A lot of things make me happy. I consider myself a person with intense emotions. I am grateful for this ability, but sometimes it can become quite difficult to process reality. My tendency to romanticize every little aspect of my life does not help either. But I am thankful for the chance of existing and I make sure to make my time on this Earth enjoyable. Here is a list of some dopamine releasing activities.

Spending time with my favourite people takes the first place in this hierarchy. Even though it might seem like I am easily discouraged when faced with a room full of people, there are a few exceptions I would sacrifice my solitary time for. In fact, I love people, but their presence scares me because of how unpredictable they are. Individuals that offer me enough comfort to open up are worth staying around. Each one of us has got a lot to learn from their friends. And if you cannot affirm this whole-heartedly, maybe it’s time to reconsider the people you share your energy with. Find yourself some friends that make you happy only by looking at them. Search for people that can teach you valuable life lessons, that bring out the better you, that make time pass quickly when you are in their presence, that urge you to enjoy life, that force you out of your comfort zone, that expect nothing but the best from you, that choose you for who you truly are and that love you unconditionally. “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler

Humans are so detailed and unique, I could spend hours analyzing their appearance, personal style, hobbies, music preference, behavioral patterns, body language, the way they carry themselves across the room and so on. But it would mean being in the same room with them. I experience absolute bliss when I get to manifest myself through my hobbies. For me, hobbies make coming home from school very exciting as I relax and have fun all at once. Also, they help to develop my mind and broaden my knowledge. Investing in your education is the best thing you could do for yourself. You do not need to be talented to have hobbies, you need to be willing. As long as they make you happy, it is not necessary for you to excel at them. Just strum your guitar, press piano keys until you find a chord, dance in circles, pick up a pen, read a good book while sipping on some sweet tea, watch a life-changing movie, wet your paintbrush, knit, crochet, embroider, sew, take photos of peculiar and aesthetic things, make a bouquet of wild flowers, collect feathers and colorful rocks, garden, water your succulents, make a terrarium, do something that calls to you, create. Even taking a forest walk, while listening to music, can beautify your life. You can beautify your life if you want to live beautifully. At least, that is what works for me.

Finally, it is safe to say that nature brings me the most primal sense of happiness. I really love the alternation between day and night. I never get bored of watching the sky, considering the fact that it always displays a new range of colours. We frequently forget about the permanent canvas above our heads and focus on the earth in which our feet are deeply grounded and tangled up like roots. The succession of the seasons is also a fascinating process we overlook. From a lively, raw, blooming, vernal landscape, to a lazy, sunny, balmy summer melting into a ferruginous, plentiful, cozy autumn fading away into an enchanting, nival, chilly, hibernal scenery. Nature is as beautiful in each of her aging stages, and I am a blessed witness of her perpetual death and rebirth every year, along with the plants and animals that I really love, like siblings from the same Mother.

That concludes what I had to say on this matter. I hope you are inspired to cherish more what you have. Because these are the things that make me undeniably happy.

Necula Irene – 10E