Looking for happiness

in FURIOUSLY HAPPY, more than meets the eye

Yesterday I had a shitty night and I was starting to fall into the darkness.

This morning I woke up to see slightly more positive and happy news on my Facebook thread than bad news and it reminded me that things are not as bleak as my head sometimes says they are.

Thank you for sharing your lovely, happy moments as well as your hard ones.

I often see an apology that’s added with the happy or proud announcements – as if we’re embarrassed to admit good things have happened to us or that we’ve accomplished something or that we’re proud of ourselves or our family.  I do it myself.  It seems like tempting fate or bragging to share those happy moments.  But it’s that good and positive news that adds up and makes such a profound impact to battle back the negative and the scary and statuses that remind us how fragile and broken we sometimes are.

It would be easier for me to write the things that I feel are wrong right now, but instead I’m going to write the good, because that’s the best way I can practice self-care right now.

  • Dorothy Barker is finally going to the bathroom outside slightly more than inside.  If you don’t recognize how awesome this is, you’ve probably never had a puppy.
  • Last week when I was sick my daughter insisted on putting me to bed.  Then she brought in a book and read me a bedtime story.
  • Your amazing response to my new book turned me into a puddle.
  • We’re working on surprising Hailey with tickets to see Matilda this summer.  She’s wanted to see it for years and we know all of the songs by heart.

Your turn.  Tell me something good.  Something you’re proud of.  Something that makes you happy.

No apologies.  Just goodness.

I was considering teaching this dog to dance but she already dances better than I do.
I was considering teaching this dog to dance but she already dances better than I do.

1,055 thoughts on “Looking for happiness”

Read comments below or add one.

  1. Oh! And if wordpress makes you remember a password to leave a comment, just go back and change your email address to something made up. It just does that when you already have a wordpress account with that email. PROBLEM FIXED. MORE GOOD NEWS.

  3. The star magnolia trees on my street are blooming. This is the most beautiful week on my block all year.

  5. I’m still employed! (Also experiencing a bit of darkness so will return to see other folks’ good news.)

  6. Not only do I have a book contract, my editor is letting me leave in my snarky comments about the Skunk Ape. The Skunk Ape also makes me happy, and now you have to Google Skunk Ape.

  7. I had a horrible morning….like all the emotions. It ended with my kid NOT going to jail…so that’s my good news. Which really…is AWESOME fucking news.

  9. My daughter would love to see Matilda with your daughter. My daughter (she turns 6 tomorrow) sings all day long. Seriously, Like her life is an operetta.

  10. I get to finish my graduate program a semester early. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time!

  11. I had a good meeting today. More to the point, I remembered that I CAN have good meetings. Self-doubt & depression can make that knowledge go the hell away, and today the knowledge came back.

  13. Well, I’m not going to share my name, because this is embarrassing, but after years of terrible online dating, I have met a man who appears to be a reasonable human being and does not seem to be a serial killer. It makes me super happy 🙂

  14. Loooooove you, I created a countdown clock to the release of your new book, that’s my happy thought right now. .. I look at it when I need something just a little to look forward to.

  15. I’m on vacation with my teenage daughters, and they are actually getting along and being very nice to each other and me. Believe me, this is a welcome change. Hope things get better for you soon. Can’t wait for the new book.

  16. I learned today that my chances of conception are low. Instead of wallowing, I’m celebrating the beginning of my adoption journey.

  18. After escaping a 7 year long abusive relationship, I have found a loving, caring man who loves me and my son unconditionally. We are tentatively planning a Hill Country wedding next October. <3

  20. It makes me happy to know that there’s a Matilda musical. It’s my son’s favorite Roald Dahl book, and it’ll be touring near us later this year.

    Also basset hounds. Basset hounds make me happy.

  24. I have two things this week that make me smile. The very best one is a new niece with an awesome family legacy name (Molly) who has the most adorable round head.

    The second one makes me laugh until I cry – my 4-year-old has been waving and pointing only using her middle fingers lately and it’s completely innocent but also completely hilarious.

    Hang in there!

  25. I’ve been overcoming my anxiety in some pretty big ways. I’ve applied for a few jobs, and even interviewed for one. I didn’t get it, but it’s a heck of a first step. I’ve also started online classes at my dream school, and volunteered to be team leader for a group project. That’s insane to me! I just knew I wanted an “A” so bad, I pushed my fear aside. Very proud.

    I’m also starting a new blog about being different and not caring what others think. It’s kind of a memo to myself, but if it entertains or helps others, that would be stupendous!

    You’re amazing Jenny! Depression lies. You taught me that. Thank you! I’m pushing ahead, and I know you are too. Much love!

  26. my BFF’s son got a new heart week!!!! And he is doing great!! Nothing makes me happier 😊

  27. I just got notified that I am being invited to an Honors Breakfast because I have maintained a 3.85 GPA while working to get my Associates of Applied Science in Agriculture. ;-). AND my baby girl will be graduating high school in less than 2 months!

  28. Recently bought into DVC (Disney’s version of a timeshare) so I can go to my happy place more often and more affordably.

  29. I also sent a book proposal to an agent that actually contacted ME and asked for it. It’s not good news..it’s nail biting..but it MIGHT be good news. I need all the good thoughts. Unless this was all a joke and they’re going to tell me I suck.

    I hope you manage to kick depressions ass this go around. Depression is a dick.

  30. I am going to a UIL competition with my favorite kids tomorrow. And my aunt is in town. Also, only one more six week until summer!

  31. My girlfriend recently presented a paper at two separate conferences, and one of those presentations won her a Best Student Paper award. I am very proud of her.

    Also, I officially have a girlfriend. The news is a couple of weeks old, but it’s a fairly unique occurrence in my life, so I’m pretty happy about that.

  32. My sweet, stubborn, dark and twisty, smart as hell daughter got into her first choice High School without hiding or changing a damn thing.

  34. I’m closing on a house on May 1. I’ve been working (back) towards being able to do this for the last six years, and every time I stop to really think about it I’m reminded of how hard I’ve worked and how far I’ve come since the one Really Bad Year that left me starting all over from the bottom. I am SUPER proud of myself. 🙂

  35. Here’s something that makes me happy: Twenty minutes of purring!

    (Those little guys were rescued from the bottom of a trashcan where they had been left a few days before they were discovered. They are now all spayed/neutered and have GREAT homes where they are pampered and adored!)

  36. You are an amazing woman. The darkness catches so many of us from time to time. I find myself in a current struggle as well. But somehow, knowling I’m not alone, makes things a bit less bleak.

  38. I organized my spice cabinet yesterday and discarded all the spice that expired between 4-7 years ago. I was so proud of myself that I could finally be MORE organized in that cabinet.

  39. I hate my job and am taking a leap of faith by quitting at the end of the month to pursue what I really want to do.

  40. I am heading to Nashville in 16 days for a girls-only weekend with my mother in law and sister in law. I cannot fucking wait. First time I’ve gone anywhere away from my kids for more than one night.

  41. My 14 y/o niece is babysitting my 3 y/o today, and she just called to tell me that he just threw up all over her. I’m not necessarily happy about this, per se, but I am secretly thrilled that I’m at work and it didn’t happen on my watch. Also, I survived my annual GYN exam this morning and don’t have to deal with that for another year. And it’s sort of almost September, and your book comes out then!

  42. Ottawa Senators winning their NHL game last night to keep themselves in the playoff run. They are working so hard to win, and the enthusiasm is soooo contagious! Rookies scoring goals, an AHL goalie on a win streak. It’s awesome!

  44. I’m fostering two puppy siblings right now. Started at four weeks and now they’re six weeks. Unbelievable amount of work but a ridiculous amount of cuteness and puppy snuggles. There’s NO WAY to look at them and not be happy. If you need a dose of the happy pups, feel free to look at my instagram pups. Insanely sweet.

  45. Good things. I am married to a wonderful man. May 10th will be 10 years together 😀 I am working on my blogs. I have really good friends. And there are great people like Jenny that let me know I am not alone when it feels like the world is closing in and I want to hide under my desk all day.

  46. My Kickstarter tarot cards are doing really well! Which means yes, money, always needed, but also that people, most of whom AREN’T EVEN RELATED TO ME think my cartoons are worth cashy money. This is very exciting.

  47. My brother got fixed yesterday and I sent him a ficus tree, a balloon, and of course a card that said Sorry for your lossess. When my mom had her hysterectomy my weirdo grandmother sent her a ficus tree. 🙂 Also I checked the funeral box for the reason and the idea of the tree people figuring out what balloon to send for a funeral makes me laugh harder than it should.

  48. The sun is shining here in Central Washington and we have a duck couple who have moved back in to our research station grounds so we get to watch them waddle around and lay in the middle of the driveway.

  49. I’ve lost almost 30 pounds since the beginning of the year. It’s a hard road, and I’ve still got almost 50 more to go, but I can do it!

  50. My kid has his driver’s license, and last weekend was given the opportunity to take the car, pick up a friend and go to a movie, while I tried like hell to not lose my marbles or start drinking at 1 in the afternoon.

    He came home a half hour late after getting lost in someone’s huge subdivision and not thinking he should pull over and call us. But he’s home and he’s alive and I didn’t cave in to the desire to start drinking. Success all around!

    Thanks for the opportunity to share. Keep working at holding back the darkness. Can’t wait to read your new book.

  51. After over a year of unemployment/under-employment, my husband has a final job interview on Friday, and the director has given him every indication that he will be getting an offer! And not only that, a GOOD offer! We can go back to being an actual two income family and start to crawl out of our debt! I’m excited! Also, this will likely mean us moving, but that’s not a bad thing. We will be closer to my family and in a city that costs a lot less than where we’re living now. Having just navigated the puppy thing last year, I can attest to the GREAT news that going to the bathroom outside is!

  52. I have to wear one of those walking boot casts for a while and I thought it was super ugly, so I added strips of rhinestones to the straps. The response has been amazing! Several women stopped me at a Saks Fifth Avenue store (a place I feel like a fish out of water) to compliment me on my boot. One of them even told me I should go into business embellishing ski boots too!

  53. Having a terrible day (mid-divorce emotional ish). Saw this post and reminded myself in 3 weeks I’ll be around the corner from my super awesome nephew. I can’t wait!

  54. I’m almost half-way through making all the pieces to a giant weird ceramic totem pole that I’m going to put up on my front lawn and scare the neighbors. Making it makes me very happy and nervous that it might not work out but I do it anyway because I like the happy part more than the scary part.

  55. Our 9-year old dog, after being rather grouchy the past 9 months about having a new baby in the house, brought him toys to play with Monday night. They’ll be best pals soon enough!

  56. i have a mild flirtation going on with someone who i’ve known for a bit through work, but we never realized how much we have in common.
    i have two potential new job offers right now. up in the air about this.
    pay day is this week!
    the sun will come out in a few days (dreary days in the northeast)

  57. My friend and I have been making a lot of fun Game of Thrones crafts for my Game of Thrones themed birthday party this weekend. It has been super fun and rewarding 😀

  58. i’m normally 5’2 and today i’m 5’7 because I have amazing shoes, and the very best part is that I havent fallen a single time.

  59. I won an election yesterday, so I’m going to be a member of our local school board. I am really hoping to make a difference in my community!

    Also, I introduced my mother-in-law to the Bloggess. She started reading your book while going through chemotherapy, and it was so good that she was able to laugh while going through something so awful. What a wonderful difference YOU are making throughout the world!

  61. I havent been bitten by a squirrel yet, & I’m almost 42. This delights me!

  62. On my morning walk with my dog, it was lovely to see and hear all the signs of Spring this morning: bright sunshine, birds chirping, and I actually stopped to appreciate all the Nature around me. 😄

  63. I was told in December that I had, at most, six to eight weeks left with the furry feline who has been my best friend for 10 years– that cancer was going to take him from me that quickly. He’s still here, still not showing any symptoms or signs of discomfort. Every day really is a gift Jenny. And for the record, you are a gift to all of us. And you are loved.

  65. I haven’t listened to the Buffy “Once More With Feeling” soundtrack in ages, but I still know ALL THE WORDS. (And am torturing co-workers with them.) I win!

  66. I turned my best friend onto Doctor Who a few months ago & she set my ringtone up as a Dalek shouting, “Answer the phone! Answer the phone!”. It makes her laugh as she answers & that makes me laugh. I’ve also taught my three year old niece to yell, “Exterminate!” as she runs around with a whisk.

    I’m rereading your first memoir right now & it still makes me giggle. Another best friend told me about your blog as I was coming out of my breakdown & finding out about this wonderful band of weirdos has helped me immensely over the past couple years. I hope that we can all be an encouragement to you as you have been to us. The world is a richer & more interesting place because of you.

  67. I’m going to be 43 in a couple of weeks and everyone thinks I’m 30ish. This makes me happy. Plus my cats did not throw up on my bed yesterday. Also happy making. And I can’t wait until your new book comes out! 😀

  68. 2 things….firstly, two weeks ago I took students to our state speech competition. The night before they competed, I gathered them up and read them a bedtime story…from Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. They went to sleep laughing, and said it was the best bedtime story ever. Secondly, my assistant coach and I have already marked our calendars for the release of your second book. We plan on driving to the nearest Barnes&Noble (about 60 miles), purchase our copies, and then laugh hysterically all of the way home, taking turns reading. We’re very much looking forward to it. Your writing is a delight…keep it up! 🙂

  70. I have thick legs. They make me a little crazy because I’ve always wanted to have long thin gorgeous gams. Last week I was snorkeling with my husband and he was following me in the water. After we got out and were drying off he said, “You are such a strong swimmer! When you would see something and take off I had a really hard time keeping up!”

    Because of my thick legs. Because they are thick with muscles.

    So now I know if I am out snorkeling with a group of people and we see a shark I can out-swim most of them and not become dinner. So I totally have that going for me now.

  71. I want to post an adorable picture of my kitty but I don’t see a place to post it. So instead I’ll tell you about my sixteen year old autistic son who is totally mainstreamed and is getting straight A’s in tenth grade. He will be taking pre-calculus his junior year because he’s a year ahead in math. He is the best surprise I ever had.

  72. My wife and I are foster/adoptive parents. We have 2 girls, both age 5 that we have adopted. We also foster a 2 year old boy. When we did our Easter Egg hunt, one of the 5 year olds (who is a special needs child and is developmentally about 3) found her first egg and promptly placed it in the basket of the 2 year old. Both girls helped him find eggs and shared freely with him. They’re such little sweeties.

  73. I helped a woman in my apartment building decide to not let the darkness win and instead to go with the nice policeman and get help. I feel like a superhero. And my Manx boy, Walter Bishop, made me laugh my ass off this morning when he successfully retrieved his favorite ball from under the couch. Seeing that pudgy belly, the extra-long back legs, and the bobtail flailing around with the effort was priceless!

  74. our adopted son James is going Home from the hospital tomorrow. He’s been in since in was born on 03-03 and we just can’t wait to start our life with the little guy!!!!!

  75. I’m an RA patient advocate. My efforts to help others who have this disease are actually beginning to work! That makes me really happy and inspires me to keep trying. There is so much to live for, so much that’s beautiful in this world, it’s just sad to miss it or watch it pass by without engaging. You make me smile–and often, laugh out loud–almost every day. Thank you for that! Jenny, you’re one of the beautiful parts of the world, one of the sparkly ones. Please know hope.

  76. I started a new job last week, and I’ve never been happier. I can have blue hair, visible tattoos, and any piercings I want. The people are fabulous and the products are awesome. I feel like I’m home.

  77. I managed to overpower a massive anxiety attack in order for my children to do something they wanted to do. My flight instinct was screaming, but I held in there and endured 40 minutes so that they could have fun. It was hard. Very hard. But it made me happy to make it through. (I took a tour in an underground mine. It was hands down THE HARDEST thing I’ve ever done and I didn’t think I could overcome the darkness that was closing in on me….but I did!!!!)

  79. I’m finally ready to walk away from someone who is no good for me. Hooray!

  80. My 4-yr-old told me last night that he loves me more than my husband because I’m so beautiful. He said it in front of my husband. So now I can end every argument in our house with “Well, I’m more beautiful AND more loved than you, so you may be right, but I win.”

