Happiness is a choice. You don't have to search too far to find it because it is deep within your heart. It can be as simple as being in the midst of the people you love most or enjoying your aloneness with pleasant memories in your mind. Immanuel Kant shares the rule for happiness: "Something to do, someone to love, something to hope for." Ain't that simple?
Let me enumerate to you below my simple sources of happiness. And may the good fairy sprinkle some to you right now.
The rain has a positive effect on me. I get lulled by the sound of it especially when it falls on the roof or on the ground. I feel my soul being cleansed when it pours akin to shedding tears when one is sad or hurt. It gives me a sense of serenity and a tinge of revival. Too much rain causes flood in the lowlands. And sometimes I feel guilty when I wish for it to fall continuously all day.
I find window shopping enjoyable whenever I'm free. I can spend many hours in a mall without getting tired as I tread every shop and feast on the display of clothes on the rack. I get excited as I discover the latest in fashion. I check on the array of colors I see, the designs available as well as the feel of the fabric. I love the brands Kamiseta and Plains and Prints. I even wait for these shops to go on sale when their items are discounted to as much as 75% off. My clothes preference are mostly the classic ones that never gets outdated. I love white. But I also have a variety of plains, plaids and printed.
Coffee especially when brewed is love! I don't consider myself really addicted to it because drinking just one cup a day gives me the instant lift. The aroma emanating from it is wonderful. I learned to enjoy this beverage when I was exposed to the call center. I think I have tasted all the instant coffee available in the market. I like San Mig the best. I miss drinking coffee with K. I know he does too and it has become a ritual somehow. On hindsight I realized I miss the person more. Sometimes I wished too that coffee scented spray was concocted. The bedroom would be a better place to stay if it smelled like coffee.
Having shared my simple pleasures to you, what activities do you enjoy the most without spending much?
Photo source from Jaime
Happiness doesn't come easy for everyone. I do find temporary enjoyment with my grandchildren. Also, the camera is helping me find some enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteLieben Gruß und Sonne im Herzen...
ReplyDeleteCloudy
In summer my simple pleasure is to stop and admire someone's garden and take photos from the street ;-)
ReplyDeleteIn other seasons, I love to stop at one of any number of coffee shops in my city and buy a coffee. I often have a thrift (used) book with me and enjoy sitting and reading and people watching. It can actually be difficult to get a seat in a coffee shop here on a very sunny day or a very rainy day :-)
Enjoy your weekend of simple pleasures ;-)
I love the smell of coffee, too! :) but i'm not a drinker. haha and just like you, I enjoy rain as well :D
ReplyDeletesending you lots of love from sunny africa..
ReplyDeletehappy friday xxx
The Simple joys seem to bring you happiness. They do me too. I hope you received my answer to your e-mail.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you!! Happiness is a choice. Took me years to learn that.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite things is watching the sky...and, of course, the birds, too. Coffee, my cat, crisp fall air, the scent newly mowed grass or baking bread, coffee (yes!), the sight of my son or DIL at my door...so many wonderful things. Life is good! :)
You and I are a lot alike. Although we get a lot of rain where I live, I do enjoy it on occasion...and the sound!!! And window shopping? YES!!!! And coffee??? Triple YES!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend,
heidi
Coffee on a rainy day, sitting at my glass top table, looking out into the backyard, watching the squirrels and birds...brings much peace and happiness. Hope you are feeling fresh and joyful after this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteDearest Farida,
ReplyDeleteOh, we share the same two common pleasures! I love window shopping and browsing fashionable clothes. I can forget the mundane things, haha. And in the morning, my husband drinks a cup of coffee , for me a cup of a bit strong green tea which lift up us for the day♡♡♡ Coffee's caffeine is a bit strong for us but I can enjoy the smell from it (♥˘◡˘♥) I hope you are having wonderful weekend. Sorry for my absence for your blog, my friend.
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
beautiful post filled with happy thoughts, love it!
ReplyDeleteEating chocolate...spending time with my sisters....buying new books and smelling them...driving on traffic-free roads :)
ReplyDeleteI am not much of a shopper period, not even a window shopper. No matter where I go, I take a good book with me and can sit for hours and read.
