What do you DO that makes you happy?
I invited people to take part in an experiment about The Pursuit of Happiness
The first part was to list ten things that they DO that makes them happy.
The second part will be explained in another post.
Lisa Garwood • I’m just waiting for KHRS’s Katherine to finish my list – as she seems to know me better than I know myself – does that count?
Katherine Connolly HR Consultant • Ok, well.. challenge duly accepted!
eating good food
enjoying the company of friends
working with your other half
perusing interior design magazines
taking pride in your surroundings (cushion fluffing!)
working with clients who know what they want and respect your time, knowledge and expertise
having your parents close and spending time with them
looking after guests/visitors (the hostess with the mostess)
feeling understood and appreciated
Things that I do for me personally, to make me happy, in no particular order:
1.sitting in the bath, looking out over the fields…
2.eating chocolate frozen yoghurt straight from the tub on a weekend night when our boys are asleep
3. arriving somewhere early, with children asleep in the back and having a cat nap
4. a massage / facial / eye brow tidy up
5. gossiping with my friend Dr AKT
Things I do that make me happy in my work:
6. Selling advertising to a big brand or client for the rate card and then discounting for a small business
7. Securing contracts for social media work as this is my favourite bit of work
8. Connecting people when I can honestly say it’s just to “Pay It Forward”
9. Winning awards for myself and my clients
10. …… Buying a business (this is a very new thing, but it’s something I’ve done and it’s made me VERY HAPPY!!!)
Look forward to seeing what this translates into at our next meet up 
Liz Weston aka @cambridgemummy
www.westoncommunications.org.uk
Martyn Sibley • 1) drinking vodka
2 travelling the world
3) laying on sunny beaches
4) chatting up beautiful girls
5) lazy Sundays
6) driving my car
7) going to music festivals
8) watching tottenham play
9) running my own business
10) changing the world for disabled people
Www.martynsibley.com, www.disabilityhorizons.com, martyn@martynsibley.com
Iris von Brandstatter • * spend me-time daily
* making crafts
* pay-it-forward often
* nature (my sanctuary)
* eat organic and fair trade where possible
* spread some positivity daily
* be mindful
* try to improve peoples lives with my business
* work with animals
* spend time doing creative journaling
David Smallman • OK here goes!!
1 happy grandchildren – nothing beats the innocent laughter of grandchildren
2 my wifes smile – it never fails to light up my day
3 fast cars – an early summers day on a sweeping road and that feeling of being part of the machine
4 good company – hard to come by but always worth the effort
5 great service – in any place from any source and at anytime; most welcome
6 good food – that’s simply prepared from the best ingredients
7 better wine – neither over priced nor dirt cheap but drunk with those in number 4
8 biting fish – on as sunny lake side or out at sea no matter the relaxation does wonders
9 Chelsea wins – a 47 year old passion I have followed the games and results from around the world
oh! and
10 And playing good golf in the company of firm friends on a great course in the late evening sunshine; the perfect end to a day on which I will have heard, seen or done all of the above.
Jenny Wilton • Ok…here goes.
1. Eating with friends and/or family
2. My lovely, low maintenance man
3. Meeting new people
4. Travelling the world
5. Travelling by train
6. Yoga
7. Watch machines running (especially CNC machines or pick and place machines)
8. Learning new things
9. Drinking wine
10. Strawberries!
List is not exhaustive and in no particular order!!
Lucy Snell • lots of things make me happy.
1. Spending time with my perfect little boy
2. Being with my husband
3. Breathing in sea air, living by the sea
4. Travelling to new places
5. Bikram yoga
6. Drinking wine
7. eating nice food
8. Seeing my baby boy develop and grow, seeing him laugh and smile
9.Working with great clients – delivering top results for them
10. Losing weight! although putting it back on makes me unhappy!
Adam Maltpress • No particular order:
1. Sex, kissing etc.
2. Cake.
3. Having run or exercised (although not the actual running/exercising)
4. Waking up on a Saturday morning
5. Reading – anything, really, but the better the book the more the happy.
6. Making people laugh.
7. Solving problems.
8. Wine (red).
9. Being wet – i.e. having a shower, swimming, having a bath.
10. Hugs etc (i.e. the non-sexy bits of being with someone)
Lots more, too. Music. Tea. Games. Social contact. Stickers. Lego. Driving. Motorbikes. Pictures. Films. Country walks and all the personal ad cliches
Martyn Peters • I like this discussion, there are lots of things that make me happy. In no particular they are:
1. Earning money
2. Driving long distances to earn money & seeing the countryside whilst doing it.
3. Helping others with advice, the feeling afterwards is great.
4. Red Wine, not the morning after though
5. Spending Quality time with my family, especially watching them laugh and being happy.
6. Clothes shopping especially for jeans.
7. Music, preferably as loud as possible.
8. My Dogs
9. The buzz after a good workout
10. Tattoo’s, although not the pain while they are being done.
Holly Heslop • It’s interesting what pops into your head when thinking what makes me happy…. then all the things I will think of later and perhaps make me feel a little guilty!
