Happiness. That elusive feeling that we search for, strive for, wait for. According to the Merriam-Webster, happiness is defined as

: the state of being happy

: an experience that makes you happy

Full Definition of HAPPINESS

• Don’t wait for happiness to find you. You can find happiness in small things and those things do add up.
• Along that same line of thought, don’t put your focus on someone else making you happy. That feeling is fleeting if it comes from external sources. I know we have heard it all before, but happiness, at least lasting happiness, comes from within.
• Make small, manageable goals for yourself. Then go out an achieve them! The feeling from meeting those goals is awesome and can help a lot, especially if you have been having a hard time finding any happiness lately.
  • This is something I did frequently and still do on a regular basis. Large long terms goals are great, but when you are at a place in your life where you are struggling, they can feel more crushing than uplifting. For myself, I had to take myself out of those big goals that were overwhelming me and focus on small things I could do that day. There was a point where those goals were just as simple as shower and cook myself an actual meal.
• Routines can help a lot! My daily routines center me, give me some normalcy and security, and help me to at least accomplish basic things each day. They also allow me to adapt better to sudden changes and be more spontaneous!
  • If you have a really hard time setting up daily routines, check out FlyLady! I know that some of her early baby steps can seem silly or unimportant, but they really do work! This site and community helped me to graduate college and to keep myself together when my life was falling apart. I don’t follow my routines as strictly as I did then, but the ones I learned there still form the backbone of my daily routines now. And whenever I feel like I need to reset my routines I go back through the baby steps!
• Make time for yourself! I know, we all have heard this before, but it really holds true and can be so difficult to do. This can be taking the time to workout, read a book, or really anything.
  • Tip: Think of a few things you really enjoy and set aside time to do at least one of them on a regular basis. I’m not talking about the things we do almost out of habit that are enjoyable…I’m talking about the things that really brighten your day, make your week, etc. The things you love!

The list above is just a few things that I have learned over the past few years. While I know none of them are particularly new ideas, they are ones that I had a really hard time fully understanding or internalizing. Sometimes we can here those “life lessons” so many times but they don’t really click until much later. That was how these lessons were for me.

Now, to finish this post off, my 50 things (in no particular order) that make me happy. This is inspired by this post from Brey over at Ordinary Adventures. If you haven’t checked out her blog before, you should definitely head over there! She has so many awesome posts!

1. Date nights with Boyfriend
2. Getting greeted by our dogs when we get home
3. Cooking a new recipe
4. Spending time with my parents and extended family
5. Creating a new mosaic
6. Making a new piece of decor for our house
7. Working with my dad on the house remodel (he does most of the work, but I like to pretend I’m a help :-P)
8. Curling up with a favorite book
9. Reading a new book
10. When I’m writing a blog post and it’s just flowing wonderfully
11. When I get a like or comment on one of my posts or pictures
12. Working with my camera
13. The smell of Lemon Garlic Chicken cooking (This smell just takes me back to my childhood)
14. Watching our dogs play
15. Seeing the house slowly coming together
16. Watching a favorite TV show
17. Watching Disney and Pixar movies
18. Listening to jazz
19. Horseback riding
20. Hiking in the woods
21. Seeing a play live
22. Pretty much any time I’m hanging out with my mom
23. Cuddling with Boyfriend watching movies
24. Making fused glass jewelry
25. Going to bed with freshly washed sheets
26. Listening to podcasts
27. My workouts 
28. The BBG community on Instagram
29. When I get a new hairstyle down
30. Getting a haircut and style
31. Doing henna
32. Watching my flowers grow
33. Growing my own vegetables
34. Cooking with vegetables and herbs from my garden
35. My new craft space
36. Watching the leaves turn in the fall
37. Petting my dogs
38. Cleaning my house
39. New workout clothes
40. Changing out decorations as the seasons change
41. Taking a walk with the dogs and Boyfriend
42. Playing MarioKart
43. Trying new foods
44. Seeing friends I haven’t seen in a long time
45. Making new friends (made even more exciting because I’m not great at this)
46. Seeing my physical capabilities improve as I work on my fitness
47. Wearing my favorite pieces of jewelry
48. Dressing up for a date night with Boyfriend
49. Traveling
50. Yoga practice

What lessons or truths have you learned about happiness so far in your life? What things make you happy?