  82. After three years & two LSATs, I finally got into law school & I am SO excited. I want to be an employment lawyer, which I discovered after the shitty experiences that I had with the jobs I’ve had during those three years.

    You’re awesome, Jenny. The community here is fantastic.

  84. I’m competing in the Literary Death Match tomorrow night — nervous, but excited to read from a book I published then (accidentally) ignored. I love reading YOUR stuff out loud, so I’m going to try for the same level of enthusiasm for my own ; )

  85. Reading your puppy news made me happy. We have a puppy and are not there yet. I will party when we are!!

  86. That “going to the bathroom outside” thing is for the dog, but I don’t know your life, I don’t judge.

  87. It’s been a week for my family. We thought my beloved dog might have bone cancer, BUT it just turned out to be bad arthritis that he’s doing better with now that he’s happily drugged up. And I our quest to be responsible grown up adults, I just accepted a job that will moving all my family from where we are comfortable to have chance awesomeness. The only downside is that I won’t know where I’ll be living in Sept. so I can’t preorder your new book. : ) We are working on turning scary things into happiness here ourselves!

    Also, while the weather sucks here today, there are many days in a row of forecasted 50-60 degree days. After the winter we’ve had up here in Boston, you don’t know how much happiness that really is : )

  89. Things I am proud of: My 5 year old son is officially riding a bike without training wheels… which means he is already more advanced than I am. I got a new tattoo yesterday and it’s badass. I pre-ordered your book the other day and I am super excited for it to come out right after my birthday.

  90. A little less than a year ago I reached my goal weight and I’ve kept it off. I did it for me – to feel healthier and to be an example to my kids. I only had 20 pounds to take off, but on a 5’2″ frame, that translates to two sizes. Since I’ve kept it off for a year, I took all of my jeans that didn’t fit any more – and won’t fit again – and cut them up to make a picnic blanket. I started sewing it last night. I’m proud not only of my weight loss (and maintenance), but I’m excited for our new blanket.

  91. We became a 2 car family for the first time in 7 years. I’m a stay at home mom to a 3 year old. This caris an amazing gift.

  92. After a week of having to close the restaurant where he works, my husband will be home tonight when I get there. Being able to see him will make me happy.

  93. My husband has finally healed up enough from his shoulder surgery that he played bass last night with one of our bigger local talents. He loved it and and had a wonderful time!

  95. Your puppy is darling. I love what you have to say. Sometimes i feel like i am reading my own thoughts. Weird right!

  97. Well, I know we’ve known about each others existence for a long time…think PNN days…and I guess that means that my happy thing to share with you…is that I love you. And I’m not all fan-girly about it either. Genuinely, I care about your well-being and not just to get a response from you either. I think people need to be less afraid to tell people they love each other.

    I was going to share with you some sappy post I made with a fee good tone, but I’d rather just let you know you are loved. Genuinely. No strings.
    Love, Carm

  98. My little guy was diagnosed with DS when he was born. At 18 months he got leukemia and nearly died. At 3 he had open heart surgery. Today, he is healthy and strong. In homeschool today, he totally owned the number 9 as it applies to subtraction, grouping with quarters and the father of our country. Every day he makes my life better because he’s in it.

  99. My 7 month old just slept for 2 hours straight. STRAIGHT. It was joyous. I cleaned.

  100. I’m happy because I’m off of work for the next nine days, and about 90% of the time I will be in my pajamas, sitting in front of my sewing machine, or lounging on the sofa reading…best way to celebrate 44 years on Earth…😃

  104. I watched a five year old hula hoop this morning with a hoop that I bought her. She was so ecstatic and her hula hoop technique consists of a wild swinging of the hips from side to side. It is the most joyful and hilarious thing I have ever seen. Love you!

  105. It’s only been 3 days but, the procedure I had on my left knee to help with the pain of osteoporosis seems to be working. That’s my good news <3

  107. In December I was told I had, at most, six to eight weeks before cancer was going to take my feline best friend– we’ve been inseparable for ten years. He’s still here, not showing any signs or symptoms of being in discomfort. I watch him like a hawk, and treat each of these additional days together as a gift. The ARE a gift. So are you. We love you Jenny. Legions of us love you.

  108. My 9 year old daughter usually wants her dad to put her to bed. Lately she’s been reading a new series of books and now she wants me to put her to bed so she can read to me. The series? Nancy Drew. The ones I got for her when she was 3 and was hope, hope, HOPING she’d love.

  110. I just had an article accepted to a parenting magazine! It is the first article I’ve ever published outside my blog and I got paid for it! So it’s my first paid article!! Plus today it was 71F here in Switzerland so I took the kids to the park for bike riding and we got ice cream!!

  112. I took my daughter to the doctor by myself today even though I might have had a panic attack and not had my husband there to save me.

    I didn’t have one. But I could have. And I did it anyway. Because I’m learning to be my own safe person and to embrace my anxious brain. hashtagbabysteps

  113. I recently read that drinking a glass of red wine was equivalent to going to the gym for an hour. So I got THAT going for me. 🙂

  116. I’m finally in a good enough place that I can try decreasing the dosage on my antidepressants for the first time in over 2 years! And I fell off a horse and got back on without any panic attacks.

  117. We had a break-in a couple of weeks ago, and a buch of our stuff was recovered by the police in a different town. We get to go get out things back today!!!! yay for our stuff!

    And also yay for the hard work the police did to make it possible. This is totally pennies from heaven. When it happened I was very down, and re-read your book. It helped get me through. Thank you so very much for the gift of your words and voice!

  118. I’m starting a photography business with the instructor I met when I took part time classes these last 2 years. I totally look up to him and today he told me i was awesome and that he felt fortunate to have connected with me! It made my day & week!

  119. After two years of pure torture at my old job, I’ve been at a new one for two months. Today I got an email from my new boss, “YOU R DA WOMAN!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!” It almost brought me to tears to have someone not only appreciate me again, but to so emphatically express it. I know he can’t understand how much that means, but it was a bright spot that I’ve been desperately needing for two years.

  121. I made it through oral surgery yesterday (I am severely needle phobic, so this is a big deal for me- my anxiety was terrible ) Today is much better. Less painful- and I managed to stuff a cookie in the back of my mouth. Small steps.

  122. We submitted our foster/adoption application! We are really excited about bringing home our first child. Maybe for a while, maybe forever, we will love them for always even if we have them only for a short time.

  123. I’m happy that flowers are popping up outside. My kids are silly and kind. My boobs have grown a cup size bc I’ve gained weight. Can we laugh about that? 🙂 Is it warm enough for you to enjoy an inner tube ride at Schlitterbahn? Your 2nd book is done- that’s worth a lot of feelin great!

  124. Last night I listenedt o a recording of a conversation I had with my daughter while she was on the potty. She was 4 then, she is 9 now. I think of the amount of time between now and then, 5 measly little years. 5 years? No. Nope. No way. It’s been way longer. It’s been a lifetime. A lifetime of crazy. I listen to her little voice and her hilarious sense of humor and I am filled with amazement and perspective and…joy. I don’t feel joy enough. But that recording brought joy to my heart and soul.

  125. Next year I’ll be celebrating 20 cancer-free years! I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer when I was 25, and I won’t lie, it was ROUGH. But I’m happy and healthy and that [insert your favorite, most breathtakingly offensive word here] cancer hasn’t shown its face since. There were so many times I just wanted to give up, especially since the next two years were awful as well, but I’m so glad I didn’t. Things can always, ALWAYS get better. I promise.

  126. You made me realize I can still fight against my depression and anxiety, and not give up 🙂 So I am trying medication again. Thank you.

  127. Yesterday I had the house all to myself on a cool and drizzly day. I spent some of it sitting in the chair in the front window crocheting on an afghan. Yuki decided she needed to be in my lap too. It felt really good.

    Photographic evidence

  128. Found out I’m one step closer to adopting my kitty. Her name is Bobble (her head is a little too big for her body). I’m still trying to pick a middle name either: Bobble Edith Head or Bobble Cattasauqua.

  129. My 21 year old son finally friended me on Facebook and I’m loving seeing his life in pictures (he lives 5 hours away).

  130. Having truly horrible darkness on the work front and trying desperately not to lose my shit completely. So I’ve been focusing on the fact that between my beautiful daughters and my amazing partner, my entire personal life bubble is bursting at the seams with love and happiness. Every day at 4PM, I get to climb out of the darkness and drive home to the sunshine. Three and a half hours left today. I can do this!

  132. I sent a Horsie sculpture to a gal in Canada ( portrait model of her childhood horse) It made it there in one piece (Yay) and she was opened it while I waited. She was so moved, she was sobbing and her hubby had to put it on the shelf for her.

  133. Right now I live at Disney World. Im doing an internship and even though I have to work on a register at a store (not a bad thing) I get to live here and go to any park anytime I want as much as I want. This is an awesome thing.

  134. I had something wonderful happen recently. I found a half-sister I’d never met. I’d known about her for some time now but was afraid she wouldn’t want to have any contact with me. I finally decided to find out one way or another & reached out to her. Well guess what! Not only have we worked for the same company for nearly 15 years but we live in the same subdivision, only separated by a few streets. I wrote her a letter, she called, we talked… Both cried & we are now going to finally be able to meet. I was not rejected as I’d feared & feel like I’m on the road to filling in some pieces of this puzzle…

  135. I’ve started the process to become a licensed baseball umpire in the state of Illinois. Signed up to take the test, and I’m looking at a couple of clinics. I love baseball more than anything, and this is a dream of mine, so I’m going for it.

    I’ll probably never actually BE an umpire, but it’ll be a fun thing other than boring lawyer jobs on my resume!

    Oh, and when I go to games and a friend argues with me over a call the actual umpire made, I can be all “who’s the licensed umpire, me or you?”

  136. I got my passes to Star Wars Celebration! I wasn’t sure Id get to go, but noe I do and it is going to be super fun! Also one of my best friends is traveling across the country to go with me!

  137. My daughter has a heart condition that means she’ll have open heart surgery this summer. She’s only 2.5 months old. The happy part is she’s doing incredibly well for what she’s got going on and her oxygen levels are higher than the doctors expected. Also she’s beautiful and growing like crazy. And my two sons adore her, which makes my heart happy, too.

  138. I recently found out that two of my stories got into two parenting anthologies (Martinis & Motherhood & It’s Really 10 Months) and last night, after almost 5 months of searching, I found the necklace that my husband gave me when our 5 year old was born.
    I hope the rest of your week is filled with good news and light!

  139. I’m happy and proud of a few things. Surviving Mental Illness Through Humor was released yesterday on Amazon and I’m so proud to be a part of it. You inspired me to write authentically and believe in myself. Thank you for being out there in the world and being the inspiration that you are to so many, not just lil ole me.

  140. I have a new house that we bought at the end of fall. About a week ago, I found surprise hyacinths growing out of what I thought was an empty space in the flower beds. Happy flowers!

  141. The dermatologist doesn’t want to see me again until next year! Seriously, big exhale there.

  142. During my morning walk with my husband and our dog we saw skunks a bit further up crossing back and forth over the trail. By the time we got to that spot they had disappeared and my dog didn’t even seem extra interested in where they had been… so we didn’t get skunked this morning!

  143. We’re all safe. (Considering what’s been going on here, that’s a big thing for me). Kids are healthy and happy, and we had our 12th wedding anniversary last wk.

    No metal chickens though. sigh

  144. There must be something in the air? water? because I am struggling right now, too. Can’t even write. But last night my space obsessesed 8 yr old was talking about how it seems like trees and mountains are so big but really they are small compared to the Earth and the Universe and ended her smarty pants observation by saying, “So remember, Mommy: when you think something is big, it’s not as big as you think it is.” She didn’t mean to be philosophical, but those darn kids. So that’s what I’m reminding myself of today.

  145. For the first time in quite a while I felt genuinely good yesterday. I’ve been in the darkness lately, but I am starting to see some light. That deserves a celebration! I think it’s largely due to spending two hours laying a flagstone patio, exercise and a sense of accomplishment! Also, my girls (3 and 1) are amazing and awesome and healthy. My husband is supportive and loves me, even when I feel unlovable.

    Finally, I think I might (might might might) be ready to take the leap and start my own business., which I hope to combine with a tutoring center (a la 826 Valencia http://www.826national.org/).

  146. My two year old woke up at 4 am and refused to go back to sleep. This is extremely abnormal for him he’s a great sleeper. So now today we’re both tired and cranky. In fact I’ve even cried a few times just from the exhaustion. I’ve been reading Harry Potter to keep myself awake and a few minutes ago after throwing some things around the room in a fit my son climbed on the couch with me sat right in my lap and gave me a kiss.

    He nevers gives kisses. Not unless we make a big silly game out of it so for him to just randomly hop up and do it is pretty huge. I can’t wait to take him to therapy this after noon and tell his speech pathologist she’s going to be just as excited as I am.

  147. I spent yesterday, yes all of it, in a bubble bath reading two absolute popcorn novels of no literary merit. Ahhh….

  148. Last week, my youngest son told me that he didn’t think the tooth fairy was real anymore. I started to feel a little wistful and sad. But then he told me he had figured out that instead of the tooth fairy, there was an underground village of very rich people who were nocturnal. At night, the tooth under his pillow rolled out and into the air conditioning vents and down into their village. The underground folks had special machines that could then extend out of the vent and deposit a coin under his pillow. He doesn’t believe in the tooth fairy anymore but he believes in something even cooler.

  149. i remembered to get out of bed this morning.
    I made it to an aqua aerobics class.
    My 12 year old asked if I had a copy of hitchikers guide to the Galaxy and a towel.

    I think I’ll preorder your book today.

  150. Oh, and I just realized that I did a shout out to you in my last post, so hopefully it counts as good news that random people’s lives have been touched by your words.

  151. Something happy…. I would post a picture of my cat wearing a tie on his first day of work but I am not sure how to do that here. You will just have to imagine that part for now which kind of sucks because it is a pretty awesome picture. The happy part is that my cat does volunteer work with kids. He is one of a very small percentage of therapy animals that is a cat because as we all know cats usually only care about themselves and can be little assholes most of the time. My cat (who is named Raul) goes with me to the Boys and Girls Club, local elementary and middle schools to have kids read to him. The kids love it because Raul is cute and does not judge their reading skills since he can’t read at all. He also speaks some sort of weird mix between Spanish and cat so even if he did talk trash about their reading they wouldn’t understand him. So there you go, a cat that wears a tie to do volunteer work with little kids is a happy feel good story for you. He also told me that if you are in need of a therapy cat to make you feel better he is your cat. Or maybe he told me to leave him alone so he could nap, I can’t understand him.

  152. I just celebrated my 15th wedding anniversary with my husband. My 14-year-old daughter signed me up for Snap Chat and she sends me messages from school even though she shouldn’t be doing that in school. She said I was her best friend. I don’t know how I have my teenaged daughter as a friend, but it’s amazing.

  153. My performance endeavors are taking shape! My circus is getting invited to perform at conventions and bars, my burlesque pieces are in an upcoming show, & my hip surgery is coming up which is scary but I am looking forward to getting more flexible and stronger again!

  154. Oh. And I sent my husband a gloating message about the ice cream and he sent a message back that at first looked like it had an emoticon of a scrotum, but when I put my glasses on and looked closer was actually just a tongue.

  156. I’ve also been dealing with a lot lately and have been getting dark. It’s like fixing one thing just aggravates another and it’s hard to pull out of it. BUT… I’m transferring departments within my company in a few weeks which is VERY GOOD NEWS because then I’ll be able to start taking care of myself again, and doing work that I actually care about. Plus I pre-ordered your book this week and that made me VERY HAPPY. 🙂

  157. A blog post you made over a year ago is motivating me to learn to play the piano and write songs, which is a lifelong dream I’ve had. Thank you!