Things that make me happy :
1. Making others happy
2. Giving advice to those in need…. and sometimes to those who dont…
3. Travelling
4. Sleeping
5. Helping and encouraging companies to reach their potential and making them realise it.
6. Waking up everyday healthy
7. Giving
8. Being social – glad I’m not shy
9. Knowing how many people love me and how much they help me and would do anything (in reason) to help, encourage and give me valuable advice
10. Being Blonde!
Thanks Ann I feel like I got some happiness off my chest
Moira Upton • Here’s mine.
1. l try to be kind
2. Hug & kiss my husband
3. Enjoy my food
4. Try to keep fit & healthy
5. Appreciate my surroundings
6. Practice mindfulness
7. Be self-supportive financially
8. Be thankful forAppreciate the support & love of family and friends
9. Give time to those who need it
10. Love my children.
Really powerful reading what others have written. Thank you for sharing, especially anyone new to this.
Steve Hoare • Sharing experiences with my wife
seeing my kids having fun
lazing in the hammock
being appreciated for my contribution
seeing others reach their potential (and knowing I helped along the way)
in the saddle on the hills with the whole day ahead of me
quiet country lanes with no car in front of me
Belgian fruit beers
financial stability
a late night on the patio with friends and the above mentioned beers
David Smallman • fruit beers??!!
Ann Hawkins • Any further comments on other people’s lists will get a slapped wrist (even if they ARE funny).
Steve Hoare • David, you haven’t lived if you haven’t had a belgian cherry, strawberry or raspberry beer. Perfectly refreshing on a warm summer’s evening after slaving away on the BBQ. There’s a pub in Norwich that has it on tap too!
David Smallman • Sorry!!
Bob Brotchie • Deliberately spontaneous – Lets see…
2. Being helped
3. Having creative moments (Innovative) Solving an issue
4. Learning (anything)
5. Relationships (Careful!)
6. Wife’s cooking
7. Humour
8. Sport
9. Music
10. Being with family(In no order of preference)
Katherine Connolly HR Consultant • I feel like I’ve done this exercise already but since that was for Lisa and not me (see previous comments), here goes with mine:
2. The endless possibilities our business brings us
3. Company of good friends
4. Spending time with family
5. Finding things laugh out loud funny
6. Curling up with a good book
7. My favourite foods
8. A nice glass of Pimms on a summer’s evening
9. Being accepted exactly as I am
10. Speaking SpanishAgain, not in order of preference
philip murray • 1. Living in a free society
2. Gazing up at a blue sky (preferably somewhere exotic!)
3. Spending quality time with family and friends
4. Listening to music (pop/classical/motown – you name it!)
5. Showing SBO’s how they can promote & protect their business (and save money too!)
6. Watching a funny or inspirational movie
7. Performing sing out’s to an appreciative audiance with my local barbershop/acapella chorus
8. Being my own boss
9. Focusing on what I already have to be grateful for
10. Eating a large slice of “happiness cake” everyday
The recipe for happiness cake:
6 tablespoons of love
A little bit of spice
A cup full of laughter
Lots of tenderness mixed with understanding and a pinch of patience
Bake and share a slice!
Tim Meadows-Smith • A house full of people having fun
Hugging Claire (my wife)
Achieving a tough objective
Helping others realise their dreams
Cooking for friends
Teaching & coaching
Winning
Driving on the edge (not on a public road)
Helping others avoid their worst fears
Having money left over after paying the bills
Richard Wishart • Things that make me happy:
4. Playing with the latest technology – QR codes, RFID and Google+ , really understanding in detail how they work and sharing this knowledge with my networking buddies.
5. Doing business around the world – on my own account. The thrill of doing deals with people of different cultures and traditions.
6. Creating and delivering International conferences in my field of expertise and chairing them. Stuttgart and maybe Berne this Autumn.
7. Working and networking with exceptional and inspiring people.
8. Having an unbroken track record of delivering complex and innovative IT and Technology projects.
9. Being recognised by my peers as a world class expert in the areas in which I specialise.
David Winch • Ten things I do that make me happy? Like others, the order is random
1. Watching skilled sports men and women perform at the highest levels
2. Participating in sport myself (at a much lower level!)
3. Putting myself through a training session and beating my target
4. Being entertained by articulate, knowledgeable, witty people
5. Seeing my garden produce marvellous fresh vegetables
6. Cooking great food
7. Sharing it with others and enjoying each other’s company as we do so
8. Quaffing a dram (or three) of a top class single malt whisky. Ditto great beer and great wine.
9. Listening to my favourite music
10. Spending time with my children
David Barnes • Before the list – thanks to Richard, whose post here drew me to this group, and with whom I’ve shared at least the first thing…
* Being outdoors in a beautiful place, green and quiet, early on a sunny morning.
* Conversations with my daughter, particularly those where her character shines through – her joy and wisdom and groundedness and love.
* Time with people I love and who love me.
