50 Things That Make Me Happy

For those days where you need a reminder of what’s present for you.

@platoux via @instagram.

1. Rewatching Family Guy episodes even if I’ve seen each one 8 times.
2. The first crack of a book I’ve been recommended too many times.
3. The way cats curl into a little shrimp.
4. The quiet when you’re the first one to wake up in the house.
5. The second sip of tea — where it isn’t piping hot, yet it also hasn’t begun cooling down.
6. Flipping the pillow to the cold side.
7. Baking my mom’s banana muffins and having them taste and look identical to hers.
8. A kiss so slow I can feel the gentle texture of his lips.
9. The comfort of holding a latte.
10. Sleeping through the whole night without waking up.
11. Rain through the window at 6 am.
12. Sunrise after the rain at 7 am.
13. The shower after a day at the beach when you’re getting ready to go out for the evening.
14. The shower after a day spent in the sun when you’re getting ready to curl in and binge-watch your favorite show.
15. When my cat climbs onto my chest to sit when I’m sleeping, with no notion of my personal space.
16. The way my boyfriend is a flaming, warm fireball to the touch first thing in the morning.
17. Finding an aesthetically pleasing and inspirational Instagram feed you look forward to reading every day.
18. When your self-tan blends perfectly, without streaks, into your skin.
19. The smell of sunscreen.
20. Mac & cheese of all types.
21. Eye contact during important conversations.
22. A killer power yoga class.
23. A yin yoga class and a guided meditation.
24. Eyeliner that came out identical on both eyes.
25. The feeling of release after a good cry.
26. A clean house.
27. Donating a bag of old clothes to a friend or someone in need.
28. A homemade pizza bar.
29. Ocean sunsets.
30. A sunrise…or a moonrise. In all seasons.
31. The way my youngest students smiled or waved at me in the school hallways.
32. When he laughs, wholeheartedly.
33. Traditional, Italian homemade pasta sauce.
34. Crushing your workout with optimal energy.
35. An evening working on creative projects, even if they’ll go nowhere.
36. Rewatching my favorite episodes of Game of Thrones.
37. Stifling a laugh when thinking about something hilarious that happened in the past.
38. When someone compliments your clothes.
39. Giving ridiculous gifts that were uncalled for.
40. Receiving small gifts that were uncalled for. No matter how little, no matter how useless.
41. Sharing a meal with my parent(s).
42. Running into my best friends in public places.
43. Supper and a glass of vino with my best girlfriends and going through old photos.
44. The takeoff on a plane, regardless of the destination.
45. Chocolates of any kind, excluding the coffee ones.
46. Replaying your favorite songs, months after not hearing it.
47. Frozen mangos.
48. Working out with someone/or a dope new playlist to hype you up.
49. The time you got all glammed up and felt absolutely bomb. (You know what I’m talking about. We’ve all had that time).
50. Opening up to someone you love and really sensing their presence.

51. The fascination of simply being alive and getting up every morning to take on a day.

What’s on your list?