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- Things that make me happy | 5 minute read
It’s about 3:30am Tuesday morning. I can’t sleep, which is not unusual.
My brain is whirling. I have a work presentation the next day. A fairly important one, and there are things I want to add, edit, change. But I know the hard work is done and I’m ready. I need to think about something else.
That’s when I start mentally writing this week’s post. I’m thinking: if I were to make a list of things that make me happy, what would be on it? I decide to choose 20 things.
Surprisingly, it comes out in one manic stream-of-conscious effort.
The way my dog Isla greets me by screaming and running around like a lunatic when I’ve been away for any amount of time
The first patio beer of the season, even though it’s probably too cold for a patio beer
Driving down country roads a little too fast, listening to punk rock a little too loud
A well-made cheeseburger (no onions)
A perfectly flushed iron shot (golfers know what I’m saying)
The work presentation goes well. That’s a win for the week. But later that day, we discover flooding in our basement. That’s a loss. And an expensive one, compounded by a water heater replacement just a few days earlier.
An appointment with my physiotherapist. She’s surprised a running injury isn’t improving. “It might be time for an x-ray,” she says.
Oh well, so it goes.
When my plane safely lands on the tarmac, signalling today is not the day I die
Drinking coffee and reading the newspaper on a Saturday
Bingeing four movies on a Sunday
When friends arrive for our annual golf weekend (or whenever friends visit, to be fair)
Walks with my parents
Reflecting on this list, I consider how easy it is to make. And how much time I spend doing things that aren’t on it, like scrolling on my phone. I make a note to be more purposeful with my time.
I watch The Godfather, a movie that’s been on my watchlist for years. A purposeful, phone-free activity.
Staying at the dinner table a little longer with my Dad, drinking wine and talking about music
When a favourite band plays a favourite song live
Hoisting the sails on a (not too) windy day
Bonfires that are slightly dangerous
Andrea’s pancakes on a long weekend
Now it’s Friday morning and, like millions of others, my investment portfolio has taken a shit-kicking because of Donald Trump’s tariffs. Refuse to panic, carry on with my day.
11pm. Time for the nightly ritual of giving Isla her pill (she’s an ol’ girl) and letting her outside to do her business. I head upstairs to get ready for bed. Andrea calls up to me: “Isla got into something!”
That’s an understatement. I come downstairs and am greeted with the most pungent skunk smell I’ve ever smelled.
A late-night trip to Shoppers Drug Mart for $30 worth of supplies, 20 or so minutes of scrubbing a terrified dog in the bathtub (she hates water), and we’re finally ready to crash.
This week wasn’t the best.
A Friday cocktail while spinning a record
A long run
The time warp between December 23 and January 2
Jumping in a cold lake on a hot day
You, for caring enough about my ramblings to get this far
It’s Saturday morning and I’m wrapping up this post. Isla (still a little stinky) is staring out the window and friends (hi Amy and Adam!) are on their way to visit. Tomorrow, this post will go out and maybe someone will enjoy it.
Life goes on, we keep doing things on our happy lists — maybe adding a thing or two every now and then. And, eventually, even the not-so-great weeks make us laugh once the memories are dulled by the passage of time.
The pebble
The type of greeting I get after a weekend away.
The challenge
Make your own happy list and do at least one thing on it this week. Feeling spicy? Reply to this email and share it (or part of it).
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