Happiness to me is the moment I am living. It is the sweetness of my husband’s voice waking me up in the morning, the bold aroma of dinner being cooked, the saltiness left on my skin after a swim in the ocean, the coolness from the blades of grass on my bare feet.

Several years ago, happiness to me was only in the future. I spent years in college believing once I graduated and had my degree I would be happy. I graduated and happiness was not there waiting for me with a big welcome sign. I thought for sure it would be there once I landed my dream job. No luck. Once I moved closer to the beach. Nope.

A decade had gone by in the pursuit of these goals to ultimately be happy and yet it was always out of reach. The reason is so obvious to me now. I failed to find happiness because I believed I had to accomplish some goal to feel happy. Happiness doesn’t require goals, titles or things.

What I learned is happiness was there all along. It was present the whole time in the pursuit of happiness. I was searching for something that was in the experience of what I was searching for. I was living with my intentions set in the future and didn’t look up to be thankful to for the experience of being in college, the friendships I made, the places I lived, the jobs I had that brought me so much. I now know differently.

I know happiness and it’s in every moment even in the sad ones because on a deeper level I am able to appreciate experiencing my emotions and having the awareness of them makes me happy.

I was inspired to write this post after watching “Hector And The Search For Happiness,” a film based on a novel of the same name about a psychiatrist who leaves his practice to travel the world and find what makes people happy. What he discovers is his own happiness. This hilarious and inspiring story got me to ask myself what makes me happy. And in doing so I created a list of what makes my heart sing and soul shine.

Happiness Is…

1. Waking up to the person I love.

2. Enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal (made with LOVE)

3. Going on an adventure

4. Being amazed at the sounds of nature

5. Practicing a yoga pose I’ve done a thousand times like it is the first time

6. Walking barefoot on grass

7. Being loved for who I am

8. Doing a favor without getting anything in return

9. Being free of my own judgement

10. Working hard for something and letting go of the results

11. The act of forgiving

12. Singing out loud to my favorite songs

13. Getting wiser with age                            

Now it’s your turn. Please share what makes you happy in the comments. I know you can add way more to this list and I would love to hear from you.