Hey folks. I’m writing this post today partly because, in all honesty, it’s been a week, and I need this exercise to help wind it down. I’m also writing it for you though, in you’re having a rough go and need a reminder that we can find joy in the little things. Maybe you read this list and feel better, or maybe you’re inspired to write your own list – either way, it’s good stuff. So without further ado, here are 50 small wins that make me happy.

1. Fresh sheets. Especially if they’re the high-thread-count kind you can use as a slip-and-slide.
2. An epic sunrise or sunset. The ones with all the warm tones reflecting off the clouds.
3. Getting a pull-through parking spot. They’re just too rare these days.
4. Having a patio beer on a warm, sunny day.
5. Having said beer in a mug that just came out of the freezer.
6. Your last meeting of the day gets cancelled on you.
7. You buy that investment at exactly the right time.
8. You sleep through the night without waking up in pain.
9. Your dog pukes and you catch it in your hands instead of getting it all over your couch and carpet (my wife is my hero – my joy is that I wasn’t the one who caught it)
10. Eating a meal you’ve prepared fresh yourself.
11. Eating a meal prepared fresh by someone close to you.
12. Getting through yet another. damn. day. of this pandemic.
13. Putting on clothes that are fresh out of the dryer and still hot to the touch.
14. A hot bath after a long day.
15. A hot bath with scotch after a long day.
16. Driving on a busy highway at a time when there’s no traffic.
17. Driving with the radio on, and your favourite song comes on. Sure it’s on your USB, but it’s soooo much better when it comes on the radio.
18. Singing at the top of your lungs to the above song.
19. Finishing up groceries and finding the checkout completely empty.
20. Getting the eyes right on a mini you’ve just painted (ok, maybe this one’s only me)
21. A tasty cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
22. Sleeping in when you’ve set no alarm.
23. Getting something – anything – handwritten in the mail.
24. Surprising someone else with something handwritten in the mail.
25. Opening the snack cupboard for the third time expecting to find nothing, except there’s a bag of chips you missed (ladies, this is why guys do this so often)
26. The smell of fresh cedar planks.
27. Playing a song on the piano you’ve been struggling with, and nailing it.
28. Doing anything else you’ve been struggling with and nailing it.
29. Getting to Savasana in your yoga class (our instructor makes us work our asses off for it).
30. Having a clean shave with a fresh razor.
31. Waking up on a day you’ve booked a golf tee time and seeing that the weather is perfect.
32. Not shanking your first drive off the tee when you finally get to the course.
33. Hearing from an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
34. Being the old friend who reaches out to someone else and makes their day.
35. Arranging a gathering at a set time and people actually show up at that time (what up Type As out there)
36. Getting through that crazy YouTube workout without puking or cutting corners
37. Checking your bank account and finding that you’ve got money left over this month for savings.
38. Everyone on that video conference shows a bit more of their authentic self than usual, and we’re all cool with it.
39. Overtipping the restaurants you support through this pandemic because they need it.
40. Realizing that you’re actually getting better at that new hobby you’re trying.
41. Taking a walk outside on a nice day, without your dog for once.
42. Going to sleep during an awesome thunderstorm.
43. Diffusing your favourite essential oils and just enjoying the smell.
44. Meditating for a few minutes with a Tibetan singing bowl.
45. Getting really, really into your karate katas and losing track of time.
46. Looking down at your odometer and the count is on a clean multiple of 10,000.
47. Getting the last weed out of your garden.
48. When you get the hand sanitizer amount juuuuuust right in your hand and it doesn’t go running all over the damn place.
49. Looking at your calendar and realizing there are actually weekends where you don’t have plans.
50. Realizing that, as hard as this pandemic has been on you, you are going to get through this thing in one piece, and life will go on.

Wrapping it Up

I swear that even just by writing about all these things that make me happy, I already feel better than I was before I sat down. Maybe it’s the beer I had as I was writing… but I doubt it. I was also surprised by how easy it was to get to 50 things.

So how about you? What would you add to this list? Message me in the comments section – I guarantee you’ll feel a little more happy for doing it!