One of my 2012 goals was to write one item daily in a {Things that make me} Happy Journal.
The goal stemmed from a memory I had during my college days back in 1997. I was working as a seamstress making costumes for a play (it was one of my required theater classes), and one of my fellow 4 classmates had a book that caught my eye. The paperback was titled "14,000 Things to be Happy About". I borrowed the book and read through the entire long list of items that the author had written. It was a simple list, similar to the items stated in the song "Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (you know, like raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens...(are you singing it in your head now?)), except this list was MUCH longer! I enjoyed reading the items in the book, and it made me think of all the small things in the world around me that brought me happiness. So, my goal was to create a similar list of things, by recording one new item each day that brought me joy. At the end of each day, I had to search my brain for something that made me smile or made me feel good that day; it was a positive daily exercise of reflection. Even reading over this long list now, I can remember certain memories associated with the items listed and it makes me happy thinking about them. I loved doing this goal! And I hope that by reading this list, you also will be able to relate to some of the same things and discover some small things that bring you happiness, too.
1. clean sheets
2. decorating gingerbread houses
3. when Josh warms the car for me on a cold morning
4. being in my house when it's quiet
5. sleeping with Josh
6. taking road trips with good friends
7. singing duets with John
8. sitting in public and people-watching
9. listening to Josh Groban
10. reading to Jonah and Micah at bedtime
11. singing happy birthday to my son
12. getting complemented on my teaching skills
13. sleeping in and snuggling with my hubby
14. beating Josh at a board game
15. Lindt chocolates
16. a paid day-off holiday
17. taking a nap
18. when Josh washes the dishes
19. the soup "Tijuana Surprise" at Bertram's
20. playing cards with Amanda
21. soaking in the hot springs
22. watching Josh bless our son
23. the TV show Malcolm in the Middle
24. yoga with Kitt
25. homemade soup made & shared by others
26. watching a movie in the theater
27. good sportsmanship from my son in a competition
28. watching a competitive high school basketball game
29. speaking in Sacrament Meeting about a topic I'm passionate about
30. popcorn with white cheddar salt on it
31. leftovers
32. having music students who want to learn
33. m&m's
34. the invention of tampons
35. blogging
36. hearing testimonies at church
37. having a prep hour
38. receiving a package in the mail
39. being unexpectedly helped with a school project
40. going grocery shopping at a store that has more options than Saveway
41. ice skating
42. homemade oreos
43. watching the Grammys
44. watching my students excel at their performance
45. flowers that are delivered to me
46. getting happy texts from Josh
47. youtube
48. Arby's
49. watching a play in the theater
50. going to new places
51. sleeping on a car ride
52. DVR
53. singing a song as a trio with Amanda & John
54. hearing one of my 1st grade students sing vibrato
55. relaxing in my home
56. completing a set for a theater production
57. watching the Oscars
58. Subway's $5 footlongs
59. learning something new
60. mashed potatoes made from potatoes out of our garden
61. watching my students perform for other students
62. coconut shrimp prawns
63. seeing Jonah & Micah wrestle in their first tournament
64. sunshine
65. playing games at Family Home Evening
66. ice cream sundaes
67. acting on stage
68. music
69. crossing off items on my to-do list
70. a clean kitchen sink
71. a wonderful Relief Society lesson
72. girl scout cookies
73. voting
74. playing Super Mario Bros. with Kanyon
75. hearing and seeing Ammon play in a band concert
76. watching an old musical on TV
77. being with Kimi
78. Tillamook's Caramel Butter Pecan ice cream
79. playing the game Qwirkel
80. eating leftovers for lunch
81. wearing Josh's shirt
82. having a packed audience for a student performance
83. feeling my husband's warm breath on my cold skin
84. watching Jonah & Micah wrestle well
85. having friends over to play games
86. rearranging furniture
87. empty dirty laundry baskets
88. working as a family on an outdoor project
89. playing Dr. Mario with my boys
90. the movie "Knight and Day"
91. going on a hike with my boys
92. listening to General Conference
93. playing a new board game as a family
94. guitar lessons
95. reading inspirational quotes
96. getting a haircut
97. watching Josh ride a trike along with the boys
98. coloring Easter eggs
99. having all my family together at the reunion
100. planting poppy flower seeds
101. an edible bouquet delivery
102. receiving Chai as a gift at work when I was sick
103. my school office all organized and clean
104. working on a yard beautification project in the dirt
105. Almond Joy candy bars
106. being lazy on a Sunday afternoon
107. eating lunch with Kanyon
108. watching Glee alone
109. seeing Kanyon so happy at Kindergarten registration
110. learning new songs to use at school
111. seeing a steel pan band perform
112. trying a new flavor of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
113. green grass
114. a homemade thank-you note from a student
115. drinking ice cold water
116. blooming tulips
117. talking to and laughing with Krissy
118. seeing Ammon run his best at a track meet
119. hammocks
120. taking a Sunday siesta with Josh
