At times, life can be anything but bearable, but it doesn’t have to get you down. There are thousands of things in this world that worth smiling about and it might be enough to turn your frown upside down. To get you thinking in the right direction, I took the liberty of compiling a list of 65 things that can bring you joy:
1. Getting into a warm car on a cold winter morning
2. Being told that you’re appreciated
3. Being shown that you’re appreciated
4. Snuggling up on a rainy day
5. A cold beer with your favorite people
6. That first snow day of the year
7. Late night talks with someone important to you
8. A warm flannel shirt
9. The feeling of a clean home
10. Giving in to the nap you’ve been needing
11. Finding a good deal on something
12. The feeling of coming home after being away
13. The first glimpse of a new city
14. The peacefulness of snow falling on a quiet city street
15. Spending a whole day doing nothing…and not feeling bad about it
16. Realizing in the middle of a conversation how much you appreciate someone’s existence
17. Exploring a new city
18. The perfect hug
19. The smell of new books
20. Hearing someone say they’re proud of you
21. Spending a day watching Disney movies
22. Going someplace beautiful with people you love
23. Feeling important to someone
24. Knowing that things are getting better
25. A good concert with someone special
26. Waking up and feeling well rested
27. The feeling of finally letting something go
28. Having something to look forward to
29. When someone shows that they care about you
30. Being randomly complimented when you least expect it
31. Complimenting others and genuinely meaning it
32. Making someone laugh
33. Laughing so hard you can’t breathe
34. Loving someone who loves you back
35. Finding someone who is always on the same page as you
36. Being able to learn from your mistakes
37.Finally finishing something you started a long time ago
38. A warm bath on after a long day
39. The first sip of hot cocoa on a cold day
40. Sleeping next to someone you love
41. …and when they pull you closer to them in their sleep
42. The way a dog curiously tips it’s head to the side
43. Waking up and realizing you still have more time to sleep
44. A fresh haircut
45. Going on a spontaneous trip
46. The sparkle of Christmas lights
47. The serenity of street lights hitting the road after a rainstorm
48. Road trips (alone or with others)
49. A new sweater
50. When the leaves begin to change color
51. Seeing the progress you’ve made and being proud of yourself
52. The smell of clean laundry
53. The feeling of a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer
54. A well-deserved margarita
55. The first whiff of coffee in the morning
56. Being able to communicate with someone with a single look
57. Being kissed on the forehead
58. The smell of cookies baking in the oven
59. Singing in the shower
60. Quoting your favorite movies
61. Singing in the car
62. Knowing you have people you can rely on
63. Realizing that you’re going to be okay, even when things seem terrible
64. The little things people do to let you know you’re on their mind
65. Being hugged from behind
This list is just a starting place. Find the things that make YOU happy and make them your reminder of how wonderful life can be. Learning how to look at the bright side of life may very well be one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s not about being annoyingly optimistic, it’s simply picking your battles with life. There’s no sense in being upset over things you can’t change, but you do have the power to change your mindset. You can imagine yourself somewhere doing one of these things or you can make it happen in real life! Find your happy place and run with it.
Featured image via Jeremy Cai on Unsplash