  159. I have baby chicks hatching almost every week. They zip a circle around the fat end of the egg and then pop the top off like a lid. One wing and the head flop out. The baby lies exhausted, panting, a scrap of soggy feathers and birth fluids. Their eyes are bright, though, when they aren’t closed with weariness. The chick eventually heaves itself out of the bottom half of the shell, crying piteously. It learns to manage its clumsy, oversized feet; to keep itself upright. Its down begins to dry and fluff, shedding bits of keratin from feather sheaths no longer needed. They cluster by instinct, peeping together, pecking at anything in front of their beaks which will bear the egg tooths at the tips for another few days. Eyes are fair targets. So are beaks and toes. Innocent and harmless, the newborns are sweet little peepers. They are good news embodied. 🙂

  160. I just won a coupon for cat food I’m giving my friend because it’s for the brand her cats eat. My “Always Keep Fighting” shirt from the charity campaign Jared Padalecki ran benefiting To Write Love In Her Arms arrived yesterday and it’s nine kinds of comfortable. And I’m expecting delivery of a new cat tree for Sammy and Harry so they can have access to all the windows in the apartment (the bedroom one is very high and they need help getting there – I got a shorter tree for the lower windows and moving the tall tree to my room).

  161. I did a random act of kindness and when someone tried to make my doubt that I should have done it, I changed THEIR mind and they did the same thing . . . brought someone out of despair AND influenced someone to be a kinder person. Happiness all around!

  162. After a year of her stubbornly refusing to participate, we finally have my 3.5yo almost completely potty trained.
    We adopted two new kitties in February, and in the last few days one of them seems to have designated himself as Mine. Which I really needed.
    My work life has been tanking for the last few months, but every time things seem to plateau and I start thinking maybe it’s not really so bad and I don’t need to stretch out of my comfort zone and start interviewing, something even more abysmal happens. I know that doesn’t sound like good news, but it’s telling me that leaving is the right option, and also that the Universe is watching out for me and won’t let me get stuck here because it’s easy.

    And Jesy Payne, you are awesome. I so need to do that.

  163. I wrote a blog post for the staff at the library I work at. It was a very nerdy post about the Putnam Classification system, which was developed by a Minneapolis librarian. It then became the Library of Congress Classification system. Anyway, my blog post is going to be turned in to a Wikipedia article. Exciting stuff for a librarian!

  164. On Friday, I get to dress up as a unicorn and perform aerial work to accompany a musician I really, really like.

  165. I’ve been writing comedies for local dinner for ten years, now. We perform every May, and two of six nights are sold out, and three more are no more than ten away from sold out. I know my fellow players have a hand in that, and it’s only local, but I have to say, it makes me feel good that people want to see something I’ve written.

  166. I am sooo happy I will have a new awesome Jenny book to read. Because you always cheer me up.

  167. I just finished a huge project at work. Something giant and stressful and that makes me sooo happy because now I don’t have to worry about it anymore. I did a proverbial mike drop when I sent the email to my boss letting her know it was done!

  168. Long distance relationships can be challenging, but it has given my boyfriend and me the opportunity to REALLY get to know each other by TALKING – A LOT – with short visits every few months! And I’m getting on an early flight in four days to visit him for a week and meet his kids for the first time. Yay us!

  169. My dad took my mom this morning to have a minor vein procedure on her leg. Today is their 48th anniversary. At the check-in desk, my dad, who’s a bit of a jokester, asked the lady if they’d sing “Happy Anniversary” to my mom before the procedure. She replied, “But is SHE happy about it? We don’t like to bring up bad memories before surgery.” My mom said the look of befuddlement on Dad’s face was the best present she could have gotten after putting up with his jokes for 48 years.

  170. I signed up yesterday to run my 2nd half marathon. I used to be really, really fat, so it’s kind of a big deal.

  172. I’m 45 years old and FINALLY starting my own business doing what I love rather than staying in a job I despise. All of a sudden this year, business has started to boom and just today alone I received three possible new clients. I’m terrified (because I still have the FT job I despise), but I’m getting closer to the point I can leave it and be happy to get out of bed in the mornings.

  174. I just took my 5 year-old to Kindergarten screening and the only complaints they had were that he needs to focus on following directions more closely, and work on drawing and writing because he holds a pencil like he’s afraid to snap its neck. No concerns about cognitive or developmental milestones. I don’t know why that’s always worried me, but it has, and today they were like, “No, just try to get him not to talk so much and maybe stop quitting half way through things because he’s bored or they’re hard.” and I was like, “Yeah, hello, my name’s Amanda and we’ve clearly never met, but I see you’ve gotten to know my clone. None of that is going to happen. I’m chatty and bored RIGHT NOW.”

  175. After being on steroids for about six months I am finally off of them!! The doctors and I have been working really hard to get my body to cooperate and it seems to be working. Also, I am almost finished with my second semester of school and have maintained awesome grades all while being a mom of two awesome but rotten children, working full time, and maintaining an equally awesome relationship. The man that has stood by my side through all this has requested that my children and I move into his home and share it with him and his equally awesome 14yr old daughter. After putting up a good fight it seems that I am seeing the good I have fought for!

  176. In December I was told I had six, maybe eight, weeks left with the furry feline who has been my best friend for 10 years. Cancer was going to take him away that quickly. Now it’s April, he’s still here, not showing any signs or symptoms of being in any discomfort (let alone pain). I watch him closely, but treat each of these extra days together as a gift. The ARE gift. So are you Jenny, a gift to all of us. Legions of us. You are loved.

  177. My fiance and I are moving from So Cal to Las Vegas! (Both happy and sad news.) After his tenants of 15 years moved out of his Vegas rental in December, leaving 95 cats (yes you read that right.. 95 cats) the house was completely trashed, filthy, smelly and uninhabitable – It’s been gutted and new drywall went up. We spent the weekend there spraying primer and are going back this coming weekend to paint. On the first of May we move. I can’t wait – it’s a gorgeous house and we’re having a unique opportunity of furnishing it literally from the studs and concrete slab up!

  178. My 10-year-old daughter is spending her Spring Break at a cooking camp. She’s having a blast and is bringing home dinner for four every night that she made at camp, AND the food, so far, has been delicious!

  179. Seeing pictures of your pets with your funny captions always makes me happy!

  180. I have two beautiful cats and this morning the ophthalmologist said my eyes were healthy. A roof over my head and food in the fridge. Moving these to the front of the list above the demons. Your writing has helped me endure the sharp dark corners. Hang in there.

    Think sunny daffodils dancing in a warm breeze.

  181. My cats did not puke on my bed AT ALL yesterday! And Avengers AoU comes out in just over 3 weeks!!!

  182. My two Jack Russell rescue dogs make me smile every.single. day. We found each other 4 years ago when I was going thru a particularly dark time in my life. I’m not sure if I saved them or they saved me. Either way I really grateful

  183. I’m happy that you are here with us. I’ve read your first book 4 times and still laugh out loud at it. The news that your new one is on the way is the best thing I could hope for. You are light in my world.

  185. Bailey, my pibble/rottie mutt, has discovered that if she wakes the puppy early in the morning, he wakes me up to let him outside to pee, leaving my (warm) side of the bed available for Bailey to steal.

  187. I am glad you are all having the good stuff today! Curiosity–how will posting about a surprise for Hailey on the blog stay a surprise?

  188. By the way…I just read all of these comments and now feel even better. Thanks for asking for this, Jenny! You are AWESOME in every way. Still love you! And always will! Not in a stalkery-I’m-coming-to-stare-at-you-through-long-range-binoculars-way, but in an I-admire-your-humor-and-determination-and-love-of-animals-way.

  189. I couldn’t have children, and adopted my daughter 20 years ago out of foster care when she was 11. It’s been really, really hard. There were years when I didn’t think she would survive. She is 6 weeks from graduating from nursing school and yesterday got a job in a private eating disorder clinic. She said that she has struggled so much over the years with her mental health, that she wants to help others like her. She has such a huge heart for those in pain because of where she has been.

  190. Electric blankets make me happy. I’m home in bed with w/ a cold, but warm and toasty

  193. Yours is the first book I will ever be pre-ordering because you make me feel like I’m OK.

    Also, it’s Wednesday, and I am wearing pink, because “Mean Girls.”

    Aaaaaand, um…. Someone made “Golden Girls” Legos: http://www.themarysue.com/golden-girls-lego-set/2/

    And as always, let us never underestimate the healing powers of pie.

    You are loved and treasured. (Yep. Treasured. I said it.)

  194. The City of Salem (MA) public schools had an art showcase of all the students’ artwork from every school at the Peabody Essex Museum last night. So my first grader got to show his artwork in a real museum! He was so proud of himself, as were his dad and I 😀

  195. our new horse that has been so terrified of us, today allowed me to brush her and put the fly mask on and she was quiet and seemed to enjoy the attention. Someone I love as a father told complete strangers ” this is my daughter” for someone with no family, this made my heart sing with happiness…I was unsure if he felt the same about me as I did him…that one statement made me want to keep living again.

  196. Today is my birthday, and I feel very loved today! Everything is pretty awesome, even when your brain is lying and trying to tell you it’s not.

    By the way, I work at a bookstore, and I recommend your book a dozen times a week to people. I love you, and your blog. ❤

  197. I am learning to try to find a positive in every thing- boy is that hard sometimes. My precious son who is 14 is on the Freshman baseball team at his school. He has never gotten to play a full game and let me tell you that fucking pissed me off! I asked him how he feels about it and he said he feels great just to be on the team. He has made some great new friends and loves the attention he gets even tho he hasn’t played a full game. Needless to say I was so very proud of him for this and as I go to yet another game and don’t see him play, I will remember that he is ok with this even if mommy is not. Be brave, Be strong

  198. I’m coming to the end of my first full time semester as an adult undergrad student after returning to school following the unexpected death of my husband. I chose John Stuart Mill as my “speed date” for a psych activity, AMA. So much work to do in the next 3 weeks, but it’s for the greater good of helping others long term and I just want to get through, asap, so I can.

    Also, I got bloodwork back today that proves that real self care works if you listen to your body’s needs and honor them.

    Thank you for asking for help. Depression lies – and we can get through this together. Sending you love. I recommend a living room dance party for the brightening of spirits at short notice.

  199. my happiness today comes from the fact that I was able to get up. Able to get to work. And I finally chose something for lunch (which took an hour because I was hungry but the idea of eating was exhausting). I’m here, I’m alive, and at the end of the day I get to go home to two perfect cats who will demand food and petting. And I will take a billion photos of them.

  200. I’m laying on the floor in my office because I just had to interact during a business lunch and I’m exhausted like I ran a marathon.

    Positives – I have an office. With the privacy and space to be me and lay on the floor when I need to. I have business lunches.

    In other news, I flat ironed my wrist this morning. Sometimes you can’t have it all.

    I love Dorothy Barker. And you. You’re amazing. Don’t let the bastard get you down, Jenny. Xo

  201. My daughter did an amazing job helping clean up from dinner last night without being asked to.

    In February mother nature dropped the most adorable little kitten on our door step late at night in the freezing cold. BK (bad kitty after the books) has been a bright ray of sunshine and smiles for me. It also means I nearly never have to worry about going into the bathroom alone. He’s such a helper LOL

    My husband is so thoughtful that when he’s going out of town for business he tries to make sure we’ll still have super yummy food to eat instead of using my mad box mac n cheese making skills every day.

    You are still here Jenny and you help me be ok with who I am and I can’t thank you enough for that.

  202. My daughter got an internship at the number 1 news station in Cincinnati. I’m so happy and proud I could just burst!

  204. While I have been sick the last week my kids have been very good to me. Additionally when my son could have got in trouble this past weekend he came to me to tell me first so I didn’t hear it from anyone else first. I chuckled at what he did. Teens making out in cars never change. I just love them both.

  205. My sweet daughter came in to our room this morning before everyone was up just to give me a hug and say I love you. Then she went back to bed.

  206. Yesterday my professor singled me out in class and said, “You’re probably the only one who’s going to get this…” and proceeded to quote a science fiction show. I AM THE REIGNING BIGGEST GEEK!!! Very, very proud.

  207. I’m proud of myself for getting up out of my bed this morning and stepping on that treadmill. And for not tolerating my little brother (who is 10 inches taller than I am) treat me like a lesser human being).

  209. I was able to spend last night at a friends house talking, eating and drinking until after midnight. We call it book club, but it’s so much more than that.

  211. It rained here in inland southern California, which makes today stunningly clear and beautiful with spectacular mountains all around reaching up into a lovely blue sky. Lawns will live another week, although people are heeding the governor and grass is starting to brown across the city. Yay for common sense and changing cultural norms. Our okra is sprouting, the California poppies are growing and should bloom soon along the north wall, and the yearling cat wants to snuggle. Sparrows are taking wisps of cat fur caught on the southern fence to use in their nests, and our hummingbird feeders are being used at night by nectar-drinking bats.

  212. Spring has arrived and we get to do more things outside! This year we’re are getting horses (Yay!!!) so we will be building fences and a small barn for them! Also my chickens are laying good, my children are happy and healthy, and my husband is amazing still after 15 years. All is good here!

    The sun is shining, the trees are budding, and life is grand.

  214. I checked today and I made it onto Google Maps and I’m waving! So that means I’m officially waving at the entire internet. 🙂

  215. Oops, I messed up the website link. Please remove it, leave twitter tag. Thanks 🙂

  216. Three things are making me happy today:
    1. I’m partially employed after talking nearly three years out of the job market to take care of my kid with cancer.
    2. Cancer kid is doing great on the latest clinical trial and has been free of disease now for more than seven months.
    3. The 7yo volunteered to write more thank you notes before school to people who donated to his fundraising drive benefiting St. Baldrick’s foundation, the largest private funder of pediatric cancer research. Our team raised more than $13k this year already!

  218. My sister and I never used to get along. Our relationship has been slowly improving over the years. Last year, she got married, and I was hugely surprised (and honored) when she asked me to be a bridesmaid. Yesterday, she sent me an email asking me to come out to spend the holidays with her this year. Included in the email was a link to this instagram account :

    https://instagram.com/livingthatgoldenlife

    She said that she knew I’d been feeling stressed and anxious, and she hoped some pictures of a beautiful golden retriever might help. The reminder that someone cared–especially someone who I used to think hated me–was what really helped.

  219. I bought my daughter concert tickets to see Weird Al in concert for her birthday this summer. She’s going to be 10 and is the coolest kid I’ve ever met. So way more responsible and kind and smart and compassionate than I can dream of being. No idea why she picked me to be her mom, but I’m eternally grateful she’s mine. And my husband is finally recovered from pneumonia. And there was breakfast leftovers at work this morning from a meeting so I got good coffee for free!

  220. I donated my kidney to a complete stranger two weeks ago and we are both doing great! Her labs indicate she is healthier right now than someone with two working kidneys, and she is finally going to get to do everything she hasn’t been able to. She’s only 25 and I am ecstatic for her! ! Science is AMAZING!

  221. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd anniversary and we are OLD…well, 54 and 52 years old…. we are the “oldylweds” and so in love. <3 PS: cheer up, things could be worse….now you’re thinking, “oh great….that bitch just got me thinking of ways things could go even worse than they are now!!!” You’re welcome. hehehe PS#2 – I bought your book! #Happiness

  223. My Service Dog just turned 10 and is in great health. We had a party and he loved all his new toys. I don’t know how to post a pic or I would. 😀🎂🎉🎁😀

  224. I’m spending my day in my craft room…sewing & working on all the wonderful crafty things that make me happy & keep me sane! My little 10’x11′ space is my sanctuary.

  226. My 18 month old granddaughter Ella watching a movie about Bears and laughing when the baby bear cub climbed on the momma bear….baby laughter, that makes me happy.

  227. Six years Cancer free and the love of my life has asked me to marry him. And I accepted despite not being yet divorced.
    Never happier!

    Keep smiling, lady! Keep your eyes on the light xoxo

  228. I am wearing silky underwear today. Never underestimate the goodness of silky underwear.

  229. In 2 weeks time, my husband and I are celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary by going to Calgary to watch Cirque de Soliel. Watching those incredible artists and athletes always transports me. Have courage, better days are always ahead.

  230. I was in an emotionally abusive marriage for 16 years. I don’t dwell on that….in fact, it helped make me the person that I am and I LIKE who I am. But now I’m remarried to a man (for going on 5 years) who treats me as an equal, encourages me, believes in building me up (not tearing me down), has the best listening ear I’ve ever known, and doesn’t play mind games. There are hard things in other areas of our lives right now, but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank my lucky stars that I’ve got a rock solid best friend to tackle them with.

  232. My kids were too tired after baseball last night to fight while getting ready for school this morning. This is a big deal with 3 elementary schoolers in the wee hours before dawn. It’s sunny and warm here, that always puts a smile on my face. I also saw a snail the other day. A real live snaily shell covered snail. He was cute.

