It can sometimes seem as thought the whole world has become a horrible place to be. Mostly that is because the media specializes in featuring stories that rile up our emotions. We hear about the bad things that are happening rather than the everyday good moments that make life so wonderful. We can be overwhelmed with the bad news. The best aspects of life are all around us in small moments that bring smiles to our faces. We don’t have to look very far to find them, but we do have to turn off the constant barrage of negativity to notice them. 

Have you ever encountered a harried clerk in a store who seems so grumpy that you want to file a complaint against her or him? Before doing that stop to consider what might be causing that person to be so irritated. Instead of reacting to the negativity become a positive moment for them. Tell them how much you appreciate them or mention that it must be difficult dealing with crowds and ungrateful customers who don’t seem to understand how overwhelming the job of serving them can sometimes be. It’s amazing how a bit of understanding and a small compliment will change a person’s attitude almost instantly. Suddenly the two of you are laughing and smiling and wishing each other a good day. It feels good to bring cheer to someone who might otherwise spend the entire day being surly.

It may be just me, but I like nothing better than changing the linens on my bed and then diving into the fresh sheets at the end of the day. It is a feeling of absolute luxury that always leads to counting my blessings followed by a night of uninterrupted sleep. If I really want to make the scene perfection I don my prettiest and most comfortable pair of pajamas and sip on ginger tea before I settle in for my slumbers. It reminds me of my childhood when my mother tucked me in each night and told me how much she loved me. There is something so simple and yet so special about a nice clean and warm bed that brings a sense of safety and well being. 

As a teacher of low income students I often learned of a child who had no bed in which to slumber. It stunned me to hear of one of my pupils sleeping on a sofa each night or spending the night in the backseat of a car. I began to appreciate the seemingly small luxury of having my own bed with clean linens far more than I might once have done. 

I’ve also laughed with glee whenever I found money that I have forgotten I had. Maybe it was a few dollars tucked in the bottom of a purse that I had not used in awhile or a few coins under cushion of my favorite chair. It always feels like finding treasure regardless of how much is there. It’s like seeing a dime shining on the street. Bending down and putting it in my pocket seems like good luck, a little bit of positive adventure on an otherwise ordinary day. 

Even better is when I find something that I had thought was missing forever. Such it was with a lipstick that I purchased in Harrods in London. I wanted to be able to say that I had indeed bought something there but most of what I saw was ridiculously expensive. Suddenly I had the idea of purchasing an item from the cosmetic department. That is when I found a lovely shade of lipstick in a pretty tube that made my smile seem even brighter than usual. I carried it all the way back to my home across the pond only to later realize that I had somehow misplaced it. Years literally passed and I assumed that I had lost the lipstick somewhere in my routines. A few weeks ago I was tidying up my purses and noticed a lump in one of them. Digging deeply into the bottom I found the lipstick and celebrated as though I had discovered gold. Finding it brought back memories of that wonderful trip and the joys of sharing it with my brothers and their wives. Now I get a jolt of joy each time I run the color across my lips. 

As a child I often sat next to my father watching comedy shows on television. I remember him laughing so hard that his belly jiggled and his eyes twinkled. Since that moment I have loved the feeling of glee that comes from a good joke, a great story, or just the emotional high of being with friends. Laughter really is the best possible medicine for ailments of the mind and sometimes we just don’t get enough of it. Laughing clears my head of worrisome thoughts and soothes the aches and pains that I might be feeling. There are some people who have a gift for making me laugh and I love being around them. We can’t always be serious and dreary. Sometimes even in the most dire situation a good laugh breaks the tension and makes the moment a bit more bearable. 

Having time all to myself with no imminent responsibilities is another happiness maker that I often take the time to enjoy. Walking on a quiet path or just sitting in my upstairs room quietly watching the parade of people living life in my neighborhood brings a kind of contentment that invigorates me. I relish being outside tending my plants when nobody else is around. I love the sounds of the birds and the feeling of the sun kissing my face. I like to crumbling the dirt in my hands and enjoy the glorious colors of the flowers and the sky. It is a panacea that can’t be bought or sold and as simple as it seems it heals every hurt that I might be feeling.

Make a list of the small things that make you happy. Take the time to enjoy those moments when life feels overwhelming. It’s always the little bits of life that bring the most joy. Read a book, have a cup of coffee, call a friend, hug a neighbor. Reach out and find whatever makes you feel good.