* Discovering new music I know I’m going to love – that moment where it HITS me. And going back to music I’ve loved for decades, with all the memories attached to it.
* When conversations turn from the usual to the extraordinary.
* Time with young people – catching up, playing, watching them grow… Encouraging them and being encouraged in return.
* Worshipping – be that at home with my guitar, or all together, in whole-hearted praise of our God.
* Making up a joke that makes me laugh… chewing it over to get it just right… at least good enough to post on Facebook.
* Playing some daft rubbish on my guitar, something I’ve made up and wouldn’t really pass as music in polite circles, but which makes me laugh at myself for liking it.
Pat Duckworth • Chocolate
Developing myself
Helping other people develop
Holidays
Swimming
Being with friends
Sharing a laugh with my husband and son
The garden – as long as it’s not too strenuous
A good book
lazing in the sun
Bob Tulloch • I find almost all of the things mentioned in the previous comments are also on my list of happiness makers but there are two other things which trigger a rush of seratonin. Firstly, the ‘Ah Ha’ moment when I discover something new and interesting. Secondly, the secret pleasure of doing a kindness totally anonymously. For example, I regularly give blood. The experience is just about tolerable but It costs nothing but my time. I have no idea who benefits from my small donation, they have no idea who I am.
Gary Dickenson • OK here goes mine, in no particular order:
Humour & laughter
Eureka moments
Drinking & eating
Watching or being part of a live music event
Receiving praise
Seeing wildlife where I live & enjoying the beauty of my surroundings.
Winning new business
Intellectual/stimulating face to face conversation (various groups/subjects: foodies, church, arts, techy, marketing)
Cold beer on a hot day (because it’s hot as I write this)+ others I’m sure
Chris Delahunty • Sounds interesting. Here are my ten enjoyable things:
2. Watching my kids try something new for the first time
3. Playing computer games
4. A good alcoholic drink
5. Ginger beer
6. Discovering something new on the internet
7. Flying
8. Long walks in rugged countryside and forests
9. Watching a good film
10. New shoes
Diana Probst • I did consider an alternate answer:
1) First hour of sleep each night
2) Second hour of sleep each night
…
10) I think you know what goes here.
But it would not be everything I do. So here they are, in the order I thought of them. If they are a noun and not a verb, then please add the verb yourself. It is probably ‘devour’:
1) Sleep enough.
2) Eat sushi sometimes (but try to avoid those things with a huge bycatch).
3) Packet of smarties
4) Good tea
5) Socialising with friends (mostly, Role-playing games and escapism) including hubby
6) Cuddling of and interaction with Small People
7) Handing Small People back to other people and not having responsibility. This does not make me a bad mother. It makes me a better mother, later.
8) Thinking about how much awesome stuff I have; my Warren Ellis-designed T-shirts, my nice warm house, lots of opportunities, my ability to move about freely and without pain. Maybe the last bits are contentment, not happiness, but I’m not going to hit that one here.
9) Painting, including the down time. Being an artist.
10) Moar Sleep. Also, if not allowed that, then communication with other artists about what I do and what they do, and how much interaction if any there will be.
11) Sleep again.
Vicky Holland • 10 things that make me happy:
1) Go for a walk with the family on a warm summer’s evening (did that last night)
2) See my kids play nicely together (witnessed that today!)
3) Drinking either a G&T or Pimms & Lemonade in the garden.
4) I love swimming, skiing or tennis.
5) Read a good book
6) Enjoying the great outdoors.
7) Holidays in the sun
8) See a (good) live band
9) Exploring new countries (I used to do a lot of that – maybe some time soon!)
10) Touching down in Sydney (my home town).
Amanda Douglas-McCaig • Things that make me happy:
Spending time with my family
Building our family business
Hillwalking in places where there’s peace & quiet (no off-roaders) & no rubbish
Visiting friends and family in France and New Zealand
Good food (as long as I don’t have to cook it!)
Good wine
Gardening
Learning new stuff
Really good icecream – none of that mass-produced Walls rubbish
Sitting in the sunshine on our deck with cold drink and a good book
Robert Ashton • 1. make people smile;
2. make myself smile;
3. watch white fluffy clouds cross a bright blue sky;
4. run for miles in the sun without a shirt;
5. watch our kids succeed;
6. days out with my wife;
7. write on a train (books not graffiti!)
8. plough an autumn field with a cabless tractor;
9. chainsaw logs and stack them neatly;
10.listen to people enthusiastically tell me how they want to change the world
Philippa Bell • Here’s mine
1 Knowing my family is healthy
2 A happy marriage
3 Being able to keep on top of my bills
4 A good night out with friends
5 Sunshine
6 A good nights sleep
7 Gavin and Stacey
8 Bacardi and Coke
9 Accepting ageing gracefully
10 Chocolate
Sure to think of others later but these are just about right.
Bob Bones • Dear Steve Hoare… Important stuff.. Which Pub in Norwich sells Belgian Fruit Beer on Draft?????
