I Am Happy When . . .

In preparation for teaching my Spark Your Happy workshop, I’ve not only read Gretchen Rubin’s book, which provided the impetus for this entire journey, but have also found pleasure in reading, Be Happy: Release the Power of Happiness in You, by Robert Holden, PhD.

Even though I’ve barely begun Holden’s book, I have been led to other resources about happiness. While reading this morning, I asked my husband, Al, about his mentor, John Wooden, and his thoughts on happiness. Al brought out Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court by Coach Wooden with Steve Jamison; the Dalai Lama’s book The Art of Happiness; and Dennis Prager’s, Happiness is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual. Each of these, I am certain, will lead me to others. This makes me happy.

I find happiness in researching and discovering new things about how to improve myself. So, I sat down to answer to Dr. Holden’s Self-Inquiry exercise called “Very Happy” in which he suggests we complete the sentence, “I am very happy when . . .” 10 times.

1. I am very happy when researching interesting topics and learning new insights into ways to improve myself.
2. I am very happy when teaching others about things I am somewhat knowledgeable about. This does not always involve a classroom setting. It may be in the form of simple conversation.
3. I am very happy when watching a student’s face light up when s/he “gets it”, and I realize that I had something to do with that ah-ha moment.
4. I am very happy when visiting my grandchildren and they squeal with excitement at my arrival, jump into my arms, snuggle on my lap, when they tell me stories, and we share how much we love each other.
5. I am very happy when I hear baby giggles. They always make me feel happy. In fact, I may have to include laughter of any kind especially when shared with my loved ones. My oldest son, Brent, seems to find great pleasure in getting me laughing so hard I cry and can hardly breathe.
6. I am very happy when I am held in bear hugs from our sons, Brent and Brian.
7. I am very happy when Al and have intimate talks that lead to feelings of greater closeness and connection.
8. I am very happy when I am sitting outdoors on a balmy summer evening watching an extraordinary sunset.
9. I am very happy when feeling at one with nature whether it’s at the beach, the mountains, or even sometimes in the desert. This happens most frequently when I’m near water be it a stream, a lake or the ocean. I also receive that oneness with the gentle touch of soft breeze, or watching clouds gather into a storm, or catching the scent of pine as I pass near the woods. There are so many times I feel connected to Mother Nature, that it makes me happy just trying to think of them all.
10. I am very happy when feeling the power of being connected to God as evidenced when a warm joy spreads throughout my body and I smile involuntarily at the experience.

How would you finish that sentence? I am very happen when . . .

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.