I woke up this morning feeling a bit uninspired and subdued. I couldn’t tell you why or what has caused my sudden turn in mood, nothing has happened to dampen my spirits this week, in fact, until today I had been taking isolation in my stride.

It is just one of those days.

It seems that the accumulation of uncertainty and negativity over the past month has finally caught up, accompanied by a week of rain. If, like me you are feeling a bit low at present, feeling a bit lethargic and lacking any real energy or enthusiasm for the days ahead, know that you are not alone.

The majority of us have been away for our friends and family for close to seven weeks now, away from work, unable to make any plans or know what the immediate future will hold. It has not been an easy prospect to contend with. The lack of contact and any real definitive answers is beginning to eat away at our motivation and day to day happiness. With that in mind, it is on a drizzly day like today, we could all do with a restorative read to remind us that it’s not all doom and gloom out there. Our pre lock down pleasures do still exist and won’t be out of reach for long. There are still reasons to smile and focus on what is good for a while.

I decided to think about these things that make us happy.

What makes us feel truly content? What are we really missing or craving during this time? What are the simple pleasures or the great loves in life which we have forgotten to think about or remember to be grateful for these past few weeks?

I asked twenty people the question:

What makes you happy? 

Below is a list of the answers they gave..

Have a read and cheer yourself up. Maybe you agree with some of these, maybe you have your own ideas, your own comforts but wherever your happy place may be, try to visit today. 

Happiness is…

SUNSHINE

FAMILY

EATING BREAKFAST IN THE GARDEN

FRIENDS 

MUSIC 

RECEIVING LETTERS

THE SUN ON MY FACE

WINE

THE PUB

GETTING UP EARLY TO GO TO THE AIRPORT

SEEING MY CHILDREN

WATCHING OLD MOVIES

THE RIGHT SONG AT THE RIGHT TIMEp

HOT SHOWERS

PORNSTAR MARTINIS 

PETS 

CUDDLES

WRAPPING UP WARM FOR FIREWORK NIGHT

SUNDAY ROASTS 

CAMPING 

LAVENDER BUBBLE BATHS

WALKING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH FAMILY

CUPS OF TEA AND A GOOD CHAT

PIMMS O’CLOCK

SEEING A FRIEND SHINE

A GOOD BOOK

THE SMELL OF COFFEE IN THE MORNING 

SINGING IN THE CAR

RANDOM MESSAGES FROM OLD FRIENDS 

FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE

RECIEVING PRAISE 

WAKING UP ON HOLIDAY 

HELPING SOMEONE 

DANCING TO OLD CLASSICS 

MY OWN BED 

MAKING OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY, SEEING OTHER PEOPLE SMILE

GOOD COFFEE

FINDING A REALLY GOOD SERIES

SITTING OUTSIDE ON A WARM EVENING 

WALKING ON THE COAST 

BEING IN LOVE 

FOOD 

A BIG SHOPPING TRIP WITH MONEY TO SPEND

MY GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND

SUNDAY MORNINGS IN BED

GIN 

PUPPIES

MASSAGES 

AUSTRALIA 

BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH 

GETTING ATTENTION 

COCKTAILS 

SMILES

THE OCEAN

WINNING AT ANYTHING

TAKING YOUR BRA OFF AFTER A LONG DAY

FINDING SOME MONEY IN A POCKET OF AN OLD COAT

BEER 

WHEN YOU CATCH YOUR FRIENDS EYE AND KNOW YOU ARE THINKING THE SAME THING

PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH OLD FRIENDS 

SEX

GETTING DRESSED UP

YOGA

THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WILL DO AFTER ISOLATION!