Marc Bond • 1. Sleeping with the next door neighbour
2. Steak.
3. Exercise
4. Waking up without a hangover
5. Reading
6. Being controversial
7. Those slap on the forehead moments
8. Vodka!
9. Bubble bath
10.Mocha
Rosalind Bubb • 1. Ceroc (modern jive,) ceroc and more ceroc
2. dancing generally
3. being with my husband
4. my lovely whippet (watching him run; stroking him; playing etc)
5. being at the heart of an orchestra and playing my oboe and especially my cor anglais
6. Harry Potter
7. Laughter with my friends
8. You’ve been Framed
9. Listening to Paul McKenna’s cds, especially “Calm” and “I can make you Happy”
10. and under-pinning it all, lots of “tapping”! (EFT – Emotional Freedomn Techniques)
Bob Bones • In no particular order, and I haven’t even mentioned cake! or chocolate, or Italian Ice Cream, smarties – the texture!
1. Intimacy with my beautiful partner, a hug, a cuddle, a kiss, sex or a knowing smile.
2. Success: The pleasure it brings and Seeing others succeed, particularly when you know you have had some input.
3. A cool breeze on a hot sunny day.
4. Laughing for no reason
5. Eating a beautiful meal..’ fruits de la mer’, fresh salad, a wonderful wine.
6. Sharing the meal with good companions.
7. The Norfolk Broads – Fishing, boating, walking, falling in.
8. People watching at a pavement café.
9. Live Music, from the Levellers to John Williams, Beethoven to the Foo Fighters. Depends on my mood and the company.
10. Getting involved and making a difference.
Gail Bull • Ok here goes. Did this very much freefall – stuff that stood out over the last few weeks. I think I could do a much longer list. And that made me happy 
In no particular order
1
The smell of laundry fresh from the line.
2
An empty inbox!
3
Smiles from my sons and granddaughter ))
4
The reflection of the sky in my pond.
5
Meeting a frog while weeding.
6
The smell of really good coffee.
7
The taste of a *good* red wine.
8
Listening to almost anything by Philip Glass.
9
Clients accepting quotes.
10
Watching the cat trot up the garden.
Desiree Ashton • Hi, Ann – good question. The things I am happiest doing are:
Feeling the evening sunshine and a warm breeze
Holding a strong and gentle husband and feeling the world slip away
Cuddling 2 children – all sleepy and still at bedtime
Catching up with a special girl-friend
Shopping for a special occasion
Cooking and sharing dinner with friends
Working on a shared project and learning from others
Seeing my business change and grow
Finding balanceGot quite into this… keep thinking of more. Lots of reason
John Guinn • 1. Spend time with my wife
2. Spend time with my pets
3. Listen to music
4. Run my own business
5. Researching travel
6. Goalkeeping
7. Contacting clients on their return for feedback
8. Socialising
9. Travelling
10. Studying
11. Ignoring rules
Lee Jackson • Hanging out with …
1. My God
2. My wife
3. My kids
4. My family
5. My friends
Then
6. Seeing peoples “ding” moments when i speak
7. Great comedy
8. When tech works
9. Good music
10. Not watching the apprentice
11. Breaking the rules
Tricia McBride • my family
my husband
holidays
getting a great result with hypnotherapy clients
feeling I’ve helped others
a training day going really well
chocolate
sitting in chic cafes in hot climates
a good book
Johnny Depp
Jackie Cameron • What a wonderful question. I realise that I have much in common with others and the differences are to be celebrated!
Spending time with my grown up children no matter what we are doing
Sharing memories with my parents
Unexpected conversations with strangers ( who are then no longer strangers)
Being on an island – whether Orkney or Barbados
Creating something from raw materials
Painting a picture that I like when it’s done
Finding the perfect shoes
Eating coffee and walnut cake with a cup of tea
Feeling that what I have done has made a difference
Quality time with the family> Holidays in Spain
> Drinking wine
> Friends
> Eating ice cream
> Seeing Il Divo live
> Strawberries and champagne
> My garden
> David my lovely husband
> My gorgeous grandaughter Katie
And there is so much more………………..” data-li-editable=”false” data-li-edit-sec-left=”900″ data-li-time=”" />
Eileen Isted • Things that make me happy…………………..> Quality time with the family
> Holidays in Spain
> Drinking wine
> Friends
> Eating ice cream
> Seeing Il Divo live
> Strawberries and champagne
> My garden
> David my lovely husband
> My gorgeous grandaughter Katie
And there is so much more………………..
Paula Hall • OK my tuppenceworth….
TEA – I am a serious tea junkie and can’t go more than about an hour without a cuppa
A little bit of red wine of an evening
A little bit of dark chocolate to go with the red wine
My family – can’t spend too much time with them (adding Skype here)
Social media – love it
Real life socialising with real life friends too
Love gadgets and a bit of an Apple fan, and yes they really do make me happy
Problem solving, helping people and finding work arounds
Being appreciated is nice
Realising how lucky I am (& most of us here are)
Lisa Blackler • 1 Laughing uncontrollably with my children over nonsense
2 Laughing uncontrollably with my friends over nonsense
3 Baking cakes or bread
4 Dancing – especially ballroom and latin
5 creating – painting, sewing etc
6 singing really loud
7 thinking about and debating marketing theory and practice (what a geek!)
