What makes you happy?

small simple things, a bird, a flower, a smile, learning something new, grand-children of course, a hug, a squeeze, a hare or red kite- things that cost nothing, and that you don't really look for, but just happen unexpectedly

I agree with granjura, it is the simple everyday things that make me happy too. ( I saw three red kites together the other day, absolutely amazing). Watching the DGC playing, hearing the things they say, priceless.

Opening the curtains yesterday morning and seeing a rainbow. That was a lovely, happy start to the day.
Watching a little wren this morning, perched on a garden pot very close to the house, for several long minutes.
Coming indoors from the cold and sitting down by the fire with a lovely hot cup of tea
Going to bed early with a hot water bottle and a good book (I'm about to do this now )

Seeing the Spring flowers come up again, a sunny day, old friends, poetry, people in a little cafe who know my name, my children and grandchildren. Babies' smiles, the music of my teen years. Memories of the Lake District and the kindness and support of the Buddhists there. Finding my memory, mostly, doesn't let me down.

The researcher was wrong. It's suddenly remembering something one of the DGSs said or did that makes me happy. Nothing compares.

Sunshine lifts the spirit. Flowers, birds, a really good meal, all give pleasure. Not in the same league though.

What do 'experts' know about me?

jings what do they know about any of us?!

As for what makes us happy it varies and can surprise us.

I suspect it all depends on what you mean by happy.

To me happiness is something that comes in bursts, that moment when something makes your heart sing.

What the researchers call happiness I would call content.

Good point MOnica

Sunshine makes me happy.

Being retired makes me ecstatic.

and I'm sorry researchers...but my grandchildren make me happy .When they arrive and burst through the kitchen full of beans and shouting 'Nana, Nana'.

Yup that makes me happy !

Sitting by our local river, which was once an industrial sewer, and watching small brown trout in now pristine water, rising to sip down tiny flies. When my grandson unexpectedly takes my hand when we are walking back from school (not cool to hold granny's hand when you're nine!). Walking along gritstone edges in the Peak District on a fine day. When anything I cook actually turns out like it should these days!!

Yes. Sunshine ups the old serotonin, doesn't it. Definitely makes you feel happier. Perhaps a degree of happiness is actually down to physical stuff.

Maybe there are different forms of happiness. Any of 'em will do me.

Singing with others

Getting into a warm bed at night and just lying there for a moment savouring the heat!

Yesterday, reading a card my teenage granddaughter gave to me in which she had written 'I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day because
you deserve it. You are kind, caring and thoughtful! . That made me happy

My first grandchild is due in early August, but for now looking at scan photographs and hearing a recording DS made of baby's heartbeat makes me very happy indeed!

It's cold but the sun is shining and I'm looking down the garden at all the birds picking around the grass. After an absence of a few years we now have starlings back too. Little things make me happy - and yes my grand-children do too.

Lying in a hammock in the sunshine. A good book to read. A friend to tea etc

Standing on the back of our boat with my DH at the helm as we cruise at a leisurely pace (2.5 mph) and wave at the poor souls stuck in the traffic jams on various roads that the canal runs close to. Sitting on the back deck on a summers evening with a glass of Pimms listening to the birds and watching the world go by. I love my boaty life - even in the winter when we can moore up in the middle of no where and wake up to a beautiful sparkly, frost covered morning, or be toasty warm inside with the fire going.

. Want it.

When I sit on the sofa with my two young grandsons with my arm around them both and we watch Kung Fu Panda, whilst eating popcorn.

Definitely should have a 'Like' button on GN. So many lovely images of things that make us GNers happy!

Yes, I have commented on the lack of like buttons here.

Happiness to me yesterday was my 3 year old grand daughter ringing me up to say happy grandmother's day (sure there probably is one at some time, but she wanted to say it yesterday).