I can't post about what makes my darker days more bright because it's against TOS
I choose joy though because I know who has me when I hit rough patches
These last 6 months have been rough but I've also found so much more happiness and joy!

My cat as a finalist in the DC makes me happy.
Here she is after removing her stitches and getting an infection:

Rod (126579776) wrote:

Chip (167826066) wrote:

CountryDude89 (11877186) wrote:

Chip (167826066) wrote:I rarely have haply thoughts
If I'm truly happy id accept who I am and how I look like and love myself before loving others.
What makes me really happy though is my mum who has overcome an abusive relationship and without her I dread to think what life would have been like today
I'm happy when a friend reaches out to me without me typing first,
My friend from college messaged me to check up on me and after that I was crying tears of joy because someone out there actually took the time to send a simple message
Imhappy I'm still fighting
And I'm happy for my cats who keep me calm and make me smile when I've had a bad day from college

I'm crying over an emoji I'm too sensitive

You'll never find a bigger hearted guy than CD. Dude knows how to treat people right.

I'm glad you've found some light in your days. Everyone deserves to feel happy. I hope your days bring you more smiles

Fully agred with bolded part!

Quarantined Mata (13429328) wrote:My cat as a finalist in the DC makes me happy.
Here she is after removing her stitches and getting an infection:

I hope your kitty can be in Yo! She has beautiful eyes.

I'm definitely not happy. I wouldn't say I'm depressed or sad, I guess the feeling is loneliness. I've lost a lot of friends over the last few years, through arguments or just drifting away... I've become more of a recluse, and with the pandemic I never see anyone now. I miss my ex husband a lot, he's the only one who ever really got me. My Dad died in March and I'm still processing that, there's a lot of baggage there. I'm somewhat estranged from the rest of my family and as I get older it doesn't look likely that I'll ever find someone special or have a family of my own. So I wonder sometimes what will happen to me. Maybe I will be one of those strange old ladies who just lives her life and then dies quietly without making a fuss. In some ways the melodramatic goth side of me is at peace with that!

When I look at the reasons I'm NOT happy, I see some of it is my fault, some of it isn't. So I try to focus on what is within my control to change and not obsess over what is not. Right now there are issues at home, because of Covid-19 and local restrictions I haven't been able to change my situation, which fluctuates from day to day... I never know if I am going to wake up and have a happy day or if my day will end up in shouting and arguments and tears. Lately things have been okay, good even, but that makes it worse because it sucks me back into this place where I think my unhappiness might be all in my mind. But ultimately I know I will be better off going my own way, I will be glad when I can move on from here and call it done.

The one positive in my life is my job. I fell into this job almost by accident last November and honestly, it's where I'm meant to be. It's almost as if someone took all the various skills and systems I've learned over the last 20 years and packaged it up into a job that was tailor-made for me. The people I work with are supportive, honest, genuine and compassionate, ethical, open-minded and interested in my contribution to the organisation. I've gone from being hired to do general admin to being in charge of several large projects in the space of six months and it's great to have that level of trust in me and my abilities. And I know I've been incredibly lucky that my employer has prioritised our health and approved us all to work from home until July.

My cats are my other happiness... my 9 year tabby named Benny who is fat and lazy and likes to sleep all day. My 5 year old white cat named Bella who is fluffy and independent but yet somehow always at my feet. And Sambo, the stray that comes by for dinner and lets me pick him up and hold him and gives me head-bumps and kisses. <3

Everything else is just existing... hobbies, games, xbox, reddit, facebook, yoworld, etc. It's not bad to just 'exist' though sometimes. I feel positive about my life and where I plan to be by the end of the year, so I don't have to be "happy" right now... I just have to know and believe and trust that 'happiness' is around the corner.

Love, stability, and activity contribute to my happiness. Stability from others and stability from me both impact me, two of the most important being financial and emotional stability. Right now, I've got three "homes." I go to school in one state and my aunt lives nearby, so I go to her for short breaks. My dad lives out of state and my mother lives out of the continent, so I visit them both less frequently. Nevertheless, they are all my homes. I love and hate this. On the one hand, I've got all these relatives who are there for me, and on the other I feel like I don't quite belong to one because I'm always moving my stuff around (constantly) and I always feel like a guest. This is one source of instability in my life that causes unhappiness for me. I know I'm 21 and still in school, but I dream of having my own place one day and making it my own. Permanently. All of my relatives are emotionally stable, all except one. My mother. She is difficult, she is toxic, controlling, and she has been for years. And it's strained our relationship, all affecting my happiness. Now, she's presenting early onset schizophrenia symptoms and I'm not sure how I feel.