8 as previously mentioned – sex
9 Go to a coffee house to enjoy good coffee and newpapers
10 Clean the house
Francine Rouanet-Démocrate • - Coming up with a new idea
- Meeting new people
- Inspiring and helping people to learn a new language
- Seeing the change I can make in people’s life
- Sharing France / Paris / England with friends
- Laughing / talking
- Eating, drinking with family and friends
- Sharing time with loved ones
- Creating (writing / photos / gardening / cooking)
- Getting up early in a beautiful place
Sue Prytherch • Loads of things make me happy!
4)Reading reading and reading.All sorts of books
5)Cuddling up with the kids
6)Holding my partners hand in bed at night
7)Being with my brother and sisters
8)A meal out with good company
9)Learning new things- feeling stretched and challenged.
10) Pottering around at home at the weekend in my scruffs.
Chris Thomas • My own family
Choosing a delicious ice-cream and eating it
Making someone smile
Succeeding in completing a difficult new challenge
Bringing two diverse individuals together and finding synergies
Finishing a good book
Unexpected encounters and conversations
Learning something new
A successful meeting
Rock pooling or a walk amongst trees
Jo Evans | Emerald Frog Marketing • 1. Spontaneous kisses from my young daughter
2. Laughing and larking about with my best friend, my husband
3. Walking the dog in the evening
4. The flexibility of running my own business
5. Lying on the grass and watching the clouds in the sky
6. Walking through the woods at Holkham
7. Sleeping like a log
8. Having a good, belly aching laugh down the pub with my friends
9. Autumn’s combinations of leaves, bonfires, sloe berries and making crumbles
10. A cup of tea first thing in the morning in my moose mug
Nick Athorne • 1. Enjoy being myself and feeling comfortable inside my own skin, because I can then:
2. Enjoy my family and friends more, and they can enjoy me.
3. Enjoy helping others more.
4. Appreciate more the world around me.
5. Hearing about the successes of my children.
6. Having a sense of achievement as I pass various stages of my stroke rehabilitation.
7. Realising how lucky I have been.
8. Having no regrets.
9. Having a bloody good laugh to the point that my stomach muscles hurt and I cannot see for the tears!
10.Listening to an appreciative audience, because then I know that I have made a difference to other people! Things you need, a GSOH and a half full glass of something!!!
Kate Rose • Riding. Way out in front of the rest, I’m rubbish at it but rarely get off a horse without jabbering excitedly for the next hour.
Waking up somewhere I’ve never been before
The sun on a turquoise sea
Watching my partner sleeping
Meeting someone who can out-argue me
Anything that reminds me how insignificant my choices are in a massive universe – standing by the sea, being baffled by physics / astronomy documentaries
Creating images – taking and editing photographs
Mary Patrick • I enjoy
Taking Photographs
Having a glass of wine in the garden on a warm summers evening
Walking along the beach on a stormy winters day
Listening to music-lots of it and a wide variety
Having quiet times with my OH
Being hugged
Hearing about “deeds of daring do” from my grown up children
Helping someone to find something new about themselves
Being able to “eat drink and be merry” with good friends
Being with my pets
Jan Farndale • family, friends, pets, gardens, chocolate, babies (of any species), studying (almost anything), new experiences, achievement, sunsets
Nick Stockdale • Hmm, only ten?
2. Disappearing into my man shed and fixing the unfixable
3. Finding a forgotten fiver in a trouser pocket
4. Spending the fiver on this months Motorsport magazine
5. A late night walk around my garden, watching the bats wheeling through the trees
6. Being transported by a great film
7. Being able to say, that’s done!
8. Riding my bike like I was 12 again, hopping curbs and pulling wheelies
9. Being able to work with interesting people
10. Helping somebody do something new
Mike Briercliffe • Family
Skiing
Home
Pets
Good Ginger Beer
Young Entrepreneurs
Great Food
Photography
Occasional Golf
Driving
Helen Coppen • sharing time with my family
doing a good deed for others which is appreciated
bike riding
horse riding
cooking a sponge cake that rises
getting a thank you letter from a customer
going to Salcombe
revisitng burrough green school new build- now its eventaully built
going shopping when I know I can afford the purchase
drivng down the hill into my home village after being away
Duncan Hume • Watching my kids grow up
Laughing with my wife
Playing my music loud wearing headphones
Landing in my home airport
Eating a really good curry with friends
Watching a big thunderstorm from my porch
Taking a long ride on a train
Making someone stop and think
Starting something difficult
Finishing something difficult
Following our family plan and making it a reality
Andrew Watts • Solving problems to which others can’t see a solution
Achieving things and surprising myself
Making things
Being appreciated
Family – my partner, my children and her children (we don’t have any ‘our’ children
A happy client
Having an invoice paid and knowing that it’s for work that I did
Being touched
Music – particularly singing, particularly sacred choral music
Being scared – and doing it anyway
Dan Wagner, B.S., CISSP, CISA, CRISC • 1. Being understood,
2. Learning something new and unpredictable
3. Loving and being loved
4. Achieving something new
5. Driving my motorcycle really fast on a open road
6. Being in the ocean – any mode: ship, sail boat, surf board, by myself, with others
7. Solving problems: personal, professional, etc
8. Meeting new and diverse types of people
9. Creating something or making something, that has not existed before
10. Playing games with my family
Lin-Lee Aspin • Things that I do that make me happy…
1/. Drinking a hot cup of PG tips & eating some Cadbury’s milk chocolate, in silence.2/. Cooking for lots of family & friends & spending time together, eating & drinking & enjoying eachothers company & chatter.3/. Watching & listening to our 2 sons playing & giggling together.
