What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

The wood pigeons on the roof tapping for their nuts singing their rather dull melody to accusations of being ‘one singer with one song’.

The cat rushing in when the kitchen door opens early in the morning to check his indoor colony (me and Ronnie) are still alive.

Ronnie delivering my breakfast in bed.  Porridge with a multitude of fruit which makes the day start well.  Even if it descends into chocolate as the day goes by.

Finishing my work like schools out for the weekend.  That feeling of ‘what’s next?’.

Putting on my armour, reflecting on my daily bible readings and sometimes being in awe at the Saint of the day.  Their humanity as well as extraordinary displays of Faith.

These are five things that make me happy.  Five – I can remember days I couldn’t have named one. 

And that’s the thing. The happiness grows also from the corresponding absences. 

Listening to the  birds dawn chorus not scrambling for a cigarette devastated if the lighter was ruined. 

Total joy living with Axel our cat.  Decades ago I was stuck in a bad situation.  Me and the cat that lived under the bed there equally miserable.  Eventually I freed the cat (I will always wish I had done that earlier) and then left myself.  So a healthy breakfast and a loving ♥️ husband what’s not to be happy with.

My work today is much lighter and I am very grateful for the absence of twelve hour shifts of heavy nursing in a troubled national health service.

Lastly, Biblical armour and days filled with purpose, a feeling of protection and hope.  I don’t miss the corresponding absence of despair.  Or of sixty cigarettes a day, being trapped alongside a cat, no loving husband, either overworked or unemployed and a dearth of hope.

Happiness never really seemed like an option.  Now it’s compulsory!  Now it’s a soul happiness.  Contentment I guess.

I always remember something Julia Cameron wrote in her bestseller The Artists Way:

That book helped me jumpstart my writing many many years ago.  Her insistence on paying attention helped me realise the choice involved in happiness.  My husband’s remission from cancer is over, Axel the cat is maturing into middle age/elderly.  But for the happiness now I am truly grateful.