248. 50 things that make me happy (Part 1)

1. Watching soccer all day on a Saturday morning. I love drinking so much coffee that it keeps me energized till late afternoon. I love checking Twitter in the middle of matches to see what the Men in Blazers are going on about. I love watching a good goal attack. It’s an optimal way to spend my mornings.
2. Listening to Men in Blazers podcasts. Another soccer thing, I know. I love going for walks and just listening to Rog and Davo. They make me happy with their self-deprecation, stupid jokes, and insight into the world of football. It’s one of my favorite hours of the week.
3. Drinking lots of coffee. Coffee makes me happy. I love making a full pot on Saturday mornings and making my through it throughout the morning. It’s just a good routine to hold onto. It keeps me sane and focused.
4. Shopping at Trader Joe’s. It’s one of the few stores I enjoy going into. I know the products I love. It’s affordable, they play good music, and the staff always seems to be having a good time. It’s legit one of the only times I enjoy spending money.
5. Finishing up a long run when you keep a good pace. I love that feeling when I power through a run and feel good throughout it. It’s one of the few times in my life where I really have to exert myself. I’ve been improving my mile splits and it feels really good.
6. Walking home from work. It takes me a little over an hour to get home. I make my way through downtown, Loring Park, the Walker Sculpture Garden, and onto the bike trail. It’s nice to either walk silently or listen to podcasts. It’s just a good part of the day to decompress, call up a friend, or catch up on podcasts. I also know I’ll probably take a catnap as soon as I get home.
7. Getting something in the mail. I haven’t gotten a whole lot of worthwhile letters since I stopped doing the letter writing last year. It was always a great surprise getting a response in the mail. I kind of miss it. I may bring it back next year, just for another challenge.
8. Batman movies. I love the Batman character. I always liked him more than Superman. He’s just cooler than Clark Kent. The Christopher Nolan movies were both entertaining and riveting. They were just cool. I love the world he inhabits. It’s fun to spend time in there whether it’s through a movie or a comic book.
9. Making an epic meal. I’m not an excellent cook, but I would say that I can make a decent meal if I am called upon. That’s become one of my favorite things to do, make a plan for a meal, go grocery shopping, cook up a bunch of stuff, and then lie on the couch and let it digest. It’s much more satisfying than just purchasing takeout.
10. Mowing the lawn and shoveling snow. Maybe I’m just saying this because I don’t do either of these things a whole lot anymore, but I like them because you can see the results right away. They get your blood flowing, and you can reward yourself with a nice beverage afterwards.