Happiness
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that happiness can come from many different things and it is something to cherish and prioritise. So what brings me joy in life, what sparks my happiness?
I always find that during this time of the year, it’s a bit more tricky for me to look at the bright side of life. I can get a bit disappointed when it’s continuously raining outside and everywhere you look, the sky is grey and the trees are bare. Balancing this feeling, is my innate ability to feel cheerful when I see a hint of blue skies and some sun. Once summer is gone, going on a ski trip from December till April (or visit Australia 🙂 ) would be perfect for me!
Ever since I was a kid, sports brought me joy and a feeling like everything is possible. As a kid, I loved winter because it meant going iceskating outside. The pond at the local park would easily freeze up and I would spend hours and hours perfecting my twists and turns like a pro figure skater (kidding, I was never good at it, just enjoyed it a lot). When the winter was especially cold, some canals around Utrecht would freeze up and me and my dad would go for long trips through meadows and over large, ink black pools. There’s not much that can beat the quiet whooshing of your skates and the magical frozen world around you. For the past years, it hasn’t been freezing enough for these trips, but I’ve found out that there’s more that I love.
No surprise that when I went for my very first time skiing this year, I loved it. We were thoroughly lucky with the weather, having mostly sunny days with good snow. The thrill of flying down a mountain and the amazing scenery made it one of my favourite places to be during winter time. In 2020, we will be going skiing in March, so there’s still some time to go!
Luckily, I also love to spend my time with people around me. My friends are such a big part of my happiness, and I can truly say I feel blessed to have so many amazing people around me. Even though some are halfway across the globe from me, the occasional text or call can make my day. I am grateful that I get to wake up next to the love of my life every day. When we dance around the kitchen, there are no words to describe the joy I feel. Let’s never stop dancing!
And right now? The lights in the Christmas tree make me happy, a soft blanket to crawl up under with my laptop and the feeling after my Supercycle workout this morning. Whether you have a busy job, a busy life, both or neither, it’s so important to sometimes stop and think ‘How happy am I? Do I need to change something to make myself happier?’. Even though I can’t run right now, finding alternative sports to do in the meantime provided me with the endorphins and physical activity I need and I feel happy again. And you? What sparks your joy?
Running Ella 