What makes you happy?

According to a new study, a great deal of our happiness is hided in the genes. We are born with the capacity.

What makes me happy is sharing a meal indoor or outdoor, looking at a wonderful view, a tree, a plant, enjoying the nature (I thought that these were learned because my father brought me out in the nature from I was a very little child. So have I done with mine, and even my grandchildren love nature).

Oh jeah, going to a concert, to the cinema or theatre can make me happy as well, but I think that it is the meal afterward that crowns the experience. So nature and being with a small group of people is my main focus for joy. Learned or inherited?

Oh, I forgot learning. I love to read, reflect and learn academic stuff and reading easy litterature for relaxing as well.

Here is the link to the study:
Happiness | Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research

Everything you mentioned brings me happiness, too, Rosi! And many other things. When I was a kid and teen, I would have put music and dancing way up on my list. Though I still enjoy both, they have been replaced in the top spots by more "relaxing" things, partially because my energy levels have waned because of my medications and age.

I can totally see a connection between happiness and "nature and nurture". Though many in my family have experienced depression, pretty much all of us are/were upbeat positive types at baseline, with the ability to enjoy small things in life. Most of us enjoyed nature and many hobbies. My parents did many things with us, when we were kids.

Company of good people makes me happy.

Accomplishing a project too.

Beauty in nature.

Having things (don’t have to be big) to look forward to.

Good thread!

@Soupe du jour I would have put up dancing and music as well when I was younger. I would have put up singing too. The "big family", ants and so on, liked to sing togheter. I liked to sing with them. My husband and I liked to sing togheter. Listening to the radio would have taken a big place in former days too. Before the time of the TV (I think it came later here in Europe then i USA), I loved to listen to stories on the radio.

@Discombobulated Good people and beauty are wonderful.

My kids x

Spending time with my family make me happy. I love music and that makes me happy too. It even helps when I`m feeling the lowest of lows. My Mom always had music playing in the house or while we were in the car, since we were little kids and I think I got my love of music from her.

Music it's my religion

@Crazy Hitch, @VerMOZZica and @Berg1935

Thank you for contributing to the thread! Yes, children and being with family can be sources to joy and so can music!

Watching a good movie helps
Music
Laughing with my friends
The mental reward after accomplishing something difficult

Music is such a good one, thanks for reminding me!

My husband and daughter make me happy. Also writing and listening to music.

For me, it's learning, engaging my brain and seeing the world from a different angle. A (hopefully) interesting angle. I like knowing, even if (as the philosopher says) all I know is how much I don't know. I like trying, anyhow.

writing for me, too. A great many things make me happy but creative writing is at the top.

Being out in nature. Rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, XC skiing.
Music
Being silly with friends

XC skiing was my favorite sport when I lived in Moscow. It made me ecstatically happy. I wish I could engage in it now, but I live in sunny California now and although it offers a slew of advantages, skiing XC is not one of them .

I agree with many of you who mentioned music. Since they're so expensive these days, I only catch one or two concerts a year now; I love live music, though. I also subscribe to YouTube Premium & am constantly streaming music ad free.

Baseball! I love the game! I played my whole childhood, in high school, and then in a 30 & over men's league, only quitting when I was 48. I understand folks who find baseball boring, though. I find golf on TV to be extremely boring, because I never really played. Perhaps if I'd played I would enjoy watching.

We're all adults...Some of my fondest memories relate to physical intimacy. My partner and I have been together for over 20 years, though, and we 're both in our 60s. As I've aged, emotional intimacy has become far more important than physical intimacy. I hate to break it to you youngsters out there, but many folks find their libido fades a bit as they age. These days, a quiet dinner out and a movie makes me quite content.

Being with my ancient bamboo plant Sally and praying to God on a kneeler at a nice catholic church.

A nice diner out. watching a tv show ted lazzo or *M*A*S*H*sitting by him. my hubby. we have been together for 28 years. married 26 years.

bizi

Humor and music - putting a nice spin on life's absurdities

Music, good people, nature, books

Unfortunately, spending money shopping online lately gives me an escape if only for a few hours. I've got to stop this shite and find something soothing that doesn't jeopardize my future...

Identifying it is powerful, writing about it too. There can be steps to take to help, I'm sure. Probably looks slightly different for everyone

Right there with you man. Moreso than one may think. I'm very impulsive at times, one of the few negative symptoms that persist for me beyond meds. Not sure if it's mood disorder related, but it's definitely there.

Music, shopping on line ….. (I can relate)