Warmth and Sunshine: The Key to Happiness

I am most happy when it’s warm and sunny. I love sunny days. It doesn’t even have to be super warm, I just like the sun. It makes everything so much better to me. I feel better physically and mentally when it’s sunny. I have skip in my step when it’s sunny. My happiest days are warm and sunny. I love being warm so the two, sun and warmth are the best to me. I like the feeling of the sun on my skin and I look a lot healthier when I have been in the sun.

Sunshine on my shoulders feels so lovely, sunshine in my eyes makes me smile.

It’s fall, the mornings have been cold and foggy. The days cold and wet.

I have a sun lamp, I use it a lot. It seems to help.

Good grief, winter hasn’t even started yet.

I am going to get a blanket.

Daily writing prompt
When are you most happy?

Living in Apartments: Navigating Noise and Privacy

Lately I’ve had some different living situations, they have mostly been apartments. What I have learned is that I appreciate a neighbor who knows and obeys the apartment guidelines. I like neighbors who remember they share a wall. They understand someone doesn’t want to hear any arguing or loud music after a certain hour. It would be nice to have a neighbor that you trust. If you are away, they will keep an eye out.

Apartment buildings with outside front doors – my preference.

Just over the past 5 years I have moved 4 times. My current apartment isn’t bad as far as noise is concerned this week. We live on the second floor and have neighbors on each side and above. My current upstairs neighbor is pretty quiet now that he’s all moved in. He moved in about 2 months ago and has been moving things around ever since. It’s finally gotten quiet this week. The people that lived there before were so loud, they had a dog and a cat. They were constantly up and around and I call them hard walkers because it was always so loud. We would wonder if they ever sat down because the stomping around was constant.

I live in apartments, so I expect a certain amount of noise. Still, I also remember I have neighbors below me and on each side. I don’t stomp, jump or run the apartment. I keep my t.v. down if I am up watching t.v early. My boyfriend and I don’t yell, we try to keep our voices at a normal level. I can hear my neighbors on each side. If I am in the room next to them, I can hear their conversations. They need to be loud for me to hear them. I personally just like to keep my stuff a little more private. I don’t mind keeping my quiet voice in place.

Apartment Buildings with inside front doors, no, thank you.

Before we moved back to the west coast, we lived in Ardmore, PA. The apartment building we lived in had no privacy! It was one of those buildings where you walk into a main entrance and all the doors are inside. As you walked through the hallway, you hear the people in each apartment. Their voices were audible as you passed by. You smell what they were cooking. The worst part of that apartment, though, was the bed’s location. It must have been right under the person above’s bathroom. Every time they urinated, we heard the sound of it going into the toilet. It was crazy.

I have come to the conclusion I would be happiest in an apartment community. This community should be respectful and trusting of each other. This environment helps the feeling of having your apartment be your castle.

Daily writing prompt
What makes a good neighbor?

A Joyful List: 30 Things That Make Me Smile Every Day

I love this daily prompt. I feel like lately between my job and the world around me it’s been challenging to remember all the things that make me smile. So here it goes:

  1. Plants. I love them. I don’t have kids so these work for me.
  2. Sunshine. I love sunny days. It could be super cold out but as long as it’s sunny, I’m cool.
  3. Waking up early on my day off – I love mornings and getting up when it’s still dark outside.
  4. Pens. I love different using different colors.
  5. Cannabis. My first smoke of the day is alway my favorite.
  6. Exercise. I always feel good during and after.
  7. Face Masks. The ones that are for facial care, I love using different types and trying new brands.
  8. A good comedy. I feel like it’s hard for me to find something that makes me laugh out loud so when I do, it feels great!
  9. Laughing. I don’t do enough of it so when I get a really good belly hurting laugh, it’a a beautiful thing.
  10. Spending time with my family. They all live so far away that when we get to spend time together my heart is full for months.
  11. Clean sheets. They just feel so good.
  12. Road trips. I love just driving to and from the destination as well as the time away.
  13. A good veggie burger. I love burgers but I don’t eat meat so it has to be a good substitute.
  14. Swimming. I prefer pools or water that’s not suspect.
  15. Hiking. Beaches, forests but nothing that’s high up. I am afraid of heights.
  16. Water. It makes me happy when I drink it, I like bathing in it and swimming in it.
  17. Yoga. I like stretching and seeing how far I can move my body.
  18. Apples. I love eating them. In salads, muffins, and plain.
  19. Yogurt. I love coconut yogurt, it makes my belly smile,
  20. Bike riding. I was born in The Netherlands, my mom’s family is Dutch. I have been riding since I can remember and riding a bike makes me feel fantastic.
  21. Taking a bath. Especially during PNW winters, the warmth brings me back to life.
  22. Drinking rooibos tea. This tea makes me feel like everything is all right in the world.
  23. Learning new things. I like keeping my brain active.
  24. Flying. Usually because it means I am going somewhere but I remember when I was younger I wanted to be a pilot.
  25. Hanging out with my boyfriend. We’ve been together for a while and his company makes me laugh and smile.
  26. Shoe shopping. For some reason, getting new shoes always makes me happy.
  27. Gratitude. Looking at my list makes me smile and feel good on the inside.
  28. Finishing a project. I got it done!!! That’s reason to celebrate.
  29. Walking around the neighborhood. So many beautiful things to see and that makes me smile.
  30. Coloring. On a rainy day or when I have nothing else going on. Its very relaxing and makes me happy.

Thanks for reading!

Daily writing prompt
List 30 things that make you happy.

Grateful for the Little Things: How Gratitude Brings Happiness

I started practicing gratitude after I quit drinking. I am pretty sure that before I quit drinking I didn’t even know what gratitude was! Over the years it seems as I get older I have more gratitude. I am just super grateful for a lot of stuff and it makes me happy when I think about those things. I am grateful for my job even though I don’t like being there most of the time. I am so grateful for my parents even though they are both gone. I am grateful for my home, my boyfriend, my friends and family. The water that we have access to in our apartment is a beautiful thing, I love taking baths! I have a bathtub. I have a balcony and I saw a hummingbird when I was out on it the other day. My bank account is positive. It’s been sunny and warm and summer in the PNW isn’t always like that. Lots of food in the refrigerator. I could go on and on.

This habit really helps keep me feeling positive. I have also noticed as the years go by I find so many more things to be grateful for. Sometimes my list is so intense it makes me cry but they are not sad tears just tears of appreciation.

So for me just this small habit, brings me a whole lot of joy and can add a little skip to my step if I am feeling down.

Daily writing prompt
Describe one habit that brings you joy.

Are My Deceased Parents Watching Over Me? Sign from Beyond

My parents have both passed away. I am always curious if they are still around somehow watching over me. I talk to them a lot, just in case they are. Sometimes if I see birds, butterflies or lady bugs hanging out for a bit I think it’s one of them saying hello.

I would never go visit a medium or anything like that because I feel that if they were around and wanted me to know, it would be something that would be able to happen without a “third party”.

For now, I continue to talk to them, just knowing in my heart they are listening works for me.

Daily writing prompt
What are you curious about?