Things to Make Me HAPPY

Lamb Korma
Bai Chai Restaurant, Kansas City, MO

OK let's get started! The first rule of this game is listing things that make me happy. Here you go:

1. Food --->food is always comforting. They calm all nervous and anger. Compared to other kind of foods, I love home-made foods because they are cheaper and (likely) healthier. I like a real food much better than fake food (read: I'd prefer "heavy" food rather than "snack" food.

2. Traveling --->being a stranger in strange places could take me to incredible experiences and it is priceless, like what a French writer, Collette, has written: "I'm going away to an unknown country where I shall have no past and no name, and where I shall be reborn again with a new face and untried heart..." Well, most people consider traveling as expensive, could not agree more! But somehow, there are ways to make traveling is less expensive. Most of the time, I spend my money on gasoline and tickets rather than on material things. No Good? Yeah, I know, but I can't resist the temptation.

3. My mom's cooks ---> My mom is not the best cook in the world. She never be able to cook weird food recipes or makes modification. Her kitchen only produces traditional foods. Indeed, she never tries to upgrade her ability. Since I was a little till nowadays, we never have new menu on the table. Her foods taste just standard. But for me, they make me so happy. Those things that I want to eat whenever I pay for visits. I never want to eat out during those visits. Her best speciality is pecel. :)

4. Getting a postcard --->You may say that I'm an old school type person, ahhh.. I don't care! I love sending and receiving postcards from friends all over the world. Although postcard are usually written with a brief text like “Hey, I’m in Venice and weather is nice” but it never fails me to imagine the ambience when the person who sent it wrote it. Also, they never fail me to smile and laugh. During traveling, each time I stop in a city, I was so busy to find a letter box to drop them. 

5. Grocery Store Hopping ---> You know, I don't like clothes shopping. They make me headache. I never spend too much time to buy clothes. But, I can spend more time in grocery store. Grocery store just makes me so happy with the smell of fruits, vegetables, cheese, deli, and everything inside.

6. Talking to Friends over Foods à Friends and foods just get so well together.

7. Waking fresh in the morning ---> nothing better than this. It makes my day!

8. Cooking---> I love cooking even though my cook turn out to be horrible. Hahahahah.

9. A smile à A smile is magic. I used to tell my friends, “smile, even though shit happens!” Well, if shit happens, I don’t usually smile, but laugh it loud! I love to laugh at my own stupidity.

10. A hug --->  I like giving hug or be given a hug. I know the magic power of a hug. It can calm down nervous, like food.

11. Listening to Iron and Wine ---> his songs are so shooting, just bring inner-peace. I love to listen to them days and nights. What are my favorites? Off course Trapeze Swinger, Southern Anthem, Her Tea Leaves, and many more.

12. Reading ---> yeah, it’s an absolute pleasure. But to tell you the truth, I exclude all kinds of text books.

13. Done with school ---> When I was done with my undergrad and busy working, I did pray to have a chance to go back to school. Yes, I love school since it offered me with lots of knowledge, new friends, teachers, networks, etc. However, the reading assignments and essays were hurting and too much.

14. Being with family ---> Like Ling McNamara has written, “Honey is sweet, so is family” Well, I don’t need to explain this phrase.

15. Recalling stupid things happened ---> like buying “unsalted salt” when in fact I needed salt! Or, read bus Number 04 as 40!

16. Remember when falling in love (one time or more in life) ---> like seeing his glittering eyes, looking at his dimples, etc. Sweet isn’t it?

17. Taking a long walk ---> Walking is not only to help us exercise, but I usually get so much idea while walking. In general, I love exercises. Hell, they make me happy as they produce endofrin.

18. A cup of a coffee ---> It was! I’m trying to give it up due to medical reasons.

19. Fall! I do love fall. It's my favorite season all the year. It's really pretty to see all trees turn to reddish, yellowish, and brown. 

20. Beautiful sunset ---> I'm a sunset hunter! during my stay in St. Louis, I'm well-known as a person who loved to take pictures SUNSET! 

What else? I’m gonna add if I find more and more!