10 little things that make men ridiculously happy
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Source – telegraph UK
Deep down, you’re still a 14-year old…
By Alex Proud
Men are simple creatures, which is why it only takes little things to make us very happy indeed. Here are Alex Proud’s top ten…
Men are, at heart, boys. You realise this, in your thirties or early forties when it suddenly strikes you that you’re never going to have a moment, when you think “My God, I’m an adult.” Of course, you own lots of adult stuff and have adult responsibilities and you’re a bit more chilled out about things. But, deep down you’re still a 14-year old. This realisation is actually a very good thing. In fact, in many ways, it’s the key to happiness as it makes you recognise that the little things that really make you happy are essentially grown-up versions of the things that made you happy when you were 12.
There’s another side to the male joy of small things though. As you age, you also start to see that a lot of activities that made you happy in your mid twenties (like staying out until 4am, three nights in a row) no longer do. Your body can’t take it any more – and even if it could, having three kids crawling all over you with a steaming hangover is too great a price to pay for chemically induced joie de vivre the night before. So, you start to look for healthier ways to be happy.
Finally, there’s technologically-assisted happiness. Again this plays to your inner geek, but many of us who grew up in the ’70s just can’t believe how brilliantly convenient and on-demand life has got. Mentally we’re hard-wired to expect slow service and limited choice so today’s digital cornucopia will always give those of us in our 40s a little bit of a thrill that our kids will never know.
So, what are the little things that mean a lot to men?
1. Lots of followers on social media
Yes, it’s stamp collecting for the digital age. And yes, they’ll often turn on you when when you make some ill-advised tweet. But how my heart leaps when I gain another dozen Twitter followers. And how validated do I feel by likes on Facebook. Speaking of validation, people at Twitter HQ, I’d really like one of those little blue ticks that shows I’m a “verified” account. Yes, I know it makes no real difference to me personally. I know it’s the modern equivalent of sewing a merit badge on my scout jumper. But it would make me feel like a VIT. It’s in your power to make me happy.
• Which is the world’s happiest country?
2. Transport upgrades
Is there any greater pleasure than hearing, “Sorry Mr Proud, economy is full, but we’ve managed to find you a seat in business?” My wife couldn’t care less, but then again, she is a foot shorter than me. I’d take this further, though. Upgrade my train seat. I love you. Upgrade my hire car. I love you. If I was hiring a bike for the day and you gave me one with 21 gears, rather than 18, I would love you. In fact, I would probably love you if you downgraded me and then upgraded me so I was back where I started.
3. Airport lounges
I don’t know. Perhaps it’s the depressing commercial squalor of UK airports which often makes you feel like you’re in a version of the Hunger Games, set in a shopping mall, with 100,000 contestants. After this, nothing beats walking through a discreet door into the air-con elegance and calm of your lounge where people are behaving like all air travellers did until around 1989. I do get the argument that airport lounges are expensive and that, rather than sit in one, I could sit in the total privacy of my own sitting room and leave an hour later. But there’s something about the word lounge and there’s something about leaving all those Ryanair stag dos behind. Besides, my own home doesn’t have four different kinds of fruit juice and an enticing selection of biscuits.
4. New technology
Many people bemoan our ever shorter upgrade cycles. Not me. New TVs, new cameras, new laptops and new phones… I love them all. Two years. One year. Six months. I love the idea that the time to upgrade is now. To be fair, I don’t think I’ve experienced a real “Eureka!” moment since my first Ericsson not-quite-dumbphone started downloading emails all those years ago, yet I religiously change phones every nine months, revelling in those incremental improvements. Heck, I even get excited when Android tells me it’s going to upgrade my operating system. Laugh if you will, but when my phone upgraded KitKat to Lollipop, I knew what happiness was.
• How happy are you?
5. Instant books
You used to read a review of a good history book in the Sunday Times and then you’d head down to your local bookshop which would stock mainly Jilly Cooper and Jeffrey Archer, so you’d have to order it – and wait two weeks. Now, you read the review, go on Amazon and it arrives the next day. Pretty soon, it will arrive within a few hours (and there’s always Kindle). When it comes to ordering books, my children will never know delayed gratification – and this is a very good thing.
