“Someday, when I have all the money in the world, I will be happy!”
“Someday, when I will have achieved _________, I will be the happiest soul on earth!”
How often we promise ourselves that “someday” happiness will be ours! When we will have accumulated all the wealth we need, or our dream job, or that perfect partner of our dreams, we will be happy.
But, what about until then?
Will we remain friends with sorrow and discontent until the “perfect” time comes along? Will we rue over how hopeless our circumstances are and keep brooding over Life’s injustice?
Has Life ever been “perfect”?
Of course, the grass always appears greener on the other side, so, of course people do live perfect lives – the kind we haven’t been blessed with!
And, with this attitude, we keep living sad, pathetic lives, blind to the countless joys we have actually been gifted!
In our hunger for the bigger things in Life, we ignore the little things that matter a lot more than we give them credit for.
I, too, yearn for a few things that will make me very happy. Loads of money, a few blogging awards, perfect health, no worries. Ah! Life would, indeed, be perfect!
Sadly, though, that’s not how things will turn out. There will always be something missing. Some discontent. Some disillusionment. Loads of worries. So, why not look at that which I already have, and count my blessings?
I made a list of 20 ‘little joys’ in my Life that make my world perfect. Little things that lie in plain view, but to which, at times, I am blind. Things that actually matter a lot, and which would drastically change my world with their absence.
20 little things that make me happy –
1 Chatting with mom late into the night
2 Visiting my parents.
3 Chatting with hubby.
4 Getting pampered by Cookie (my pet parakeet) with all her love and attention. And, hearing her say, “Shippa!”
5 Playing, and getting into mock fights, with my nephews
6 Knowing that my closest friends know precisely when I need a shoulder to cry on, and when I deserve a kick on my backside.
7 Working on my written as well as art posts and receiving beautiful comments by bloggers I admire.
8 Enjoying my loneliness. Yes, loneliness, and not ‘solitude’, considering it was once the most dreaded part of my life!
9 Reading. “My books transport me to a place when I have nowhere to go!” (Love this quote!)
10 Evenings, when I am with myself and my thoughts, enjoying every moment of my walk in the beautiful outdoors.
11 Listening to (loud) music that fills the silence, which at times, feels deafening.
12 Working out.
13 Enjoying a mugful of chilled coffee in the quiet afternoons.
14 Baking cakes and cookies.
15 Watching my favourite programs on Netflix, uninterrupted.
16 Star-gazing. Yes, even if it’s looking up at that lone star twinkling in our purple, urban sky.
17 Spotting a rainbow on a gloomy rainy day.
18 Enjoying the chirps of the sparrows as they come to visit me in the early mornings.
19 The peace and quiet of early mornings.
20 My reflection in the mirror on (some) days when I feel I look gorgeous!
Hmm…now that I reread this list, I realise how truly blessed I really am, so, why do I grumble?
Ought to work on that attitude, right?
Also, ought to work on developing some narcissism… I mean, I ALWAYS look gorgeous! In fact, I am gorgeousness personified!!
Okay, that’s enough.
How about you? Do you, too, have a list of the little somethings that make you happy? Could you share a few with me?
Love always,
SHILPA…
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As much as I love chatting with my mom and hubby – I definitely love to indulge in some Me time. Superb post 🙂
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Absolutely agree that we need to look on the brighter side of life. We are indeed blessed to live this life!
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I saw similar kind of post on Naba’s blog couple weeks ago and wanted to put together one too, even made a short draft. Now, after reading yours I definitely want to do finish that post on the list of things that make me happy. I have always maintained that it’s the little things that make me happy because bigger things never happen to me other than marrying my husband maybe. But these simpler things are there with us all the time, aren’t they? Better than the bigger ones.
You inspired me to write my Monday Musings post, Shilpa. Thank you. 🙂 Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. Stargazing is my favorite activity too, I have to stop watching my kids and get back to looking at those stars again! 🙂
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Loved this post shilpa. Know what, actually two days before one of my friend asked me to write on this same topic. She asked me to do on the 10 reasons that make me happy. Started with it and its half way. Your post reminded me to finish it..
