Without the mention of any humans, any departed souls, any pets, what make you the happiest?

[MarkD]

Which activities?

Sorry. I thought you were talking about what I was asking of Gaer. The activities I mentioned were walks in nature, making my garden, reading good novels and music. But I could have added visiting friend's gardens and botanical garden, and would have added hanging with the pooches if that hadn't been ruled out.

 

[Kaila]

Is it a "thing", a 'feeling" an "activity"; what in your life makes you happy?

I love the question, and your wording of it.

My first and strongest thought was being outdoors.

My 2nd answer is:
Laughing. Finding humor makes me feel joy.

 

[Marian]

Walking in the woods. Taking pictures of the wildlife I see on my walks.

 

[Lilac]

Driving ... starting as a teen, I found it liberating to get behind the wheel & just drive. I still feel that way today as long as that roadway is away from the cities or neighborhoods. I'll take a back road & just keep angling to get to where I want to go ... just follow my nose. With the radio playing too loud.

Enjoying living in the country, either sitting in the barn or on the front porch watching everything around me.

 

[SeaBreeze]

The ocean, the mountains and rivers/streams/creeks/waterfalls make me happy.

Same here, all those including night skies, clouds, sunsets, sunrises and wildlife. Anything to do with nature is very peaceful and rewarding.

 

[David777]

Well there are people and social things, and then there are Earth creature things. It would be difficult to imagine anything more physically enjoyable on this planet beyond any monetary value than skiing totally smooth, white, soft-soft untracked, cold dry fresh powder snow like I did all day on this past Monday March 6, 2023. Actually posted videos of on the web but for this forum, just a photo capture off one of the video frames will do. In the shadow at frame lower left one can see the shadow of my helmet mounted GoPro Hero 8.

 

[Lara]

I take my Mr. Blu and Miss Bella for a bike ride on Ocean Dr...2 or 3X a day. And the islanders, are always wearing a big smile for us as we pass them. I'm smiling. My dogs are even smiling. My daughter bought me a 3-wheeler with a basket on the back so the dogs wouldn't pull me over. Miss Bella tires out quickly so she enjoys the basket and even sometimes lays down and falls asleep. Some passers-by point at Miss Bella and saying "Oh she has one in the back too!"

I know. You won't catch me doing wheelies but I swallowed my pride long ago on my trike and I make a point to sit tall with good posture. Chin up. It feels good with the wind in my hair and the warm sun on my face. Breathing in that fresh air. And knowing the dogs are getting exercise.

I hold Mr. Blu's leash but during off season I often let go of the leash and he still runs along side me. It seems everyone is a dog-lover here.
`

 

[Trish]

So many things.

Being by the river.
Sitting by the canal and watching the swans, ducks and water birds fussing over their newly hatched young.
Strolling round the city, watching the workers hurry to get back to their offices and thinking that was once me.
Listening to music, especially in the early morning; music, exercise and time to just meditate and think of nothing at all.
Lazy afternoons spent making something on my sewing machine or looking through my photos, experimenting with edits.
Reading a good book on a cold, wintry day, the smell of chicken casserole and the rain lashing against the windows.
Sunny days spent by the coast, whipped ice cream and then fish and chips on the way home.

 

[Alligatorob]

My first cup of coffee, drinking it now!

 

[MarkD]

I take my Mr. Blu and Miss Bella for a bike ride on Ocean Dr...2 or 3X a day. And the islanders, are always wearing a big smile for us as we pass them. I'm smiling. My dogs are even smiling. My daughter bought me a 3-wheeler with a basket on the back so the dogs wouldn't pull me over. Miss Bella tires out quickly so she enjoys the basket and even sometimes lays down and falls asleep. Some passers-by point at Miss Bella and saying "Oh she has one in the back too!"

I know. You won't catch me doing wheelies but I swallowed my pride long ago on my trike and I make a point to sit tall with good posture. Chin up. It feels good with the wind in my hair and the warm sun on my face. Breathing in that fresh air. And knowing the dogs are getting exercise.

I hold Mr. Blu's leash but during off season I often let go of the leash and he still runs along side me. It seems everyone is a dog-lover here.
`

Would love to see pics of that.

 

[Lara]

Okay…I could take a still shot of the bike and dogs but to get the 3 of us in motion would have to be taken by someone else. Its possible.

 

[DeePhase2]

Is it a "thing", a 'feeling" an "activity"; what in your life makes you happy?

I like writing, expressing my feelings in prose or poetry or just writing down thoughts.

 

[JustDave]

Well there are people and social things, and then there are Earth creature things. It would be difficult to imagine anything more physically enjoyable on this planet beyond any monetary value than skiing totally smooth, white, soft-soft untracked, cold dry fresh powder snow like I did all day on this past Monday March 6, 2023. Actually posted videos of on the web but for this forum, just a photo capture off one of the video frames will do. In the shadow at frame lower left one can see the shadow of my helmet mounted GoPro Hero 8.

View attachment 272683

Boy this brings back fond memories. Some guys on the upper right messed up your snow. How rude!

I would have said skiing years ago. I had no bigger passion at one time, but I don't ski anymore and now I'll just go with being in the woods, which has been my longest running passion, ever since my early teens. I tripped over a tree root on the trail yesterday and fell on the trail. Bent both of my trekking poles out of whack, my dog up ahead turned and saw me on the ground and thought, "PLAY TIME!" He was smothering me with excitement and I couldn't get up until I yelled at him, and he backed off. I wedged my bent poles in the fork of a small tree, and leveraged them back to mostly straight, but I'll send for new ones, which will be my fourth pair. I gave one pair away, and plumb wore out another pair. This was my first fall with poles, but only my dog saw me, so it wasn't that embarrassing. Well maybe a little.

 

[charry]

nothing

 

[Lady]

nothing

Thats very sad Charry I sincerely hope happiness will return in some form .

 

[charry]

Thats very sad Charry I sincerely hope happiness will return in some form .

Only if and when my hubby gets better, but thankyou !

 

[Marian]

nothing

I’m so sorry

 

[chic]

Is it a "thing", a 'feeling" an "activity"; what in your life makes you happy?

Having a sense of purpose in life.

 

[David777]

...I would have said skiing years ago. I had no bigger passion at one time, but I don't ski anymore and now I'll just go with being in the woods, which has been my longest running passion, ever since my early teens...

Although fresh powder skiing rates highest, a close second would be being in the High Sierra on calm sunny mornings in front of impressive snow dappled peaks mirroring in alpine lakes. Or on a calm day, being in a vast expanse of colorful fragrant bee, butterfly, and bird ecstatic spring wildflowers.

 

[Gaer]

Yeah. I'm that way with a river, mountain stream; actually any running water.
I HAVE TO be near water from time to time. Can't live without it!
Everything is ALIVE! The sounds, the smells, the touch, the rocks, the weeds;
the movement of the water; all this immerses me in LIFE!

 

[Blessed]

Well since you have cut down the choices I will have to go with a hot bath. Slipping into a clean warm bed, in front of a fireplace when it is 20 degrees outside. Waking up, after sleeping late, a nice hot cup of tea followed by breakfast of layered mushroom and eggs, sausage balls, bacon, buttermilk biscuits, honey butter and cinnamon butter. Move to the den in front of the fireplace while someone else does the dishes. I have done most of it other than someone else doing the dishes LOL!!

After I went back on the thread, I realized I love the smell of chlorine, a nice beautiful pool with cyrstal blue water. I loved it as a child and when I had my own child we spent many a happy day in the pool.