  233. I just found out I my new grand baby that’s on the way is a girl. And I am finally finally making a crazy quilt for myself. I’ve wanted one since I was a little kid.

  235. I am going to cancun with my husband. It is our first vacation in four years that is at a hotel….last year we went down A river that is called camping not a vacation.

  236. My cat usually wakes me up for breakfast by standing on my chest and wailing like an air-raid siren. This morning, he laid down on my pillow, put his paw on my face, and purred until I opened my eyes.

  237. My dogs Barkley (Aussie mix) and Molly (Rhodesian/Lab mix) never fail to make me smile. Their antics keep me and my husband in stitches on a daily basis. Never underestimate the joy of spending time with the furkids!

  238. Because of you, Jenny, so many of us don’t feel alone anymore. You totally fucking rock, even on your bad days

  239. 2/3 of my children demanded a hug and a kiss from me before I left for work. The other one was asleep and I let her sleep.

    I will feel those hugs all day until I’m home.

  240. My son in law, who is a Presbyterian pastor, changes his profile pic on fb every so often, to a picture of bizarre angels (weeping and not) to get a rise out of my daughter. Don’t Blink. I love him.

  241. I got some tasty Easter candy for half price at the Rite Aid last night. Malted milk balls & Cadbury creme eggs. You have to snap ’em up fast before they throw them out to make room for the 4th of July candy.

  242. It’s a beautiful day and the honeysuckle is blooming. Like a kid I still pick it and suck the honey out. The sun is shining and warm.

  244. I haven’t had cake in 3 weeks. Stupid diet. I saw that someone left a cupcake on a co-worker’s desk. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT STEALING THAT CUPCAKE. I struggled for 1 whole minute before walking away. Here’s the good part – I didn’t steal it. And my reward will be that I will stop on my way home and BUY myself a cupcake. And it will be the best cupcake EVER.

  245. My 10-yr old son worked really hard to impress the mom of the girl he has a crush on during yesterday’s school field trip. 🙂
    “I was very careful to be extra polite.”
    And just grew his first underarm hair and used deodorant for the first time.

  246. My kiddo, who also suffers from sometimes crippling anxiety, got into the private school of his dreams. Public school has been incredibly tough for him, so despite the fact that this will be a big stretch for us, I think this school – which focuses on kindness as well as scholarship – will be just the right fit for him. We knew we couldn’t say no when we found him sleeping on his bed with his acceptance letter in his hand.

    I hope the darkness fades and the dawn comes soon, my friend.

  247. My boyfriend went to our terrible, bitchy, neighbor’s yard this morning to cut flowers to put in our home.. with the vase in a window facing their house. 🙂 Floral theft for all the right reasons (she really is an awful person) 🙂

  248. I’m registering my daughter for high school today. Which means she survived junior high.

  249. My pup (well, she’s full grown, but she was a stray) is also going where she should more than where she shouldn’t! I met her the day your brought Dorothy home!

  250. Today is Bonnypendance day: the anniversary of the day that my divorce was finalized after I woke up and realized that I deserved a whole lot better, allowing me start down the path to marrying my soul mate. And that’s a whole lot better 😉 It’s a Very Good Day.

  252. So my girls took up archery in their easter dresses the full story and pics are found here. It will make you smile! PS I also have a dear friend who battles depression and she is having a good week which makes me happy!

  253. I handled a court hearing today that got my client one hearing away from her adoption goal. Always nice to end a court appearance with a hug.

  254. You, this post and the comments, Beyonce the giant metal chicken, your first book, your upcoming book, my dumb dogs who still go to the bathroom in the house whenever they don’t feel like going outside…these are among the things that help me get through the days!

  255. Finally starting to come out of my latest depressive episode. Now that’s DAMN good news!

  256. I’m going to London for a few days with some close friends to watch our football (soccer) team play. I was in a dark place yesterday because I have a cold and was feeling awful and I have to fly in 48 hours and I’ve been planning this trip for months and thought it was ruined. But I woke up feeling much better today. So, that’s my little happiness. Silly, I know, but I do love that weird energy the body gives off when it’s getting better–like oh, hey! I’m a human that can DO things. With prayers and decongestants and Airborne, I think it’s going to be okay.

    Oh, and the best part of this post is reading everyone else’s happiness. So many awesome things are happening to people!

  257. This weekend I’m taking my 91-year-old mother shopping for dancing shoes.

  258. I rode 8 miles on a bike last night even though I wanted to set fire to the entire world I was so grumpy and felt so poorly. I’m glad I did it, and I managed to keep most of my dark cloud over just my own self. I feel like a boss for having done it considering I was in pain and super unhappy. Yay!

  259. My week has been a mix bag of good and bad. But I’m not letting the bad win.

    The bad: My aunt Pam passed away unexpextedly.

    The good: She had a huge gnome collection,(because she loved our Scandinavian heritage), and a backyard “Gnome Island”. In her obituary, her family encouraged others to get their own gnomes or make a “Gnome Island” at their house to celebrate her. So, I’ve been having a lot of fun planning on what to get or make. And I even thought it be fun to put a little “fairy door” in a local park- but instead make it a “gnome door”. Maybe put a gnome behind it drinking tea and reading a book.

  260. Okay here is what I do : for laughter I watch “idiot abroad” on Netflix
    I review my last publications (to reaffirm that I am a published artist and people really do like my work. )
    I call my children (they tell me how much they love me and love talking to me and something has no doubt happened to them that we can laugh about) you of coarse would have to substitute your on children here as mine would not do, but your free to use them.
    I can re-read your squirrel story (farted, snorted, couldn’t breath on that on in a Barns and Noble. Better yet we could film our selves reading it and that would lend a whole new layer.
    There’s are a few!!

  261. My husband is finally home after being gone for 3 months and I got to spend last evening visiting with my very best friend. I was so happy to be breathing warmish spring air on my way home. There are good things in the world and that makes me so very glad.

  262. I get to cross something off my bucket list tomorrow! I finally scored a ticket to Augusta National for The Masters! After years of only seeing this course on TV, I now get to walk around that beautiful place in person. I can hardly wait to see all the azaleas and dogwoods! (Oh, and apparently there’s a golf match going in, too.)

  263. Our youngest child is officially potty learned. It’s been 2 weeks since she’s peed on the couch! Also, my couch is clean and smells very nice now (thanks to the urgent need to deep clean it due to the potty learning toddler that was curious about where pee comes from while sitting on the couch. Lol) And I am very confident in my couch cleaning abilities too (after the 5th time, you feel like a pro.)

  264. I spent yesterday planning to make pizza… working through all the steps involved (sauce, chopping toppings, rolling out the dough, etc.)… liked how it looked pre-bake and wanted to take a pic so I could blog. Hubby asked, NOT “can I help you find something?” but “are you looking for something?” When I said something snarky in reply, he snapped, yelled at me, tried to goad me into a fight, and then stormed out. I told him dinner would be ready in ten minutes, and he didn’t know how to angrily respond.

    He returned as I was plating the pizza, on the phone with his mother, much calmer. He apologized for his behaviour, and we all sat down to eat.

    I’m married to a fifty-year-old man-child who throws temper tantrums, but so what? I still make a pretty good pizza! And I can manage to be furiously happy.

    Hope your day improves, Jenny.

  265. Three weeks ago, i impulsively bought (I know. I should have rescued, but impulsively) two bunnies on a trip to buy horse shampoo. Not only have I absolutely fallen in love with them, but they have been excellent little therapy bunnies, helping to get me through some trying times. Sometimes those insane impulse purchases are really just the universe saying “buckle up, and snuggle these bunnies, because things are about to get bumpy.” And that makes me happy.

  266. I started painting again recently, it’d been over 10yrs since I picked up a brush. There is a new episode of Supernatural next week, thats always a good thing. I recently, at 34, finally got the courage to dye my hair weird colors for the first time. Its now pink,purple, and blue. My husband doesnt really like it, but it makes me feel so pretty it brings tears to my eyes.

  267. I have lots of good news, but I share the best. My grandma, who has lung cancer, had her scan the other day and the tumor shrunk 33%! It’s been five years and the doctors said the way that cancer goes, she only had a couple years. This weekend we’re throwing her a 85th birthday part. =)

  268. I got this text in the wee hours from my mother. It’s the second of it’s kind in less than 2 weeks. I present it verbatim…

    *** Just so u know bout my last snake story. 4am went potty. The dirty bastard was on the dr floor. Well! I grabbed it by the taile & beat his head on the kitchen floor! Took it out & eeat its head against the concrete steps. That is the end.

  269. For the first time in months, I have felt the urge to write something lengthier than an FB post.
    I have a job that pays bills; with my current paycheck I am going to make my first payment on my student loan. Afterwards, there will be money left over for ice cream.
    I have a super-squishy, green pillow that has soft Morrocan tassels all around the edges. It is the best snuggly thing, ever.
    I am going to the shelter today to rescue a kitty.

  270. I’m feeling nearly competent at playing the super tricky trombone parts in Holst’s The Planets. Who knew this gorgeous music was soooooooooo darned harrrrdd to play? But…I’m nearly there!

  271. i didn’t draw the short straw to assist my mother in law with her suppositories.
    My puppy loves me the most, nearly trained the kids to do the washing up they’ll be leaving home before fully trained at this rate 😉

  272. I met a really great guy a couple of weeks ago, while gay camping (gamping, as I call it) and now we’re becoming fast friends. He’s a comforting presence in my life.

  273. My cat hugs my baby kitten. Seriously! AND I would show you a pic of that if I knew how to do that.

  274. I’m house sitting for a friend, & her dogs are happy & healthy, even the one with the flu last week is 100% better. Oh, & I didn’t kill her beloved garden. She works so hard on it, it’s just beautiful. So, I have been enjoying that too, for the past few days!

  276. My youngest (age 3) belted out “Video Killed a Radio Star” in the middle of a restaurant the other night, and my oldest (age 7) can identify many Beatles songs after a few notes, making us feel like we are properly overseeing their musical education. 🙂

  277. I have a vacation week that I am spending at home with my baby and husband After a very stressful month of work.

    Also, I bought your book! I gave up Facebook for a while so when I finally logged on, I was excited I was able to order it. 🙂

  278. My 4yo uses her hands as spokespeople to talk me into giving her more chocolate. I didn’t want to laugh but inside I did.

  280. I am so proud of my daughter Joelle. She and the other leaders at the University of MN were featured last night on the news for their work on eradicating sexual assault. It reminds me that we have future leaders uniting to work TOGETHER on important issues instead of bickering over the ones they don’t agree on. It makes me feel confident that the future is not as bleak as it sometimes seems. If you are interested, here is the news clip.
    http://www.kare11.com/media/cinematic/video/25446637/students-aim-to-change-campus-consent-policy/

  281. I’m 14 weeks pregnant! after a miscarriage last year I was really scared it might happen again

  282. The wildflower season here in Central Texas is the best one we’ve had in years because of all the rain we had during the fall and winter. YEAH!!! My mother (who has a decades long history of depression and numerous hospitalizations for being suicidal) is coming down for a visit and we’re going day-tripping to check them out.

    My daughter is getting ready to graduate high school and managed to snag a super duper awesome scholarship to the private university that was her number one choice.

    That our puppy is also learning on how to do her business outside and not inside.

    I’m at the cusp of finishing my first novel.

    The best of all? My husband of nearly 30 years and that we still find happiness and contentment with each other.

  284. I struggle daily but my kids can almost always seem to lift my spirits. A conversation I overheard between my 10 year old and 4 year old.
    4yo: knock knock
    10yo: who’s there?
    4yo: vagina
    10yo: (silence) Merley we don’t tell vagina jokes
    4yo: …….vagina

  285. A recently acquired 95 pound St Bernard puppy was playing football on the stairs with one of our cats!! They are friends!!

  286. During Easter my two-year-old niece and I got booted outside to play because we were both making too much noise. I feel this makes me a super-boss adult.
    Also, according to my niece, dinosaurs are part of the Chinese Zodiac. That’s what she told me when I pointed to the dragon. I am so goddamn proud.

  287. As a teen and young adult, I would do ANYTHING not to speak in front of people. This morning, I ran a workshop for a capacity crowd of mostly people I didn’t know on a topic I wasn’t nearly as familiar with as I’d have liked,and it was a success.

  288. After spending the better part of a decade watching my depression and anxiety creep into more and more parts of my life, I finally found a brilliant, compassionate, funny therapist who gets me and has genuinely helped me to like myself (and who finally found me some meds that work). Now, happiness is not a momentary spark in the blackness, but more of a steadily dawning light on the horizon. I’m always going to struggle, but at least now I believe that I have the resources to manage the struggle.

    Also, Dorothy Barker’s adorableness and the fact that I can look forward to your next book are pure goodness.

  289. Todayi was able to return to my gym after being sick for three weeks. I managed to complete the whole program with some modifications in 22 minutes, only behind a much younger woman by less than a minute. This was a great victory, getting out of the house in the first place, and then working out with no injury or illness. Yay me!

  290. I totally love reading all these happy comments. Look at what you have created here!

    I just won a scholarship for the whole semester tuition and fees. I’m furiously happy. 😊

  291. Last night I had a dream that my cat was badly injured. This morning when I got up, she was extra lovey, like she knew. Even more amazing: she stretched out and let me pet her belly without shredding my hand.

  292. I am sick and my cat is playing nurse until my husband gets home to take over. This mostly involves extra cuddles and an occasional pat on the face.

  293. My 15 month old daughter is starting to talk and has a few words in her vocabulary already. Her newest is “kitty”. Which she pronounces “TITTY”. It’s awesome. 🙂

  295. My 15 month old daughter is starting to talk and has a few words in her vocabulary already. Her newest is “kitty”. Which she pronounces “TITTY”. It’s awesome. 🙂

  296. My good news: I have enough consulting money coming in to keep bills current and put a little away in a retirement fund!

  297. I am alive and I am a Mom. Weird how quickly I forget those incredible blessings and focus on piddly problems that won’t matter in 3 months.

  298. Apparently there was an exchange between two of my students that went something like this:
    “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
    “A Superhero!”
    “And what would your Superhero name be?”
    “Jen Krohn” (That’s me.)

    I pretty much want my superhero name to be Jenny Lawson. You’re awesome. (And I bet you have the best superhero cape around!)

  299. Matilda! My kids (who are now 28 and 29) loved the book Matilda. When it came out as a movie, they entered a drawing and my daughter won a doll like the one Matilda carries in the movie. It was great!

  302. I paid for the breakfast of the stranger behind me at the drive through this morning. Paid for someone’s lunch last week; and have tried to give out compliments to strangers too. Trying to get back into the habit committing random acts of senseless kindness.

  303. You have raised a daughter sensitive and loving enough to know when it is appropriate to tuck you in and read you a story. That is a major achievement and something you should make you incredibly proud.

  304. The board-game company I accidentally fell into writing short stories for loved my last novella so much that they want me to do a full-length novel for their next project, and have even said they want to help me get it into mainstream publishing. After doing the “what you know” thing (degree at uni) and the “who you know” thing (making writing and publishing friends/connections) for eight years, the universe went and handed me what’s looking set to be a steady job in fiction writing because I happened to mention my passion to a guy in a board-gaming group I nerd out with on Saturday nights because I’m too anxious for clubbing but kept getting told to get out of the house occasionally.
    Sometimes things just go so, so, so well, for no apparent reason at all.
    (And yep, my instinct through this WHOLE paragraph was to apologise for talking about my success and being ‘self-centered’. But you told me not to, so I will battle through!)

  305. I’m reading these comments and suddenly I realized that my face hurt from smiling. And then I started crying. That good, relieved, cleansing crying.

    Holy shit. I had no idea how much I needed this.

    I’m so proud and happy for you guys and so lucky you’re part of my life.

  306. My 20 year old daughter told me yesterday that she often thinks “What would Mom do?” when she’s trying to be a nice, more wise person. I guess I did okay after all.

  307. Yesterday, my DIL told me that her boss’s erratic, irrational and micro-managing behavior is not her (my DIL’s) problem or fault, it is her boss’s issue. Huge break through for my DIL (who I love like a daughter and is the most amazing person). She (DIL) is starting to love herself more and more. I am so happy.

