What Are the Ingredients for a Happy Life? Here’s What Nice News Readers Had to Say

We asked, and you answered: Nearly 700 people wrote in to Nice News to share what makes them happy, and that makes us very happy indeed. We put out a request earlier this month with the aim of sharing our readers’ ingredients for happiness — because the feeling can be contagious, even when it comes in the form of written reflections.  

As you’ll see in the roundup below, the responses truly run the gamut. They’re sweet, funny, specific, inspiring. They also confirm what scientific studies have already determined: Happiness very often comes from meaningful relationships. Around 43% of responses mentioned family or friends, and that’s not taking into account those that made more general allusions to people, community, or service to others. 

And in what will come as a surprise to exactly zero animal lovers, the relationships that make us happy don’t always involve other humans. Dogs were referenced in nearly 15% of responses, and cats came in at 6%. Birds actually got more mentions than felines at nearly 8%, a testament to how beneficial birdwatching and birdsong can be for well-being.  

It’s worth noting, too, that a sizable proportion of responses were about solo experiences, things like creativity, faith, and coffee (yes, 7% gave praise to a cup of joe). Around 27% cited nature as a source of happiness, with mentions of outdoor walks, sunshine, oceans, and gardening all coming up repeatedly. 

Another big one? Food: Making it, eating it, sharing it. Mentions of food accounted for over 18% of responses, meaning we’ve got a community of epicureans, or at least people who prioritize enjoying delicious meals (same). Of those mentions, a little over 37% referenced a routine, things like baking on weekends or drinking a cup of tea in the evening, which highlights the power of positive rituals.

Finally, a heartwarming bonus we can’t resist mentioning: A very small percentage of respondents — under 1%, but it still made us smile — specifically mentioned reading Nice News as something that makes them happy. Aww, shucks.  

75 of Our Favorite Reader Responses to the Question “What Makes You Happy?”

1. Harvesting, cooking, and eating a head of broccoli from my garden, from a plant that I grew and nurtured from a tiny seed. The cycle of life! – Mary (Betram, Texas)

2. Untangling a knotted necklace or rope is so satisfying to me. Too bad I couldn’t make untangling a career. I guess it’s why I like working on mazes or walking in labyrinths. – Anneli (Ontario, Canada)

3. The Seattle Mariners make me happy. They also make me crazy, angry, sad, nervous, joyful, excited, stressed out, and worn out. But hey, I’ll take all of it for happy on occasion. – Marrgaret (Bremerton, Washington)

4. A great book. There is nothing so satisfying as reading a book that sweeps you away and when you get to the end, makes you want to start re-reading immediately. – Suzanne (Richmond, Virginia)

5. Nothing makes me happier than feeding folks. I buy cupcakes for a friend that just finished chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I buy pork buns for the mother that just got out of the hospital. I buy dinner for my favorite lady simply because she is hungry. Feeding people is my love language. – Mark (Florida)

6. Soap bubbles. They make everyone happy that sees them. I’ve gotten stuck on the 405 in LA with traffic at a standstill, frustrated honking all around, and one wand of wedding bubbles changed the whole attitude of the people around me. If you drive 3 miles an hour and stick the wand out of your sunroof, you can bubble a whole area with hundreds of bubbles in just a few seconds, then just watch the magic happen. – Sandi (Florida)

7. Laughing babies, toddlers, children, teens, adults. Alllll the laughter. When people are happy, it spreads naturally. – Dannon (Chesapeake City, Maryland)

8. Conversations with random people that I meet around the world of different cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds. Sharing and laughing together is a beautiful reminder that we have so much more in common as human beings than we do differences that polarize us. – Carol (Castro, Chile)

9. Learning to play new songs on the guitar. It makes me feel capable, creative, and intelligent all at once. – Kailey (Staten Island, New York)

10. Rising each morning, putting my feet on the ground, grateful for another day of life. – Ron (Framingham, Massachusetts)