6. Green juice
If you told me, 20 years ago, that I’d be drinking liquidised vegetables that had been put through my wife’s Nutribullet, I’d have spat my lager at you laughing before taking another bite of my kebab. But now, I love the way green juice combines smug virtue with just about enough science to appeal to my inner geek. Besides, like so many people who were in their twenties in the 1990s, when it comes to things that are bad for your body, I’ve been there, done that and got it out of my system; there won’t be many Lord Sewels in my generation. Now, it’s time to do some good – and kale juice is the new cocaine.
7. Ordering a second bottle of wine at lunch
Ideally you do this on a Thursday – and before you know it, it’s a 4pm and you realise there’s no point in going back to work. This is something that has actually become much nicer for being much rarer. When you do it regularly, it loses its appeal and you just become a regular, sweaty, heavy lunchtime drinker – and one who usually the goes back to work at 4:45pm, before being hit by a leaden hangover at 5pm. But done a couple of times a year, it’s brilliant – and combines the illicit, childish thrill of skiving with the grown-up pleasure of being able to afford decent wine.
• Five things you can do to be happier right now
8. Finding new episodes of TV series
How fantastic is it when you go onto Sky or Netflix and discover that there are another five or six episodes of Game of Thrones (or, in my case The Last Ship) that you haven’t watched. It’s like finding money down the back of the sofa or discovering that, even though most of the cereal has been eaten, the toy is still at the bottom. For people of my age there is the added technothrill of having grown up with three dreary channels in the ’70s. Every time I watch something on demand, there’s a little part of me that can’t believe this is possible.
9. Noticing you’ve lost weight
In my twenties, I never, ever thought about my weight, largely because a diet rich in lager and orange food had no effect on it. In my thirties, all this changed and my weight went in one direction: up. But in your forties, you come out of denial and start treating your body like a project – exercise and green juice goes in and weight-loss comes out. As a man, this appeals to both your nerdy, stat-obsessed side and your vanity. If someone else notices you’ve lost weight, that’s even better – it’s third-party validation. It’s like having your funny Tweet retweeted. If the person who comments on your weight loss is slim and pretty, it’s like having your Tweet retweeted by someone famous.
10. Shopping for a new (or second-hand) car
In a grown-up way, this allows you to indulge in an completely pointless fetishisation of gadgets. If you’re buying a new car, most new cars are pretty well made, so the gadgets and little details suddenly take on a disproportionate importance. Heated wing mirrors or heated steering wheel? Blind spot sensors, super-expensive stereo or some weird energy recovery system? That you will never use or even notice most of the gadgets only improves this aimless comparison shopping experience. It’s enjoyable even when you’re shopping for second-hand cars. There, you see the weird gadget packages others chose – and marvel at their peculiar choices. If you’re shopping for quite an old car, there’s fun to be had too. Many of the gadgets will have taken on a slightly retro, Star-Trekkish feel, allowing you to wallow in technostalgia for the gadgets of your salad days.
What are the little things that make you happy? …
10 Simple Ways to Make Yourself Happier
happiness girl balloons
How do you feel? Are you happy? These are important questions to ask yourself every day and to consider each time you make a decision, big or small. The way you feel determines how you look at your life and what’s important, such as your values and your beliefs. You can do good deeds in the world but, that has little to do with how you feel because, when you feel good, everything is automatically good.
We have more than 1300 Personal Development and 500 Spirituality courses on Coursmos, make sure to check them out. But first, enjoy these 10 simple ways to make your life happier. No matter what you do or who you are, you will see your life change on every level when you implement these simple tips into your daily life. Enjoy and stay happy!
Do one nice thing for yourself every day
Our life is 80% routine. The goal is to make the routine less ordinary and more positive, which is why it’s so important to reward yourself with something you love to do rather something you have to do. Whether its sports or singing, video games or another hobby, find time to treat yourself to something special each day!
Distance yourself from toxic people
The sooner you understand this, the better. People around us have a huge impact on how we perceive the world and how we feel. Make sure you spend time with people you feel comfortable with and who bring a positive influence on your life. Saying that all bosses are horrible, just because they are bosses, is an excuse. You can always choose, just like someone chooses you!
Don’t forget about your health
It’s not about visiting the doctors in the nearest clinic. No, that’s not it at all. Start paying attention to your health and your body by exercising more and enjoying activities! Physical activity can boost your hormones and make you feel more alive. Try it for yourself and feel the difference. I promise, you won’t regret it!
