A nice breeze on a sunny day. That’s what I like to call “my happy place.”
It’s the little things in life, you know?
And now we’re gonna hear from folks on Reddit about the little things that make them happy in life.
Let’s see what they had to say.
1. Hearing “I Love You”
Those three words.
And it doesn’t even have to be in so many words.
My parents do this thing where they see to each other’s needs without ever having actively decided to do it or even realized they’re doing it until it was pointed out to them.
Basically, for example, one of them will fill up a glass of water when thirsty, drink their fill and then promptly refill it and hand it to the other, who will take it and drink, no questions asked.
Another example is one of them will make a sandwich or grab an apple or something and sit/stand next to the other whilst sharing the thing almost bite for bite.
Also, correcting each other’s plate. Like, if one loves pickles but hates cheese, a mutual transfer occurs from plate to plate without any acknowledgement that this is even happening.
This behavior happens even when they are annoyed or downright pissed at each other, and extends to my brother and I as well.
To me, having grown up with this, it was always just something normal that we do. Friends and significant others have since pointed out what a profound expression of “I love you” it apparently is.
2. Cereal Killer
My bowl of cereal in the morning.
It’s more delicious than all the meals thereafter, on par with holiday food. The deeper down the bowl I go the tastier it gets, and I’m left refreshed and energized. It’s my cup of coffee.
Also, the sound of birds.
3. That Morning Coffee
My son just turned 17 and when it became clear COVID wasn’t going anywhere, he started making us coffee in the coffee press every morning.
His dad doesn’t drink it and is usually out for his run so it’s just the two of us.
It’s turned into a ritual accompanied by something I’ve baked.
If things were normal, he’d be at school, out w his friends, or just somewhere else not spending an hour with me just chatting and drinking coffee.
I’m cherishing this time.
4. Forever ink
I talked about this fairly recently, but 5 years ago I lost my dog, Snoopy. He was my best friend for almost 17 years, so it was a very painful loss for me.
One night shortly after he died I got drunk and decided I wanted a tattoo of a caricature of him to remember him by. I asked my room/best (human) friend to draw it on my right forearm, since I am right handed and it was hard for me to do. Well, it was even harder to try and tattoo myself with my non-dominant hand and the result was a very sloppy tattoo. Even though it looks bad, it’s my most cherished tattoo because it’s such a raw expression of emotion.
Whenever I’m feeling shitty or just miss him, I look down at that little goofy face on my arm and remember all the happiness that he brought me and all the great memories we made together. It never fails to put a smile on my face.
5. Well, that’s interesting!
I’m from Germany and we used to take pride in putting a lot of time, care and effort into overdubbing foreign movies and series. Most actors had their own professional german voice artist for as long as I can think and that was just how it was done, period. Some even outdid the original and instantly, Bruce Willis comes to mind. I swear, his german voice is so much more badass than the original.
Unfortunately, things have changed in recent years and even the most well known actors might be dubbed by a different voice artist in every other film they appear in. It’s like nobody gives a shit anymore about something that was so sacred once. The X-Files of late became unwatchable because of Duchovny’s new voice. Imagine the shit show when first Marge Simpson’s german voice died and then Homer’s not too long after and they were perfect.
To make a long story short, my day is save whenever I watch an episode of Modern Family and Ed O’Neill comes on, because in times when nobody cares anymore, someone actually went through the trouble to track down the very particular sounding voice actor of good ol’ Al Bundy after decades and asked him if he wanted the job and thank heavens, he said Yes!!
I cannot put my finger on why that is such a deep satisfying feeling every time I hear his long lost familiar voice, but it works like a charm for me every single time.
6. The Firsts!
My kid experiencing her “firsts” and getting so overwhelmed by it.
Yesterday she experienced a ladybug crawling on her hand for the first time and her genuine happiness was infectious.
She kept going back to the same spot in the garden looking for it, calling out, “heyo…bug”, looking for it under every leaf.
Heh
7. Get up!
My kids (3 and 1 year old boys) getting me up everyday. The 3 year old pushes on me or just jumps on me and says mom wake up, mommy wake up it’s a beautiful sun shiny day. While he’s doing that my 1 year old just says mom over and over while usually hitting or bouncing on me.
As soon as they know I’m up it is hugs, kisses and the 3 year old saying good morning, did you sleep good.
I frequently fake being asleep just for that.
8. It’s about time!
Idk why I thought of this today but back in 8th grade my social studies teacher referred to 6:00 as Abe Lincoln time (because he was tall? And the hands at 6:00 are standing straight up? Something like that.)
Anyways, me and the guy I sat next to thought this was hilarious and we would make a joke about it any time the hands on the clock formed a straight line and would say what Abe was doing depending on the angle of the hands.