11. Every evening when I meditate, my 7-year-old dog Gunner comes and lies next to me. He’s a big boy, over 60 pounds, but he always finds a way to lie as close to me as he can. I believe he can sense that I am doing something calming and it also calms him too. I often find myself rubbing his head or scratching him behind the ears while I meditate, which also has a calming effect on me. Having him as my meditation buddy makes me so happy. – Jaimie (Westlake, Ohio)

12. Chocolate. – Helen (The store)

13. I love to watercolor paint. It started when I took a free class at the library, and now I can’t stop. I have been making birthday, sympathy, thinking-of-you and cards for our local cancer patients. I put love into each stroke and I feel an explosion of joy come back into me. – Jody (Ridley Park)

14. Seeing my 4-year-old grandson discovering his day around him. – Paul (California)

15. Beating my husband in chess and Scrabble. – Nancy (Bronx, New York)

16. Holding my daughter during her late-night feeds brings me a sense of peace like no other. She’s 3 months old now and seeing her smiles and wiggles while discovering who she is makes my heart full. I am so blessed. – Sara (West Springfield, Massachusetts)

17. Learning. – Lou (Jacksonville, Florida)

18. The first peach blossom. Tomato seedlings in our greenhouse. Tiny green leaf buds: the promise of spring. – Penny (Las Cruces, New Mexico)

19. Having a real friend you can call or talk with at any time. A person who you can visit and they can visit without judgment. A person who has your back and stands up for you. – Ohh (Los Angeles, California)

20. I get joy from serving others. I enjoy serving as a resort manager with 800-plus team members who are exceptional in service. I serve them and our guests. I enjoy serving my community through volunteer efforts and committee work. I enjoy serving my family daily both through family work and through activities. I get joy from supporting my wife and daughter who operate a no-kill cat shelter. We all get joy from “giving back” through service. – Jim (Frankenmuth, Michigan)

21. A nice breakfast with coffee and conversation. – Brian (Selbyville, Delaware) 

22. Sunrises, sunsets, validation, compliments, memories, dog kisses, baby smiles. I had to give my dog away when I moved after my husband’s death. Her new owner has made her a search-and-rescue animal. She also has a sister who looks just like her. I’m so happy for her and me. – Susan (Pennsylvania)

23. When my pre-K students are being kind to each other. An example is one of my students saw the other crying because he lost the race, so he gave his medal to him to make him feel better. I cried tears of joy because it was so sweet! Little humans being kind in a world that is so cruel is the best thing ever. It reminds me that life isn’t so bad and every single day has joy. – Rayne (Arizona)

24. We are a group of four senior women who call ourselves “Ladies Who Laugh.” Our mission is to do low-cost or no-cost activities together. We especially enjoy attending cultural festivals; we love crafting; we travel to see fields of flowers. Spending time together is a joyful experience. Our goal is to do at least one thing together every week. – Rebecca (Torrance, California)

25. Seeing that my children have grown beyond me. They are better people than I could have imagined, succeeding in ways I have yet to. I’m proud of them (and a little proud of me for having helped shape them). – Jonathan (Madison, Wisconsin)

26. Going on hikes with my cat. – Ally (Delaware)

27. Birdsong, sunlight through the morning fog, the stillness of the desert, the sound of water in a mountain stream. Nature brings me peace and joy. – Par (Tennessee)

28. Big puppets! I know. It sounds weird, but human performers inside large puppets on movie sets, Broadway, or lion dancers just give me a sense of awe. The art of the puppet meets the art of performance and you can forget that what you’re seeing is just a human dressed up. – Alex (Philadelphia)

29. After enjoying taking care of my family for many years, at the age of 74 I have found happiness by making things for other people and children. With a group of ladies from our community, I make dresses, shorts, purses, blankets, teddy bears, and comfort items for people with medical needs. Sewing and hanging around other like-minded ladies brings me joy and happiness. – Wendy (Palm Coast, Florida)

30. Getting my car washed. – Roger (Connecticut) 

31. Wild swimming, painting, warm summer days, reading a good book, watching the birds in my garden. – Christine (Scotland)

32. My husband and I raise service dogs for a national organization. When we hand the leash over to the recipient at graduation, knowing that the dog we raised and trained for 18 months will change their lives and give them more independence. – Lanie (Massachusetts) 