  308. I got to spend some quality time with my nieces and nephew Sunday, my hair hasn’t frizzed yet today, and my co-workers offered to bail me out of jail if I high-fived our boss…in the face…with a chair. 😀

  309. I found out recently that my darling husband, who I met when I was 42 and he was one week from his 32nd birthday, has been bragging about me and telling the young guys he works with they should all date older women. I found out from the women he works with who are always telling me they envy our relationship and how happy we always are and how well he speaks of me, never complaining. So, I kissed a lot of frogs, found my prince and am living the fairy tale. I always wanted kids, but since that’s not my story, I get a different kind of bliss every day.

  311. I made a new friend recently. I found out she also knows and loves you and your writing! Now I know FOR SURE she is going to be a good friend because she is one of us! We texted a lot yesterday…I texted her “knock knock motherfucker!” and she texted back “15 years is giant metal chickens!” Thank you!

  312. My 9 week old bullmastiff puppy Calvin pees outside more-ish than inside.
    My kids are pretty damn brilliant in university and middle school so am rethinking that switched at birth thing being a ‘bad’ possibility.
    And of course, Pie….because its just always a good thing.

  313. My reactive dog Pumpkin actually decided on his own to move away from an oncoming dog instead of getting up in it’s grill. This is a huge step for him, as he’s been an insane man for 10 years. So proud of him! Oh and I met Carrie Fisher and she was awesome.

  314. There is a bar/restaurant in Pennsylvania you would love. It is described as follows:
    “Pennsylvania has more licensed hunters than any other state in the U.S., a statistic that you will not doubt after you’ve visited Joe’s Bar. Otherwise a run-of-the-mill roadside bar, it has hundreds upon hundreds of taxidermy animals that adorn the bar area as well as multiple rooms upstairs.”
    Sounds like your kind of place, no?

  315. My husband just got a huge promotion, which means great things for our family. I am so proud of him!

  316. i get to help transport a dog from Buffalo TX to McKinney this weekend! It’s such an awesome feeling to help animals! I really do it selfishly for the high it gives me from all the fluffy goodness. So pumped for an awesome spring time mini road trip where I will get to bribe a little dog into loving me by feeding it lots of treats!

  317. My special needs daughter is still learning how to poop on the potty. She’s almost 12. We’re finally getting it.

    However, this also means we now have the new phrase of “High Five Poopy!” – so when we were at Joann Fabrics, and she had to poop, and did so successfully, she went around the store going “High Five Poopy?” to every adult.

    The best part? My friend was with us and was all “High Five Poopy!” right back at her. Because true friends high five for poop no matter what.

    (Amen. That last line needs to be on a t-shirt. ~ Jenny)

  318. I got fired on Friday. That’s actually good news, for the most part, I swear! I’d been at the job about a month and pretty much hated it already. They changed my start time and total hours every week, and I’d started stress-crying by the second week. It wasn’t the right job for me, and while the loss of income sucks, I still have another part-time job, I get some benefits from the state, I’m about to open a play (which I will get paid for!) so now I have more time to work on my lines, and that’s the work I REALLY care about and enjoy. I will find another job that doesn’t make me stress-cry, and maybe it will be something I actually like!

  319. After 15 years of unsuccessful (but, occasionally, hilarious) dating in NYC, I have finally made peace with the fact that a forever someone may not be in my future. To that end, I have started trying to figure out if single parenthood something I can emtionally and fiscally swing. It is a terrifying prospect but the overwhelming support I have gotten from friends and family makes it feel slightly more possible!

  321. my son spent 20 minutes brushing my hair last night and learning to braid from my daughter. While it’s super relaxing to have my hair gently brushed I figure he’s going to be a serial killer/stalker when he grows up. So I’ve got that to look forward to! (J/k…he’s really a sweetheart).

  322. In a fit of panic last night I canceled my order for 21 ducklings. I realized my time and resources were not as great as I had been hoping for. However, I am still getting 6 goslings to raise so my front yard farming adventure continues on. And I now have an excuse to go the animal swap this summer – I’m going to need more ducklings, just not 21.

  323. Reese’s peanut butter eggs are currently half-price at my local grocery store. Now THERE’S some damn good news.

  324. I was told that I would never be able to have kids. After months of fertility treatment I was told this was our last option before having to decide between adopting or attempting IVF (when I hadn’t been responding to the current egg making drugs). It was this cycle that finally worked and we found out that we were having twin boys. I have spent the entire pregnancy freaked out waiting for something to go wrong because part of me still can’t believe that this is true. Now I am entering my third trimester and though the pregnancy hasn’t been the smoothest for me, the boys are strong and healthy despite having a spazoid for a mother!

  325. I had a major breakdown recently and am now taking the first steps to change aspects of my life that have needed an overhaul and I’m really, really excited about it! And the lilacs are blooming. And you guys are going to love Matilda. I was so lucky to see it with Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull a few years ago and thinking of it still makes me smile.

  326. I ran a full 5k around my neighborhood the other day, less than a year after having my third surgery on my right leg. I couldn’t run that far before the surgeries, let alone after. I’m determined to get down to a 10 minute mile before the summer ends.

  327. Working full time and going to school online – all while raising an (almost) 8 yr old daughter, trying to maintain a semblence of a marriage … and I’m nailing the 4.0 GPA

    ALL GOOD THINGS

  328. My older daughter is on a week-long field trip with her class (camping!) and so my younger daughter gets to be an only child this week. She is LOVING IT and we are having so much fun just hanging out together. Simple things – reading together in bed, going out for breakfast… it doesn’t take much but we are having a great time.

    Jenny, you are fabulous. Proof – your sweet daughter putting you to bed with a bedtime story. Great job, mama.

  329. We have a 3 legged kitty who loves Cheezits and lets my 5 year old carry her like a baby doll. They sleep together every night.

  330. Just had a six day weekend that was glorious with sunshine! Included walks at the beach with the papillion who only wants to socialise with dogs twice his size. Hehe. Blessed long summer I the Southern Hemisphere in NZ. Can’t wait for your new book!

  332. yesterday we booked a vacation to anguilla (My favorite place in the world!) we’ll be there in november and i’ll be taking your “furiously happy” with me.

    also, i just found candy in my desk drawer.

  333. Hmmm, not sure if this will be a duplicate post because of the sign in thing but it doesn’t matter 🙂
    Today is my son’s birthday, and though it’s the last of his “teen” years he will always be my sweet, wonderful, loving baby boy!
    AND – it sounds like your daughter is an amazing human being too!
    Tucking mom into bed, how sweet!

  334. I remembered to bring gum to work today!
    This is a happy moment because it means I will not be hungry and snacking on crap I shouldn’t eat all day long.

  335. Just came back from lunch to read on Facebook that one of my high school classmates and her husband will be bringing home their new son from Ethiopia in a couple of months. They never thought this day would come–held up by lots of red tape for the last year+.

  336. My husband and I have been married for 25 wonderful years and I count my blessings every day to have him as a companion. Also, he just had his best day ever when we went to see John 5 play and he called Sean up and put his guitar on him and told him to go for it. Sean rocked out! That and a truly epic wave he caught in Santa Cruz several years ago are his two best memories. And I am editing his chicken book (currently untitled, maybe Pura Chicken or Je suis poulet or the more basic I’ve got a Name). It is so funny and quirky and amazing and I am looking forward to getting it edited and done. I think you would like it too 🙂

  337. I got a porch swing FOR FREE from a neighbor who posted it on a community list. I’ve always wanted one and gently rocking in it while watching the light fade and the street lights come on is even better than I imagined.

  338. I am defending my dissertation in a month after 6 years of working on it! And I got a job offer yesterday! Also, my sick toddler has been able to keep down water without puking for several hours now! 🙂

  339. I hereby present stories that are so light & cheerful they float. They are our favorites for long car rides with our daughter — because she likes them and we the parents like them too!

    Squonk the Dragon http://escapepod.org/2006/09/07/ep070-squonk/
    Squonk the Apprentice http://escapepod.org/2007/06/07/ep109-squonk-the-apprentice/
    Squonk and the Horde of Apprentices http://podcastle.org/2010/09/28/podcastle-124-squonk-and-the-horde-of-apprentices/
    Squonk and the Lake Monster http://podcastle.org/2012/06/12/podcastle-212-squonk-and-the-lake-monster/

    All by Pete Butler.

  341. It’s Book Fair week at school. Kids are excited to buy all kinds of books! (And erasers) but so many books!!!

  342. I’m happy to be reading all of these happy moments. It makes me feel like there are still people who aren’t sociopaths. 😉 also, I have 90 lbs of beautiful golden retriever sitting in my lap and a healthy, incredible daughter and an awesome husband…and I’m almost finished with another semester of college, and I’m pretty fortunate to be able to do that. Life is good. Thanks for the reminder.

  343. I’ve gone almost 2 weeks without smoking and I’m actually STARTING to like running! My cat also cuddled me last night and he is usually a jerk. Also, my photographer from my wedding has been posting more pictures from it, which is very exciting.

  344. The glass is neither half full, nor half empty. The glass is refillable. Lately, I’m grateful for small things/small victories. Enough of them should add up to big ones eventually, right?

  345. I made a huge effort to help the new girl in work feel welcome, wanted and appreciated

    I’ve been making the effort to be extra happy, made her an info/welcome pack, made her cake

    And I think (hope) it’s working.

  346. I picked my daughter up from school this afternoon to take her to a dental appointment and she came into the school office and ran over and gave me a big hug.

  348. I helped fly a cat to his new home. Everyone said I was crazy, but seeing him in his new home, makes me happy. My therapist said I was the least depressed she’d ever seen me at our last appointment – and that’s with me not working and on short term disability.

  349. I’ve been rearranging the mental furniture lately, and trying to postion the lamps so they make as few dark corners as possible. Sometimes it works, sometimes… not so much.

    BUT. I have been severely hearing-impaired all my life, and in ten days I have my cochlear implant surgery to begin my journey (hopefully) to hearing! I saw a bunch of old friends yesterday I hadn’t seen for a while, and they were all so happy to see me and excited about my surgery, I was really touched. (I’m about equal parts excited and anxious.) One woman even put her hands on me and prayed over me out loud, which was a bit odd, but she’s sweet and a sincerely good Christian, so I didn’t really mind. Besides, I need all the help I can get!

    Hang in there, Jenny, and just keep thinking about how many people are REALLY HAPPY about your new book!!!

  350. In a rather formal work email, I advised an important person that I would be muted on the conference call, taking minutes “like a ninja”. I wasn’t sure if they’d notice the ninja-part or not.

    They did, and now constantly call me their ninja, and this makes me happy.

    Also: I worked really hard in March – long hours and reasonably high stress – I kept my grace and humour the whole time, AND got random applause from one of my groups of people who I hadn’t even met before, because I impressed them so much with how smooth everything seemed. Now I want to start randomly applauding people for doing well, but I feel that would work best if more than ONE person was applauding.

  351. My best friend and I are celebrating 30 years as BFFs by taking a girls’ trip to New Orleans in June- can’t wait!

  352. Today I took my mother to Hever Castle, which is a place she has wanted to visit for a very long time. It was wonderful to see her enjoying it.

  353. My cousin is pregnant with a girl, the first girl in our family! She already has a son; her brother has two sons; her mom just had another son nine years ago; and there are no girls in her husband’s family.
    I am currently knitting all the baby things!

  355. My sister is getting married! (and her fiance is a great guy #bonus)

    Also, my husband and I are happy and stable. The world may be falling apart around us (aside from my sister’s engagement of course) but we have each other and that’s enough.

  356. When I got to meet Alex Kingston (briefly) a couple weeks ago I told her that I wanted to be cool like her when I “grow up”. She said. “Oh sweetie, never grow up”. This is now my life mantra. And I KNOW you heard her voice too in that quote. Remembering that = happy!

    I’m off now to set random happiness reminders on my calendar – including several about your latest book coming out! Preordered. Now the wait…

  358. I forgot to mention that I named my daughter Matilda. However, it’s not from the Roald Dahl book, but rather Natalie Portman’s character in the movie The Professional. Her character was a bad-ass survivor of about twelve years old. I thought there is no better hope than my daughter to be a bad-ass survivor. 🙂

  359. I am finishing a PhD and getting married in the exact same window of time. I finished my PhD in a record 2 1/2 years; most people take 5-7. The wedding is international and I made all of the dresses myself (and they don’t look shitty!).
    All of this is insane to do alone, let alone at the same time. I am rocking it, and haven’t had a breakdown once. I am proud of myself.

  360. I get to work from home today, with my creaky old cat yelling whenever I take a call on speakerphone, and my husband typing nearby as he fights the urge to yell whenever I take a call on speakerphone.

  362. After reading your post I immediatelt went to leave a comment and ended up in happy tears as I scrolled and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled. I began to feel I’d never find the bottom where I could post. What a beautiful amazing thing you’ve done!! So much happiness on here. I pray your day is blessed beyond your wildest dreams and it makes you forget all about any crappy night you’ve had.
    My happy is that my kids all slept for about 5 hours straight last night!!!!! It was glorious!

  363. The food pantry I started in my kids’ elementary school was just awarded a $500 grant 🙂

  365. My twin daughters were born 12.5 weeks early (27weeks 4 days gestation). A week from Saturday they will turn 2, and are bouncy happy healthy kids with no obvious problems, except the desire to CLIMB EVERYTHING and an inability to stay in their toddler beds (necessitated by twin A climbing out of her crib on several occasions).

    Thanks for this – I needed to focus on the positive.

  366. Isn’t it totally awesome when you kid takes care of you?? In any little way – makes me feel like I am raising good people, in spite of myself. 🙂

  369. After a terrifying doctor visit last week (why do doctors have to freak you out? why can’t they just admit that they need to run tests before giving you an answer) followed by an ugly case of kidney stones I’m now making major dietary changes and am already feeling better. And that scary doctor visit – I’ve given that one to God to worry about. Plus I’m pretty sure the dietary changes will solve that problem as well as the recurring kidney stones.

    Oh! One more good thing. I preordered your book this week. I’m as proud of you as I would be any of my real life friends. That shows how much you mean to me even though we’ve never met and I just sounded like a creepy stalker.

    Oh! Oh! One more good thing. I’m just a few edits away from passing my manuscript on to my beta readers. That means I’m one step closer to finally seeing something I wrote on the shelf of a bookstore.

  370. My husband isn’t sure he loves me anymore after 16 years together, but the GREAT NEWS is that our daughter loves me unconditionally – I am so damn proud and honored to be her mom AND I think I’m pretty fantastic!

  372. We have a pair of ducks nesting in our lilacs. I am so thrilled about that. But then I think about how incredible it will be to have blooming lilacs AND ducks my heart can’t hold all the happiness.

    P.S. The Facebook group dedicated to St.James Garfield works true miracles every day. 😊

  373. I’m wearing an awesome red sweater and we’re getting much needed rain in the next couple of days and I’m listening to all sorts of music I love. breathes

  374. After graduating 3.5 years ago with my master’s degree and working two part time jobs as a secretary and at a gas station since then to make ends meet, I finally got a job in my field this past January! Next week, I will finally get to move into my own apartment after living with my supportive, long-suffering parents. I am so excited I can’t sleep, and so happy I want to cry tears of joy. Just feeling like I am moving forward with my life is making a huge difference with my depression! Sending lots of love your way Jen, and hoping the darkness lifts soon.

  375. A friend’s life is beginning to improve. She has lived so far below the poverty line for so long that the influx of a couple hundred dollars a month represents a fortune. She is getting bills paid off, getting her vehicle repaired so it is safe to drive, and may soon have a working shower in her (inherited) house for the first time in years. I provided a micro loan for rare breed chickens which are laying lots of eggs for chicks to sell and barter. People all over the country are being very generous in trading up for things she needs in exchange for these rare chicks. She has something good to tell me every day, which is a new experience for her, and worth every penny of the loan – which she is able to pay off now in regular installments. I love seeing my friend’s life improving weekly.

  376. It’s been a very hard past 6+ months for me, which resulted in “that” kind of hospital stay. I got out on Friday.

    I came home to an email from my Professor saying the last day to make up my final from last semester’s incomplete was this past Monday; despite the social worker in the hospital telling me it was too late. It was an F). I studied my ass off all weekend, took the test & while I don’t have my final grade for the course yet, it doesn’t even matter to me.