4/. Imagining that my husbands first book is finished…
5/. Having adventures with my husband & 2 boys. Exploring new places far & wide.
6/. Having a good giggle.
7/. Playing music, singing, & dancing, alone & with friends & family.
8/. Having so many choices in life – so fortunate & so grateful for so many things.
9/. Business – working with incredibly talented, creative, passionate, and honest, souls.
10/. Business – working with customers where there’s a real connection & being able to give the best possible service.
10 is just too few.
Thanks for asking Ann.
x
Elizabeth Miles • Spending time with my children & grandchildren
Moseying round a new city with my husband
Narrow boating
Knowing the state of the tides
Singing in a choral society
Eating with friends
A walk on a hilltop
The dawn chorus
Seeing young people discover their potential
Laughing at funny things
Bruce Grimley • 1) watching, and being a part of my “kids” growing up (21 and 23)
2)Being healthy
3)Going to the cinema,
4) Sitting in the Garden with a beer.
5) Eating nice meals.
6) working as a psychologist
7) Day dreaming
8) Going on holiday……and driving my car.
9) Being Married
10) watching and participating in sport……and taking the dog for a walk.
ToRonicia Woods ,CPC • *Meditate 2x daily morning & night*
*Spend time organizing priorities.*
*1hr Exercise,,Yoga,& Pilaties.*
*Follow-up with clients*
*Check Children Clothes & school work*
*Create guidline and worksheet for clients*
*Cook & Serve dinner*
*Show appreciation*
*Encourage Others*
*Read my bible for at least 30min*
Richard Savage • I am not sure how deep we are supposed to get here, so I won’t get too heavy. To preface my top ten, I would just like to say, I am a professional artist and writer and a bit of a work-o-holic. I love what I do and consider myself very fortunate to make a living form something that makes me so happy.
2 At the computer when the writing flows equally easily.
3 Coming up with a new idea.
4 Hitting that deadline.
5 Relaxing with my wife after work with a nice meal glass of nice red wine.
6 Time with the grandkids (with a tinge of guilt that they aren’t higher on the list)
7 Making someone laugh
8 Walking around my garden tending my Bonsai trees
9 Chatting to a new client about a prospective new piece of art
10 Seeing the look on their face when the work is doneHope this didn’t bore you silly
Cheers
Ric
Kirie Hansen • Hi Ann,
1. Making my son laugh, and hearing his laughter
2. Music and dancing to music
3. Sex and affection
4. Achieving my goals and watching others achieve theirs (with my help or not)
5. Swimming in the sea/ocean, being at one with nature (cheesy I know, but true)
6. Having enough money to do and spend what I want
7. Wine and Champagne – yum
8. My dogs; they’re my babies
9. Being successful in everything that I do, from work to sports to health (recovery) to fashion. (I was seriously ill from a car accident)
10. Being in love and being loved backInteresting to read others lists, mmmm. Think I may of forgotten something…
Tracy Saunders • My teenage daughters love for life
My husbands sense of humour
Drinking wine (lots) with close friends
A happy and satisfied customer
Lazy Sunday mornings
Chocolate
Organising fun events for my youth group
Walking on a North Norfolk beach
Working in a family business
Setting and beating sales targets
Ellie Louis • Seeing my family happy
Gardening
Reading a really good book
Having a good chat
Doing an excellent job
Having a cup of tea when I really need it!
Eating a roast dinner when I’m hungry
Having parties
Beating my personal best swimming
Being able to travel wherever and whenever I want
Elizabeth Hughes • In no particular order:
a good cup of strong coffee
cycling
observing nature from bees to birds
reading whether for pleasure or studies
helping others
scottish country dancing
helping people to move better and pain-free
dark chocolate
exploring body connections
family and friends
Jeanette Wood • Interesting exercise!
Being outdoors regardless of the weather
Having something to do and somewhere to go
Travelling somewhere new
Horses and all that their world entails
Taking the young Labrador out for a long walk – just the 2 of us, a bottle of water, an apple and a treat for him
Spending time with my family and very special friends
Having an evening at home – just me or with people whose company I value
Having a lavender bath and reading a book
Turning the radio/CD up and enjoying a brilliant song
Worrying – can’t beat a good worry
John Kendall • Hi Ann,
I get pleasure ( & frustration ) from my work, helping people. e.g, getting more for their pension funds.