33. Helping people. I volunteer at the emergency department at the local hospital and I love being there. – Jay (Hagerstown, Maryland)

34. My wife and I found each other later in life, nearly 10 years ago, each after divorce, her 44 and me 51. We met in China on a layover, long distance three yrs, then separated for three years during Covid. She finally made it to the U.S., we married, and established permanent residency. I am 60 now. We thank God every morning as soon as we wake up next to each other. I love my wife. Love being with her. She is my home. She is my source of great joy. – Rod (Home)

35. I can’t help smiling when I look at a sunflower. – Louanne (Riverhead, New York)

36. Unscheduled time — that rare blank space that leaves us free to create, relax, connect, appreciate, or just do nothing. It’s such a treat to shift from human doing to human being. – Tara (Durango, Colorado)

37. Singing with a great women’s choral group! It feeds my soul like nothing else. – Sandra (Nashville, Tennessee)

38. Walking. Walking alone or walking with friends. Both bring joy of a different sort. – David (Raleigh, North Carolina)

39. Having breakfast in my east-facing sunroom on a sunny day; taking my time, doing my daily puzzle games with my dog by my side. – Muriel (Kansas City)

40. West African dance, learning French, reading books, and good food! – Jacqui (Bronx, New York)

41. This sounds so weird, but origami! I learned how to make butterflies at a tea party a while ago, and nothing brings a smile to my face more than making cute little animals out of receipt paper and cough drop wrappers to give to my friends or leave in random spots for others to find. I might not be very good, but it is fun to learn a new skill and expand my paper zoo. So far I can make butterflies, crows, cranes, and dogs, and can’t wait to master something new! – Dagny (Maryland)

42. I like to take long walks with my Bose headphones and listen to Andrea Bocelli. Whether I am looking at the stars of night or sunny blue skies, I’m transported into my own opera. Being one with nature and music is a gift. – Patti (Melbourne, Florida)

43. Being a “kahu” (Hawaiian for guardian) to many pets in my lifetime has given me pure joy. As I’ve had to say goodbye to them over the years, I then paint their portraits, doing my best to capture their individual personalities to ease my grief. Having those portraits on my wall extends the joy and peace that they’d brought into my life over the decades past. – Thomas (Sarasota, Florida)

44. Sitting in my living room listening to small children laughing as they play in a nearby swimming pool. – Joanne (Costa Rica)

45. Having an affogato after many hours of shopping with a girlfriend, then we’re off to more shopping, dinner, and a show. – Paula (Mukilteo, Washington)

46. Seeing the look on my wife’s face when she tastes something I’ve cooked for her. If she loves it, I can see a little sparkle in her eyes before she responds. I like to cook for my family and I get a lot of joy when they like it. – Matthew (Council Bluffs, Iowa)

47. Renewing and perpetuating friendships. – Linda (Indianapolis, Indiana)

48. First and always my family. I also started a cat rescue 11 years. ago. To date, we have spayed/neutered 1,580 homeless cats and 1,277 cats and kittens. Our goal is to stop the cat population in a human way. We also feed and provide shelter to all the homeless cats at their colonies. This brings me much joy. – Judy (West Orange, New Jersey)

49. A day of complete silence. – Janis (Sag Harbor, New York) 

50. I lost both my mom and my 47-year-old husband in the same six-month period two years ago and there has been a lot of sadness in my life. I took in my mom’s dachshund and that little girl keeps a smile on my face. She is so loving, funny, and sweet. Knowing she was my mom’s dog makes our relationship so special and I rarely feel lonely anymore. – Stephanie (Texas)

51. Listening to and learning from my young grandaughters’ perception of how the world works. – Emmy (Denver, Colorado)

52. Every morning I sip my chai tea while coloring in my adult coloring books. I have quite a collection and pick specific coloring books for the seasons. Spring may be books filled with flowers or December a Christmas-themed book. I even have a coloring book with all the national parks. After I have visited a specific park, I color its page in my book. Whoever thought coloring as an adult would bring me such joy and happiness! – Renee (Montana)

