Life isn’t always easy. In fact, one of the few guarantees we have is that there will be hardships. The trick is in overcoming. Every once in a while I’ll find self doubt creeping into my head. Like you, I’m human…unless, of course you’re a machine sent by the upcoming Robot Apocalypse my buddy Austin is constantly warning us about…so, despite my usually sunny outlook, even I occasionally falter.
Well, recently another new friend wrote a post where he talked about the 5 Senses and feeling more alive. I do something similar…except I think about what makes me feel good. Usually I stick to one or two senses, but today I’ll explore them all…When I’m done, I’d love to hear what things tickle your happy senses (aka send you to your happy place).
Sight: There are a few things that do it for me, but the ones that bring on the senses of inner happiness are almost always natural.
My pups can always put a smile on my face. They love to keep me company when I’m working. So when I get stuck or frustrated, a quick look at them lying behind me will put a smile on my face.
Who doesn’t appreciate sweet surprises like this when you head back to your car? How can you not smile at the utter cuteness?
Yeah, there’s something about the natural beauties…especially when coupled with spontaneity that do it for me.
Sound: There are several things that makes my heart smile. Laughing babies…High on that list.
Music, as you all know, is always big on my list… Even more so when singing with my sister. Here’s a little clip of us goofing off on my wedding day.
Smell: I’m not so complicated. There’s something about that new car smell…It’s reeks of accomplishment. Vanilla makes me feel warm and fuzzy because it makes me think of baking and family. Freshly mown grass…speaks to new beginnings.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve really come to adore the smell of jasmine… Having my own home means I can grow it right at my front walkway to greet me as I head out or come in.
My ultimate favorite smell in the world, though? Coffee. In fact, it’s also up there with my favorite tastes… (Don’t you love the segue?)
Taste: Party in my mouth you say? Hmmm…. Hubby makes some great desserts that make me feel good and put a smile on my face.
Sure, combine my love for breakfast and my love for dessert. It’s bound to be a HUGE hit!
Or going back home and biting into an awesome Italian Beef (and I blame Katie from Sass & Balderdash for putting this in my head today).
But my all time favorite happy food? Cheesecake…and hubby makes an amazing Pumpkin swirl (that swirl is chocolate!).
Touch:Well, you all know I’m a sensualist… Yes, I love exactly where your minds all went. Yes, great sex makes me smile. But it’s some of those little things that lead up to that “Crescendo” (Heh!) that just warm me from the inside out:
- The soft brush of velvety soft lips at the curve of my neck
- Strong, loving arms wrapped around me to make me feel safe and keep the world at bay
- Hard body pressed to mine, dancing me across a room (often with no music playing)
- A sweet kiss dropped absently on my lips just because he felt like it
- A no holds barred tickle fight (Yeah, who can resist that laughter)
So what makes you feel good? What helps you remember all the little things that go wrong don’t really matter? What helps put you in your happy place?
“This video is private :-/”
Reading good books does it for me. And hearing my kids talk.
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Thanks. I’ll fix that.
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I think I fixed the video so it’s visible. Thanks for the heads up. As for reading… Yeah, that’s my escape place, too.
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Heading out for my beloved Turkey
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Yes, that would definitely be happy for you! 🙂
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Some smells that take me to a happy place: June honeysuckle at twilight, boat motor oil and bay water (I know that’s a weird one), almost anything on the grill in the summer.
Sight: fireflies in July, stormy skies when it’s warm and windy
Sound: wind chimes, rain in the autumn when I’m snug inside
Good post, Kitt! I could really go crazy with this one 🙂
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Thanks, Mae! I don’t really see many fireflies out here, but I used to love watching them light up the sky as a child. Grilling is a very yummy smell, too…:-) Thanks for sharing!
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Um….., yea – we’re gonna have to remove that picture of the mugs, at least blur out the one that doesn’t have any words on it.. 🙂
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Hahaha! Never gonna happen. Love my Blackhawks and hearing Chelsea Dagger play. 😉
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Oh, what makes me feel great is sight and sound. The sight of the scoreboard saying 2-0 Bruins, and the sound of the Third Period ending!
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Yeah…that was not fun for me. Fortunately I also had The Voice to cheer me up during commercials.
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Uh, your hubby’s dessert….please save some for me next time he makes it!
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Oh, and my kit cat Teddy B. always makes me feel better. Always.
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Right? Pretty fantastic… 😉 And Ted is awesome! Glad he makes you feel better.
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Thank you for warning your readers about The Robot Apocalypse. Send them over to me, and I’ll make sure they are prepared and educated… 🙂
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I know you will, my friend. I know you will.
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It’s what a guy in a toga does, you know? 😉
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I do! You’re a regular Paul Revere on a gargoyle wearing a toga!
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And a stovepipe how now since my Abe Lincoln run… 🙂
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And a stove pipe. 🙂
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I really liked your photos and choices representing the senses. I especially like children giggling, jasmine scent and coffee brewing in the morning! The taste selections were great too!
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Thanks. There’s just something infectious about a child’s laughter. 🙂 (And I can’t live without my coffee.)
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We also have a jasmine at the entrance..,. ah, that sweet smell in spring ! ! And the laughing baby…. so innocent, The littlest thing makes him happy !
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Isn’t it interesting how that changes as we get older?
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Aaaah, sweet Kiit. You always make me smile.
You hit one of my favorite scents. Freshly mowed grass. I never considered it “new beginnings.” I love that analogy.
I love both the scent and the taste of fresh basil. I’d opt for basil over flowers to scent my house if I could get it to grow indoors.
Did someone say cheesecake? It’s not only the taste, but the soft, velvety feel of it in my mouth.