121. Family Home Evening with Josh and my boys
122. eating dinner with my family
123. doing Braindance with my students
124. sweet pork from Costa Vida
125. helping at the Dance Recital
126. listening to and watching Ayla
127. laying on the grass in the sun
128. a good book
129. the TV show Smash
130. trees in bloom
131. after-school activities for my boys
132. the movie "Eat Pray Love"
133. sleeping in
134. being treated special by my family on Mother's Day
135. root beer floats
136. seeing Jonah & Micah's books they created
137. a cool evening breeze after a hot day
138. wii Just Dance
139. golfing with Josh
140. potted flowers in front of the house
141. homemade caramel & fudge sauce
142. a chilled strawberry lemonade
143. seeing Kanyon make a "score-down" in soccer
144. Lay's Classic BLT chips
145. seeing Ammon get an award at his band concert
146. playing wii Guitar Hero with the boys
147. kettle corn popcorn
148. pajama pants
149. an open schedule day (nothing written on the calendar)
150. seeing Jonah score goals at soccer
151. having a fun get-together with coworkers
152. seeing Micah score goals at soccer
153. playing Dr. Mario with my mom
154. trying to rollerskate
155. going to IKEA
156. shopping at DI
157. assembling a new piece of furniture
158. roasting marshmallows
159. opening a package from the mail
160. making a new recipe
161. sherbet
162. pork
163. the public library
164. grilled hamburgers
165. staining wood
166. evening walks
167. my backyard
168. being with cousins
169. my husband
170. unexpected visits from friends
171. watching little kids play soccer
172. kids' Art in the Park Day
173. quesadillas
174. Elders Quorum parties
175. a ditch full of water in my backyard
176. the Ross Park Aquatic Complex
177. dipping my feet in a cold river
178. the library Summer Childrens' Reading Program
179. seeing the movie "Madagascar 3" in the theater with my boys
180. campfires
181. Salmon Valley Golf Course
182. spending quality relaxing time with friends
183. homemade ice cream
184. Desert Pies
185. lots of kids playing in my backyard
186. fireworks
187. a freshly-weeded garden
188. being in the parade
189. a family talent show
190. a Mongolian BBQ meal
191. radishes from the garden
192. new glasses
193. cold Pepsi
194. a neighbor that let me borrow an ingredient I needed
195. the TV show Design Star
196. the movie "Strictly Ballroom"
197. talking with girlfriends
198. swimming lessons
199. going with the whole family to see a movie in the theater
200. watching my boys jump, flip, and dive off the diving board
201. kids' free lunch summer program
202. eating popsicles on a hot summer's day
203. watching Ammon play in the Stake baseball tournament
204. riding the world's longest gondola
205. visiting my Grandpa Perkins at his home
206. driving the going-to-the-sun road in Glacier Park
207. riding on a boat driven by Josh on a lake at Glacier
208. sharing my pictures with others on their facebook walls
209. the Olympics opening ceremonies
210. seeing kids swim in my backyard ditch
211. laying on cool grass with Josh by my side
212. watching the Olympics
213. seeing the boys advance in their swimming abilities
214. eating fresh produce from our garden
215. being resourceful
216. going to the hot springs with Josh, Amanda, & John
217. outdoor wedding receptions
218. talking on the phone with an old friend
219. playing SkipBo with Amanda
220. going swimming with Josh and our boys
221. floating on Williams Lake with our family
222. seeing the boys ride scooters on slopey sidewalks at the park
223. ward campouts
224. walking inside the ghost town Bannack's buildings
225. roasting starbursts
226. blue skies
227. listening to my husband & sons singing happy birthday to me
228. new sandals
229. moist steaks seasons perfectly by Josh
230. strawberry rhubarb pie
231. dancing with Josh
232. homemade popcorn
233. playing SkipBo with my boys
234. helping the boys check in their vegetables at the fair
235. witnessing Kanyon be SO good at the dentist
236. walking through a new temple
237. laughing with high school friends at our 15 year reunion
238. people who are generous and giving
239. freshly baled hay sitting randomly in fields
240. decorating my classroom
241. fresh corn-on-the-cob from our garden
242. sliced fresh peaches in a bowl of milk
243. leftover potatoes au gratin
244. 4-day weekends
245. huckleberry ice cream
246. when my children fall asleep in funny positions
247. Peach Crisp
248. family 4-wheeler rides
249. completing the task of making freezer corn for the year
250. the smell of Josh's Old Spice deodorant
251. laughing with Amanda
252. going to an outdoor concert with Josh
253. watching the boys help Josh cut down firewood
254. fresh air
255. home-grown rhubarb
256. facebook chat
257. starting a new book
258. when a music class actually listens and follows directions
259. shopping for a themed birthday party
260. seeing Ammon run a XC race and win a medal
261. finishing a book
262. bacon
263. the song "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga
264. mango smoothies
265. reading Roald Dahl books to elementary students
266. homecoming parade
267. decorating the house for a pirate birthday party
268. plain, glazed donuts
269. receiving mail from an old friend
270. laffy taffy jokes
271. spaghetti casserole
272. a whole week of outdoor recess after going without it due to the smoke
273. going for a drive in the fall
274. taking family photoes in the fall
275. the movie "The Help"
276. editing photos
277. reading to Jonah & Micah's school class
278. finding what I was looking for at D.I.
