What Makes YOU Happy?!

By Elizabeth Rhondeau

I've been thinking about happiness a lot lately, and as I've discovered the little and big things that bring joy into my life, I've wondered about other people. Here are 10 things that make me feel absolutely content inside.

1. Would it be right for me to start out with anything but the obvious? Chocolate! mmmmm.... Symphony bars. Yeah. So delicious!
2. Going on walks with my husband. Even when I have to put on 10 layers and bring an umbrella. There's something about it that is very rejuvenating.
3. Listening to books on tape while I paint. I LOVE IT! I'm listening to the Work and the Glory right now, and it just keeps me in the best mood, and helps me to be patient when I'm working on a difficult project.
4. I love it when Dave is so happy that he picks me up and spins me around. It happens rarely enough that I know I really did something right when it happens.
5. I love potatoes. I know, bland, boring, right? I don't know why, I just do. So yummy.
6. The book, "A Quiet Heart," by sister Holland. Girls, this book is amazing. It takes me out of any depressed mood I'm in and brings peace to my heart. I definitely recommend it. She just knows what it is like to be a woman in the church (obviously) and explains it so well.
7. Making kids laugh! I've never felt like I'm super good with kids, so when I can do this I really just adore it, and I try to soak it all in!
8. When I get the eyes right on a portrait I'm painting. Frankly, the eyes are what I care about the most. I like the rest just because it is necessary and defines that person, but if I can get the eyes right, it usually doesn't matter too much how the rest of it turns out. People can recognize who I'm painting if I get the eyes. The eyes just catch your attention. I could go on forever about eyes...
9. When the apartment is clean! I'm not an organization person like Dave is, so when I can motivate myself to clean the apartment, boy does it feel good!
10. People with real creativity, like my friend Elizabeth! She's amazing. She created the darling image of the birds giving the ever-applicable advice to, "refind an old friend." Doesn't this always bring joy to the finder and the found? I love it when people think up awesome, crafty things like that image, or spray painting a cork board to make it less boring.

That's all I'll add for now, but I'd love to see what is making other people happy right now. Isn't it great how even little things can just change your entire mood from something dark and irritated to something happy, content, and nurturing? So good. If you don't mind, comment with what makes you happy!