My Recipe for Happiness

Since it's a new year, I have been looking back and moving forward.  In doing that, I have been thinking a lot about what really makes me happy.

This is a huge question.  What makes me, or any of us, happy?  It occurred to me that I didn't really know the answer to that question, and so I started to think about it concretely, not conceptually.  I could identify what would make me happy if it ever happened, but not specifically what makes me happy today.  So I started to pay attention to those little things that really bring me happiness.

The list was incredibly reassuring and was filled with occurrences  that happen every day, or at least could happen every day.  Little things that all kind of come together to make me a happier me.

I'm not going to share the whole list because, well, because.  But I am going to give you a couple of the highlights, at least as far as I'm concerned.

1.  When Kate says "love ya."  Kate cannot leave a room, get out of the car, or end a phone call with either Ted or me without saying "love ya."  When she was little she used to wait for us to say it back (every single time) but now it's more her thing.  I find it incredibly sweet that my 15 year old daughter still feels comfortable telling me she loves me, no matter who's around.

2.  When Charlie calls from college to get the family gossip.  When he was still living at home I couldn't get his attention for more than 30 seconds.  I would ask him to check in when he was out and he always "forgot."  It makes me happy that now he wants to know what's going on at home.

3.  When my sister Jill and I talk about what we're making for dinner.  She lives 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles and it makes me feel like she's around the corner, knowing what's cooking at her house.

4.  When Ted proofreads my blog for me.  It's become a nightly ritual.  I may be able to get it all down, but Ted is a master punctuator.  Believe me when I tell you, You Little Tarte would not be nearly so much fun to read without Ted and his commas and syntax.

5.  And now for something kitchen/food related.  Fresh lemons in a bowl on the counter in the kitchen never fail to make me happy.  They're fresh, bright, and smell really good.  Fresh lemons can bring a little sunshine to even the gloomiest winter day.

I hope you have a nice day.