    I freakin’ did it. That incomplete was hanging over me all semester. No matter what I get, my average will get me the necessary C I need for the course. Way better than an F.

    Also, fuck you, Elaine for making me think I’d failed. You made me feel like shit and I proved you wrong. That’s the best type of news.

  377. my three year old likes to announce in public (by pointing) which stranger has a vagina and who has a pee pee

  379. Things are getting pretty dark here also, but I have to tell you I have your Beyonce the Giant Chicken post bookmarked on my tool bar because it makes me laugh every time I read it. I have parts of it memorized and it still makes me laugh. That’s my happy news – that a friend sent me that link a good while ago, and I’ve been reading your blog ever since.

  380. My husband and I successfully did our spring planting, my older rescue dog did beautifully with his dental cleaning yesterday (and delighted the entire staff by actually being brave and accepting petsies for the first time since we rescued him 4 years ago), and because of the eye drops I have to use, my eye lashes and darker and longer than they’ve ever been 🙂

  381. My high blood pressure is back to normal so I will be able to have my c-section on Monday and meet my new daughter!

  382. I saw Kinky Boots yesterday and it was fabulous. I also got out of taking my son to baseball practice and cooking dinner!

  383. 2 things:

    1) This morning, I got up before my grueling day job and wrote a critical scene in the novel I’ve been working on for the last 3 years. Even if no one ever reads this book, I’m writing it goddammit.

    2) When I went to comment on this post, I realized there were 367 comments. 367 is my lucky number- it was the house number where my grandmother lived. Must be a good omen. 🙂

  384. I had a terrible iep meeting for my son this morning. I want him to repeat 4k (he’s the youngest and not meeting any of his iep goals so he qualifies) the school phycologist basically tried to steamrolled me into giving in for almost an hour. I came home and cried about how hard this is for like an hour. But then raidens special ed teacher called me to tell me how proud she is I stood my ground and made valid well thought out points based in facts not feelings. She told me more people were on my side then I thought and if I repeat myself in the next meeting with the 4k supervisor I have a good chance of it going my way. Asd is hard. Being a parent is hard.I needed that boost to be my child advocate.

  385. Had to take away my 15 year old’s cell and internet access this week. And since she’s not on the phone CONSTANTLY with her stupid boyfriend, she’s being a chipper, happy, talkative person! Almost makes me want to take them away permanently… I’m so happy to have some semblance of my real kid back!

  387. You bring me joy often. I burned sage today, sending you love and light.
    I also recommend an episode of Veep

  388. I watched my son score his first goal play on the varsity team, he was so excited and I was thrilled I was there.

  389. i’ve been searching for YEARS for a signed copy of ‘instructions’ by neil gaiman. this weekend i whine-tweeted about never being able to find a copy and neil gaiman himself tweeted me to tell me that he had just signed some. then the bookstore he signed them at tweeted me. now i’m waiting for the book to arrive! AND lisa snellings is doing a custom poppet reading ‘instructions’.

  390. My five-year-old’s new favorite song is “Magic Dance” from Labyrinth (my favorite childhood movie). We listen to it on the way to school every day. I’m weirdly proud of this. She also recently drew a picture of David Bowie. That’s normal, right?

  392. My fifth grade students did better on their science test at mid year than they did at the beginning of the year. I’m at least slightly responsible for this improvement.

  393. I have an amazing husband that tells me every single day how lucky he is to have me, regardless of how horrible I think I am (severe depression right now, so I desperately need it). He tells me that I am beautiful both inside and out and that anyone who fails to recognize that is a stupidhead (my words, not his, but the intention is the same). He keeps me alive. He also happily promises to change my diapers for me when the Alzheimer’s sets in.

  395. I found out I’m eligible for senior housing in a neighborhood where I’m going to be happy to live. And the waiting list is less than a year. This makes me happy.

  396. I am getting married in three days to a wonderful, kind, loving partner who, while he cannot understand falling into darkness himself, tries his hardest to understand, empathize, kick my butt when I need it, and support me. He makes me want to be a better person — for him, but also for myself.

    We are going to New Zealand for two weeks on our honeymoon!

    Also, because life has to fall apart somehow right now, I broke a tooth — but found a dentist who can take care of a crown in two hours and takes my insurance. That made me pretty damn happy.

  397. It’s Rex Manning Day!

    “We mustn’t dwell. No, not today. We can’t. Not on Rex Manning day!”

  398. On Friday I get made redundant. From my shitty job working for a faceless multinational. In a month’s time, I’ll go work for a small family owned company. Less money, much more job satisfaction.
    Right now spending faceless entity’s money getting happily shitfaced, browsing the interwebs in an old comfy armchair in my conservatory on a beautiful sunny evening.
    Had some very dark days of late, but the sun is shining now.
    Much love Jen xx

  399. https://youtu.be/hwOj57XVoaI
    This video is of two twin babies dancing when their mama sings. It is adorable, and reminded me of my childhood. I used to LOVE when my mom sang to me or sang in church. I thought she had the most beautiful voice! I grew up loving music, and sing in choir to this day. (I’m nearly 32)

    I love you, Jenny! You have pulled me out of the darkness before, and I am glad you are celebrating positive things!

  401. I took a shower yesterday & I don’t have to take one today. And I treated myself to 2 Starbucks lattes within 3 hours between the first one & the second one.

  402. I sorta collect happy-making things on my Facebook out of habit. Hope this doesn’t think I’m spam…..

    Pugs snoring together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hYjbeQAbnA
    Engineers’ guide to cats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4 (and the sequel with cat yodeling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=85&v=zsl_auoGuy4)
    Humans acting like dogs: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=766487776704998&pnref=story
    Thought this was just cute little animation: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=283196148471389
    A tortoise with terrible depth perception. Named Kevin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrYs5lwhjow&feature=youtu.be
    and THIS KITTY HUG: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=500632280075113

  403. I was having a really hard day but I read this post and all the comments and now I feel a little bit better. Also I’m seeing one of my favorite movies tonight with a live orchestra playing the music. I was too broke to buy tickets myself but my awesome cousin Colleen got them for me because she knew how much I’d love it.

  404. I got married 6 months ago and I’m still pretty much sure it was an awesome idea so I’m thinking we are off to a great start. The husband and I decided to get a dog and got an adorable puppy about a week after you got Dorothy Barker. I love her. We are in the first phases of steampunking our guest bathroom. I’m almost done knitting a sweater for an in utero nephew. My sister is moving back to driving visit distance. I am currently obsessed with pancakes and they make my world go ’round. It is a good thing to write all that good stuff down and remember that it way outweighs the bad or annoying. Thanks for the suggestion, Jenny!

  405. My second daughter, Lilith, was 4 weeks premature. I struggled with breastfeeding daughter number 1, but have managed to make it these 10 weeks and I love the way it makes me feel. Even did it in public very discreetly once.
    Also, went and tried on pants and am now two sizes smaller than I have been for the past 7 years since I quit smoking.

  406. Today I finally had the courage to wear a short dress (read: knee length) without wearing Capri length leggings under it. I have always been timid about my thighs showing or the junk in my trunk hiking my dress up too far but today I said screw it and wore a really cute dress to work and feel super pretty and have receive many compliments on how cute I look! Body positive-ness and good hair day ftw!

  409. I have started a new job at, of all places, a Christian seminary–very liberal and forward-thinking, but still. I went to the weekly chapel service today, kind of dreading whether I would fit in with these very committed Christians. The place was full of students, staff and faculty of different races and religious traditions as well as accents from all over the world–also intimidating. Then we prayed and sang together, and we expressed our worries and felt listened to, and it was lovely. It reminded me not to be afraid because there are lots of good people around you just waiting for an opportunity to be kind.

  411. My daughters’ first dance competition of the year is this weekend. They are 11 and 7 and are doing a duet together. They are at each others’ throats constantly (‘cuz that’s what sisters do, I guess), but watching them work together on stage gives me happy tears and good mommy feelings 🙂

  412. Thunderstorms this morning (I love thunderstorms when properly housed), and sunshine this afternoon. Grass is greening up and flowers are blooming – people are even mowing! It makes me laugh because of the rain, but I love the smell. Laundry is done, dishes are put away, hound is happily sleeping. Commonplace? Yes. Wonderful? Also yes.

  413. My 17yo son got his wisdom teeth out yesterday. When I asked him who he liked he pointed to himself (he’s always been comfortable in his own skin, thank goodness!). And then when I asked him what he was going to do tomorrow he said “Take over the World” and then gave us a maniacal crazy laugh. And then when he got home he told his dad he loves him, which is very rare for him to do!

  414. #1-Walked into Target this morning and saw all the cute outfits they have. Like, seriously cute! It motivated me to buy an exercise DVD I’d been wanting. I came home & was able to make it through the whole thing! That’s so out of character for me. I’m motivated to exercise, so I can be healthy and look decent in the dresses I saw today!
    #2- I’ve been listening to “On Writing” by Stephen King on Audible and he’s inspired me to continue my writing. His no nonsense approach was uplifting and encouraging. I want to be him when I grow up! The man is brilliant and I’m so excited!

    I’m a SAHM of 4, 3 are in school all day, so there’s no excuse regarding exercise and writing! I’m going for it!

  415. After 3 miscarriages in a row, it looks like we’re going to have a positive outcome this pregnancy.

    I decided to call the baby “Bob” until we know for sure what we’re having because I’ve been singing 3 Little Birds every single day. A baby named Bob amuses me.

    My daughter insisted on bringing me breakfast in bed this morning since I wasn’t feeling good.

    My daughter is registered for kinder and we don’t have to worry about having to go to one of the overflow schools Northside has been warning everyone about.

    We are definitely going to South Padre this summer with the grandparents my kids haven’t seen in over a year.

    My kids’ behavior has improved after eliminating certain foods. It’s to the point that it’s like my daughter is a completely different child.

  418. I ate my weight in ice cream at Serendipity over the weekend and finished your book. Vacations rule!

  419. I once got to have my birthday on the beach, where there was homemade huckleberry ice cream and chocolate cake. That was 39 years ago, and one of the perfect days of my life. I’ve kept that perfection to myself for a happy place, but now I share that decadent sun baked perfection with all of you.

  420. I get to take a weekend trip with my often-out-of-state-for-work boyfriend this weekend, and I’m incredibly excited.

  421. My six year old niece drew this for me: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBrgvkQUgAA8HE5.png
    and wrote this message on the back: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBrgvmUVIAAZNFL.png

    Every night when I put her to bed, her stuffed bear Lewis tells me goodnight after she does, and sometimes he sings songs about me to tell me how much he loves me and how awesome I am.

    A couple months ago, her 11 year old sister complained when I told her I was going to stop tucking her in with a kiss on the forehead every night. Then a couple weeks ago, she told me that she’s going to make me still tuck her in when she’s in high school. I know that won’t happen, but for now, I’m enjoying the sentiment.

  423. My cat giving super cute snuggles makes me happy. His name is Pip, short for pip Squeak. At almost 20lbs and 2ft from nose to but, he’s not so pip squeakish any more. content://media/external/file/7459

  425. I have tickets to see Van Halen in September! This makes me furiously happy. And my best friend may not know it, but she is going with me even if I have to kidnap her.

  426. I’ve rediscovered the drive and discipline for writing I thought I’d lost during a nasty bout of postpartum depression. I’m almost halfway done with my second novel, and have more than one agent reading the first one. I spend so much time on my kids lately, it feels foreign to talk about achievements that are mine alone, so thank you for giving me a place to do so!

  427. I took a mental health day off and don’t feel too guilty about it. My girlfriend is coming over to cuddle and chat tonight. <3 Early spring is a tough time for a lot of us.

  429. I solved a problem at work yesterday that has been ongoing for months! It felt so go to finally figure out what the issue was that I did a happy dance in the office 😄

  430. So not too long ago I got an arm birth control implant. My 15-year-old cat tries to heal me. Check it out on my blog 🙂 There are really cute pictures!

  432. On May 12, after two and 1/2 years of waiting and paperwork, we finally get to adopt two kiddos who have had crappy early starts to their lives, and give them slightly less crappy (we hope) lives. I’ll have to wait until their auto-biographies come out to see how it ends.

  436. I have been altering an ancient thrift store brown coat to be Mal Reynolds (Firefly) browncoat. My daughter is going to wear it to Comicon, while the rest of the family will be Jayne (Dad), Kaylee (me), and Wash (our son). I am really enjoying something creative to do!
    Btw Jenny, because of your Christmas campaign for Project Night-Night, I made them four blankies! Without you I never would have known about this wonderful charity! You are a rock star!!!

  441. Girl, I hear ya! My night sucked as well. But I woke up in a better mood, kissed my husband goodbye and had a productive first half of the day. I’m leaving work early (I got here early) to go cash in my frequent flyer points and finally buy that iPad I’ve been wanting for nearly 3 years! It’s gonna be a good day!!

  442. I’m happy for shirtsleeve weather. Even though we really need the rain here in California, it’s just so delightful being in the warm sunshine.

    I’m also so happy and grateful for the way our 3 daughters have developed into thoughtful, independent, strong young women. I may not always agree with their opinions, but they have arrived at them through a rational, thoughtful process. I love that they are so independent without being strident about it. I adore that they defend their opinions in the face of opposition without dissolving into puddle of goo or becoming in-your-face obnoxious. It makes me so happy to see them support each other (finally! after growing up together in the same household, I was certain someone would severely damage another!)

    I love how my husband is supportive, enabling and a goof. He loves me as I am, not how I think I “should” be. Who could ask for more? (well, yeah, I’d also like a clean house and a chef, but let’s not tempt fate. 🙂 )

  443. So this is my good thing: I’ve worked for the same company for nearly 20 years and last week they accepted my application for voluntary redundancy and I leave in July. It’s scary but it’s time for me to be brave, put me first and get on and do something I love and am passionate about. I don’t know what that is yet, but I’m taking the time to find out what! I’m looking forward to July!!

  444. I’m having my first child and at last we are past the risky part (knocking on wood). And I can already feel him kick which is the awesomest thing ever cause I know he is still there and well.

  446. I re-did some wonderfully tacky lamps, so our bedroom is now Level 7 Fabulous, it smells good outside, and I found some red shoes that make my RA-weary feet comfortable.

  449. For years one of my worst fears was not being able to have a baby or for the child to have my depression. Our daughter is now 6 months old and is constantly laughing and smiling, making all the other moms jealous because she is so happy and cute. Who cares for sleep when your baby girl smiles at you 😉

  450. I participated in an artroute (a dutch thing) passed weekend, and despite me not being prepared for it at all I sold 2 little artworks 😀 I earned just enough to cover the fee, space rent and travel costs but it’s so exilerating to learn that people can love your work enough to buy it <3 I also had some really good conversations with strangers about my work, it was about depression and the start of not only knowing but also feeling there is hope. It feels good to know I educated and touched people with it 😀

  451. Happy – I’m alive and I have people who love me. And I had AWESOME Mexican Cornbread for lunch. And I got to play bridge with friends during lunch. So yea, that’s happy.

    I fighting a period of depression right now also – so yes – I’m going to go read all these HAPPY things when I get home tonight.

  452. I too entered the darkness yesterday…I’ve been alone most of my adult life and yesterday one foot slipped into the shadow. Today I woke up, I walked my dog, and went to work. Like I do every day. But today… I brought hope with me….

  454. I am glad the Facebook updates had positive, but even more happy you were able to take it in and use it. ((hugs))

    And now to chastise you. 🙂 Your puppy should be having NO INSIDE ACCIDENTS. Take a paper and gently slap your own head while saying “train your puppy.” I have had many puppies, and adult rescues who were feral or “outside dogs.” It is a pain in the butt, but if you follow these simple instructions, I promise you’ll have your darling pup trained and without more inside pottying. 🙂 And then explore the site with your daughter. Mary Woodward makes training so happy and simply you’ll feel faint. http://www.clickerlessons.com/housetraining.htm

  455. My dad is doing even better after being in the hospital with pneumonia a few weeks ago. The Thai waitress at a little hole in the wall breakfast joint has started calling him “baba”..I think it’s papa in Thai. She’s really funny & sweet & we always leave her ridiculously huge tips. My sister was there with us this time. It’s become a weekly thing.
    The husband got a security camera, but we’re using it to watch the birds on the side porch. A woodpecker has started coming by for seed.
    Last night I heard my first spring peepers. This winter was so brutal, those little frogs singing songs of lurrrrve does my heart good.
    Also, at a book exchange yesterday, I heard some other ladies mention your name.
    I hope you’re better today.
    Just keep swimming.

