Most of us have a special place we go to that always makes us feel safe and happy, no matter what is going on in our lives. Somehow it brings us calmness and clarity, helping us to think clearly, and feel at peace. For some it might be a place you go to be alone, for others it might be a place that you go to visit others.
For me, my happy place is always somewhere near water. Ideally, that will be the beach where I can observe and listen to water, and also feel timeless, if that makes any sense? The tide has been ebbing and flowing four times per day since the beginning of time. That kind of puts any problems or worries I have into perspective.
If it is not the beach then rivers, canals, lakes, ponds are all like magnets to me, some of my friends laugh I would be happy sitting besides a puddle and they are probably right. :) At home I sit in my little cottage with the door open when it rains. It is very old (a listed building) and is not allowed to have drainpipes, so rain sounds pretty beautiful when it falls heavy.
Many people I know feel happiest when they are with family and friends. They like the close connection and the unconditional love they feel, and I can truly understand this. Sometimes we don’t see family or friends for many years, yet we start off exactly where we left off.
They are often the people we turn to for support, help, advice, information, or maybe just a hug. Mostly we can be completely open and honest with them, they are the people who have known us the longest. The ones who have witnessed our ups and downs, known our successes and failures, our gains and our losses.
Also read, I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends.
Art, in all its forms, can be a great sense of joy and comfort. It may include listening to music, poetry, painting, writing. It could be enjoying stunning architecture, going to the theatre or ballet, spending hours in galleries or museums. All of these seem to fill my soul and whenever I feel depleted these are the things I do, or places I visit.
Architecture, particularly ancient, not only brings me pleasure but again, makes me realise the insignificance of most of the things I worry about. I often drive past Stonehenge in England, which was built 5000 years ago. I love to allow my mind to wander, considering who first proposed it, the thousands of people who must have helped construct it over centuries… and how on earth those huge stones got there!
So where is your happy place? Would you be with family and friends, eating at your favourite restaurant, maybe having fun with a huge splurge shopping? Do you love history and architecture or is your happy place somewhere far away from where you live? Perhaps you love to sing your heart out at your favourite concert, or just stay snug and cosy in your own home.
I have never been a runner but know some of my fitness friends say it is the place they are the happiest, always seems a bit painful to me :). I think they love the ‘me’ time of it, where they are not expected to answer phone calls or check emails. A time they can really be on their own doing something they love.
If you could choose where to be and what to do on your last day on earth, what would it be? For me it will definitely be watching the sun go down on my favourite beach, cooking a nice BBQ and sipping a glass of something cool and fizzy. Ideally with all my family and friends, an old castle as a backdrop and Santana playing… but I guess I can’t have it all :)
Where is your happy place? How often do you visit it? What would you last day on earth (ideally) consist of?
Tags Finding Happiness
My happy place is a picnic in a natural environment like a park or bush or botanical garden. My grand kinds are my favorite companions
Hi Martha, thanks for joining the conversation. Sounds wonderful! Picnics are always lovely, eating outside side makes it just that little bit special. And grandkids add that perfect touch of magic :). Lily x
Singing in a choir! getting ready for concerts. Love how it comes together!
Hi Colleen, thanks for joining the conversation. Oh, I couldn’t agree more. Lucky you! I am not in a choir but just returned from my musical aqua aerobics, where I sing my heart out :)
That sounds exactly my happy place, always a beach, near water and of course with family. Especially on my birthday, I always want to be on the beach for my birthday with my birthday balloon blowing in the air. Love love love the water. I moved to Georgia from Michigan. Among my family that I miss the most is being by the water, the Great Lakes State. It’s just in me, so when I go home we always are doing something by the water.
Hi LaBrillia, thanks for joining the conversation. I think you are absolutely right, it is just in you! I have friends who hardly ever go near the sea, while I have withdrawal after about a week :) It is a fabulous place to spend your birthday too! Last year I went to a little floating offshore restaurant on my birthday. Fabulous!! Lily x
My happy place is my little condo on the Coast of SC. It is also a part time rental. The State of SC is trying to pass a bill to mandate control if Short Term Rentals. If this affects you, please follow up on this issue.
I so look forward to uplifting ideas and interests from my over 60 buddies! Thank you!
Same here in parts of Canada.
Our gov trying to stop air bnb’s etc.
Using excuse of lack of housing.
Lack of housing here is due to extreme high cost. If we have no more short term rentals I can’t be at any lake in my area. Too far for day trips.
My fave place is near an ocean or lake. A warm ocean or lake.
Hi Carol, thanks for joining in. You are lucky to have warm lakes or oceans :) In England they are pretty cold, but worth the effort! Lily x
Hi Wanda, thanks for joining the conversation.How beautiful! It is a very lovely part of the world. I have been to South Carolina a few times and love it there :) Lily x
Should I be embarrassed because my happy place includes family, water and music, too. I sincerely hope not because at 77yrs, after years of living my life my way (freedom w/responsibilities & accountability) I feel blessed to finally be at home with myself and those I treasure and love~~~<><
Hi Barbara, thanks for joining the conversation. I think you should be proud to love family, water and music! I hear all the best people do :) Lily x