My daughter, Laughter, friends, smiles, chocolate, hugs, seeing others succeed, laughing at myself, singing, helping others, ACDC, martial arts, sunshine, bubble baths, rain, animals, flowers, ice-cream, water fights, good coffee, so much makes me happy Anna. Happiness isn't a guarantee though, it comes, and it goes, but it comes more than it goes :}.

Now Joy, that stays with me despite my problems and hurdles I face in life. It's an inner peace I never imagined possible. It's been a spiritual journey I was willing to take, and one that continues to evolve. Today it's a love of life, relationships with others, and presence of the Holy Spirit in my life that brings me joy. I sought God, and I found him, and that brought me Joy.

I'm still trying to figure that out. In my short time of sobriety, I've figured out what doesn't make me happy, but I'm still trying to find the joy that I yearn for. Like you, I am finding happiness in the connections I'm making with other sober folks. The friendships I'm making are far different than those of any I've had before...just as the Big Book promises. Since I'm experiencing those, I am able to believe in other promises. I'll just keep waiting patiently for those other promises to appear...while I continue to stay sober! :)

HTL, I know, I feel the same way you do. I have no idea what makes me happy. I sort of remember things that used to make me happy but right now it's hard to see. Happiness seems like a foreign land to me right now, but I know that I will experience it as my mind and body heal. I think the same will happen for you, too. I love CM's happy list. :)

For me, it's peace of mind. That's all I ever wanted. Tried booze, drugs, marriage, careers...ect, nothing satisfied me. Only after I found recovery was I able to find that. Thank you so much, Lord. All the best. James

HTL, Feel a bit in no mans land. Know what used to make me happy, painting , gardening . wildlife etc. but its not quite doing it for me yet. thaught oh im sober bring out the paints and i.ll paint a masterpiece lol. em no didnt happen. This morning i,m contented ish sitting outside sun is out and a little robin is eating crumbs. that will do for now. Guess was trying to run before walk.

My relationship with God and the peace in my life - is what makes me happy without it everything is turmoilish and miserable, because of it I can see wonder in all things including life, my children, etc. I have to sum it up short and sweet like this or my list could go on forever.

Peace!

Chocolates always makes me happy lol, being with friends and family, mucking around fighting with my niece, seeing her face light up and the excitement inside her, laughing, the sun, flowers, hugs, being of help to others,music, knowing people care and love me.

There are loads more but those are just a few that come to mind 1st when i read this post.

I'm with Coog... I like simple things. Smiles and laughter are at the top of my list. Doing something nice for someone just cause I want to, not looking for something in return. A job well done.

Watching those with less time than me grow and change in their sobriety makes me happy. Anna, you are one of them!

I would put on a happy face while drinking thinking I was fooling everyone. Now the happy face is sincere.

~Chris

It feels to me that happy is a way of being. There are things in my life that increase my happiness - my son is getting married in June (and I haven't got a thing to wear!LOL), being sober, contentment, watching caterpillars, seeing the world around me with new eyes, having a place to call home, a family that I love, the cats, shared laughter, being able to preach again, music, reading, my work, my granddaughter (when I get to see her), on I could go on for so much longer!

The reality is that first and foremost being sober is what makes me happy and gives me the freedom to enjoy all those things/people above and so much more.

I sometimes think happiness is around us if we take the time to see it. Lord knows it's hard to define. I mean look at Tiger Woods" He's a billionarre, at the top of his profession, famous, married to a supermodel, two healthy kids, and managed to bang half the strippers in Vegas . But this guy rarely looked happy even BEFORE he got caught, and he's sure as hell not happy now!

ahhhh the "secret" to LIFE.....Coogee said it well in the #1 reply. The simple things we can enjoy and embrace ....and the joy that is in our heart and soul. What makes me happiest is when I give a little bit of who I am and what I have to someone else. Even when it is not acknowledge, just the act of giving brings me cheer.

oh and Ben and Jerry's CherryGarcia...never fails to bring me GREAT happiness!!!!!

I am happy that I can actually feel again and that I want to.when my feelings started to come back it was like wow what the fk? somedays it was intense and I would just cry,but I wasnt really sad. I guess I held it in so long when I finally let it out it just poured out.I never new love could feel so good! now thats a natural high thats way better than all the shit I did to try to get that feeling.

For me, it is actually getting some work done on my own, being productive. Then, it makes me happy when I can spend time with my daughters - time they want to spend with me. Time they ASKED to spend with me. We go to a little middle-eastern place and order all this little plates of eggplant stew, and warm lentil spiced stew, and crunchy falalfel and tender soft pita with olive oil and drink sweet turkish tea and lemonade and laugh and giggle and I get to listen to their hopes and dreams and jokes.
Then we go home and kiss our Molly to death and watch NATGEO and go to bed. Oh, and sleeping in.....

Happiness is like oxygen..you dont need to look for it...its everywhere..It is a part of me like the air I breathe...Wherever I go , it goes...Since figuring that out , happiness has never left me..