11 Things That Make Me Happy

 

Every now and then, it’s good to slow down and ask ourselves a simple question — what truly makes me happy? Not the big milestones or the grand achievements, but the small, quiet moments that make ordinary days beautiful.
Here are eleven such moments that never fail to lift my spirits.

1. The Aroma of Freshly Brewed Tea

There’s something deeply comforting about the smell of tea brewing — a sense of calm even before the first sip. It’s not just a beverage; it’s a ritual that grounds the day.

2. The Sound of Rainfall When I’m Indoors

Few things can match the rhythm of raindrops on windows. That sound — soft, steady, timeless — makes the world outside seem to pause for a while.

3. Finding Money in Unexpected Places

That sudden discovery of a forgotten note in a jacket pocket feels like the universe’s small way of saying, “Here, take a little joy.”

4. Laughing So Hard It Hurts

Laughter that takes over completely — where you can’t breathe, can’t speak, and end up wiping away tears — that’s pure happiness.

5. Reunions with School and College Friends

There’s a warmth in picking up right where you left off. The inside jokes, shared memories, and easy laughter make time irrelevant.

6. Chocolate Melting in the Mouth

The slow, rich sweetness of chocolate melting — a small indulgence that delights the senses and feels like childhood all over again.

7. Watching the Rainbows After a Storm

They appear without warning, like reminders that beauty often follows chaos. I never stop feeling wonder when I see one.

8. Singing in the Shower

It’s the one stage where I can perform fearlessly. The acoustics are great, the audience forgiving, and the mood always light.

9. The Smell of New Books

The faint woody scent of a freshly printed book — it’s more than paper and ink; it’s the promise of new ideas and uncharted worlds.

10. Driving for Ice Cream with My Daughter After Dinner

It’s one of those unplanned traditions — small, sweet adventures where conversations flow and time slows down.

11. Doing Something for Others

Helping someone — even in the smallest way — creates a quiet joy that lingers far longer than anything bought or achieved.

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Happiness doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, it hides in rain sounds, familiar faces, or the first sip of morning tea. The more we notice these little things, the richer life feels.

I’d love to know what makes you happy. Share your list, or even one small thing that brings you joy. You never know — your moment might remind someone else of their own forgotten smile. 🌿

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Read Reflect Rejoice

Life is not fair

 

“Life is not fair.”
It was a thought she felt crossed her mind more often than anyone else in the world.

That familiar sting had followed her since childhood — it always came back when things went against her wishes. Yet, in the face of every hardship, her mother, a single parent, had remained the epitome of positivity. She had this quiet, stubborn grace that turned every setback into a lesson.

That was twenty-four years ago. Back then, she was just a little girl of ten — too young to truly grasp what fairness meant.

“I am born out of wedlock and have never seen my father,” she would complain.
As a teenager, she found little comfort in her mother’s soft assurance that she was a love child — born of deep affection between two people who could not be together. It was too much philosophy for a young mind to hold — the idea that two people could love deeply, and yet be bound by constraints that love alone could not conquer.

Her mother used to say, “Sometimes love teaches us to let go — not because it is weak, but because it is wise.”

This morning, that same phrase came back to her — along with that old familiar thought: Life’s not fair.
She could feel it even before she opened her eyes — he was gone.

Soon, this house, this room, the furniture, even the garden they had built together, would lose their meaning. The hibiscus, the rose, the marigold — all would fade into dullness, drained of color but memory.

They both knew this relationship lived on borrowed time, a season stolen from reality. They had chosen to take what they could — a handful of beautiful, impossible moments — instead of a lifetime of compromise.

And now that it was over, she felt something strange.
Not just loss — but recognition.

Maybe it was destiny.
Maybe she was simply re-living a chapter from her mother’s life.
Or perhaps, somewhere deep in her being, it had always been coded into her genes.

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Read Reflect Rejoice

The True Meaning of Luxury

 

Clint Eastwood once remarked:
“Don’t look for luxury in watches or bracelets. Don’t look for luxury in villas or sailboats. Luxury is laughter and friends. Luxury is rain on your face. Luxury is hugs and kisses. Luxury is being loved by people. Luxury is being respected. Luxury is what money can’t buy.”

His words cut through the glitter of modern consumerism, reminding us that the richest treasures in life are rarely found in shop windows. Real luxury is intangible — moments, relationships, and feelings that can’t be purchased, yet enrich us immeasurably.

But there’s another layer to what we call “luxury.”

Take mechanical watches, for example. Their craftsmanship is exquisite, their presence timeless. Yet, keeping them alive is a ritual — winding, setting, maintaining, and wearing them regularly. If you own more than one, the routine multiplies. Their beauty depends on your attention. Yes, you can buy an automatic winding case, but that almost defeats the purpose — the connection between your hand and the heartbeat of the watch.

And your love — or perhaps obsession — with these intricate toys keeps you from buying a smartwatch “for convenience.” There’s also that quiet guilt, the feeling of betraying something you cherish.

The same is true for fountain pens. Their grace lies not just in design, but in devotion. You must write with them often, refill the ink, clean the nib. Leave them untouched too long, and they dry up — elegance here is inseparable from effort.
And just like your watch, your affection for these pens keeps you from trading them for an iPad and Apple Pencil. It’s love, mixed with loyalty — and maybe a touch of guilt again.

Maybe that’s the hidden truth: material luxury always demands something from us. Time. Care. Presence. The irony is that while these objects promise refinement, they often consume the very peace and leisure they symbolize.

And so, Eastwood’s words echo even deeper — if caring for possessions begins to cost us the moments that define life itself, then what’s left of luxury?

Because in the end, real luxury isn’t winding a watch or filling a pen.
It’s the freedom to pause, to smile, and to laugh in the rain with the people you love.
That is the true meaning of luxury in modern life — not what we own, but how deeply we live.

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