Things that makes you happy, or give you a little fillip of delight, or help to relieve your stress

[countessalmirena]

I will admit it; I'm more prone to moments of stress at this current time than I can remember being at any other time.

That said, I thought an antidote thread - about things that give us a smile, a moment of relief, some happiness or pleasure, to counter the ongoing stress of this pandemic and all of the rolling effects it has, might be a good idea.

I'll add one thing that helps me, and I hope we can make it a nice long constantly updated list. It might be easiest to manage if we add 1 thing at a time.

Reading: I am a mad keen reader, and if I have a spare moment, I often fill it with reading. I used to take books with me in my handbag when going to the bank or supermarket, etc.; they are the reason why God made queues. I read non-fiction and fiction of most genres.

Spoiler

I've put my favourite genres into this spoiler to avoid clutter and to let people who aren't interested in other people's (mine in particular) reading preferences just skip on by. I'm a book sticky-beak; I enjoy finding out what sort of things other people like reading.

FICTION: Science fiction, fantasy, historical, classics, literary fiction (esp. anything that approaches Eco's style), mysteries, thrillers, Regency-style as long as the historical details are accurate, the occasional romance as long as it's not all grunt-sex-grunt-sex-grunt, whimsical, adventure... with a strong preference for British writers. NON-FICTION: ancient history, languages, archaeology, medical, physics, biochemistry, mathematics, old maps/ancient geography, scientific research, legal (esp. history of law), how-to, philosophy, cooking, religion, dress-making, art, humour, biographies (mostly historical), music, language itself, examination of mythologies (history and clinical discussion of them)... oh, and books about coffee and cheese and such things.

THE DE-STRESS AND HAPPINESS LIST

1.  Reading

[springyzone]

Tea

messageboards

Ancestry stuff. You already know that, sort of. But the thing is, it has led me to contact with people in England and Canada I would never have known otherwise (3rd cousins) and now we're on facebook, we correspond, I feel like I am getting a lot of vicarious pleasure out of finding out about other places and every day life, their worries and fears etc

Don't know how you'd sum that up in a word or two, but it is incredibly relaxing and enjoyable to be in touch with them.

PS Love reading too

[springyzone]

A bit irreverent in a serious thread but I was just thinking we'll all soon be getting a little fillip of delight if we manage to come across some mince or toilet paper in the shops.

I was so hoping this was all behind us.

[joztamps]

The footy

[countessalmirena]

THE DE-STRESS AND HAPPINESS LIST

1.  Reading

2. Listening to classical music (especially Mozart)

3. Baby animals

4. Daughter's dog Harley

5. Nature (esp. nature walks)

6. All animals

7. Sitting at riverbank, cold stubby in hand, listening to the ripples of the water and the sounds of nature.

8. Coffee

9. SpongeBob

10. An uninterrupted afternoon siesta

11. Tea

12. Messageboards

13. Ancestry stuff

14. Being in touch with previously unknown connections

15. Mince in the supermarket

16. Toilet paper available in supermarket

17. The footy

18. Going to recital or opera or orchestral concert

(No.18 is my contribution. There is an irresistible frisson when I’m at a live performance with world class performers playing or singing works that have lasted for centuries because they speak to the heart . LIVE! In a theatre! Masked… but please no more cancellations… please…)

[the4masters2013]

1. The Dog Rescue and Sanctuary based in Texas. A family run business who rescue dogs from the puppy mills.

2. The Texas Tenors. A trio  who are fabulous singers.

3. AC/DC - up as loud as my ear drums can cope.

3. Agatha Christie novels

[the4masters2013]

It's actually called the Lone Star Dog Sanctuary and Rescue.

Most helpful to have sufficient coffee before typing...lol!

[papermoon.lady]

I love coffee too, Countess, especially considering my insomnia... I like in particular iced coffee.

[papermoon.lady]

Receiving a parcel on time...

[countessalmirena]

THE DE-STRESS AND HAPPINESS LIST

1. Reading
2. Listening to classical music (especially Mozart)
3. Baby animals
4. nicnac's daughter's dog Harley
5. Nature (esp. nature walks)
6. All animals
7. Sitting at riverbank, cold stubby in hand, listening to the ripples of the water and the sounds of nature.
8. Coffee
9. SpongeBob
10. An uninterrupted afternoon siesta
11. Tea
12. Messageboards
13. Ancestry stuff
14. Being in touch with previously unknown connections
15. Mince in the supermarket
16. Toilet paper available in supermarket
17. The footy
18. Going to recital or opera or orchestral concert
19. Lone Star Dog Sanctuary and Rescue
20. The Texas Tenors (trio)
21. AC/DC - as loudly as the4masters' ears can manage
22. Agatha Christie novels
23. Receiving a parcel on time
24. Solving a coding or mathematical problem

24 is another one of mine. What a shot of adrenalin it is to solve something where the problem is staring one in the face, but for some reason it's  just not coming out properly... until... suddenly... I say "AHA!" to myself, put in the values or use the formula just sprung to mind, and voilà, it's correct!

[imastawka]

Happiness?  Fillip of delight?    This one, right here - 

Living long enough to have and enjoy, a great-grandchild, a boy  💕