My Happiness Project is a personal quest to bring more happiness into my everyday life. As I continue to explore, experiment and write about My Happiness Project, I hope that you would share your happy experiences and thoughts with me.
This post was inspired by a question in Real Simple magazine. In one of my favorite features, every month the magazine asks a question, encourages readers to respond and then prints the readers’ answers. I have never given Real Simple my answers to their questions, but I often answer them on my own. This question fits right in with My Happiness Project: What is the One Small Thing That Always Makes You Happy? It’s an excise in appreciating the small, everyday things that bring us joy.
Here are 3 things in my everyday life that make me happy:
1. Really good iced tea. Nordstrom Bistro, one of favorite lunch spots, has really good iced tea. I must say that this is a benefit to living in The South; it is almost a law that an eating establishment must serve iced tea. The only bottled tea that I will drink is Sokenbicha’s Alive or Defend. It’s unsweetened, has zero calories and is purely delicious. I have at least 1 a day.
I can be such a nerd about office supply products. I’m saying this to preface my next 2 Small Things That Always Make Me Happy.
2. Good writing instruments. I hide my pens and pencils from my family. They will write with anything, like crappy bank freebies, so why should I share my carefully bought pens and pencils? (I must add a caveat to the crappie freebies: Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels both have great pens.) Right now my favorite pen is Uniball 201 Retractable Medium-Point Gel Pen. It has a smooth flow of ink; there’s no hesitation or ink drips. I like the finger grip and the retractable-ness prevents leaks (and makes a snappy sound too). See, I told you that I’m an office supply nerd.
My pencil of choice is the Papermate Sharpwriter #2 Mechanical Pencil. I originally bought them for my children, but fell in love with the always sharp point. Sharpening wood pencils grates my nerves.
3. Pretty file folders. The file folders that I keep on my desk, the folders that I use everyday, are much more pleasant to use if they are pretty. I have gotten some lovely folders from See Jane Work in the past, but my latest set came from Staples; there are many more mas-produced decorative office supplies than there used to be. Since I spend many hours a day at my desk, this small thing really brightens my day.
These are a few small things that make me happy and as I continue my journey to happiness, I will mindfully look for more. What about you; what are the small things that make you happy?
Read another post about My Happiness Project: Fun and Not Fun (A List).
9 Comments
Do you have a suggestions for a Funki pocket protector of some sort? Maybe something for your purse? I lose pens all the time and nothing chic.
Hmmm Dawn…no funki pocket protector that I know of, but if I am carrying several pens I put them in a really cute pencil holder, you know the kind kids take to school. They have come a long way since we were in school–much more fashionable!
So glad to know I’m not the only one who hoards my pens from my family! I too am a uniball gel pen convert – love ’em. And the pretty file folders, I buy them by the dozens in Target’s $1 bin because they make me smile when I use them. It’s definitely the little things that make a difference in one’s day.
Thanks for sharing!
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
Kalyn, now how did I know that you would be fussy about pens as well? Maybe because of your beautiful stationary company. 🙂
Heyy…
I get the water at Wild Oats or Whole Foods.
Here’s the link to the Almond Paste. There is a local Santa Maria Novella store here. I’m glad to pick up some for you if there’s not a local retail outlet in your hood..
http://www.lafcony.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=lafcony&Product_Code=10746
Thanks Jewel! I typed the herbal water in my Qrocery IQ app and it came up before I even finished typing. It’s on my shopping list for the next trip to Whole Foods.
And I’m going to look for the Santa Maria Novella. 🙂
Okay Jewel, that IS pricey, but I think that would make a lovely gift for me…perhaps for Mother’s Day. I will put a bug in my family’s ear. 🙂
What a great concept–to find little things to be happy about in everyday life. I shall try it, as I tend to catch myself complaining far more than I should.
Small things that make me happy:
*Ayala’s Herbal Water–zero calories, zero artificial, zero preservatives. it comes in many flavors, but I LOVE the Ginger Lemon Peel!
*Remi-D Cucumber Tea Tree Hand Sanitizing Spray–In the last few years, I have become TOTALLY addicted to hand sanitizer. This is one of my faves.
*Santa Maria Novella’s Almond Paste–because of above said addiction, my hands are always dry. This paste is the best thing since sliced bread. A bit pricey, but I guarantee that once you try it, you’ll become a lifer, like me!
Do tell, Jewel–where can we buy these things? The Ginger Lemon Peel water sounds delicious and I love a good hand creme.