Don’t skip meals
Always find time to eat. Believe me, you’re not so busy that you don’t have time to eat. Remember, you can grab something, even if it’s a salad or a small snack. I know it’s hard to eat when you are stressed or juggling a busy schedule but, skipping meals only makes it worse. Why add to the stress? Take a moment to regroup and relax by eating a healthy meal or snack.
Breathe
Pretty obvious, right? Not really! People don’t think about their breathing because they just do it. But, when you feel bad or stressed, breathing is the fastest way to calm down and normalize your thoughts. Breathe deep and slow while paying close attention to your breathing rhythm when you are upset, overworked or anxious. Trust me, it helps!
Get sunlight
Offices are well lit by artificial light but that doesn’t much help our need for sunlight. By the time we get off work, it’s often too dark outside to see any sliver of sunlight. That’s why it’s important to make time to be outside. From a short walk in the park to a coffee break at the street café on the corner, being outside often clears your mind, brightens your thoughts and makes you feel much better.
Have sincere talks
Life is short so we must make every second count. This includes our relationships and our conversations. It’s vital that we have a group of friends and family with whom we can be sincere. We need people who will listen as we discuss our goals as well as our fears, what bothers us and what inspires us. With a strong group of sincere friends, you’ll be surprised how many answers to life’s questions you’ll discover in these small, meaningful moments.
Solve problems as soon as possible
Everyone has problems, concerns and troubles; it’s simply a part of life. The only difference, however, is in our reactions. Some people waste time complaining on their problems out of fear while others take immediate action. The sooner you solve your problems, the happier and stronger you will feel. Don’t delay and don’t complain, otherwise, fear will set in and cause even more stress.
Don’t compare yourself
The only real comparison we can make is between the previous versions of ourselves with who we are in this very moment. Comparing ourselves to friends or anyone else is an absurd waste of time. Everyone has different circumstances, goals, perspectives, etc. Ask any scientist and he will tell you that two objects cannot be fairly compared because of their vastly different parameters. Take for instance the concepts of cold and long. They can’t be compared because they are two entirely different things. Don’t waste time comparing; instead, embrace who you are.
Do as you feel
In cases of doubt especially in facing obstacles or challenges, do as you feel is right. Trusting your gut instinct or your inner voice is the best advice you can ever follow. If you do things against this instinct, you’ll often find it hard to live in personal harmony. The voice inside you knows your heart, trust your instinct by listening to and following it.
Life isn’t meant to be easy, it’s meant to be Lived.
Sometimes happy, other time rough.
But with every up and down
you learn lessons that make you Strong.
#ShowMenSomeLove – Anthem
Why to Celebrate International Mens Day ?
@asoka @Smarty@@
How to increase Positive Energy in our House
1) Open all windows in the house and allow fresh air and sunshine to enter the house. Free flowing air and sun are negative energy removers
2. Dispose of all the old unwanted things lying in the house. Clutter is a negativity magnet. It attracts and accumulates negative energy in the house.
3). Walking barefoot in the house helps all your negative energy to be absorbed by the earth.
Grounding is important to keep the energy balance in our body.
4) In the olden days, footwears were kept out of the house. People used to enter the house only after washing feet with water. This action ensures that all the negativity remains outside or are grounded by earth and does not enter the house. Now it has become difficult to keep the footwear outside. So preferably remove them near the entrance door.
5) Go out in the open air. Take walks in the garden or open ground. Being amongst nature re-energizes or charges you fully.
6) Sweeping the floor also ensures that the negative energies are shaken and moved out with the dirt.
7) Rock salt is another negativity remover. Wash or mop your floor with a fistful rock salt in a bucket of water. This ensures that every nook and corner of the house is rid of negative energy.
8) Potted plants or trees around your house or society also ensures more positive energy in the house and area.
9) Bathing or Soaking your legs and hands in rock salt water once in a while removes the negativity attached to your body and cleanse your aura.
11) Repetition of Prayers, increases the positive vibrations in the house. 100%
11) Keep your thoughts, action and speech Positive. Negative thoughts will bring in negative vibes. So avoid all negative thoughts, speech and actions.
12) Keep your house well lit and illuminated. Light removes negativity.
13) Keep faith in God and in yourself.
You are the Creator of your own destiny by the Choices you make.
STAY HAPPY
Darn, am I that old !!
Someone asked the other day,,,,,,,,,,,,,
‘What was your favourite fast food when you were growing up?’
‘We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up, I informed him, ’ All the food was slow.’
