1000 Reasons to Be Happyfeatured
Every night as I lie in bed waiting to fall asleep, I like to listen to a TED talk or two. Since I started doing this I’ve found myself adopting much more of a positive, cheerful and inquisitive outlook on life. There’s something about listening to a stranger talk about something they’re knowledgeable and passionate about for 15 minutes or less that fills me with optimism. Last night I watched a TED talk that really did push my happiness scale over the edge.
When Neil Pasricha’s wife left him and his friend committed suicide, he understandably went through a rough period of time. However, these experiences also forced Neil to start looking for the positive things in life. It was then that he started his blog 1000 Awesome Things.
Created in 2008, 1000 Awesome Things is packed full of bubble wrap that’s crying out to be popped and descriptions of delicious-smelling bakeries. It’s overflowing with little anecdotes and tales that are sure to put a smile on your face and make you think “I love it when that happens!”
While I haven’t read through the whole list just yet, here are just a few of my favourite things I’ve spotted on there so far:
- #997 Locking people out of the car and pretending to drive away
- #995 Finding money you didn’t even know you lost
- #938 Sweatpants aka track pants aka jogging pants
- #935 Eating cookies like Cookie Monster
- #905 Using all the different shampoos and soaps in someone else’s shower
- #895 Getting something with actual handwriting on it in the mail
- #876 Taking your bra off after wearing it for hours
- #861 Not getting a hangover when you were expecting to get one
- #860 When the vending machine gives you two things instead of one
- #834 Building an amazing couch cushion fort
- #828 Remembering what movie that guy is from
- #820 Making it out of the bathroom at work before anyone realizes you made it smell that way
- #808 Coming home after a long day to the smell of someone cooking dinner
- #804 Gym pain
This list has also inspired me to start jotting down the things in my life that make me happy. Three have popped into my head as I write this:
- Spending a hot day riding my bike and having a picnic alone in the woods
- Crying with laughter as I watch Jake do accents and impressions
- Seeing the look of sheer happiness on my Dad’s face when he gets home from work….and greets my dog before anyone else
I think I definitely spend too much time focussing on the negative things in life and putting pressure on myself to make things better. But things are fine as they are! It’s time to start focussing on the positives.
Have you taken a look at 1000 Awesome Things yet? If so, which moments are in your top 10? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me at @CantSwingACat.
