Happiness?

Written for https://fromcavewalls.wordpress.com/2023/07/06/happiness-tranquil-thursday-16/

1. What is your definition of happiness? Happiness is when you smile and life gets better because of this. Being around family, especially my grown up children, and granddaughter (3) and Step Grandson (15). Going on holiday, building sandcastles, or playing board games.
2. Is happiness a choice? It is, but it is not a choice to be unhappy. Life, and the events in life, can get in the way. I’ve always been a glass half full sort of person, but even I have had to shout at the universe to tell it to quit being so horrible.
3. How do you find happiness in a chaotic world? Having a long bubble bath, with a good book, and nobody bothering me.
4. What outside influences make you happy? Music? Art? A baby’s laughter? Nature? The other night, after my husband’s birthday party, we were driving home. The window was open, and the balloons in the back were bouncing in the air. This made my granddaughter laugh, and it was infectious, as the whole car was laughing at this silly little thing, but it will be a memory I can never forget.
5. Do you try to make other people happy? Is that even possible? Sometimes it is okay to be sad – we all have reason to not be happy. We all have the right to our own company, and to grumble about life. As long as we do not spend all our time doing that, then it is okay.
6. BONUS: Right here, right now – are you happy? I’m okay, there are times when I am happy, times when I don’t feel like smiling. It has been a difficult couple of years. Hence me screaming at the universe; I don’t think it is listening to me. I’m happy when I am with my family, happy because I have a roof over my head, and will not go hungry, happy because I am lucky to have people around me to help me when I am not happy.

My gratitude – I have somewhere to sleep, enough food to eat and the love of my family. My pets make me happy too, especially Titan, who never fails to greet me, with a wag of his tail, and a big kiss. I am lucky, and I will never forget a saying a teacher used to say, ”this day will pass”. That is true, but smiles will always be remembered.