53. Seeing my parents’ face light up with a surprise visit. – Simone (Texas)

54. Faith, family, and friends. Not always in that order. – Gary (Pennsylvania)

55. A perfectly made cup of Darjeeling at just the right temperature. One of the best things in life! – Summer (Austin, Texas)

56. Waking up next to my smiling husband. He has smiled every morning of our 36 years of marriage. – Francene (Jefferson, Texas)

57. After 70 years on the planet, I’ve found that my happiness comes from a sunset and a beer. Holding hands on the beach with my wife of 32 years. Rufus waking me up in the morning with a lick right on the tip of my nose. I don’t have much money, but I’m rich. – Larry (St. Petersburg)

58. A clean house, warm laundry, and food for the week cooked for the week before 3 p.m. – Prescious (Houston, Texas)

59. Going to church, wearing comfortable clothes, sunshine, sitting on my swing under my maple tree with a glass of ice tea, warm showers, shopping, taking care of my family, watching a good movie, talking to my granddaughter who is my best friend. I am 82 years old, and enjoy being retired. – Barbara (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

60. Dinner rolls freshly made from Texas Roadhouse with whipped butter. – Katherine (Richmond, Virginia)

61. One thing that truly makes me happy is interacting with my nephew. I especially appreciate being able to interact in person, but much of our time together is through FaceTime calls because he and family live in Canada. Regardless, any time spent with him and his family brings me joy and smiles. – Catherine (Minnesota) 

62. Taking a nap with both my husband and dog by my side. I feel safe and content. – Hannah (Sacramento)

63. Witnessing kindness between individuals. Can be as simple as someone holding the door for another! – Steve (Germantown, Wisconsin)

64. Every day I look for an “awe moment” … usually something in nature, which can be as simple as a beautiful sunrise or sunset, puffy white clouds in a blue sky, water glistening, flowers blooming, or birds singing early in the morning. Just such joy in so many things around us. – Kathryn (Hawaii)

65. Sunrises, sunsets, accomplishing hard things, helping others, eating pizza, practicing mindfulness and being grateful, counting my blessings, music. – Chappy (Ellwood City, Pennsylvania) 

66. Seeing my adult boys treat others with empathy and compassion in their lives. Their wonderful marriages and my glorious grandson. – Lois (Massillon, Ohio)

67. Sitting on my back porch in 70 degrees with my slice of this big ole world. The treetops, plants, flowers with butterflies, and birds chirping with my dog putting about or sunbathing. The sun sparkles off of most things if you take the time to look. This space clears my mind without me trying.  – Lisa (My back porch)

68. My joy givers are my two cats and my darling husband. They’re all I need to be joyful. I thank God every day for them. – Frances (Virginia Beach, Virginia)

69. Walking in the woods. – Robert (Pennsylvania)

70. Traveling to meet new people, see amazing places, eat yummy food, hear great music, see beautiful cultural dance, and learn that the way we live in the U.S. is a way to live, not the way to live. – Teresa (Cappadocia, Turkey)

71. Having a delicious meal with my favorite spiritual book in a quiet spot at one of my favorite restaurants. It feels like I’m having a meal with a great friend. – Catharina (Eastern U.S.)

72. I love your emails! They always make me happy. I love hearing stories about new discoveries, creative challenges being overcome, and interesting facts about the world. Plus puppies — never enough about puppies. – Angela (Lynnwood, Washington) 

73. Flowers, they give so much and ask so little. – Nancy (Atlantis, Florida) 

74. Walking with my dog in the early mornings before the moon has set and before the sun has risen, while the world is still quiet and few creatures are stirring, then returning to have my first cup of coffee almost always makes me happy. – George (South Carolina)

75. Strange how preference changes over time. Time being the operative word. I will turn 82 in August. I have done everything I ever wanted to do. Traveled the world, worked the New York stage, dyed my hair every color, did not marry or have children. Now memory serves me with smiles. Watering my plants. Listening to my music. My brand-new sofa. Watching weather … enormous changes take place out my window in Montana. Facebook offers my friendships across the world a lift. I am pretty sublime. – Susan (Helena, Montana)

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