Reasons to be Happy by Megan Woods

Reasons to be Happy

Megan Woods

Over the summer, I created a list. At the end of each day, I’d write down everything that made me feel good that day,

no matter how big or small.

“Reason 250: Cheesy Pasta” My mom had made cheesy pasta for Dinner on Tuesday night, and I remembered how much I liked it.

“Reason 792: Sitting on the Deck during Thunderstorms” Tommy and I sat out on the deck, the rain pouring down and the sound of the wind combating the roar of the thunder. “Reason 1,657: White Water Rafting Trips” None of us were very good at paddling, and maybe Danny fell into the water, but we all finished the route drenched and laughing, even dad.

“Reason 2,364: Buying a Gnome from the Dollar Store” I came for super glue, but then Heidi found the most handsome, blue gnome, and I didn’t think twice about spending that extra dollar.

When I finished, I had accumulated 3,004 reasons to be happy. And what struck me the most wasn’t how many great things had happened to me, or how many small things made me happy every day,

but how everything on that list brought me the same joy. Big or small, important or insignificant, white water rafting brought me the same level of joy as cheesy pasta.

I don’t know if that says more about the definition of happiness, or how great cheesy pasta really is.