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Oh, then do finish your post, Deep. Would love to read all about you! 🙂
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Thank you shilpa. Will do it before the a2z challenge.
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Lovely list Shilpa..I guess both of us think alike because this week my post is also on something similar.. I also love doing most of the things that is there in your list minus the art things as my art sucks 😦
Keep enjoying things that you love..stay happy and blessed. Love and hugs
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That’s nice, Balaka!
Looking forward to reading your post now.
Love and hugs! ❤
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nice informative article
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Thank you!
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This is a happy post Shilpa, makes you think of all things nice and warm! My fav happy thing would be tucking into warm sheets on a cool rainy day and reading a lovely book, mostly I prefer uninterrupted moments of solitude!
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Ah! Bliss! That would be on number 21 on my list, too, Kala! ❤❤
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I have been away from reading my fav bloggers for such a long time now it seems…starting with your post tonight, Shilpa and loving it! It’s amazing no, when we think of all the small things that give us happiness. For me, these small things are the very essence of life itself…what I live for! I would love to harp on these little things someday and put them up in a post. Your post also tells me how uncannily we are alike, in so many ways. 🙂
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Oh, how much I loved this post! Maybe because I could relate to so many of them. I truly believe that it’s the little things that make your life happy and worthwhile!
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I am grateful that the Universe made me realise this fact, Shalini. Else I would have wasted my life ruing about things I don’t have!
Thank you Shalini!
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True contentment is in the NOW; not in the what ifs and when! So happy to read your list Shilpa, it matches mine in so many places! All aboard for the simpler things in life that bring much joy to us; if only we let it! 🙂
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What a lovely post! We have a lot of things in common Shilpa. I almost felt you were writing about me 😉
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Aww…isn’t that a coincidence!? How much of similarity we all discover in each other as we visit each other’s blogs ….aren’t we bloggers lucky? And, blessed? I should be adding your comment to my list of little things, Parul!
Thank you! ❤
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You dear Shilpa are innately happy and may you always find joy in the little things in life . In my perception most of life is ordinary so the ability to enjoy that is a blessing ! Be blessed my friend.
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Oh, Sunita! Coming from you, who has seen so much in and of Life, I will treasure your words, always! It’s these simple, everyday things – little things – that I ought to be grateful for, really! For if I were to keep waiting for something really big, I would keep waiting all my life. That’s what I realise everyday!
Thank you for the love!
❤
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I love reflective posts like these. For one they make you count your blessings. For another we learn to stop complaining. That’s why a gratitude habit really helps, I’ve found.
Also in your list, I’d change ‘loneliness’ to solitude. The meaning is so different and so much more positive. Eloquent post, dear Shilpa 🙂
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I knew solitude was the right word, Shailaja. But I retained loneliness because it’s something most people dread, but which I have learnt to enjoy. Wanted to prove that loneliness, although scary, isn’t a demon and can be befriended!
Thank you Shailaja! ❤
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Hahaha! The end was the best! You’re also sweetness personified, dear Shilpa! 😀
You’re right. We tend to focus too much on what we want and not enough on what we have. Your post is a happy post. It reminds us of our countless blessings!
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Thank you Kaddu for noticing the humour!
Yeah, we do that – seek what we do not have and ignore what we do and then end up being a pile of sad bones!
So, count your blessings! 💟💟💟
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Lovely post-Shilpa, it is my first visit and I just loved the elegance and simplicity of your blog dear. I share most of the things with you, expressed in the list. and completely agree that happiness of life lies in enjoying small moments.
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Thank you so much for the beautiful words, Ritu!
Yes, Life lies in the simple things, as does happiness. It’s we who come to learn this fact rather late in Life, isn’t it?
🙂 Thank you for the visit!
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