After a long bout of illness and general malaise, thanks to a particularly persistent bug.

Combined with a general case of the blues bought on by all the crap news and weather…

… I thought it was about time I lightened up a bit.

So armed with pen and paper, I decided to start this momentous undertaking by making a list of some of the things that make me smile (in no particular order).

30 things that make me smile

1. Clear blue skies and sunshine on my face or shoulders.
2. A full moon in a starry sky.
3. The sound of waves breaking on a beach.
4. The taste of the first pint at the pub with your mates when you feel one of those nights coming on.
5. The smell of a bonfire and the sound of a guitar being tuned up.
6. A reliable car, a full tank of gas, an open road and no schedule.
7. The smell of earth in a forest just after the rain stops.
8. The sound of laughter coming from a friend’s house, just before you knock on the door.
9. The sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that you get being in an aircraft as it takes off.
10. Watching any wild animal when it’s unaware of your presence.
11. The sound of crickets through an open window on a summer night.
12. The smell of bacon and eggs frying on a Saturday morning.
13. Sunrises and / or Sunsets over any large body of water.
14. The feeling of stepping out onto the street in a strange country for the first time.
15. Funny one-liners and rapier-sharp retorts.
16. Any form of jammin’ – especially after a ‘J’.
17. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the taste of the first bite of a freshly baked sticky bun.
18. The tingle down your spine when you hear a piece of music that really moves you.
19. The smell of Jasmine and Wisteria in full bloom.
20. An unexpected phone call from a pal you haven’t heard from in awhile, who just phoned to see how you are doing.
21. The heat of hot water on your back during a shower on a cold morning.
22. Finding a fiver in your pocket when you thought you were broke.
23. Diving into the sea for the first time on a summer holiday.
24. Walking through the gates on the first day of an open-air festival (especially with your mates).
25. The sound of a cat purring while it’s asleep on your lap.
26. Playing a newly learned song note-perfect for the first time.
27. The smell of a barbeque being fired up.
28. The sound and smell of kicking your way through piles of autumn leaves.
29. Drinking Irish coffee and watching snow through a window (especially when you don’t have to drive anywhere).
30. Doing something to make someone special to you smile as well.

What’s on your list?

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