What makes you happy? Like..... Really, really happy, that overwhelming feeling of happiness where for a moment or two nothing else matters? Often we look to others and feel they must have some amazing secret as they always look so darn Happy! But we're good at that aren't we - the looking happy, the talking happy but what is being happy?
That exact thought inspired this post, hence I've named it the Happiness project.
Ok, so these two pretty much account for much of my happiness and most of my " some kind of wonderful" includes them.
Just think about all the big things you've done, the planned trips, the " this is going to be a really special day" times. Those times when you think you are going to be happy because you are meant to feel that way, but actually if you're really honest it's all a bit of an anti climax.
With this in mind I'm going to tell you what I've discovered recently about my "some kind of wonderful" and about feeling truly happy.
For me, right now, it's not so much about making days wonderful or doing the big things but about embracing that age old cliche and enjoying the small things. As our children grow and enter into independence, they no longer want or need to spend every waking hour with us, so it really has become about catching the happy moments as and when they arise. A bit if a learning curve for me, the ever planning mummy, packing in all the experiences they "just had to have" and filling their baby days with awe and wonder.
I'm learning, still learning, to live right here, right now and love the magic of the moment, the moments with my babies, ( yes they're growing up, but they'll always be my babies!) taking in every second,etching it in my mind, imprinting it on my heart.
So, what happiness moments have I had? ..... Here are a few things I've managed to do lately.
* jumping into my huge bed, in freshly washed white sheets, one of my darlings under each wing, warm milk and a good old chit chat and giggle.
* sitting in the back garden in the dark, throws around our shoulders, hot choc and looking for shooting stars.
*cooking pancakes together on a Sunday morning, seeing who can flip the pancake the highest without dropping it.
*talking cars with my son, I haven't the slightest interest, but he is car mad so to share some time with him I fake my interest and we read his car book together and it's lovely.
*having my hair brushed and my nails painted by my daughter then having her tell me I look beautiful. 
I'm trying not to rush- because I have a million things to do - but to stop and treasure these moments because in a blink of an eye they've gone from being in my arms to being this big. I know one day soon I'll wake up and they'll be all grown up and I'll wish, really wish, I'd enjoyed these small things just a little more and left all those " important" things until later.
The small things are the memories, the " mum, do you remember when....." Is always a small thing, a by the by moment to us as adults.
We really don't need endless time or pots of money to make our own little happiness project. A little imagination? Yes. A little patience......... ok, a lot of patience!! Yes. But the rewards far out way.
Here are a few " some kind of wonderful" moments that you might like to try
Good old fashioned conker hunting, we had a competition to see who could find the biggest conker, then, when we got home we tried to find out how big, the biggest conker ever found was! We're going to soak them in vinegar and then have a conker competition with a few friends.
Build a sandcastle village! Ours started small and by the end we had an army of other children from the beach joining in. It amazes me how children who have never met can be so accepting of each other.
For me, baking provides a little bit of bonding time. We hunt out the recipe, source the ingredients, then chat while we bake........ Then the best bit, we sit and eat together - perfect!
Just a simple, evening stroll. I love nothing better. We walk many evenings, watching the sun set, hunting for whatever it is we've decided we need and we talk. About our day, about good things, about tough things.
I love it. ❤
All these wonderful things making happy moments and happy memories.
Before I sign off I must add a final note....... All of these wonderful moments are short. Wonderful, but short. They are heavily interspersed by bickering, washing, ironing, exhaustion and often wishing for bedtime so I can collapse in a haze of tiredness! Reality.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, your happy moments and your " some kind of wonderful" to complete this happiness project. I'm hoping to have a guest post soon on this subject so watch this space!
