COMMENTS

39 responses to “Open Thread Update: What Makes You Happy?”

1. What makes happy? Talking to my granddaughter and daughter on the phone!
   That is definitely #1

   Reply to Marie

2. I am always jumping up and dancing when I play Tunes . . . by the Boss . . . . . Bruce ! ! ! I feel like I have grown old with him . . . . but his music never gets older . . . . he touches all the bases. . . . he refreshes and renews and brings it . . .

   Reply to Jennifer H Gould

3. What makes me happy?
   1. Listening to jazz while sipping iced tea on my lanai and reading a book.
   2. Volunteering (witnessing the gratitude from the people you help)
   3. Jet-skiing, whitewater river rafting, racing cars
   4. Traveling
   5. Photography
   6. Singing
   7. Dancing to music with a great tempo

   Reply to Pat Sanchez-Barton

4. We were working in Australia (live in the USA) and while arriving in the Melbourne airport, I could tell security was tighter than usual. They had one of the hallways blocked in half with red plush handrail. I was closest to this barrier. I looked up and coming toward me was Michael Jackson in his Sargent Pepper red jacket (with the gold epaulets) and his entourage. If I’d have leaned a little over the divider I would have brushed an actual shoulder of Michael Jackson. A vivid memory!

   Reply to Glenda D Sparling

5. I do zumba four mornings a week. The upbeat music gets me moving and keeps me limber so that I have the energy to do my errands on the way home. When I get home, I treat myself to a banana and a bottle of Starbucks Frappuccino with a drop of doTerra peppermint oil for an additional pick me up. I also love to read, watch movies or crochet while listening to music.

   Reply to Anne Streit

6. What makes me happy? [1] Listening to England’s John Oliver in one of his wonderfully witty rants about the state of things generally. Available on YouTube.
   [2] Decluttering and reorganizing my living space. So many surprises come from this activity.
   [3] Rereading a really well written memoir, or a collection of poems.
   [4] Stepping out of my comfort zone, by visiting Taiwan last March.
   [5] Leaving my comfort zone again, by visiting Tuscany later this month.
   [6] Waking up each morning.

   Reply to dr. jeanne powell

7. Soy feliz con algunos problemas, que me limitan tener una calidad de vida plena, tengo una fractura de brazo derecho, que no se recupera, con dos cirujias y genera dolor hace ya mas de un anio, y. parkinson

   Reply to Susana Leonoff

8. I enjoy Rotary Club events immensely, which fits others who have written about volunteering and doing good for others.

   But I’m a bit surprised I haven’t read anyone writing about what has become the greatest joy in my entire life: grandchildren!

   Our 18-year-old granddaughter lives with us, her 14-year-old brother who lives across the country spends every summer and Xmas with us, and we have four others aged 6,4,2 and 11 months who live 10 minutes away. I’m with them almost every day!

   Reply to Dave Amen

9. Go to a store, any kind of store, make eye contact with as many people you can and then give them a big smile. Watch their eyes light up when they return that smile. Start a smile epidemic!

   Reply to Linda Greethurst

   1. So true! I had a few errands to do yesterday. They could have waited until next week, but I was a bit down. (This repressive heat is keeping me inside.) So I did those errands, nodded, made eye contact & said “hi” to several people. I felt much better when I returned home.

      Reply to Kay Erl

10. I like to check in with family and friends, read a good book.
    What brings me most joy is crafting. I love making greeting cards for family, friends and senior organizations; taking acrylic and watercolor painting classes. Starting soon I will be learning how to play piano. Thanking God for each day He lets me be on this Earth, enjoying the beauty that is all around me.

    Reply to Varonica Holland

11. I go online to hang out with friends. I joined the Senior Planet Community, Stitch.net and Meetup and started several pen pal communities. I like connecting with people all over the world to share life experiences. The conversation continues in the Aging With Attitude group on the Senior Planet Community website.

    Reply to Milt Haynes

12. Happy! Since May, 2024 I have followed the awesome Taylor Swift Eras Tour, full of an exceptional talented crew of musicians, dancers, vocalists and a virtual tour of concerts with thousands of fans! I smile, cry, and sing along, am energized. She’s going strong at 34!

    Reply to Belinda

13. My favorite music, it helps!

    Reply to Victoria Bourgeacq

    1. You are absolutely right. That’s all it takes for me also is some good music.!!!

       Reply to Deborah Towler

    2. Yes!!

       Reply to Kay Erl

14. How I bring Joy to a down day. 1. Do Nothing. Maybe I just need a rest. 2. Do Anything. A small project so when it’s done it’s done and I can look at it proudly. 3. Call someone who you can say “im having a down day. How are you? ” and see where that goes. Maybe lunch, a walk, just talk about a book, movie. 4. I now embrace “bad days”. I’m a JOMO = Joy Of Missing Out. The feeling of joy and contentment of not having to join in or participate.

