A List Filled With Happiness
I
have recently finished reading Matt Haig’s Reasons
To Stay Alive, a powerful and honest account of depression. Haig concludes
with a list he calls, ‘Things I have enjoyed since the time I thought I would
never enjoy anything again.’ Here are some of the things on my list filled with
happiness. What is on your list?
Butterflies
Cats
My
pet goldfish, Chloe and Millie
Trains
Going
on long walks
Music
that makes me cry, especially Hans Zimmer’s ‘Solomon’; The Cinematic
Orchestra’s ‘Arrival of the Birds’ and ‘Transformation’; and Two Steps From
Hell’s ‘Heart of Courage’
The
patch of blue in the sky on the cloudiest of days
Laughter
split over pints of Coke with good friends
Playing
‘Articulate Your Life’, which is the only game that fills me with nerves of
excitement
Taking photographs and videos that will last forever
Making
short films by using life’s memories
Ty
Beanie Babies
Watching
magic being performed
Reading
unforgettable novels and poetry
Speaking
on the radio
Writing
Raising
awareness of hidden disabilities
Travelling,
especially to Iceland and Canada
Spending
time with my cousins, Rufus Lakin and Tilly Lakin
Hearing
about other people’s successes through determination
Shiny
one and two penny coins
My
local Chinese takeaway
The
wind brushing up against my cheeks
Singing
out of tune in the car
Beautiful
sunsets that paint the sky red, orange, purple
The
Northern Lights
Stars
Water
clinking against ice in a glass
Bubble
baths
Chicken
nuggets
When
a good day feels like a week
People
listening with the intention to understand
My
loving family
Talking
to you
 |
| The Northern Lights in Yellowknife, Canada, January 2017 Copyright © 2017- Jake Borrett and Rufus Lakin. All rights reserved. |
Northern Lights are on my bucket list. Life in Cumbria is full of such moments, including butterflies, swallows, driving over the fells, hearing owls and cuddling my cats. Arvon. Wasn't Arvon great? Getting stuck into stories.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance to see the Northern Lights, they are wonderful. Life in Cumbria sounds great. Arvon was an experience I will remember fondly for a long time.
DeleteThat's a lovely list, Jake. Some of mine are:
ReplyDelete• Arvon (obviously!)
• Writing
• Reading
• My children's arms around me
• Dining out
• Laughing
• Watching a sunset
• Watching the sun rise at Glastonbury
• Glastonbury festival
• Seeing Liam Gallagher perform
• Family time
• Being accepted for an MA
• Dancing
• Talking
• Connecting with new people
• Attending my writing group
• Making people laugh
• Sewing
• Running
• Volunteering at school
• Watching stand up comedy
• A really, really good day
• Warm sun on my face
• Coffee dates with friends
• Singing (badly!)
• Buying myself flowers
• Catching up with friends over a few drinks
… and plenty more still to come!
Now that is a great list, Karen. Arvon was certainly brilliant.
Delete