279. getting a new puppy
280. picking rhubarb & raspberries from the garden
281. witnessing Josh sing karaoke
282. listening to President Monson speak
283. when Josh does the laundry
284. frozen red grapes
285. a cold Dr. Pepper
286. eating my homemade strawberry rhubarb jam
287. watching high school football games
288. being in the pumpkin patch
289. sitting next to Josh at church
290. laughing as a family at FHE when the boys make silly faces
291. observing some of my students perform in Salmon Idol
292. seeing the look on Josh's face after he shot a deer
293. golden yellow trees
294. pumpkin fudge
295. having polite customers at the pumpkin patch
296. clean kitchen counters
297. eating donuts for breakfast
298. getting a good night's sleep
299. ward parties
300. fire burning in the wood stove
301. handmade blankets
302. watching Josh play tag with the boys on the hay bales
303. the game "Things"
304. carving pumpkins with the boys
305. Halloween songs
306. dressing up for Halloween
307. being complemented by guests on dinner I cooked
308. the boys' help with decorating the house for holidays
309. watching a Boise State football game in person
310. clearance sales
311. going to Ammon's XC banquet
312. book fairs
313. getting good reports at parent teacher conferences
314. having a class get 100% on their music test at school
315. baking cookies I loved from my childhood
316. cold 1% milk
317. watching my boys speak in the microphone and sing songs at the Primary Children's Sacrament Meeting program
318. white chocolate chip macademia nut cookies
319. french onion soup
320. eggnog
321. watching a high school play
322. ice packs (for a hot, achy leg)
323. chicken noodle soup
324. Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal
325. laughing & playing board games with some of mine & Josh's friends
326. a visit from my mom & dad
327. poppyseed chicken
328. spending Thanksgiving with family
329. leftover turkey
330. festival of trees
331. sitting with my family at church
332. receiving a thoughtful care package from a friend
333. when Josh helps me make dinner for guests
334. being treated to hot chocolate mid-morning
335. eating lunch with the teachers
336. decorating the Christmas tree
337. hanging up my homemade stockings
338. chocolate advent calendars
339. playing Clue with my boys
340. talking to Celyn
341. watching my students sing the Star Spangled Banner at the HS game
342. watching "Irish Christmas in America" perform at the school assembly
343. Gina's stuffed mushrooms
344. finishing making pumpkin puree with the pumpkins leftover from the patch
345. listening to Ammon give a talk at church that he wrote himself
346. a mid-day visit from Amanda at work
347. watching Josh make a new casserole
348. laughing with Amanda & Krissy at cub scout pack meeting
349. attending my work Christmas party
350. big snowflakes
351. sledding
352. receiving our freshly printed blog books in the mail
353. sitting in a dark room with only the lights of the Christmas tree on
354. working at night in order to feel prepared for the next school day's performances
355. being a part of the 5th grade performance at the HS Christmas concert
356. seeing Kanyon in the Kindergarten Christmas program
357. family Christmas parties
358. seeing the musical light show in Tremonton
359. receiving Christmas cards
360. delivering Christmas goodies to neighbors
361. Christmas morning at our home
362. making the bed with new pillows & sheets
363. being invited to a friend's party
364. spending the day with Amanda
365. visiting the Forsgren's in Stanley
366. completing goals
1 comment:
I love this!
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