Things That Make Me Happier Than They Should

Small victories are worth celebrating because in the long run you’re dead. ChatGPT would not approve that line. Which means it doesn’t matter if you climb Mt Everest or eat a Goober, it’s all the same in the end.

One of mine is a non-stick pan that only needs to be run under hot water after making scrambled eggs. No soap. No scrubbing. No soaking. The eggs just disappear and then you have to use the disposal because they will stink. I’m lazy, so I use a fork instead of a spatula, which means I’m slowly destroying the pan coating. Every morning feels like I’m borrowing time before the pan finally gives up.

Another one is having absolutely nothing left in my email inbox. Not “Inbox Zero.” I mean zero. The deleted folder has been emptied. The junk folder has been checked. There isn’t a single unread email hiding anywhere. It’s satisfying, and it never lasts. It’s also a good indicator of how many unread emails will lead to how good of a day I’m about to have.

Then there’s the coffee lid. If I get takeout coffee and it has a Solo lid, I’m in a good mood. If it’s a Graphic Packaging lid, I already know I’m about to wear part of my coffee unless I hold a paper towel over the opening. The GP lid is so bad that the coffee defies gravity and goes up to create a mess. I almost didn’t include this because just thinking about those lids annoys me, which is completely counter to the point of this post.

I also love when I’m only reading one book. I usually have seven or eight going at once. I’ll read a chapter of a biography, then switch to business, then self-help, then something on investing. The other week I finished 1776 while ignoring the others, and it was nice to sit in a coffee shop and knock out 100 pages without wondering what I should read next.

Finally, I still enjoy setting yearly running PRs. They’re not really personal records anymore because I’m certainly not outrunning my 25-year-old self. They’re more like “best times for the current model.” If 42-year-old me can beat 41-year-old me, that’s good enough. I have a feeling I’ll be chasing this until I’m using a cane then a wheelchair. That’s when it’ll start becoming a challenge.

The older I get, the more I realize happiness isn’t usually found in the big moments. It’s feeling pimp after a new haircut, the smell of your car the first minute after the air Vanilla air freshener, or using the same ball all golf round. That’s what I’ll remember.