  456. Aw, thanks to Sara for posting the 4yr old’s vagina knock-knock joke – cracked a smile and got me to laugh today. Needed that. HUGS for EVERYBODY!

  457. I have freedom. A variety of freedom, in all sorts of forms.
    I also have cats to pet and baby goat videos to watch.

  458. My son is 14 months old. I can count on one hand the number of times he’s slept through the night. He’s been constantly battling ear infections and colds from daycare. Well, last night he slept through the night. He probably won’t do it again tonight, but hey, it made me happy today!
    xo, Sarah
    http://www.sarahhartley.net

  459. It RAINED last night! To a Southern Californian, that is pure magic and joy. And my old cocker spaniel is a love bug…and there is peace between me and my 22 yo daughter and I’m spring cleaning for the first time in years. Life is good. Bkessings and grace abound even in hard, lean times. ✨💖✨

  460. I went home at lunchtime today to do some supper prep and decided to throw some muffins in the oven for my coworkers. I returned to work with warm banana chocolate chips muffins and everyone was super excited to have them.
    My husband, who was an amazing sound engineer but left the business when his mom was sick and our oldest son was a year old, recently finished school and got a new job! Bonus: He still works on his own music (and he’s pretty awesome at that).
    After almost 7 months of missing my “knit night” while my husband was in school, I’m finally able to leave the kids with hubby and go laugh with my wonderful knitting friends.
    My sons, almost 2 and 5, are so ridiculously adorable and silly and they make fart jokes.

  462. We got a landline phone – for the life of me, I don’t remember why. The number we were assigned belonged to a (now defunct) business, and we get calls from people looking for them at least twice a day. Google Business Directory, Visa, American Express, you name it – if I pick up the phone, they just start talking. It’s annoying. Usually I politely tell them this is a residential number and they either hang up on me or they apologize. Lather, rinse, repeat. Today, the phone rang and I answered it, and the guy on the other end started his spiel. And my coffee kicked in. So I carried the phone into the bathroom, set it down on the counter next to the sink, and just started letting nature fly. He was gone by the time I washed up and picked up the phone again, and I felt better.

  464. I am having a Doctor Who wedding on Halloween, with my super amazing and supportive fiancée, and just sent out the Save the Dates, starring me, my fiancée, and Ms. Billie Piper, holding signs proclaiming the wedding. Not only am I getting married, but I braved a scary convention with lots of people to get that photo!

    If it weren’t creepy, I’d invite you, because your writing helped me through some pretty dark times these last couple years. Even if it weren’t creepy, it’s a room full of strangers and anxiety triggers. Still, know that you have played some small part in getting me to my big day.

  465. I haven’t lost my temper and have had almost all positive disagreements and not added any fuel to fire to my ongoing difficulties with my 16 year old autistic daughter all break. Not that it hasn’t been close. And you just reminded me of how to refrain a stressful period of time. May you find the happy you have repeatedly given me!

  466. This morning my husband said “why can’t you do it?” when I politely asked him to clean up his yesterday’s leftover lunch container. I explained and we worked it out. Fast-forward an hour: our toddler pulls on his poopy diaper in the middle of changing it, it makes a mess my husband has to clean up (I’m at work.) Happy, and human.

  468. Avoided a horrible car crash pile up on the way home. Daffodils are blooming.

  469. I finally got a proper diagnosis (RA) and start my meds this weekend. I’ve never been so happy/excited/scared in my life. But you did, and it makes me feel like I can too.

  470. Last night we found a $10 bill in our backyard. Our dog had shredded it in to 3 pieces and I’m pretty sure ate it, then processed it. It’s currently soaking in a glass with dish soap. 😁 But we found $10!

  472. The snow is finally gone off the back yard and my flowers survived the long cold winter!! Makes me happy to see them poking up thru the dead leaves and growing daily.

  473. This week I’ve been freaking out (I’m a 24/7 anxious person) about having to squeeze in a medical appointment, a visit to the biomedical lab, go feed my cousin’s cat, go to the post office, and somehow still eat lunch before going to work today… and then get in trouble for inevitably being late for work.

    Got to the appointment 20 mins early to find the clinic completely empty, didn’t even have to sit down and wait, was finished before I was even supposed to arrive there, got a new prescription (bonus!), AND I didn’t even have to go to the lab!!!!!! Everything is done and I have plenty of time to eat lunch.

    fat grin

  474. I got the results back from bloodwork, and all the carbs I gave up (no Thanksgiving stuffing, no Christmas cookies, no Shamrock shakes!) have paid off — my blood glucose is back down into normal range, and I don’t have to go on diabetes meds like the doc was threatening me with.

  475. Pulled into the driveway with two crying little children in back of van. It was raining and the trash cans had to come in before I could take the children and their gajillion bags inside. At which point I’d be rewarded with an evening of more crying, a husband was working late, and overwhelming depression.

    I park, lean around and unsnap carseat buckles, open their doors. Take a deep breath, grab up said gaillion bags, exit car, turn to get cans.

    The two kids were already there, age 3 and 4, struggling together to bring up one of the trash cans.

    Told them I wasn’t crying, it was just the rain.

  476. My beautiful son is asleep on my chest where he feels 100% safe. We all felt so secure at some point. It’s a wonderful realization.

  477. We are rescuing a puppy today! I guess I should say dog, but still, we’re giving a pup a home and we’re gonna snuggle him and give him lots of chores to do, which mainly include playing with my other dog. 🙂

  478. I have kept both kids alive and (relatively) uninjured today, AND I managed to feed them and put a bra on myself!!! Woo hoooooooo!!! One day/hour/minute at a time, we can do this 🙂

  479. I’m off on a Grand Adventure tomorrow! I’m visiting Prague, Berlin, Heidelberg and Amsterdam and travelling solo for the majority of the trip. Excited and nervous to be stepping out of my comfort zone and getting a little adventure in my life.

  480. I have lost 115 lbs. in the last year after 40 years of struggling with my weight. You and your wonderful followers have actually helped me through this journey. THANK YOU!!

  481. I leave early Monday morning for a “sisters only” trip in Las Vegas…meeting my sister Heidi there, spending a few days, then flying home with her to California to see my niece, nephew and my parents! Can’t wait!!!

    We will totally make an exception to the “sisters only” rule if you want to join us in Vegas!

  482. I’ve registered for a writing course. I’m nervous about it, and I feel a bit awful that my dad paid for it, but I’m also feeling excited to get back into the swing of things. I’m also slightly concerned that it will get cancelled, because the writing courses I register for ALWAYS get cancelled and then I’m transferred to another writing course. I don’t like the other courses offered this term, so if it does get cancelled, I think I’ll take the beginner’s French course. That way, I can communicate only in French when I’m at my sister’s housewarming, and if anyone gives me a hard time I can say, “I’M PRACTICING!”.

    Also, the weather was amazing this morning. Granted, it was rainy and windy, but when I let the dogs out I was like, “OH MY GOD, IT’S LIKE I’M ON A PIRATE SHIP.” (My mind works in strange ways.)

  483. I thought it adorable when my cat was playing with my phone. Until I got a confused text from my husband asking me why I signed up to attend a South Korean Beer Festival. I’m not sure how the cat did it…

  485. The barn swallows have returned to their mud nest near the ceiling on our front porch, and we’re waiting to see little baby bird beaks poking out.

  488. I’ve been sober for two years, eight months and nine days. Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed, or that my life isn’t getting any better, I just remember that I haven’t gotten drunk and tried to hide from my problems in almost three years. So that’s my happy at the moment. That and pasta chips (because OH MY GOD CHIPS MADE OUT OF PASTA).

  492. I’ve started seeing a psychiatrist so that I might get better. Also will see a therapist at the end of the week.

  494. The snow has melted enough that some crocuses are starting to bloom and the maple sap has really started to run. Fresh maple syrup for breakfast.

  497. The crabapple trees are blooming like freaking crazy here, I’ve got peas coming up in the garden, My niece who had cancer three years ago had her tonsils out yesterday and we were so relieved it went well and the Dr. said it was a “boring” surgery.
    Oh, and one of my favorite funny people has a new book coming out. (ahem)

  498. There are a couple of very big changes in my life looming over the next few weeks. Life-altering…for the very good. Of course, these are things I know are supposed to happen, but who knows what’s going to happen that I don’t know. Now, wait a minute–I’m bumming myself out in sharing my happy. Scratch that. Take 2: I’m on the precipice of amazing changes. I can’t wait. And I think you’re amazing, Jenny. No question. Pull through the dark. Light’s waiting for you on the other side.

  500. We went to a petting farm today and I got to see baby lemurs hanging on their moms. (Yes, in Florida, you can find farms with lemurs.

  501. Don’t know if you’ll work your way down the list this far, Jenny, but …

    My boyfriend and I were best friends long before he asked me out three years ago (which I’d been praying he would do since the day we met in 1996). Last night/early this morning, we were looking through old emails we used to send each other 7 or 8 years ago … and realizing just how long we’d been telling each other, “I love you” in all the ways that matter most. It amazed me looking back, how strongly I’d been telling him (without coming right out and saying so) that I was in love with him, and how strongly he was saying, “I don’t know how to live my life without you in it”. It made both of us so happy to see that. Now that we’re together, we’re both the happiest we’ve ever been.

    The whole thing gave an eight year timeline and history to the evolution of our love … and it was profoundly moving to read. #FEROCIOUSLYHAPPY

  502. I walked past a row of giant sweet olive trees after lunch today and their scent was absolutely delicious. Is there anything better than that scent? To me they smell like SweeTarts. TREES THAT SMELL LIKE CANDY!!

  503. Let’s see…I bought a BATMAN shirt…I bought a new car….it is like the BATMOBILE and I named it Selina after Catwoman…Selina Kyle. WHY?!?!?! Because I am Batman!!!

    SSSHHHH!!!! SMILE DAMN IT!!!

  504. It’s snowing again in Boston and you don’t live there. 🙂
    I’m 47 and have been consistent in pushing myself to step out of my comfort zone, even after being knocked down hard recently. 🙂

  505. OH MY GOD THERE’S A MATILDA MUSICAL?! You’ve just succeeded in making my day better so now we can both add something good to our lists!

    A small something good for me is that I’m going to the grocery store after work. I love going grocery shopping the way most people love getting a paid day off work. Don’t misunderstand, I also love paid days off work. Just not as much as grocery shopping. Or new ad day at Publix.

    What I really love is food.

  506. First off, thank you Paul Lucas for posting the laughing video, that was fantastic! The daffodils behind my garage have bloomed, I have two days off in a row and it`s raining right now which gives me the excuse to play on the computer all day. I always watch Mel Brooks films when I get weepy, bad puns and sight gags are hilarious to me, so I watch his films over and over again till I start to laugh again.

  507. I have Crohn’s disease. Compared to many others, it’s relatively mild. However, I get arthritis with is and am often in pain. This really sucks, but I deal with it (and my doctors are awesome). The good news part to this, is that a few months ago I passed my qualifying exam. I’m a doctoral candidate, and will have a PhD in a year or so. My disease sucks, and will never be cured (barring a scientific breakthrough). I tell myself every day that I’m stronger than it is. I’m happy to be doing awesome research to change the world of science education. Maybe one of the students I reach will be the one to grow up and discover a cure for Crohn’s disease, rather than just medicine to treat the symptoms. I also hope it’s a girl who does it. 🙂

  508. I spoke to my husband about things that have been bothering me about our life. He listened, was patient, let me talk, Most importantly apologized and said he would have to rethink his priorities.
    That is why I love him.

  510. I also have to share your happiness about Dorothy Barker. We got a new puppy in January and last week was the first day we came home to no pee or poop in the bathroom. We practically threw a party! We’re working the chewing problem now but the adorableness of her face and the way she cuddles with us on the couch at night makes anything worth it!

  513. There are two rabbits snuggled up together and asleep in a sunbeam on the living room rug. They’ll likely team up to wreck havoc again when they awake, but for now they’re adorable.

  514. My weird neighbor publicly blamed my dog for pooping in her yard (neighborhood FB post). I mean, like, A LOT of poop. The good news? Turns out we have a family of possums pooping up the place. I mean really, my poor dog can only produce so much excrement each day, lady. It’s science. And apparently possums.

  515. Yesterday I was working on the first draft of a suicide letter after having found out I can get life insurance that pays out for any cause of death and applying to get some. I will say that writing lengthy suicide letters is almost as annoying as writing wedding invitations. There are so many people to address! Ugh. I expect I’ll go through many more revisions before I’m satisfied. Today I just feel sort of numb, but the good thing is that I actually look cute. I fancy myself up sometimes to feel better, and occasionally it works. Yay for retro dresses.

  517. I got to make someone elses day today and leave work early (unrelated). I’m feeling healthy enough to work out. Even though I don’t love doing it, I always feel great when i’m done. I’m going on vacation in a month for my brother’s wedding, we haven’t been close enough (miles-wise) to hug in 2 years, so i’m going to make the first one a good one. In May husband and I will celebrate 10 married years and it still feels very fresh. It smells like spring outside, finally, and I can see that the flowers are desperate to bloom.

  519. My car had bits fall off at the mechanic but at least it wasn’t while I drove it around. Small wins!

  520. Tomorrow is my 40th birthday and I realized it doesn’t bother me a bit. I still feel like I’m 20 and playing house with my husband of 21 years. I look up sometimes and thing whose kids are making all that noise and I realize that their mine.

  521. Ughh and now I KNOW my pills must be screwing with me because I cried during that amusing cat video Amy posted. Wasn’t even a laugh-cry, just a regular one… wtf?

  522. I have a job, and I just got a much needed/deserved raise. It’s raining outside, but that it o.k. cause it keeps the earth fresh and green….Oh and I am making Thai food for dinner…Yum.

  523. I have a cold. That isn’t the happy thing.

    The happy thing is every time I cough, my almost 3-year-old son says, “Mommy, you okay?” and then follows it with, “I go help the doctor, okay?”

    Which I take to mean that he wants me to go see a doctor, and wants to help me feel better.

  524. I have been with my partner 28 years. I have two wonderfully ill mannered dogs. And I get to connect with you through the written word…what could be better than that?

  525. On 1 April fools day, I drove 1 hour to my boyfriends work & affixed a sign to the passenger side of his car that read “just call me butt-lips”. He drove all around Portland with it, then he blamed the caper on his boss, hilarious!

  526. Went for an eye exam today, and my eyeballs do not need to be amputated. I consider that a win. (and yes, every time I have to visit a doctor, I automatically assume amputations are imminent)

  527. I got an email from a client yesterday telling me the contractor on the building site keeps telling her that they really enjoy working with me and that I really know my stuff!

  528. I saw tulips on Saturday.

    Prob not a big deal for someone it Texas, but I live in Northern Indiana and had to travel to Nashville to see them. They just filled me with so much hope!

  530. Due to problems with my legs and my balance, I had to turn training and showing my dog in obedience over to a good friend, and insurance said I didn’t need a power wheelchair which would let me take the leash again. An old friend heard about my plight and gave me the chair her father had used until his death. It’s perfect for my needs, and Kaylee is already figuring out how to heel beside the chair and work with me!

  531. I started a dance-walk group at work. The first week it was just me with the speedwalkers (I work at a college with a circular underground tunnel for traveling during the winter) giving me strange looks as I jived with my whole body for a mile. The next week one person joined me. Now we have eight of us, we synchronize our I_pods and just dance it out while walking for 30 minutes. It is by far the only exercize I will ever do faithfully because there is nothing not to love about jamming around in your business suits and tennis shoes

  532. After spending most of my life dealing with anxiety and depression I’ve finally made some progress. I spent a year and a half in therapy/group therapy for anxiety, and while I still get anxious in certain situations I know how to deal with it much better, and I still meet with some of the people from the group socially. And after trying about six or seven anti-depressants over the years and dealing with horrible side-effects I finally found one I can tolerate and that actually seems to be working!