So for example, the time 9:15 occurred during our class so we’d always go “It’s Abe Lincoln’s bed time! He’s laying down to go to sleep!”
9. Those head butts!
my cat comes to the door when i get home and greets me with head butts and meows.
and the outdoor kitty i feed does the same.
people who say cats are heartless have never tried being around a cat.
10. Those compliments!
When someone gives me an unexpected compliment- like when a friend says “oh! You look glowing today” or “oh! You smell really nice today”.
I didn’t do anything special to look or smell good that day, so its a pleasant surprise.
11. Do your thing, brother!
There’s this dude who’s been walking laps at night in the parking lot next to me for a couple of months.
It’s just cool to see someone doing something, anything, small right now.
Whatever has you walking keep rocking black shirt black pants dude.
12. Dad’s garden
I can’t see my dad a lot anymore, but he makes sure to send me an updated picture of his garden almost everyday.
That makes me smile.
13. Kitty beans!
When my cats sleep next to me, they always make sure that they touch me with their toe beans.
If I slightly move, they readjust until they touch me again.
Love it.
14. ALL the cute animals!
My husband makes it a habit to send at least one cute animal picture to me a day.
It’s been years and I don’t think he’s ever doubled up.
If I’ve seen it before from some other source I get another two or three to make up for seeing one already.
It’s often frog related. Today was three White’s tree frogs being cute in a frog bowl.
Yesterday was a bearded dragon getting excited over blueberries.
15. Be careful!
It’s so nostalgic to hear old songs and experience old memories, but then you realize that the more you continue to listen to that song and experience those memories, the old ones go away and are replaced with new memories of you listening to it now.
Makes you not want to listen to any old songs for fear of tampering with the precious memories…
16. How very quaint… I mean quail
In my neighborhood everyday when I come back from the gym at 6:01 AM there are a trail of quails and every morning I stop so they can safely pass the road.
If they aren’t there I get kind of sad. I like seeing my quails and knowing they got to their destination safely.
17. Yes, it is the small things…
A joke I’ve never heard before.
A creative complement I’ve never heard before.
Just… something different.
Makes the day more interesting.
The tinniest difference makes a big difference.
18. My little ponytail
I have bright pink hair, and one day at work I was wearing it in a high curly ponytail.
A man came up to me and said “I love your hair. I hope this doesn’t come off as weird, but you look like Pinkie Pie, and I love it. My daughter and I watch My Little Pony together and that’s her favorite pony, she’d love your hair too.”
That compliment has stuck with me because that was the last kind of person I’d expect to get that compliment from.
It was very sweet and I think about it pretty often.
19. Watch ALL the squirrels!
I’ve got one of those little picnic table-shaped squirrel feeders attached to the fence around our backyard.
Every morning I put a fresh cob of “squirrel corn” on it and watch the little dudes and and dudettes come feast on it.
20. Cheers!
Eight years ago, in New York City,, I’m with my family sitting at a coffee place in the lounge. My parents are talking amongst themselves so I’m zoning out and scanning the room.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot an Asian man obviously waiting for his wife and he’s rocking in his chair with drink in hand.
All of the sudden he tilts too far back and starts to go backward but he suddenly catches himself and almost drops his drink but not before stopping the chair from slamming to the ground so it was silent.
He looks around and catches me smiling. He instantly replies with the biggest grin while toasting his drink in a “A-ha!” manner.
I still think about that scene. So wholesome.
21. I can see clearly now!
When I accidentally wake up too early and see the sun starting to come out.
I go back to sleep after but I like to think I fall back asleep with a slight smile on my face.
22. OMG! That sounds amazing!
Everyday there’s this neighborhood kid that bikes around with his what I assume to be his older friend or brother and they throw “homemade” newspapers.
They write little noted and cards and updates how they like life.
He does it just for this block I’m on with my friend.
Apparently he’s been doing it for about 6 months.
23. The Scar
I have a scar on my right arm.
While I was in high school, I pushed myself too far physically and mentally. I studied day and night just so I can get a high rank in class (which was very important to me back then).
Once didn’t get enough sleep for a week and on my daily commute I was so tired I fell off the vehicle I was riding. Gave me only a scar on my right arm.
I’m not entirely sure how but since then I always wake up and look at that scar and remind myself that I should be happy, whatever results I get in my life.
Since then, my days have been brighter than usual.
24. Remember those names!
I learned this from visiting a buddy. Learn the names of the people who you routinely visit, IE gas station employees or grocery store clerks, whatever.
Learn a little about them, ask them about their day, call them by name.
It just feels good to make people feel appreciated I guess.
I should add, don’t pry.
Alright, now it’s your turn to share! What do you find to be a small thing that helps your life a bit?
Share that in the comments!