I’m blessed with a vivid imagination. Some call it odd, but it’s my imaginary world and people understand me here. 😉 When I’m at the dentist, getting blood drawn, having any potentially painful procedure, I am able to take myself to my happy place — a tree house in the mountains. You should have heard me telling the dentist about that happy place when he had my mouth 100% numbed for deep cleaning. Ever try to say imaginary without benefit of tongue or lips?
I don’t know what it is about the mountains. The sight of trees, sound of birds, feel of mountain breezes, panoramic views….
Stellar post!
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Love it! And you’re right. There IS something about the mountains. I thought so when I’d drive past them in Tennessee and El Paso or when I’d look out my hotel room & see all that amazing beauty.
Basil is a pretty awesome smell. Sounds like you love it the way I love garlic & onion sautéing in butter.
You know…you’re right about the very sexy texture of cheesecake. Maybe that’s why I love it so… It reminds me of smex… 😉
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There is just something about riding on a long highway totally alone with just sound of the wind in the air and classic music from your youth playing on the radio to bring back memories along with a few laughs and smiles. The trees and grass moving by on each side, and a few fluffy clouds in the air. It’s almost therapeutic to me.
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Oh, yeah… Long rides can be very freeing, especially with great music. I don’t even care who’s staring at me while I bop my head and sing along. 😉
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You had me at, “that swirl is chocolate!” 😉
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I know, right? Everything’s better with chocolate.
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My happy food is most-definitely Tostitos… as in open the bag and eat every last chip in one sitting. Salt is its own food group, right?
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If it isn’t, it should be…just like chocolate. 😉 Do you like your Tostitos naked or do you have dips of preference?
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Salsa verde is my favorite kind of salsa, but I’ve been known to experiment with all varieties… the spicier the better. Habanero-induced headaches can be quite addicting. Fresh guac is also a must, but naked chips also hit the spot. Oh my love affair with salt… I’ve been known to eat the stray grains that are left behind when the bag is finally empty.
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Mmmm…fresh guac! Yum. Thank goodness my sister is coming to town in a couple weeks. I need to con her into making me some. It’s easier than doing it myself.
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What a great list of senses that make you happy. I’m pretty sure I need those french toast things and that pumpkin swirl. Immediately. 🙂 Yum! The sound of children laughing is my all-time favorite sound. I also like sitting in my backyard and hearing the random noises of the neighborhood. It makes me feel connected to my community because I can usually pinpoint who is making what sound. I love that I’ve lived somewhere long enough to know things like that. I need to think about the smells and tastes. Too many to choose from right now! Especially with that blueberry yumminess in my mind.
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Tameri, they taste as good as they look. Maybe better. It’s too bad you’re on the opposite side of the country. I’m a sharer. 😉 I completely get what you mean about the sounds of the neighborhood, too. I get that feeling when I walk my dogs. 🙂
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Be grateful – a nice message here, Kitt! I am happy for blue sky when it shows its face and for the faces of my parents when I see them 🙂
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Those are great things! Thanks.
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I am fortunate to have a few places where I just feel complete joy: the T-dock at the sumer camp where I spent my youth; our Happy House in Florida, even my own bedroom where the walls are painted the perfect shade of tangerine.
I love sitting on the couch with my son. At 14-years old, he still likes to hang out with me — and for that I’m grateful. Yesterday we played cards for hours, and I was just so happy that he wanted to be near me. I imagine all that will change.
I’ll tell you — the pictures of all those desserts got me salivating. Yummmmy! You’ve got a good man there!
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I think it’s great that you & Tech are so close. It bodes well for the way he will treat girls. 🙂 Your Florida house sounds scrumptious! As for hubby? Yeah, I’m lucky to have such an awesome guy.
Let me know when you’re in my neck ‘o’ the woods. We should definitely hit Broken Egg or First Watch for breakfast!
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Hi Kitt. I found you in the comment section of Tammy Bleck’s WittyWomenWriting blog and followed you here. Glad I did.
I’ll spare you the entire list of Good Things & Little Happies I have, and share one thing out of each category.
Sound: The swish of corduroy pants and pool balls knocking. (Okay, so that’s two. I forgive me.)
Smells: Burnt cinnamon toast and coffee. (Again two. *smiles*)
Tactile: The feel of soft rayon cloth & clothing.
Sights: Toddlers discovering the world around them.
Taste: Salty, crunchy, greasy. (Definitely not sticking to the one rule, Well sometimes rules are meant to be broken, even if self imposed.)
Feeling: Wonder. Wonder at all the amazing things outside us, Wonder at the amazing things inside us.
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Tammy’s a great lady, and I’m glad you stopped by. You’ve got an awesome list! I especially liked the cinnamon toast (yum…nostalgia for my youth), the toddlers discovering the world…and wonder. Those are all awesome answers!
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I love your celebration of all things little and lovely!
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Thank you! It’s a reminder to myself of the beauty in the little, everyday moments. 🙂
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an awesome gratitude post. I love your dogs!! And now I simply must grab something to eat…something sweet…:)
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LOL! My dogs thank you. And sweet has its place. 😉
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Firstly loved the wedding clip and you goofing off with your sister – very cute. The baby – I was in hysterics listening the giggling and watching the dog chase the bubbles.
Smell – new born babies, beautiful scented flowers.
Touch – holding someone you love
Taste – so many things – hot chips with salt and vinegar!
Sight – a new born foal first walking, a baby, my parents holding hands
Lovely Post Kitt xxx
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Thanks, Jenny! Isn’t it great when the simplest things can put joy into our hearts? So much beauty in the everyday. 🙂
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