What makes you happy?

I genuinely don't know. I only know what makes me momentarily forget about the lack of happines but I don't think that's the same thing.

Bird photography. I’m a person who tends toward depression. It was honestly very surprising the first time I noticed that when I’m photographing birds I have a huge smile on my face the whole time.

I’ve been learning the ins and outs of my camera gear for the last year and making small improvements is really satisfying. But really it’s just being out in nature, looking at adorable birds and capturing those moments for later.

Dopamine mostly

Walking my dog in a winter forest.

Tinkering/assembling stuff and see it come to life. Bonus points if it's something my kids can join in on.

Other contenders: (good) food, music, weather

Cheese.

Video games.

It really depends. Sometimes it's drumming, sometimes going on an outing and doing car karaoke on the way, and sometimes I can't find anything that helps and just have to wait for unhappiness to subside.

Someone else's genitals on my face.

Cuddling with my partner in bed. Especially early in the morning, when I give myself an extra half hour to just stay close together for a little while longer.

Making music

Fixing things. Mostly if it's for someone else.

Unfortunately as far as work goes, two of the things that make me most unhappy: driving, traffic, are tied to the job of fixing things for people so I quit that job :/

Substance abuse and PC gaming

I’d say probably dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin.

I never thought I’d say this, but going to work actually makes me happy. I work with autistic and disabled children, and man, they give me life. Helping them learn and grow, seeing them pick up and apply new skills, hearing their unique observations, and witnessing their creativity all bring joy to my day.

I’m currently waiting for my first learner of the day to arrive, and I know that when he gets here he’ll be making the most joyful squeals as he plays with his favorite ball. His smile is like caffeine mixed with sunshine, energizing me every morning even on the hardest days.

Don’t get me wrong, this job has its challenges, but the fulfillment I get from working with this population is immeasurable. It took many years of crappy jobs with crappy management before I got here, and I’m glad to say I think I finally found the job where I belong.

my cat, my friends, FOG!, snow in the morning, a good cuppa coffee...

mostly it's having a nice moment to enjoy anything rly 😅

Music
Food
Watching dogs
Running
Play with my nieces

Spending time with my favorite people, helping others, finishing goals I set for myself, being outdoors, and listening to music are the big ones.

Then there are smaller everyday things like autumn and winter weather, good food and beverages, good books and films, putting effort into looking nice, and so on.

How about you, OP?

Patterns in licenseplates For example this one:

Taking a drive when it's sunny and traffic is light.

Cooking from a new recipe and having it come out good.

Sliding into bed on new sheet night.

Lots of things. Working on a project, reading a good book, a nice meal, vibing in nature, pleasant exercise. There's a lot of suffering in the world, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy everyday things.

Stargate SG1, a beer, some nachos and nobody else home.

This is so specific but I love permissive licenses for software and other things.

Knowing that maybe I brightened someone's day on the internet :)

Being loved and respected by the people in my life.

I found it by reflecting on the things that truly gave me fulfillment in life. Once you strip away the noise the only thing is left is the people in your life.

cats

Mostly spilling blood for the blood god. I dabble in collecting skulls for the skull throne as well when they’re in season.

Someone giving a crap about me and taking care of me. I take care of everyone and everything in my family and work. I had a short stay in the hospital for a surgery. Ironically, even with recovering from surgery, it remains one of my happiest memories because everyone took care of me.

Being able to paint when I have time and can be alone

My family (this includes my cat), my friends, estrogen, foggy weather.

Writing with my friends, learning languages, and catching new hyperfixations.

master baiting

Doing stuff. Exercise, learning, projects, etc.

I can't understand people who want to do nothing. As in, sit there passively and watch a screen and/or drink and complain about their life. I feel like a lot of people do this and it is why they are miserable and unhappy. At least that's how it comes across to me. I only ever want to do that if I'm exhausted, injured, or sick. In fact I most of the last month watching TV because I was injured, and then very ill for about a total of 3 weeks. It was super depressing/miserable, I also was so weak I had to get delivery of meals/groceries. Blows my mind that many people I meet want to be like that 24/7, like I went on a date two weeks ago with a lady and she said 3 weeks sitting around doing nothing sounded blissful to her... I was going absolutely insane.

I find it hard to make friends because I want to do things and most people... don't. Most of my friends are very active people, but it feels like the vast majority of socialization among people is just complaining and drinking. My Thanksgiving holiday was 3 days of listening to people complain, watch sports, and drink.

Caterpillers

When at work: accomplished projects, staying in schedule. Having a good team and laughs during the day.

In general: I'd love to do nothing sometimes. I work multiple jobs and sit in multiple boards and have always been working almost around the clock. Never had a two week holiday after the university.

But walking the dogs, waking up after 10 and brewing a good cup of coffee. Its never been the money, as long as we cover the bare necessities.

Watching my kids grow every day more responsible and thoughtful. Being at home (I travel for work at least a week a month). Waking up in a good hotel somewhere exotic and just having a full day to myself.

A lot of things. And good memes. Sadly the internet's memegame's been weak since the covid, I feel.

I had anhedony, and fought out of it for my partner..just to find out that, as long as I am not depressove, most stuff make me happy. Learning, improving, playing, frolicking, walking, biking, skating, programming...

Just need to be in a right mood. Sometimes, the most happy I can be is by just sitting, cup of hot cocoa in hands, watching some video with my partner. Just a bliss.

My nephew

Peace and harmony.

Not in the hippie way, but just calm and mostly quiet, no chaos.

Yeah the world isn't for me.

Nature, the sea. dogs, cats, some family. Some friends. That eureka moment when you grasp a new concept, that's my drug of choice.

Mostly spending time with my boyfriend. My life currently revolves mostly around the weekends because that is the time we can meet more often.

You can tie happiness to the things you like, but I feel this kind of happiness has become very fleeting for me. I feel happy one moment and then feel the sadness coming back. I think this has to do with the fact that, in my head, I feel I'm behind in my life and been stuck without any breakthroughs that I find my peers are getting.

Yeah, I like watching sports and anime. Used to like playing video games but not anymore.

Being single makes me happy. I used to want a bf because of loneliness but after my 1st relationship, it traumatized the hell out of me. 2 and a half years of crying myself to sleep. Never fucking again. It made me scared to date people because I don't want to feel that much pain ever again. Also seeing and growing up with parents with a unhealthy relationship made me wanna reconsider if I wanna find a bf and get married.

I so much calmer, happier, and more content than ever. I proved to myself that I can rise above the hell I survived and be okay by myself. I was able to find new friends, develop new hobbies, learn a lot about myself and the world. I like being single; no one is cheating on you, no stress, no drama about a partner. I am at peace.

Sex

I moved from the equator to an area it snows occasionally. I used to use 3 electric space heaters to keep my place habitable. This year, one and it's comfortable.

Not waking up before 730am.

Having a few beers and cooking on a Saturday afternoon.

If what I've been lead to believe is true then that'd be chemicals :P