    Reply to Susan BRAUNER

    1. Nothing, especially my husband.

       Reply to Nancy H

15. What lifts me up…any opportunity to serve others in need. I try to live by the words, “if I can do some good today, Lord please show me how.”
    A feeling of eternal gratitude for the opportunity takes over my entire being as soon
    as one of those moments call me to action and allow me to be of service.

    Reply to Sandra A Ragju

16. Any of the following:
    A piece of dark chocolate
    Music I can sing along with
    Listening to Netflix standup comics (not all do the trick)
    Listening to a Jane Austin audio book
    Driving for SeniorRides in Nashville
    Walking with my neighbor
    Watching birds at a block of hot pepper infused suet so squirrels don’t eat it
    Listening to frogs behind my house
    Getting rid of possessions
    Getting the laundry folded

    Reply to Anne Paine

17. Putter around in the Garden.

    Reply to Charlie

18. I’m 72 and live alone. I don’t have to be productive or busy all day every day. Community is vital , friends , family, strangers, pets, birds, clouds, trees a breeze……
    I play with painting rocks, water color painting, planning a sewing project or enjoying a movie. Encouraging a smile from someone by his smiling at them.
    Joy is within not outside myself. Share Joy!!!!!!!recieve Joy

    Reply to Kathy Howard

    1. nice!

       Reply to Kathy B

    2. YES THERE IS joy inside I nourish it with meditation and watching and empty blue clear sky without thinking just being.

       Reply to fran

    3. I paint rocks too! Silly hobby I took up when I retired. I also started doing watercolors, so much to learn!

       Reply to Kathie Alfstad

19. I’m picking up my guitar lessons I abandon some 40+ years ago.

    Reply to Jim Slaughter

20. I watch reruns of The Carol Burnett show and SNL as well as
    skits performed by Bill Hader, Martin Short and Dana Carvey.
    Last night it was Will & Grace reruns. Also bird watching
    and reading books I hate to see end. Laughter and
    nature.

    Reply to Janice

    1. You have a great sense of humor!! Those are some of my favorites also.

       Reply to Beverly D. Williams

21. I’m not sure I need joy. But being around my family makes me happy. A piece of chocolate makes me feel good. Volunteering brought me a sense of accomplishment. I am very content with my life. BTW: You might have a physical therapy consult ordered by your doctor. I’ve had lumbar back pain for some years.
    And have requested PT intermittently for past two years and the pain has decreased greatly. Sitting for long periods aggravates it. Ck.videos on Youtube for help with lumbar pain.

    Reply to Joanne Minuete

22. Coffee Sunday every other Sunday with my BFF in my/our Zen/Den. I make the coffee. She either bakes something or picks up something from the bakery. Turn the lights on the Womanist tree which has ornaments only by Paula Whaley. In the fall and winter turn on the fireplace, coconut or lavender oil in the aromatherapy lamp, and ask Alexa to play instrumental jazz. A perfect couple of hours to begin the week no matter what’s ahead

    Reply to Joanna Banks

23. My dog, reading, exercising, sweets , music and my friends are all mood lifters for me.
    Spending time in a bookstore is the ultimate!

    Reply to Harry Cohen

24. I am happiest when I have something to plan and look forward to. It can be something big…like a vacation….or as simple as a friend coming over for a meal. I like change; I like a project; I am not very happy when I am anticipating the same thing day after day. I do recognize that many, many people–my husband included, are perfectly happy with “nothing to do.” We are happy together, balancing the differences.

    Reply to Susan Stevens

    1. I’m with you. For me the joy is in the planning. I LOVE planning. Wish I could make money at it.

       Reply to Rev. Kathy McLean-Davis

25. I turn on the music and it picks me right up. Got cooking or cleaning to do? A lively playlist from Andy Grammar or Shania Twain gets me singing and moving.

    Reply to Mary Claude

26. What works for me when I need a mood lift?
    1) Taking a walk expecting to see someone or something interesting.
    2) Looking at family pictures of happy times.
    3) Looking for possible changes to come out of chaos.
    4) Getting out of my thinking head and into my feeling heart.

    Reply to May

    1. #4 – thank you for posting that. Going to try it.

       Reply to gail

27. Explore a nearby park and sit on a bench and read, or look at flowers, trees, etc. Gardening is always one of my happy places. I also like to find new paths in the woods to walk on but easy and more flat. Explore your local library, Go to a local park you have never been to. Maybe look at older pictures that remind you of happy times.

    Reply to Laura

28. A lovely cup of tea while watching the birds, losing myself in a good book, and creating. ( Anything creative: a drawing, a new recipe, a new “game” with my dog. ) Best of all: I start every day with a Far Side cartoon and funny animal videos.

    Reply to Vicki

    1. Sounds delightful. I just returned from Ireland where I developed a love of tea. It’s just so hot in Texas right now, so I can’t bring myself to drink it. But as soon as it cools off, (if it cools off) I’ll be having tea every day.

       Reply to Rev. Kathy McLean-Davis