Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Don't worry....be happy...



O.k, I'll admit...I never liked that old Bobby McFerrin song, but it seemed like a good title to run with.

Anyway, my blogging buddy Mark Koopmans gave me a "Happy One" shout-out the other day, which I'd like to now thank him for, so...

Thanks Mark! Oh, and if you don't (by some crazy circumstance) know or follow Mark, do yourself a favor and check out his blog....you won't regret it!

Now, part of this thing is to mention five things that makes me happy and then tag five others who I feel embody that same sort of happiness. (And, yes, I'm going to follow suit and not mention my wife or family because, well, those should be a given)

Things that make me happy....

1. As strange as it sounds, a fat cheeked baby can always bring a smile to my face....

Come on, how can you not smile at this face?

2. The beach. There's always something calm and serene about watching the ocean meet the sand.



3. Music. Whether it's a tune from the 80s that brings back some great memories, some rockin' Surf Music, or a mellow John Denver tune, music is another thing that can always make me smile.

4. Time spent with friends. Since moving down to Florida, I don't get the chance to see/talk to my friends nearly as much as I used to and it's definitely impressed upon me just how much I miss that. Any chance to visit with old friends is a sure fire 'pick me up'.

5. Even though it, sort of, goes along with music, I also really like nostalgia. It's not that I always live in the past, but sometimes a reminder of simpler times (at least the way I see it) can bring a smile to my face. 

The five Happy folks I'm tagging for this are....

1. Ella at Ella's Edge
2. Tyrean at Tyrean's Writing Spot
4. Samantha May at Writing Through College
5. Tara at Tara Tyler Talks

Now, go forth and spread the love and happiness!

38 comments:

Dee @ A Deecoded Life said...

All five things on your list make me happy too. :)

Suzanne Furness said...

All great things to be happy about :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Mark - wonderful thoughts .. big chunky babies - always so wonderful to see and hold. The beach - what could be better ... and as you mention life in general ..

Happy days - cheers to one and all - Hilary

Jeremy [Retro] said...

the great thing for you is you can have many of your five at one time...

you can call it a perfect day!

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Nostalgia is great, I'm a happy girl when babies laugh myself but chubby faces work too. Thanks for sharing your happy with us Mark and friends are awesome, including the blogging kind.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post Mark and that adorable baby, how could anyone be unhappy looking at that photo.

Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Friends always make me smile!

S.P. Bowers said...

Love, love, love the watching and listening to the ocean. Or any water, really. I grew up with a large creek in our back yard and when I went to school it took a very long time to learn to sleep without the sound of running water.

Just Keepin It Real, Folks! said...

Oh No, now I have that song running thru my head all day. LOL!!!

Jeff Hargett said...

chubby cheeks come with a grin-back guarantee. Good answers!

mshatch said...

Completely agree about the baby and the beach. A happy smiling baby is a sure way to bring a smile to my face :)

jaybird said...

As usual, we are on the same page. I'm sure you're my brother from another mother.

Babies, always make me smile. The chubbier they are, the happier they make me. And the beach, even though I don't like going in the water, is still my favorite place to hand and just chillax.

LD Masterson said...

Well, my happy music is from the 60's but other than that, your happy list works fine for me.

mail4rosey said...

My friend woes are the opposite of yours...we lived in FL for years and the majority of my friends are there. :)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Little known fact- Mark is my cyber brother. We don't share the same genes, though he does steal my jeans.

Al Diaz said...

I'm with you on the sea thing. Babies smile a lot to me so I have to smile back at them regardless the cheeks.
Time spent with friends...ah yes, but it is easier for me to spend time with online friends than with my friends here. We still live too far apart to meet often.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Music makes me happy and the freedom of going for a walk.
Have a great day, passing through on my roadtrip.

Unknown said...

Oh these were very good happies. I smiled just reading your list! Love, love the beach, water, sand sun.. ahhhh

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Babies and the beach make me happy too.

Cathrina Constantine said...

We go to the beach yearly. Love the sound of the rolling surf, and gathering family and friends only adds to the enjoyment, and of course, loads of good music. I think we're a lot alike.

ilima said...

I love fat babies and beaches. In fact, to quote Nacho Libre, "Everything you just said, is my favorite thing to do, every day." :)

Mina Burrows said...

Those things make me happy too. :)

~Sia McKye~ said...

Those are some good happy smile things--especially that baby! Music always tops my list.


Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

Whole Foods Living said...

Fun list! Chubby-cheeked babies are for sure an instant smile-maker! ~Angela

Golden Eagle said...

Wonderful list!

Great picture of the ocean. :)

klahanie said...

Oh yeah. Delighted to see Mark gave you a "Happy One", Mark! :)

And Mark, I know the other Mark and the other Mark also survived an interview with somebody named Tammy.

Your five happy choices are very happy thoughts, indeed. I'm hoping that I will soon get some sunshine on my shoulders...

Congrats, dude. And yay to those you tagged. I got 'tagged' because I'm on a blogger curfew and I have to comment before my time runs out..

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

Those are great happy things! :) I also love the sound of water- I'm a huge fan of rivers (being there are no oceans in Colorado) but we have beaches by the rivers...I know, I know- not the same, but still :) Have a great one!

Unknown said...

Love your list, Mark! Fat cheeked babies and beaches are the best! I only wish I lived closer to the beach. Someday, maybe. :)

Nick Wilford said...

Congrats on the tag! We can always use a bit more happiness!

~Brandy~ said...

I think my favorite thing about blogging (I'm pretty new to the frequent blogger scene) is the willingness of everyone to spread the blog love.

I'm passing on a Liebster to you in the hopes that the link on my blog will help bump you over the 200 follower mark (only 20 more!) I found your blog through the Blog Blitz linky hosted over at DL Hammons' blog.

Brandy's Bustlings

Julie Flanders said...

I love all five things on your list. Made me happy just to read it and see the pics. How cute are fat cheeked babies? :)

Manzanita said...

You deserve many Happy Awards.You always appear to be happy. Don't ever tell me it is just a facade or I'll have to turn in my "expert at people judging badge."You know, Mark, in spite of the fact that this morning I'm as stiff as a rusty hinge on the FL beach, I'm still in love with this hopelessly marred, chemtrailed old world..as I am sure you are too.

Mark Means said...

Thank you all for the comments and I apologize for not getting the chance to respond to each, but an impromptu trip up to Disney and visiting some old friends, cut into my blogging time.

I'm not complaining, mind you, as that was one of the 'happy' things on my list :)

Oh, and we also saw some fat cheeked babies along the way :D

@Brandy: Thank you very much and I'll hit on that topic Monday as tomorrow I'll be doing a blog hop :) I appreciate it!

Hart Johnson said...

Oh, nice. It's good to think about the things that make us happy. Good choices on your recipients, too.

Lisa said...

Your happy things make me happy too. How can they not? I'll be on the beach this weekend and I'll think of you. How fun to think of things that make you happy. I think I'll do that today... I live on the FL GA border, wonder if we're close?

Mark Koopmans said...

I do not... (well only on laundry day :)

Mark Koopmans said...

Hey:)

That reply above is to CyberSis, Liz and I think you and I, Mark, may be in the same age range? (I'm 44 and the '80s was *my* decade, but I don't mind sharing it with friends :)

Great post and my favorite was #4... meeting up with old friends is da bomb, like.

Mark Means said...

@Lisa: I'm about four hours south of the border, in Vero Beach :)

@Mark: LOL...no worries, I sort of figured that. And, yes, I think we are around the same age (I have a year on ya) and the 80s -were-, indeed, awesome and well worth sharing :)

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