I just read an article written by a friend on HubPages. The title was “What Makes You Happy,” and I thoroughly enjoyed going through the list in my brain.
Just a partial list of mine would include the following, in no particular order.
My wife makes me happy. Daddy didn’t raise a fool. I made sure I made this #1. LOL But seriously, Bev is my reward for finally getting my act together and living a life I can be proud of. There are days I am completely clueless as to why she stays with me, but I thank the gods she does.
Writing makes me happy. It is my release, and a beautiful release it is. Writing provides me with the opportunity to connect with so many people, but it also allows me a forum where this awkwardly shy human being can speak his mind and share his randomness.
My son makes me happy, my friends make me happy, and memories of those passed on make me happy. I am surrounded . . . I have been surrounded . . . by people who, by their very existence, have given me strength, joy, understanding, support, and love. That makes me a rich man without the dollar signs.
Life makes me happy. This is a statement which would not have been made twenty years ago, but today I say it without hesitation. I am in love with life. I am blessed with ridiculously good health. My mind is clear of alcohol and I can experience freely the joys which surround me. I know how syrupy that sounds but it is true. I’ve seen the dark side of life, and it was me. Today I see only warm fuzzies.
And I make me happy, and that’s also a statement I never could have made twenty years ago. I am proud of myself. I have fought the good fight. I did not surrender to superior forces, and I have stopped my retreat.
What makes me happy?
The whole enchilada, thank you very much!
INTERESTING QUOTE
From author George R.R. Martin:
“I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners. The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they’re going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there’s going to be. They have the whole thing designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up. The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don’t know how many branches it’s going to have, they find out as it grows. And I’m much more a gardener than an architect.”
There is no doubt I am a gardener.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Aw, Bill I love reflecting on what makes us happy overall and this really is a great reminder here today as to what and who are important to us. Thanks for that and more always my dear friend!! Happy Tuesday now 🙂
Always a pleasure, Janine, and yes, you make me happy!
It is good to reflect on life and think about the positive aspects that have shaped us. An optimistic post. Also, a thought-provoking quote
Thank you nightlake! I don’t think I could function without my reflective times.
What makes me happy is like we should count our blessings. Great post Bill!
Count them for sure, Susan! Thank you for being a blessing in my life.
I love this post, Bill! When there is so much negativity around us, it’s nice to remember what makes us happy. And what a great quote about architect and gardener writers! I’m also a gardener, though I still need to learn how not to kill my plants – and stories… Thanks for an uplifting post today 🙂
Thank you Emese! You made me smile….how not to kill your plants…and stories. You and me both, my friend.
So many things to be thankful for. You are one of them, Bill, with all your inspiration. I love that Bev is at the top of your list.
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10
That sounds like Bev to me. Congrats on overcoming and finding your precious jewel.
Thank you, Lori, and you definitely make me happy. I like to surround myself with positive, fun people, and you fit that description.
I am definitely more of a gardener than a architect too when it comes to writing, but I think most of my “gardening” happens in my mind before I ever put anything in a document. I very seldom have a crop failure.
I love that, Donna! You had me laughing with your last line. Thank you!
Big Bro, you make me happy because of your all-around awesomeness. I am glad to know you…all these years after getting started at ol’ HubPages. 🙂
And you’re a great writer…that makes me happy. And I may have never met Bev, but I know she makes me happy. And all the chickens and quail and fun things? That makes me happy.
I hate to break it to ya, but you make me happy jus’ knowin’ ya.
Well shoot, Lil Sis, I would have to echo everything you wrote. YOU make me happy, and ain’t that just too cool for words????
Bill
I think I’m a ‘Gardetecht’!! I can’t help it. I come up with an idea, start to write and as I do something says, “no, that’s not going to work!” Or, “concentrate on this” and somehow something coherent comes out the other end!
As for what makes me happy, EVERYTHING!
Lawrence, Gardeners of the world, unite! Just one more reason for me to like you, my friend.
That is quite an impressive list of happiness, Bill.
I can pretty much check all of those. My life at the moment keeps me content but that’s not to say I’m complacent. I work at staying happy and my family keeps me motivated. I enjoy writing, needle arts, photography, anything that keeps me creative, really.
I like that quote. I tried doing the architect thing but got so bogged down in the details nothing actually got written down. I find it much easier to plant the seed and work out the logistics later. lol
Nice post, Bill. Have a happy day.
Thank you Zulma! I like what you said….”I work at staying happy”…exactly how it is with me. I cannot claim that happiness i my default level. For me it is work, and at times hard work. But I’m at least in the neighborhood most days, and that is a victory.
When it comes to happiness, I cannot tick all the boxes, but I can still count my blessings. So happy for your happiness, Bill. You deserve it.
Thank you Irina! It’s been a long journey, and a tough one, but it was worth it.
I share your “ticks” for what makes you happy Bill and particularly love the “without dollar signs”line , can so relate .As i have grown older I have come to realise how incredibly important the small non materialistic things matter more. Thanks for another wonderful post my friend and keep them coming! xx
Irish, I think that kind of wisdom can only come with time and experience. I am so happy you and I finally found that truth. Thank you my friend, and hugs from Olympia.
I’m running around in my head today, feeling somewhat sad about all the things I never accomplished in life. Then you show up with this article talking about the things that make you happy. Thank you! You remind me that there is so much more to life than accomplishing things. It is so good to have people like you in my life. That makes me happy.
You are very sweet, Marlene. I feel the same way, so thank you. I try not to play the “what if” game, or the “shoulda game.” I would go into instant depression. 🙂
I’m a gardener too, bro. Great place to be. Here the flowers get joy from sacrificing their fragrance.
An awesome write! Bless you bro.
From one gardener to another, blessings to you always, my friend. We have many more years of gardening ahead of us, a miracle me thinks. 🙂
Bill, I love the quote by George R.R. Martin! I think I’m a little of both. In my everyday life, I’m an architect. I have set routines and orders in which I do things. This ensures I do what I have to do. But when it comes to the creative me, I’m a gardener. No set rules. No rigidity. Rather, I go with my flow of the moment, throw out there whatever it is that feels right at the time and wait to see what comes of it.
We are quite similar in that way, Sha! I follow routines almost religiously in my everyday life, but toss out all routines when constructing a story. Maybe that’s why I love writing so much, eh?
Good to have so many things that bring you happiness – and to know what they are. I’m a gardener too – sometimes I know what the final harvest will be but there will be many meanders on the way.
I do so love those meanders, Andrea. Like you, the journey is oftentimes more pleasurable than the destination.
Thank you and Happy Weekend to you!
Wonderful things to be happy about!!Great quote! Hmmmm… I’m thinking I’m more like a gardener.
You are in good company,Shell, if I do say so myself.:) Thank you my friend.