That makes me happy!

Autumn in New England - the temperatures are perfect, the air smells sweet and the foliage is breathtaking! It makes me happy.

I recently noticed myself saying those exact words for things that bring a smile to my face or warm my heart in some way. Working every Saturday with my cousin Val and my brother Bob makes me happy. Being able to help both my parents through some major projects makes me happy. Sleeping in on a Sunday morning makes me happy. "Makes me happy" is a simple phrase but it's loaded with significance because those times are windows into the soul. They define the best parts of life.

What makes you happy? Do you know? Or do you find yourself stumbling along from chore to appointment, waiting for the end of the work day, the weekend, or the vacation? Those times feel so fleeting that we hardly can capture them. Unless we stop and begin to notice the times, the events, the people, the surroundings that make us happy. Start noticing and collecting those moments. Pay attention to the little...and big things...that make you happy. And if it's a person who does that for you, let them know. I'm sure it will make them happy too!

Have a happy day!
Marianne

PS...my cousin recommended this website to help get good deals at restaurants. IT's www.restaurant.com for some deeply discounted certificates. Just type in your zip code.

PPS...this did NOT make me happy and I'm sharing it so the same thing won't happen to you. Be careful when you rent a car. Some now come with stickets on the window saying that you don't need to stop to pay tolls. When I saw that, I figured the toll amount ($1 for the bridge I went over) would be added to my total rental. Nope! I was charged $11 by a company called Plate Pass who charged me $2.50 a day for the privilege of having that sticker on my window. Not nice Hertz for connecting with a company like that. Am I at fault for not reading the small print? Yes but I've rented cars for over 20 years and didn't expect to have something like that sneaked in.