Like a lot of people, I tend to dwell on things a little too much, usually the stuff I probably shouldn’t be dwelling on so much; things I either have no control over, or things I could easily fix if I focused more attention toward and got it handled. It spurred me to try and dwell on some more positive things in my life for once.
At first when I thought of coming up with 10 things in my life that bring me happiness, I wondered if I could come up with enough mostly because 2011 has been a bit of a challenging year for my family. Then I realized I was thinking too big, as if every part of this list had to be epic, or even hugely substantial. Truth is, there are tiny things that make me happy that I take for granted on a fairly regular basis, and it’s about time they got some adequate credit for the smile on my face.
#10 – This Blog
Sometimes I dread having to write. It becomes a chore. Any of you who have blogs know exactly what I’m talking about. I write because I feel the need to keep it fresh and updated, not get stagnant and lose what few readers I actually have.
Sometimes the inspiration for what to write about just isn’t there. I’ll sit in front of the computer for a long time trying to post something that actually is worth sharing, and most of those times, I’m certain my readers are going to tell me to shut the hell up and start bringing the awesome instead of this drivel.
Other times though, this writing makes me smile. The catharsis of putting the proverbial pen to paper in order to extricate a creative synapse in the form of a blog post is one of the best feelings in the world, especially typing that last punctuation mark and hitting the publish button. I thought of tossing the blog out many times, but then I remember the good feelings that come with a published piece, and the responses I get, usually in commiseration, and it pushes me forward to the next potential post.
#9 – My Customers
I love buyers, and not just in the sense of receiving dollar bills in exchange for my art. I also love my buyers because I’ve made a connection to someone. They found my artwork appealing enough to either post up on their walls or share with a friend as a gift. We connected on some small level revolving around my creativity and their inspiration. Every time I see a note in my inbox telling me I made a sale I smile, and I’m sure the person on the other end of that transaction is smiling too. At least, that’s what I hope is happening.
#8 – My Sense of Humor
As lame and egocentric as this may sound, I laugh at my own jokes all the time. I make quips and puns on a regular basis with real folks or friends on my various social networks, and I laugh anytime I say something I think will potentially make them literally LOL. I seek out these opportunities quite often.
Sometimes people don’t get the joke, or they don’t quite appreciate my twisted sense of humor. I can’t win them all. If I ultimately have to explain my point of view, then I’ve obviously failed at my attempt at humor, but that doesn’t keep my from trying. Shun me if you will, but I’m still smiling and LMAO for real.
#7 – My Car
Yes, a material object brings me joy. My little VW is a blast to drive spiritedly and I love putting it into really tight and fast corners whenever possible. Even the way it feels when I’m driving on my daily commute makes me smile. It’s not the fastest, most luxurious or the most economical, but it’s 3,600 lbs. of pure, unadulterated joy.
It’s comfortable for being a small car, both in the front seats and the back (yes, it had plenty of leg room). It can also hold a tremendous amount of crap. When I did my last art shows, I was easily able to shove all my stuff into it with the seats folded down. The stereo sounds great as well as the exhaust note, and drives like a go-cart on a cloud, but the best part is the feeling of pushing the throttle down and having it explode past anyone around me. It’s not my dream car, but it’s pretty close.
#6 – My Dog
Come one, look at this face and try to keep from smiling. Can’t be done.
She’s a pain in my ass sometimes, but most of the time, she’s a smart and loving dog that loves my and my wife and tolerates the heavy handed petting of my son, who will eventually become her best friend, I’m sure.
Check back next time for the #5 through #1.