Good company
Family especially wife & first grandchild being happy
England success in cricket & Portsmouth (held the FA cup for most years) in football
Seeing new places
Growing fruit & vegetables.
A good science fiction story – book, film , TV
Disc world fanatasy series.
Turkish delight.
I need someone to share my pleasurable times – I could never be a sole birdwatcher.
A birdwatching holiday overseas meets a combination of these.
Helping others to develop.
Being appreciated.
Jean Fisher • My husband who I love and makes me laugh
My grandson – the light of my life
Seeing my daughters evolve into beautiful, confident women
My work, following my passion
Big family gatherings
Cooking and baking
Reading and learning new concepts
Chocolate
Sitting in the Grand Hotel at St Pancras with a glass of bubbly
Girlie nights that make me laugh till I cry
Richard Coombs • Hi Ann, my list would be as follows;
Spending time with my family
Having a great meal at a restaurant with my wife, sharing a good bottle of wine!
Being out in the mountains and walking in nature
Playing golf with friends
Going to see LIVE music
Going on holiday to relax
Scuba diving and seeing the wonder of the world beneath the waves
Winning business from my competitors
Being told by a client that we have done a good job
Being up in the sky in a glider or microlight
Rosemarie Gant • Wow – what inspiring things – really enjoyed reading those. Here are mine, in no particular order and by no means limited to these:
2. Hugs with hubby
3. Seeing my ponies racing round the field enjoying themselves
4. A really good book
5. Listening to beautiful music – all sorts and preferably live
6. Seeing people take up something I have taught them and really fly with it (www.rosemariegant.com)
7. Completing a website for someone – and getting paid which hopefully usually go together! (www.freshapproachweb.co.uk)
8. A lovely meal
9. Yoga
10. Quiet time in the countryside such as the lovely quiet walk I had with one of my ponies last night.
Michele Judd • Ok here goes:
Catching up with my older boys who live 100 miles away
Spending quality time with my younger ones
Walking the dog along the beach
Spending time with my sister and her little boy
Working out
Watching my youth football team win
Teaching First Aid and getting positive feed back from the candidates
Curling up on the sofa with a glass of wine and my kindle
Gardening
Male company
joanna holding • My 10 best things are:
1. My husband & son.
2. Weeks of long hot sunny days.
3. Business Success.
4. Mooching around Cape Town (as in 2.)
5. Mooching around California (as in 2.)
6. Fresh fruit and salads from my garden.
7. Families enjoying staying at my holiday cottage in Mundesley.
8. Fine food & wine.
9. Chilling out with my twin sister & a bottle of wine
10. Music esp. Live
Andy Wright • Mine would be, in no particular order:
Eating out
Cooking
Red wine
Watching my kids at judo competitions
Cycling around the local hills
Coaching rugby and cricket players and seeing them develop
Seeing people that I’ve coached/managed achieve their goals
The odd ‘thank-you’ at work!
Thursday nights at the Paget Arms – steak night!
Finding a creative solution to a problem
Pity we’re only allowed 10 Ann…I have more!!!
Joanne Bass • It made me smile whilst writing the list!!
2. Chatting until late with my husband
3. Spending quality time with my family
4. Baking and then obviously eating my endeavours
5. Eating out in good restaurants with good wine and good company
6. A good funny film, with chocolate and a glass (or 2) of wine
7. Working for myself and setting my own schedules
8. Solving customer problems and exceeding their expectations
9. Sourcing new and exciting products
10. Meeting new people and learning new skills
Bridget Tring • Not feeling all that happy at this very moment so a good exercise! Again, in no particular order:
2. Watching those lovely girls growing up
3. My girls making me laugh (happens a lot, I’m glad to say)
4. Watching my old, old cat stretching in the sun
5. The tiny little peppers that I’m growing (also tomatoes and potatoes the size of peas…)
6. The satisfaction of a job well done
7. Those few moments immediately after exercise – phew!
8. Good food (especially cake!) and cocktails!
9. Ipod shuffle (other mp3 players are available)
10. Reminding myself what makes me happy
Claire Warburton • 10 things that make me happy:
Being in a relationship with my lovely boyfriend
Swimming in the sea
Singing (especially Gospel music)
A really good comedy show
Having great friends and family who know me very well
Making other people laugh/smile
Making a difference in someone’s life
Cheese and Wine…well Food and booze in general
Travelling
Yoga
Its difficult to keep it down to 10, but good to think about the positive things that we have and why we are lucky!
Thanks Ann, great idea!