’C’mon, seriously. Where did you eat?’
‘It was a place called ’at home,’ I explained!
’Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work,
We sat down together at the dining room table, & if I didn’t like what she put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.’
By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn’t tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table.
Here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it:
Some parents NEVER owned their own house, wore Levis, set foot on a golf course, travelled out of the country or had a credit card.
My parents never drove me to school. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow).
We didn’t have a television in our house until I was 10. It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at 11, after playing the national anthem and a poem about God. It came back on the air at about 6 a.m. And there was usually a locally produced news and farm show on, featuring local people …
I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn’t know weren’t already using the line.
Pizzas were not delivered to our home… But milk was & so was bread.
All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers — my brother delivered a newspaper, six days a week. He had to get up at 5AM every morning.
Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies! There were no movie ratings because all movies were responsibly produced for everyone to enjoy viewing, without profanity or violence or most anything offensive.
If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don’t blame me if they bust their gut laughing.
Growing up isn’t what it used to be, is it?
MEMORIES:
My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother’s house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to ‘sprinkle’ clothes with because we didn’t have steam irons. Man, I am old.
How many do you remember?
Head lights dimmer switches on the floor.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
Soldering irons, you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.
Older Than Dirt Quiz:
Count all the ones that you remember, NOT the ones you were told about!
Ratings at the bottom.
1. Candy cigarettes
2. Coffee shops with tableside juke boxes
3. Home milk delivery in glass bottles
4. Party lines on the telephones
5. Newsreels before the movie
6. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels!! If you had a TV!!
7. Pea-shooters
8. Howdy Doody
9. 45 RPM records
10. 78 rpm records
11. Hi-fi records 33 1/3 rpm
12. Metal ice trays with lever
13. Blue flashbulb
14. Cork popguns
15. Studebakers
16. Wash tub wringers
<>
If you remembered 0-3 = You’re still young
If you remembered 3-6 = You are getting older
If you remembered 7-10 = Don’t tell your age, &
If you remembered 11-16 = You’re older than dirt!!! THAT’S ME!!!
I might be older than dirt but t hose memories are some of the best parts of my life.
@@poorsoul@@
@B@R_0_0_D wrote:
@farzimaal
Ram ram sarkaar !
OFFER UNIQUE GIFT TO YOUR LOVED ONES!
When Jimmy Carter was President of USA, he once had some misunderstanding with his wife. Punctuality was almost an obsession with Carter, because of his naval training.
Rosalyn, his wife, was punctual, though not up to his exacting standards. All too frequently, a deviation of five minutes or even less in their departure time would lead to an exchange of bitter words. For 38years, it had been the most persistent cause of dissension between them.
On 18th August 1984, Carter went into his study early in the morning to work on a speech and tuned on the radio for the news. When he heard what the date was, he realized it was Rosalyn’s birthday and had not bought her a gift. Now he had no time to buy the gift. All of a sudden, he thought of doing something special without a gift.
He hurriedly wrote a note that was long overdue. “Happy birthday! As proof of my love, I will never again make an unpleasant comment about your tardiness.” He signed it, and delivered it in an envelope, with a kiss. It is reported that till this day he has been keeping his promise and it turned out to be one of the nicest birthday presents in their married life.
Learn to think unconventionally, Display your creativity in as many situations as possible. The more we try the more creative we can become. Why don’t you make your next birthday gift to any of your dearest as novel and unique as was done by Jimmy Carter?
The teacher gave an assignment to her fifth grade class :
Get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it.
The next day, the kids came back and, one by one, began to tell their stories.
There were all the regular types of stuff: spilled milk and pennies saved.
But then the teacher realized that only Janie was left.
“Janie, do you have a story to share?’
‘’Yes ma’am. My daddy told me a story about my Mommy. She was a Marine pilot in Desert Storm, and her plane got hit. She had to bail out over enemy territory, and all she had was a flask of whiskey, a pistol, and a survival knife. She drank the whiskey on the way down so the bottle wouldn’t break, and then her parachute landed her right in the middle of 20 Iraqi troops.
She shot 15 of them with the pistol, until she ran out of bullets, killed four more with the knife, till the blade broke, and then she killed the last Iraqi with her bare hands.
‘’Good Heavens,’ said the horrified teacher. ’What did your Daddy tell you was the moral to this horrible story?
“Stay away from Mommy when she’s drunk.”