My life has not always been filled with happiness, of course. Some difficult obstacles had to be faced, and sad memories enter my mind at times. However, for the most part, I consider myself to be a very happy person and extremely blessed. Thus, today I thought it would be fun and interesting to sit down and make a list of what happiness means to me. Hopefully, you will share some of my happy moments as well.
My happiness is spending a quiet, relaxing Sunday afternoon on a warm summer day reclining in my comfortable, oversized lounge chair solving an enjoyable word search puzzle while having a lively family chat with my clever husband and my adorable Saint Bernard Anna Belle.
My happiness is waking up early in the morning, going downstairs and rubbing noses with my sweet dog Anna Belle as our usual way to say “Good morning” to each other, and then watching her happily devour her specially prepared breakfast with her tail wagging in full speed. 
My happiness is watching one of my favorite romantic comedy movies over and over again until I can recite all of the lines the characters speak and then imagining that I am the lead actress in the movie.
My happiness is turning on my favorite music CD of singers, such as Bruno Mars or Gloria Estefan or Celine Dion, and then pretending I am a famous dancer in one of their videos or a dancer onstage in one of their live concerts.
My happiness is dressing up in something pretty to make myself feel somewhat glamorous and then attend a famous Broadway musical at the magnificent Fox Theater in the chic Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia on a Saturday night.
My happiness is chatting online with my many friends around the world and discovering amazing things about them and their culture.
My happiness is writing my blogs, my poetry, and my short stories and thinking of ways to be creative and interesting on my book fan page and my twitter account now.
My happiness is traveling around the world reliving history with my own eyes and discovering the magic and secrets of every city and place I visit. 
My happiness is preparing two cups of home brewed coffee and toasting a buttered raisin and cinnamon bagel for my husband before I leave for the gym and seeing his grateful smile as I hand it to him each morning.
My happiness is shopping for a new stylish dress, a pair of cute jeans, or a new pair of designer shoes—not because I need any of these but just because I want to do this.
My happiness is sipping my Diet Coke as I feast on an irresistibly scrumptious cheese pizza generously topped with lots of pizza sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers with the additional spices of shredded mozzarella cheese and dried hot peppers.
My happiness is gliding gently and slowly over the breath-taking Kenyan savannah in a huge, colorful hot air balloon shortly after sunrise, then gazing in utter amazement at the numerous herds of animals—elephants, lions, and cape buffaloes—just a few hundred feet below me, and finally landing in the middle of nowhere for an elegant full-course champayne breakfast picnic fit for a queen.
My happiness is taking photos of the things that make me happy—a beautiful flower, a spectacular sunrise or sunset, or the smiling face of someone I love.
My happiness is eating a yummy bowl of koshary and other delicious family style Egyptian meals with my Egyptian friends at their homes and being made to feel as if I am a part of their family while I am there.
My happiness is strolling leisurely along the seashore at dusk at low tide collecting exquisite seashells and then finding a beach chair to sit and quietly watch the sailboats far out in the sea as I try to imagine what the people are doing on them.
My happiness is marveling at the talent of my husband who can miraculously transform an old car considered to be junk by many into an incredibly perfect restoration of an antique show car now. 
My happiness is feeling like I am still only 26 when I am much older and continuing to be healthy in my body and my mind.
Finally, my happiness is knowing without any doubts that Almighty God is always there to guide me and to protect me when I need Him…… Without Him I would not exist.
Randi D. Ward
August 9, 2013
