How Baby Boomers Can Find Happiness in Life’s Simple Pleasures
As I write my blog this Monday morning, it just happens to be International Happiness Day and the first day of spring. How often do those two cheerful days coincide?
That means you baby boomers should have been experiencing bliss to the extreme that day! Since I publish every Thursday, the day has passed. Was it a great day for you? Not so much?
Every year, on March 20, as International Happiness Day is celebrated, I wonder if that means the remaining 364 days of the year are deemed grumpy, gloomy days.
I say we don’t need a special day to find some bliss. Any ordinary day will do.
If you weren’t aware of International Happiness Day, how about we celebrate today? Let’s pause and enjoy all of life’s simple treasures and treats we look forward to throughout the day. Yes, we all have them!
You know, the moment you open up your drapes and sunlight fills your home. The aroma of coffee in the morning. Those delightful blueberries on your cereal. The hot shower in the morning that awakens and refreshes you.
Open the door and walk outside. Feel the brisk air on your skin and the sun on your face. Hear the birds sing out joyfully. Notice the colorful spring flowers exploding in your front yard.
If you are a baby boomer still working, instead of grumbling about it, enjoy your favorite song on the radio as you drive to your job. Don’t just sit there, sing along! Get away from your desk or out of the house and eat lunch in the park. Enjoy the fleeting spring season in its full budding glory.
If you are a retired baby boomer, a 2016 Merrill Lynch Age Wave report indicates that retirees are reporting having loads of fun in retirement, regardless of their income level. Retirees in the study said they found enjoyment from simple activities like watching sunrises and walking to breakfast. Playing piano for the first time at age 71 is another wonderful example. So enjoy some creative leisure time.
Find some joy from giving. Take a moment and write, text, or call a friend. Give someone a big smile to brighten their day and perk up yours as well. Make it a point to do something nice for a stranger or give someone a sincere compliment today.
When you get home, give a loved one a big hug. Make your dog’s day with a walk around the neighborhood, a treat, and an extra pat on its head. Relish each bite of dinner. Watch the sunset. Enjoy your favorite comedy and laugh loudly. At the end of the day, remember each blessing and thank God in prayer.
If a gloomy thought dares to enter your head this day, usher it right out and replace it with a happy, positive thought. No groans or gripes allowed. Mentally shout “next” in your head and move right along. Relish this day of simply being alive.
Who needs a special day to celebrate the beauty of bountiful bliss? Use these simple little tricks and happiness will greet you like bright, cheerful tulips and daffodils on a lovely spring day.
Image courtesy of alex_ugalek at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Great post Julie!
I agree! It’s so true when you say, ” We don’t need a special day to find some bliss.” It’s everywhere, everyday, we just have to stop and notice.
Have a wonderful day!
Rosie
You have a great day too, Rosie. Wishing you all the best!
Wow Julie, your article even perked up this old dairy farmer. Thanks.
So glad my article brought a bit of sunshine to your dairy farm. Perhaps it even put a gorgeous (pun, pun, even though you don’t pronounce your last name the same way I do!) smile on your face?
I love what you said: Let’s pause and enjoy all of life’s simple treasures and treats we look forward to throughout the day. Yes, we all have them!
So true! No matter what our week has been like, all of us can find joy and happiness. Even if it’s just watching a cat video. Thanks!
I’ll take a cute cat video any day of the week! Glad you enjoyed.
Could not agree more Julie! There is so much to appreciate in life if only we can learn to keep things in perspective, and of course, a sense of humor helps. This has been one of t-h-o-s-e weeks for me, one challenge after another. This morning I was feeling pretty good about getting through it all and when I went to my blog I discovered the home page is showing up as a line of code. Lovely. I couldn’t help but laugh … okay, more lessons to learn … bring it on! 🙂
Oh, I relate! The tech gremlins can get you down. Hope you got it all fixed over the weekend. You have the right attitude – tackle the issue head on, learn your life lesson, and move on. Thanks for taking the time to stop by during one of THOSE weeks! Much appreciated.
I made the most of World Happiness Day and I know if my Miss Coco could use the computer, she’d leave a super woof comment, Julie. I do however try to make every day a Happiness Day with a random act of kindness. A girl can never have enough good karma.
That’s a wonderful goal everyone should have – just one simple random act of kindness a day. The world would definitely be a happier place if everybody incorporated that habit!
Julie, your blog made me happy and gave me pause to realize how much I have to be grateful for and how I can make someone else happy with so little effort. I went in the kitchen and gave my cat Fee-licks a treat “just because.” Thanks for reminding me that by doing something to help others be happy, even if only for a moment, we get happy because happiness is contagious.
That my blog brought you a moment of happiness – well – that’s why we write blogs – to hopefully bring a little inspiration and joy to others. When someone lets you know that’s the case, that’s SO rewarding and is what keeps us bloggers going. Thanks for taking the time to comment and bring a bit of happiness to my day. Because you’re so right. Happiness is contagious.
Funny how on International Happiness Day I was most sad and conflicted. I blamed it on the moon.. I choose to be happy – on a special day or not.. but allow myself to face reality at times too.
Good blog post !
Thanks, Terry. Your comment reminded me of a blog post I wrote awhile ago, “Stop Making Happiness the Goal.” Because sometimes we try to hard to be happy. Negative emotions are perfectly normal sometimes. There’s a balance to strive for here. Should we still try to aim for a positive attitude? Definitely. Will we always achieve it? No. Like the famous song, “Cause You Had a Bad Day.” Everyone does sometimes. So your advice is right on. Let yourself “face reality” and feel normal emotions. Go ahead, blame it on the moon! As I wrote in the blog, instead of making happiness the goal, aim for fulfillment, contentment, inspiration, gratitude, and throw in a little adventure. Search for purpose and meaning in life. If you make those your goals, you’re more likely to feel the joy and happiness you’ve been searching for all along.
Absolutely- I say happiness is a choice we have as we begin each day, so something that then becomes part of our daily rituals xxx
Yes, I believe if gratitude becomes part of our “daily ritual,” as you say, it can help us to be more happy and content with our lives.
Just reading this post made me smile. Thanks for sharing the imagery and your happiness.
That’s the best compliment, that I made someone smile! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the blog which made me smile!
Oh. Oy. I’ve been so much more grim than giddy this last six weeks of searching for housing. I haven’t been hit this hard by stress and depression in a long time.
I’m happy to say it’s beginning to lift now and I’m moving forward towards my new small-town Sonoma County life with some sense of peace. Phew!
So glad to hear, Sue!
True! i never celebrate Valentine’s day, friendship day, mother’s day and so on! In fact I celebrate all these 365 days a year.
Happiness is all around us. All we need is the mentality to appreciate the positive energies around us.
Thank you Julie, Keep spreading happiness.
I don’t celebrate the holidays either and also think it makes more sense to give thanksgiving every day, appreciate your mother every day, and yes, celebrate happiness every day! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!