ReplyDeleteHow appropriate. Just in time for the World Smile Day last Friday, 5 October. You are right, being happy is a choice. Just like Mr. Scrooge chose to be, well, a scrooge, ha ha ha. Money surely can't buy happiness just like love. Keep on smiling :)
ReplyDeleteHi Fardia,
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful post, with happy thoughts and it is so uplifting.
Thanks for sharing and hope you have a happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
love the gifs! very nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I needed this post more than you know.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
Beautifully written! Your feelings are expressed in a way that is really understood! Bravo young woman you will find the right job that is just right for you!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed my visit here and love your moving pictures!
Hi There, Yes, simple pleasures are the BEST of all... How 'bout sunflowers? That is a simple pleasure, isn't it? Did you notice all of the sunflowers at Dawn and Jeff's wedding?
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Of course Ms Betsy :) Their theme was my favorite flower! It was lovely :)
Deleteyes happiness is a choice. and my mother always had a box of matches on a shelf in our bathroom, no fans and only one bathroom. that is where i learned to use matches to cover smell.s
ReplyDeleteyes, dear farida, sometimes it's the simple pleasures in life that can make you happy.i think that we forget the simple pleasures.
ReplyDeleteit seems like my whole life has become about the little things..
thank you for sharing your wisdom.
wish you a great week ahead!
big hugs!
A very enjoyable post Farida. You have named two of mine, the rain and my cup of coffee. I am not much of a shopper but I enjoy it when there is something I need. My simplest pleasure is going on a walk with all of nature surrounding me. I just love it and find peace and happiness always. This is my all time favorite simple pleasure.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post Farida....and beautiful illustrations. Happiness is what happens to you...Joy is what we can have even when things around us are not happy.. It's deep from within, like you said.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
I love coffee but I less love window shopping as i only get frustrated when I find something I like but could not have it because of money issue :(..Visiting from ComEx Oct9
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Happiness is all around us. The simple things that sometimes get overlooked and taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteHi Farida! Lovely post and thank you so much for your visit to my blog:) I love the thought of something to hope for. I hope for happiness for you:)
ReplyDeleteThe best coffee is the first cup in the morning. ;))
ReplyDeleteHi. I just followed you. Hope you'd follow back :)
ReplyDeletei also love rain, love cool weather...
ReplyDeletenice animated pics!
Hi Farida,
ReplyDeleteLovely post and yes, it is the simple little pleasures in life that can make one the happiest.
Thanks for sharing this uplifting post.
Happy week
Hugs
Carolyn
I also believe that happiness is a choice and it is within us. Stay happy! Love this post.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right. We don't need to go far to find happiness, it is in within us :)
ReplyDeleteI find physical playing with my kids pleasurable and a simple hug from my husband brings so much joy.
im smiling from ear to ear... :-) i really love being in your blog Farida! :-) one of my simple pleasures that is! :-)
ReplyDeleteOooohh I love all these things too. The rain also gives me a calming effect. But the floods it brings, not so much. Coffee, specially iced, I love! So much that I cold brew my coffee now :) Ahhh and window shopping, I'd do it all day long. :)
ReplyDeletei cant believe were more than one way alike.. i love sunflowers and the rain. i feel guilty too whenever i wish rain to dont stop..
ReplyDeleteI too believe that happiness is a personal choice. I love best to be able to curl up with a book without any distractions.
ReplyDeleteOh Coffee... can't start the day without it :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting from CommEx Oct9.
When my hubby and son are around and we're filling the house with bursts of laughter and a smell of cooked meals.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a neat post...Your pictures to illustrate it are awesome. One of the things you mentioned about enjoying seeing different fabrics and colors and "touching" them is something I can identify with...probably because I have always loved to sew.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and your kind words.
I wish you much happiness today!
I used to feel comforted when it rains hard and I am safe and warm at home. That was before Ondoy hehehe. Now whenever it rains, I have this unsettling feeling creeping over me. I also like window shopping, but I love book shopping even more. Coffee is my all time favorite beverage. I like it strong and vibrant.
