Happy Little Things

New painting to post tomorrow, but in the meantime here is a list I wrote a few years ago following my divorce and overlapping when I met my husband. I was digging in a box that had never gotten unpacked and there was this old notebook. It brought a smile to my face remembering what a joyous uplifting time it was after my divorce. My first marriage was a very sad, dark place to be for a very long time. It was nice to look back and read this list and remember how much hope and happiness I had after I got out of the negative place and began life on my own. And then started really falling in love with the wonderful man I am with now!

Here goes-
Things that make me happy

The screen door slamming
Impromtu trips
sky blue pink at sunset
being awake for sunrise
the smell of the ocean
the sound of the ocean
waking up on the beach in Mexico (waaaay back when)
making new friends
the comfort of old friends
security
freedom to be
food on the table
creating
New York City
French words like fleurs, amour, epsere, and tete-a-tete
exotic foriegn places
the promise of love
the promis of future
growing older
being young
a child's laugh
starting a good book
finishing a good book
being inspired....to create, to change, to learn, to improve
believing iin romance
long leisurely walks
good conversation
good coffee
a challenging argument
learning
music that lingers in the soul
a thunderstorm
the quiet before a thunderstorm
the smell of earth and life
the prick of fresh cut grass on bare feet
bare feet, period
summer
the feeling of salt water on your skin
paris....rome....the knowledge that someday....
lilacs
that there is a someday...
sleeping late
kissing
discovering someone
touching
not forgetting to feel like a child
hugging, cuddling
making someone else happy
being a difference in someone else's life
evolving
remembering
believing
good food, good wine, good friends
being fortunate and knowing it
sand between your toes
basking in the sun
knowing that you will never know so much that you can't learn more
drawing/painting/writing
creativity
the hazy distance of dreams
making your dreams accessible
always dreaming
having secrets
being part of an us
being able to be alone
finding something/someone you thought you had lost
discovery
drifting to sleep
words
being on the cusp of something great
the smell of cooking
anticipation
brilliant people
wishes
being great at what you do
realizing success in general is not neccessarily success in your own terms
not being part of the mainstream
being "quirky" can be a good thing
art, music, literature
feeling clever, witty, or beautiful
losing touch with reality once in a while
long baths
being loved or admired
being trusted
trusting
liking yourself
the smell of fresh cut grass
te smell of hay in summer
a child's love
acceptance of yourself and others
giving yourseld to another person-heart, soul, and body
knowing that money does not equate success or happiness
a snowball/pillow fight
laughing til your stomach hurts
complete abandonment
belly laughs
enlightenment
my down comforter
lazy days
a fireplace
making love