The love I give to others and the love I receive also contribute to my happiness. Being able to spend time with my friends and family are all moments that I cherish. I know it won't last forever and I definitely don't take it for granted. These moments are what make life unique and worth living, at least for me. Side note, I love physical activity. It's one of the things keeping me going during these times of social distance. It gives me an opportunity to get my heart beating and occasionally, out of the house. And, it makes me happy!

Thanks all for reading, I suppose I also used this opportunity is a little vent

Sybylla (109488894) wrote:I'm definitely not happy. I wouldn't say I'm depressed or sad, I guess the feeling is loneliness. I've lost a lot of friends over the last few years, through arguments or just drifting away... I've become more of a recluse, and with the pandemic I never see anyone now. I miss my ex husband a lot, he's the only one who ever really got me. My Dad died in March and I'm still processing that, there's a lot of baggage there. I'm somewhat estranged from the rest of my family and as I get older it doesn't look likely that I'll ever find someone special or have a family of my own. So I wonder sometimes what will happen to me. Maybe I will be one of those strange old ladies who just lives her life and then dies quietly without making a fuss. In some ways the melodramatic goth side of me is at peace with that!

When I look at the reasons I'm NOT happy, I see some of it is my fault, some of it isn't. So I try to focus on what is within my control to change and not obsess over what is not. Right now there are issues at home, because of Covid-19 and local restrictions I haven't been able to change my situation, which fluctuates from day to day... I never know if I am going to wake up and have a happy day or if my day will end up in shouting and arguments and tears. Lately things have been okay, good even, but that makes it worse because it sucks me back into this place where I think my unhappiness might be all in my mind. But ultimately I know I will be better off going my own way, I will be glad when I can move on from here and call it done.

The one positive in my life is my job. I fell into this job almost by accident last November and honestly, it's where I'm meant to be. It's almost as if someone took all the various skills and systems I've learned over the last 20 years and packaged it up into a job that was tailor-made for me. The people I work with are supportive, honest, genuine and compassionate, ethical, open-minded and interested in my contribution to the organisation. I've gone from being hired to do general admin to being in charge of several large projects in the space of six months and it's great to have that level of trust in me and my abilities. And I know I've been incredibly lucky that my employer has prioritised our health and approved us all to work from home until July.

My cats are my other happiness... my 9 year tabby named Benny who is fat and lazy and likes to sleep all day. My 5 year old white cat named Bella who is fluffy and independent but yet somehow always at my feet. And Sambo, the stray that comes by for dinner and lets me pick him up and hold him and gives me head-bumps and kisses. <3

Everything else is just existing... hobbies, games, xbox, reddit, facebook, yoworld, etc. It's not bad to just 'exist' though sometimes. I feel positive about my life and where I plan to be by the end of the year, so I don't have to be "happy" right now... I just have to know and believe and trust that 'happiness' is around the corner.

When I council people about how to approach happiness, the highlighted is where I start every time. So many of us get trapped in the vice of "existence'. And while existence is good, it is not what makes us happy. Happiness comes from another place - purpose. And no, I won't allow anyone to get smart with me and pop off that existence is their purpose. LOL That is a trap that we delude ourselves with. We are bigger than existence, and therein lies the source of happiness.

We can find purpose in family, art, food, work, gaming, reading, gardening, camping, hiking, fishing, sewing, etc etc etc etc etc etc.........Most purpose is positive, but of course if we select drugs or drinking as a purpose.....it will satisfy until the negatives outweigh the positives. Finding a healthy purpose is what truly generates happiness in our hearts. I like that work and your cats make you happy. Pets are a highly positive purpose and truly rewarding.

Anyhoo, ty so much for sharing so much detail. I hope happiness finds you in all the moments you seek it.