I’m sure we’ve all been inundated by the ‘Happiness Is…’ posts on Facebook - little things that make people happy demonstrated by a cartoon representation. 

While I didn’t associate with most because several of them were personally generated. For example: Happiness is… having confidence to take over the world. Not. 

Trying to stay close to reality here, here are a couple of things that make me happy. Unconditionally happy. 

So, to me - happiness is…

- Sitting alone in a cafe with a book and my thoughts. Of course the right company only adds 

- Floating with eyes shut in a pool when there’s no one around

- Thunderstorms

- Baking that chocolate cake, and licking the batter off the spatula whilst the kitchen is filled with aroma

- Seeing the parents happy, and at peace

- Petrichor. Every time

- Stumbling across a song and playing it on loop all day long

- Spending New Year’s eve with pizza, cake and an arsenal of movies I’ve watched numerous times

- A crisp winter morning. Bundling up, and taking a walk

- Seeing the Sun melt into the horizon, while streaking the sky a million hues of orange and pink

- Flipping through old photographs. Sometimes. 

- Waking up one morning feeling beautiful, and spending the whole day glowing

- Free WiFi when you’re travelling

- Drawing things on steamed mirrors after a hot bath - Whipped cream

- Conversations with people involving no sms language - Abstract poetry

- Seeing that familiar name flashing on your phone. Without a reason or occasion 

- Being gently rocked to sleep while on a train. After slurping down the tomato soup, of course

- Having a pet to come home to

- Doing the laundry and have hands smelling of fabric softener

- Reaching out for the volume knob at the same time as someone else

- Hot chocolate and marshmallows - The idea of autumn

- Planning the annual Harry Potter, LOTR and SATC re-runs

- Taking perfect droplet pictures; and finding people who appreciate them

- Gloating over three hard drives full of movies, series and all things precious

- Ambling around in a book store and smelling all the new books, discreetly - of course

- Travel planning! Making heaps of documents and grids on Google Drive - then have them come to life

- Finding that perfect topic to write about, and feel immensely satisfied after clicking on ‘Publish’

- Standing in the middle of a sweet shop. Bengali, North Indian, Pastry - bring them on!

- Helium balloons - Sitting down with old National Geographic magazines on the tiled floor, in a sunny spot

- Having an enviable collection of colourful socks

- Writing letters, and receiving mail

- Blueberry cheesecake

I’ve just consumed an entire Mars bar while writing this - not to forget to mention, I’m beaming! 

This list will definitely be revisited!

You should try it as well :)