What makes you happy?

[PinkFlower]

Originally Posted by *Joseph*

I sat in the garden earlier with a lovely cup of coffee. There was a bee going over a shrub that I was sat beside, and I just sat and watched it while I sipped my coffee. That was really blissful and something I should do more often.

Hello Joseph, that does sound peaceful. I too enjoy the presence of bees and their soothing buzz. I came across an article on BBC regarding bee therapy that I found interesting:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article...-bees-to-relax

[green1]

Self
acceptance
makes
me
very
happy.

[Louisa]

One of my favorite things I now enjoy is nighttime outside in the country- frogs singing, crickets and cicadas, coyotes, owls, whippoorwill calls, neighbor's chickens and donkeys braying, fireflies, shooting stars or just constellations, the moon. The feeling of (very) slight danger, there could be panthers and other things lurking in the shadows. The cats who come to visit us at night, sitting for hours with them. The sound of wind in the pines and pecan trees. On balmy nights, the scent of lemongrass, pine, and rosemary, and the feeling of humid breeze so dense with moisture, lightly brushing your skin. Nighthawks, bats, flying squirrels, the periwinkle indigo dusky sky and sunset, before night too. The quiet of getting away from everything and being in a place that can feel so set apart from normal, modern life.

And in the past, walking on the beach, at full moon, especially barefoot in the sand. The moon's effect on my consciousness when I did this was powerful, undeniable, indescribable, emotional, imaginative. I was completely surprised by the moon's sway on me, when combined with the tides. We don't go to the beach much now but the memory still makes me happy, though. And in the day too, I love the sound of the waves, the glittering moonlit sea, raucous gulls, the beachy smell, skittering sand crabs, mermaid purses, seaweed, and other found objects of nature, amazing shells, dolphins at sunset if you're lucky.

Or all kinds of nature, at all times of day. Especially the woods, which I wish I could or would explore more at night/dusk. Maybe one day, if I find a place that I can and is safe enough.

[green1]

This sounds awesome Louisa, I am curious where do you leave? Where is this place you talk about?

[Louisa]

Well, I don't want to tell the exact location, in case anyone figures out who I am or something (I'm paranoid, maybe, lol) but it's in the deep south of the U.S., within driving distance of the Gulf Coast. I do feel very blessed to live so close to nature and be able to be immersed in it so much. It wasn't always this way and I might not always in the future, but for now, I love it.

[green1]

Thank you!

[Miss Hepburn]

I lived in the deep South. :)
(People don't realize there really is such a thing as Southern Hospitality.)
There is a sort of magical atmosphere in the Deep South, it's all around, esp at night, dusk and dawn.
Now, I'm in the arid Southwest, USA...quite a difference.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

There is a sort of magical atmosphere in the Deep South, it's all around, esp at night, dusk and dawn.

Something like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-9k...rackRelaxation

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Altair

Something like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-9k...rackRelaxation

Yes. with moonlight coming thru the Spanish moss covered trees...and some strange birds hooting, the smell
of night blooming Jasmine, gardenias....and the sleeping Magnolias, leftover smells from dinners, a pipe....
maybe the sound of a rocker on a wooden porch somewhere...

[Altair]

Well that sounds fantastic. Just needs a bit of rainy smell on top of it.

I love lush places full of trees and birds. I'm going back to Costa Rica this summer and I can't wait to experience the jungles again.