ReplyDeleteMy simple pleasures that don't cost much? Watching the sunset and jogging :-)
I love window shopping too, it's so relaxing. But I don't like rain much, it makes me feel blue every time.
ReplyDeleteYour post is so heart warming. It made me stop and thank God for this simple pleasures that sometimes we take for granted. It only means we live and enjoy each moment. :-)
ReplyDeletei love the sound of the rain it helps me relax.. while window shopping makes me release my stress.. as they said retail therapy (even though i am not buying..hihi :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful post! agree. Happiness will come within you. :) I became inspired with this. :)
ReplyDeleteToday is the first sunny day in over a week, so I don't have the same feeling about rain these days. This post shows that we are happiest appreciating the small moments.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of rain as well... and coffee <3
ReplyDeletei dont know if you can consider online browsing as window shopping.
this post put a smile on my face. I love the rain!!
ReplyDeleteThere are many thins around us that can make us happy. Sometimes, we used to overlook such and look for other things that are impossible to find.
ReplyDelete-daddy allan (BCB 10/09)
i love window shopping too and coffee!
ReplyDeleteYour blog really reminds me of my sister in law who is so gaga in love with sunflower.. her house is so full of anything with sunflower. :)
Got so many things that makes me happy! My kids and my wife makes me happy. Simple bonding and playing with them. Going in the park and stroll with the kids and my wife. And another personal thing I like doing alone that makes me happy and relax is going to a gallery of paintings and sculptures. I love doing that.
ReplyDeleteA friend told me that I shouldn't search for my happiness far away, because my happiness lies within me. It is indeed true.
ReplyDeleteHappiness can be found even in simple things, just like staring at the colored falling leaves outside.
Have a great weekend! :-)
I love drinking coffee too especially the brewed one. It's aroma is really captivating. But I don't like rain ever since. It's nice to enjoy simple pleasures in life. :)
ReplyDeletei sooo love to window shop, just to free my mind with stress.
ReplyDeleteAwweee. We're so different. I really hate it when it rains. I think it's a blessing but still I don't like it that much because it becomes a burden. :)
ReplyDeleteThe things that can make me happy is reading, traveling by myself (anywhere I can go) and sleeping. :D
Singing and role-playing with my kids make me happy. :) But I also love all that you mentioned in your post. Window shopping, and a good cup of Joe on a wonderfully rainy day.
ReplyDeleteHi, Farida, I love (as Love Na Love) coffee, too...There actually is a spa here in our city that has a coffee-scented oil:).It is way far from the real thing,but I love the scent though :)
ReplyDeletei love the rain. i love playing in the rain. i like watching it by the window while eating hot champorado...yumm.....
ReplyDeleteI enjoy walking the dog, chatting with aunts and watching the sunrise/sunset.
ReplyDeleteThe first and last photo complement each other. Rainy night plus brewed coffee.
ReplyDeleteI do love or shall I say I do have those simple pleasures too. But there are times at work that one cup of coffee is just not enough for a day. LOL! Window shopping is great this time also with my wife and our 3 year old son. We are taking it as our exercise too. :) And rain, yeah. I remember those days. Here in my current location, rain is very rare.
ReplyDeleteI always love your GIF photos Farida. :)
Awesome post specially the rain picture amazing. How to insert a picture like that+ Is that a gif? or what... Btw: I love rain... now it is currently raining here all day long and freezing cold.
ReplyDeletelovely simple pleasures...though this week, I don't like the rain!!! did you make any of the gifs?
ReplyDeleteYes. Happiness is a choice. You could always be happy about what you have or how things are at the moment...I like your thoughts :)
ReplyDeletelove the new slide show on the top :) it made your site more awesome! thumbs up! :P
ReplyDeleteI love your window shopping! Great post.
ReplyDeleteCheers from Cottage Country!
Hello Farida!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post and your selection of pictures. I love a cup of coffee in the morning and a glass of wine in the evening. Sitting back and relaxing at the end of a long day makes me feel really happy!
Thank you for your comment on my blog, it could serve as a quote by itself!
Have a great day! :)