. The fresh scent of clothes off the line is a good one. Just seeing the clothes out there blowing in the wind can give you a sense of accomplishment. Your view sounds wonderful. A window out on the world of nature is a blessing.
There are so many things that can bring joy into our daily lives and probably a lot of them we just take for granted until we take the time to consider the happiness it brings. A baby or small child’s laugh does seem to be contagious and almost impossible not to join in with! Saw a video a few days ago of a toddler who got ahold of a garden hose and was spraying his mom as she ran screaming as he followed with a laugh of pure joy. You could even hear a little laughter in her voice as she was trying to be firm to get him to stop. 🙂
Author
You can find many videos online with laughs, Hope. I saw a little dog playing fetch with himself the other day online. He took the ball to the top of some stairs and let it bounce down the stairs while he chased after it. I do think his owner was at the top of the stairs getting him to do it, but he wasn’t shown.
Not sure I would have been that good a spot as the kid’s mom. I always told my grandkids that the water turned off if I got sprayed. LOL. But you’re right about the many everyday blessings most of us have.
A hot (hotter the better) cup of my favorite coffee (flavored), a good book in hand, a piece of chocolate, the giggle of a young child, my Happy Place (special park).
Author
So glad you have a special park for a happy place, Jan. I guess my happy place is out walking on the farm and over at the cliff area we call Panther Rock. The rest of your list is happy making too. You can have the coffee, but I do like my hot cup of tea. Now I may have to hunt up a piece of chocolate. 🙂
Going to the library, has brought me Happiness. We’ve had many different pets over the 30 yrs of our marriage. All of them have brought us happiness, at least a few times, usually much more. Waterfalls & crashing of the ocean have brought me happiness too.
Author
Oh yes, Jolynn. Surrounded by those stacks of books with so many options for the next fictional journey to take. All those pets who have made our lives interesting. The power and amazement of waterfalls and ocean waves. Wonderful happiness makers. I’m always happy walking on the beach with the sun coming up and the tides tickling my toes.
Seeing and interacting with little children and pets make me happy.
Author
Kids and dogs and cats and horses, Suzanne. Sounds like a happiness maker list. Aren’t little kids the cutest when you talk with them? It’s so fun to get a glimpse into what they’re thinking or doing.
My grandson’s face, being called Nana, butterflies, hummingbirds, and anything containing chocolate, coconut and pecans!!
Author
That’s a fine list, Pamela. Those grandkids are a joy, for sure. You’ll have to make him some chocolate coconut pecan cookies. Or a pie. A good pie can make my mouth happy. 🙂
Sitting on my front porch in my glider chair and reading – one of your books or any other Christian fiction, or biographies/autobiographies of people who interest me – is more than a “little” joy in my life – it’s one of the BIG JOYS!
Author
I’m with you on that, Patricia. I get joy from reading too and your glider chair on your front porch sounds like a perfect reading place. Thank you for sometimes taking one of my books out there with you. 🙂
my hummingbird feeder and watching the little hummingbirds coming to it all the time. I also like my sunflowers that grew so tall this year.
Author
I love seeing the hummingbirds come to my feeders too, Birdie. Always good for a smile. And sunflowers are always smile worthy. Mine didn’t do so well this year. Planted them right before the hot weather and no rain. Then something actually bit off the top of them. It’s not been a good garden year, but I can smile at pictures I’ve taken of tall sunflowers in the past.