Making happiness my quest

My mom wrote a blog about finding happiness, and suggested listing 10 things that make me happy. Perhaps with a twinge of baby blues or the winter doldrums, this has got me thinking. What really makes me happy? Not smiley, but deep down happy. And how often do I spend my precious free time doing things that in fact do not make me happy? Like tonight. I watched several episodes of a not-so-funny sitcom while I fed my baby. (The feeding my baby was good, but why ruin it with mindless blah).

So here's my list:
-Let's see. I really like to learn. I started crying this summer when I got to go to education week. Yes, I'm a geek.
-I am happy exercising, especially with my family.
-I am happy talking with friends, especially girl friends.
-I am happy when my house is clean.
-I am happy when I am creating something...other than a baby-I'm a little grumpy sometimes when I'm pregnant.
-I am happy sitting outside, especially in the warm sun.

Didn't make it to 10, but it's a start, and I'm still working on my list. And I'm trying to do things that actually make me happy, rather than just do things that are easy... like crash in front of the tv.

I want to be happy. I'm not sad, but I want to feel more fulfilled. I am pursuing happiness, not just waiting for it to land on me. I recently reread the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, which by the way is fabulous. At the beginning of the main character's quest, he learns, When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. I believe it, too. It's the power of visualization. So to begin my happiness quest, I'm figuring out what really makes me happy, and then begin doing it. As I become more in tune with what makes me happy, I more closely follow the mission that God wants me to do here, which of course makes everybody happy.

The last couple days, I've been starting to do what makes me happy. Tonight, I took my time smiling at my baby while bathing him in the sink. I started to sew (create) a dust ruffle for a baby crib. I sat outside in the sun (even took my coat off for a little while). I ran on the treadmill and I pulled out an old Biology book and started reading it while exercising.
I know, I'm a nerd. But I will be a happy nerd.

At the risk of no one responding, I still would love to hear anyone else list of what makes them happy.