Nina Morton-Brook • * a leisurely bubble bath
* surprises
* having a great idea
*sharing – a joke, a kiss, a hug, a special moment
* making a delicious meal for a hungry friend
* having a huge cup of coffee watching the world go by
* journalling all the things that have made me smile today
* having a good hair day
* wearing bright colours and kick-ass shoes
* reading something that makes me go “wow”
Georgette Louis • 1.Being with my Mr Special & everything that entails
2.feeling valued
3. my family
4.Working and doing a great job
5.developing & nurturing people to do exeptional things
6.laughing lots
7.travelling,being in ‘sunny climes’, and leanring about new cultures
8.lovely home and making it welcoming to all
9.Socialising
10.nature/the world
Jill McCulloch • Things that make me happy I generally separate into Fun Things and Feel Good Things, but the best of both lists I guess are:
Laughing … comedy, witty friends, books, making people laugh …
Sunshine
Husband … just about everything about him
Coaching … “find a job you love and you’ll never go to work again”
Clients excelling and fulfilling their dreams
Real friends
Bare feet … being outside … fewer clothes
Mealtime conversations and debates with my children
Dancing and Singing
New … ideas, people, gadgets, concepts, books, clothes, films …
Michelle French • Before I clicked over to this page, I thought how my list would seem trivial, and now I see it is much the same as everyone else’s. After a year of unfathomable loss and grief, I have found moments of pure bliss.
2. spending time with the greatest friends in the world who are very much the family I made
3. great food, wine, chocolate, and exquisite beers shared with above.
4. Creating art and design and the excitement of having that one greatest idea of my life and wanting to share with everyone—after they sign the NDA
5. Lavender bubble baths…
6. …after a day digging in the garden
7. art museums with someone who “gets” the jokes
8. the love of my nephews
9. Sharing what I have with others
10. Most of all, FINALLY having a wonderful physical relationship with a man who is my friend and lover. For now.We are only guaranteed now. Lean into it.
Cath Boughton • What makes me happy… I am adding to this with ‘top of my head’ responses.. perhaps not the wisest choice for social media…
friends
family
relaxation
sunshine and summer
the great outdoors
my home and knowing that i’ve created it
love
my business – and the knowledge that i’ve created it from nothing
a job well done – fulfillment and satisfaction from being the best I can be
freedom
I have read this back, I have missed out good food and wine, interesting to see they’re not as important to me as I thought
Antony Hurden • Ann – thanks for the reminder that happiness is not illusory, but all around us. 10 things from today (like others, in no particular order);
2. Early morning and late night walks with the dog – or long walks with dog and wife
3. Good English pub with decent beer and food (nothing against Welsh, Irish, Scottish pubs, though …). Can be combined with 2 above.
4. Untangling complex issues for clients and seeing their satisfaction at a job well done
5. Winning a contract (fanfare!!)
6. Reliable technology (computer and mobile phone)
7. Money in the bank today, and invoices sent out to clients (for tomorrow’s money)
8. Family – most of them, most of the time
9. Managing to solve more than 5 clues in a Times crossword
10. Completing a task (e.g. this list)
Keith Brown • 1) Being needed
2) Giving Love
3) Recieving Love
4) When respected for being me warts and all
5) Inspiring someone to greater things
6) Living my faith
7) Living for a reason and purpsose that is greater than myself
8) Enjoying my money (not that there is a lot of it)
9) Sharing my life through my speaking
10) A nice glass of red.
Nigel Cook • In no particular order:
* relaxing in the sun
* drinking beer
* being with friends
* successfully completing a project
* winning a new client
* enjoying the success of others
* traveling
* cooking
* ending the month ‘in the black’
* laughing
Joy Haughton • What a fantastic idea! Here’s mine – looking forward to the next ten days
1. Evening walk in the sunshine with my partner
2. Learning new things and ideas
3. Helping my patients get out of pain
4. Painting pictures
5. Loose leaf tea made in a real tea pot
6. Family dinner
7. Cooking for friends
8. Rooftop gardens
9. Finishing a piece of knitting
10. Freewheeling downhill on my bike
Beachcombing
Splashing in puddles
Kicking leaves
Doing a really hard days work and feeling…
Being efficient & effective with resources
Exceeding customers/clients expectations
Having a deep bath that completely covers me
Sharing
Add your list below …….
Posted in Inspiration | 
Tags: Buying A Business, Cat Nap, Drinking Wine, Eating Chocolate, Eye Brow, Good Food, Hostess, Hr Consultant, Interior Design Magazines, Pay It Forward, Pursuit Of Happiness, Selling Advertising, Sibley, Spending Time, Sunny Beach, Time Knowledge, Vodka, Weston, Working With Clients, World 3
Happiness is: jumping into waves and laughing as they knock you down! smelling roses! tasting real coffee crunchy bread rolls with sesame seeds on top feeling the sand between my toes my cosy bed with crisp cotton sheets hearing my daughters' tales about their day speaking to an old friend feeling I have done something helpful to someone waking up and looking forward to the day ahead!
In no particular order: 1. My baby's laughter 2. Sunshine 3. Rain after a humid day 4. Being underwater 5. Hugs 6. Good food and good company (can I have both or does that count as two...?) 7. Creating 8. A walk in the park - or any natural environment 9. Helping people achieve their goals 10. Laughing until my face aches
