Music, singing, dancing, drawing, programming, playing, exercising, just...creating. Creating shit for the sake of it, for other people, for myself. That's life, that's living.
Music!! I keep forgetting it. I can spend an entire day feeling miserable and suddenly remember I can listen to music and BOOM I'm buzzing like I just dropped a pill!
Seeing stuff i am either building or fixing working after the full on weeks it took to iron out all of the problems; and coming back later in the years to find them still working; last week i went to one of my frends workshop to find the metal press i fixed 5 years ago still working and with the same locking lugs i had to kludge on it to get the control panel to close
Gardening and forest gardening! Planting something starts another living organism and with good planning there may be no maintenance required on your part. You'll just have this happy little tree/shrub/herb/vine growing its own way
I'd suggest anyone intrigued read Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway and look into permaculture!
Starting your own forest garden is fantastic but please don't alter any existing forests without learning about the existing eco system and which native plants would best fit into it
People scoff at this, but I managed to get myself a job I find very fulfilling. My work contributes positively to society. I feel useful and needed. I was missing that up until recently.
I hope one day I can find one. It seems to me every software engineering jobs I found is not really fulfilling and it's not clear to me whether my contributions are net positive or not
People. Family, friends, community. We need one another. We get fulfillment and happiness from being with other people, helping and being helped. And just hanging out!
Generally, I find fulfilment in doing things that are enjoyable which also have positive results. Work pays for stuff but I hate it, so it's not fulfilling.
Some current things in my life:
Studying something I love even if it's terrible for jobs.
Somewhat finding my groove in music making, making it feel less like pulling teeth.
Helping people with technology. I work IT. I was in a software development role (QA) that impacted far more people, but I didn't interact with them. It was soul-sucking work. Working with people directly and seeing the results of my labor is nourishing.
I have a collection of colorful handmade bracelets on my wrist. I look at them whenever I'm stressed or down and it always cheers me up again. None of them are well made, all with some little defect, but I love them because of it.
I guess it sounds an analogy now that I'm writing this down? Anyway, sometimes it's the small and inconsequential things that add some color to your life. You don't need to find a meaning behind it, just accept it and appreciate it for what it is :)
Every day there comes a moment when I just want to quit. If, in that moment, I push a little further, just keep forcing myself forward, then that evening I feel fulfilled.