    Also just reading all these comments and watching the videos people have posted has made my day. 🙂

    Also also I can’t wait to read your new book!

  533. I got a call back for a 2nd interview to met the company owner. My current job is being fazed out and I’m excited to get out and learn something new. The first woman who interviewed me loved me and my 2nd interview is tomorrow after work! 🙂

  534. Woo! Hoo! Vacation with my daughter tomorrow. First one in almost two years AND I get to see one of my favorite bands! AND my boss thinks I rock the shit out of my job, so I got a great annual review. AND the SJG Facebook group does such wonderful work supporting each other and offering help and performing miracles that I’m really glad I joined the group and am proud and honored to wear the title Godzilla (or saint depending on the day.) Thank you for making that happen. 🙂

  536. I found a small hanger next to my windshield wipers, tucked into my hood. I have no idea how it got there are how long it was there, but I crack up EVERY damn time I think about the kooky mysteries of life. Plus my pedicure I got over 2 weeks ago (which I never splurge on) still looks like the cat’s pajamas! AND my husband found Easter Reece’s peanut butter cups 1/2 off. Fucking Banner Week!!!!

  537. I’ve been spending the last few days working on creating an extensive container garden because I live on a postage stamp lot with tons of rock and shitty soil. I’ve got herbs and veggies, flowers and plants, and I planted a lemon tree! For me, spending that time outside, feeling the soil between my fingers, enjoying the smells of the herbs, anticipating biting into a juicy tomato that I grew and just nurturing something makes me optimistic, hopeful, peaceful. I’m creating beauty and I want to be surrounded by beauty. Gonna get some more plants and pots this weekend.

  538. I finally finished my bachelors degree, after ten years of working on it, which means I should get a raise which means I don’t lose my house! yay.

  539. I found a forgotten Cadbury Cream egg in the pantry and enjoyed it with my morning coffee.And Randall’s had Easter bouquets 75% off, so I filled my house with a ridiculous amount of flowers.

  541. I’m cancer-free! Only 14 days of radiation remain! Normal genetic results! My prognosis is freakin’ awesome.

  542. After a year starting with lots of scary medical tests, I found out I have celiac and a huge benign ovarian cyst. I also gave up soda to prep for allergy testing and haven’t gone back. I feel so much better and have more energy. Also, I got my husband to admit that Tom Baker is the best Doctor. It’s the little things…
    I also shared news about your new book in a staff meeting yesterday as we were discussing depression and mental illness. Lots of staff love you (including me) and we can’t wait. Thanks for being my light on dark days 🙂

  543. My pesto pasta was delicious and I finally made it back to the gym last night!

  545. At 30 years old I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. May 13th I start the long journey of going back to school part time to get my BS in Geological Sciences.

  546. There is a mouse called the Grasshopper Mouse. It does eat grasshoppers, but it’s also called the Scorpion Mouse, because it eats scorpions.

    It’s a tiny fucking mouse. It eats MOTHERFUCKING SCORPIONS.

    The only thing which would make it more awesome is if it howled at the moon like a tiny wolf. Holy FUCK. IT TOTALLY HOWLS AT THE MOON LIKE A TINY FUCKING WOLF AND KILLS SCORPIONS.

    (WHY ISN’T THIS ON THE NEWS? ~ Jenny)

  547. Oh my gosh, your daughter is a sweetheart!! I love that! 🙂 Good news from me? I just was accepted into a college so I can continue my education! I’m so excited!

  548. I’m retiring this year and going to go make boozy jams and zucchini pickles. So much more time for reading your books this way!

  549. I have two dear friends from college coming to visit tomorrow. They will be here through the weekend. I have wine, cheese and crackers, and reservations for dinner. We will have a great time. We’ve remained friends for FORTY years since graduation despite the 500 miles between us.

  550. ” What are we ? ”
    “Big Damn heroes, Sir.”
    ” Ain’t we just.”

    Power, Sister !!

  551. I am finally working on cleaning up my kitchen and making the measly square footage work for prepping meals for a family of five! Yeah me! And tomorrow my parents are coming in from 700 miles away just to help out! I am blessed!

  553. You keep coming up in my newsfeed, and FB had decided that was unnecessary for some time, so I’m happy that’s fixed. My daughter, who is 17 and fights the darkness pulled through a hell week. We have decided to return to the mountains of Colorado and say goodbye to California after 2 years. It was fun Cali, sort of. We move in less than 2 weeks, and I’m exhausted all around the board so I took a nap today, which I never do, because now I want to sleep all day – but it was a good nap. A spontaneous nap, so I couldn’t worry myself to sleep. 😀 Also, if you haven’t seen it, this is hilarious….especially the last half. John Oliver interviews Edward Snowden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEVlyP4_11M

  554. I’m trying to make my name as a comic creator. I’m 30 now and at the end of 2014 I had some serious crisis whether I shouldn’t quit art altogether. It wasn’t some weird mood swing – some time ago I’ve been stuck in both a terrible job and a terrible depression. I quit one and somehow got out and am actively keeping the other at bay… but for 2.5 years that combination really held me back from improving or actually creating much. After rage-quitting I managed to find a better job – and one that gives you a view of career prospects. And I wondered: do I want a job that would be more secure and bring me money… or try to follow the path to becoming a professional creator and, even if I succeed, struggle?
    Then I got into anthology and decided to delay the decision. And I understood more and more I can’t really quit creating either way… But there was still the feeling that everybody is just being nice and everything I make is crap and someone will come out and tell me I should quit and stop taking everybody’s time…
    During the past week I listened to a discussion panel on a convention about making comic anthologies. And one of the speakers said they send out two kinds of rejections: the generic one, and one they send out to creators of pitches they really really liked but just couldn’t fit it with the page-count.
    It was an anthology I didn’t get in.
    I got the SECOND kind of rejection.
    And then it HIT me. I GOT into a thing. I got listed as backup for another. I got two (there was another one a couple of years ago) personalized rejections which said they REALLY LIKED my work (and suggesting I should do the shorts anyway on my own). I STILL have my handful of readers on my webcomic even though it was so spotty with updating. I have another handful of followers on my art tumblr who aren’t my friends (=aren’t doing it just to be nice).
    I can actually create things people like. People LIKE things I create.
    The feeling of joy was so overwhelming that I had to actually leave the office and go out (“to pharmacy”) to walk it off because I wasn’t able to concentrate. I wonder if it sounds ridiculous from outside but for a mind that have suffered from depression and anxiety it was most wonderful. I felt as if my existence (as a creator) was validated…

    Gosh, I haven’t really told anyone about it because… I guess I didn’t want to show publicly that I was mostly still going out of some kind of stubbornness? I can feel I can tell this here, though. Something unblocked in my brain. I can finally approach creating with the kind of honestly I’ve been struggling to for YEARS.
    I am not amazing yet but I don’t suck (well I do in some areas but I can tell which and work on them). I can aspire to become amazing. And I feel I can work on the projects I want to work on in the second half of the year.

    (Another thing: I bought my parents your book for Christmas and they liked it and I’m definitely getting the second one when it comes out in Polish. I think it will have more worth than just a book to enjoy – but I can’t go into details).

  555. I’m an elementary school librarian. We just received ton of new books and the students were so excited! A first grader came up to me blissed out from browsing all the new books and said “why can’t we just sit in here and read all day?”

  557. I got a promotion and a raise! Woot!!! And I pre-ordered your book which has made me Furiously Happy!!

  559. I started standing like a superhero last week after I fixed my washing machine. I’m 66 years old and trying to feel superheroic every day. Sweetie pie, I not only love your humor, but I’m totally knocked out by how many people are wishing you well!

  560. I can see out of my left eye since my cataract surgery in February (I get the right one done next week), so I can go around and do things by riding paratransit. Last week I went to Highland Hospital for my medications and to the DMV to renew my ID card in one trip, by myself.Yesterday, I went to the Dollar Store by myself, and while I could only manage to carry one bag of groceries, it was still the first time since my stroke in 2008 that I went to the grocery store by myself.

  561. A friend of mine is in the show Matilda on Broadway. Let me know if you go and I’ll alert him to your coming and see what we can work up. Can’t promise anything, but I can always ask.

  562. My 14 day on and off migraine finally went away!! I can see clearly now….insert rest of song!!

  563. I’m so used to whining and complaining all the time so this isn’t the easiest exercise for me. I AM excited about (finally) getting the ball rolling for getting replacement windows on our house. Yay! 🙂

  564. It’s spring break here and the sun is out and it’s 80 degrees and my kids are FINALLY over this fucking stomach bug so we got to play outside all morning. Now they’re both taking naps and I have my feet up reading your blog in silence. HEAVEN!

  565. I have finished 2 of my 36 budget worksheets AND I just came from three back-to back meetings with only 4 new things to do! Also,when y’all come to see Matilda, we should totally go to tea at Alice’s Tea Cup!

  566. After many tests, we found out my mom does NOT have breast cancer!!! And to celebrate her 60th birthday a few weeks ago we made her do this tree to tree ropes course with zip lines. She was really nervous and we all struggled through some parts, but we made it! I am still feeling so accomplished after that and so proud of my mom weeks later!

  567. Well, I’m not sure if it’s happy news or something I am proud of, more of an experience that reminded me of you and it made me laugh.
    I took my kids to a farm on Monday and pigs had JUST been born. We were over at the barn looking at the cute, pink, wiggly piggies when a farmer came out to check if there were any more piggies…and YOU know how they check for that….and remember that my 5 yo was right there with me…and the farmer puts on the big red glove up to her elbow and next thing you know is all up in pig lady parts. Meanwhile, my 5yo is wide eyed, screams “OH MY GOD I CAN’T TAKE THIS!!!!!” and runs off….
    So I don’t know, take it as a compliment that an experience with pig vagina reminded me of you.

  570. I’m pregnant, after trying for a long time
    I got an award for a presentation at work
    When I was feeling weird and sad yesterday my husband hugged me until I felt better and then told me he absorbed all my weirdness and wiggled his arms like spaghetti and made crazy noises to demonstrate until i laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants

  571. I love my 2-bd Boston apt better than my much larger SoCal house. Hurray for real weather! I love New England & hope my husband can get a job here so that we can stay longer.

  572. Yesterday was a hard day here at Chez Rancourt, but today my daughter woke up in a much better space and made it to school. Mood disorders suck.

  574. My four year old son still says the cutest things and I’m eating them up. He adds “con” on the front of words sometimes – like “read the constructions (instructions), mama”. Today we were in Barnes and Noble and I stopped to look at a book on our way to the toy area. He was like, “SIGH Don’t get constracted, mama!”
    Also we were looking at a bug last night trying to decide what it was, and he declared it a “cicadydid”. <3

  575. I’m alive and as well as I choose to be. My kids are all alive and their little ones are all alive and as far as I know, every one of them is healthy and, at this moment in time, happy. The snow has melted and it will be camping time again. Other than when I’m at work, I can read a book or take a bath or listen to music whenever I want, because all of my little loves live with their parents… who live not with me because they’re all grown up…which means that I get to visit them, love on them, and then go home. And this is great because I love them all AND I love having time alone…and time with my husband. Oh yes…there’s him, too.

  576. Last night my 2.5 year old discovered he can play peekaboo with his 6 month old sister. So not only did we have enough time to clean up dinner for once, we got to do it to the sound of hysterical baby/toddler laughter. It was heart exploding, and relieved a lot of the leftover anxiety from travelling.

  577. We are mere weeks away from completing the major renovation of my parents house, and will be moving before the summer is out. This is the house I grew up in, and it is three miles from my office. To put this in perspective, I currently drive 52 miles each way. Each day. In LA traffic. Doing a happy dance every time I think about not having a hour and a half commute to get home.

  578. This was me this morning. My good news is that I have friends and family (and follow people like Jenny) who sent me photos of small animals without judging or asking questions towards the nature of my bleek mood. <3

  580. I was in a coma for 6 weeks a couple of years ago. I have worked hard to build up my muscles and today I lifted a 50 lb box with a christmas tree and put it on a shoulder high shelf. Go me!!!
    I also got my oven fixed yesterday and my washer fixed today (they went out last week while dealing with a pond at work that sprung a leak – which is also fixed!!! I would post pictures of my pet fish that are bigger than your daughter, but I don’t see any way to do that.

  581. Jenny, you’re my hero. You are brilliant and real and you make me laugh with my whole being. Thank you for sharing your ability to call Lige out for what it is: hard, confusing, confounding, crappy and full of absurdity. You manage to take the sharp edges of life a little less pointy, a little less painful, a little more palatable. Thank you!!!

  582. I am happy about:
    Ice cream, popcorn, and Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix during my lunch break!

    My kids had fantastic dental appointments yesterday (and the fact that I can afford to take them to the dentist!).

  583. I recently got a roomba and I’m loving the fact that I never have to vacuum again! Her name is Rosie (after the Jetson’s robot). So far the cat does not ride Rosie but tolerates her.

  584. 1) I am crazy excited that your next book is coming out. I have already preordered it.
    2) Cinderella is coming to our big theatre this fall, and I am going to surprise my bff with tickets for her birthday. I can already picture her face, and it makes me insanely happy.
    3) I have decided to take random days off work this summer, and I refuse to feel guilty about it.

  585. I recently received an unexpectedly large bonus that covered my (unexpectedly large) surgery bills from November 2014. I was SO stressed out about HOW I was going to pay it. Such an incredible and indescribable feeling of weight being lifted off your shoulders, storm clouds dispersing… Whatever cliche you can think of, insert here.

    And my cat did not eat grass last night and throw up on my rug.

  586. After being unemployed for a very long time, second interview tomorrow!!

  587. spring is in the air..baseball is under way and I have tickets to the Ranger’s home opener. So friday I will be 12 years old instead of 50 and watching the boys of summer play ball. I hope you have someplace that makes you feel like a child again.

  589. I needed a smile tonight so I went on twitter to see if there was a post from you and there was 🙂

    Thank you Jenny

  590. The one about your daughter putting you to bed & reading you a story made me smile so big. 🙂

    I had my 6 month checkup since being diagnosed with diabetes and I am doing awesome! I’ve lost 45 lbs and I am just barely on the border of being diabetic now. My doc was super happy with me and so am I!

  591. A classmate told my daughter she was fat, and she was upset. We discussed snappy comebacks she could try. The next day, the comment was repeated and my daughter said, “tell me something I don’t know.” The girl was shocked into silence.

    The part that makes me happy is that a week later they are friendly. Apparently my parenting lessons of forgiveness and kindness have really sunk in.

  592. Ordered colouring books for my own adult colouring pleasure and according to the teacher from the post office, it arrives today! I am so very excited about this fact. So excited that I’m breaking out an additional exclamation pint. Here it comes… Are you ready? Not yet? Ok I’ll wait. Ready now? Excellent! No that wasn’t it. This is:

    !

  593. I started Couch to 5k yesterday after not running for several years, and I didn’t die! And today I feel good.

    I made a phone date for Friday with a good friend who lives across the country and just had her first baby boy, who I already adore so much just because he is hers.

    AND in less than 3 months I get to leave my job and go traveling somewhat indefinitely. The countdown is on!

  594. We finally got Harry’s (our greyhound) Trainee Service Dog coat.
    This means he can finally go places with me that he previously wouldn’t be able to, & he can start officially working as my mental health assistance dog.

    He’ll be going along with me to see my GP next week, & will be coming with us to a comedy show at a local venue later this month.

    This is going to make a big difference to my anxiety & other issues, as I’ll no longer have to leave him at home when I go out, feeling anxious both for him & myself, as well as knowing if I feel overwhelmed, he’ll be legally permitted to be by my side practically everywhere.

    It doesn’t sound like much, being permitted to have a dog accompany one wherever they go, but it frees me up from feeling imprisoned in my home, or at risk of being overwhelmed when I go out, as Harry’s very in tune with my moods & emotions, & quick to come close to me when he sees I need comfort.

  595. Here, have some of these — penguins are always a happy thing.

    This one will wink at you and make a little smack-sound, too.
    http://therandompenguins.tumblr.com/post/113736938675/its-alive

    This one is based on a true story:
    http://therandompenguins.tumblr.com/post/115384264895/when-youre-standing-there-at-the-gas-station-or

    This one has made a little family with an owl and a bat, because family can be whatever we make it:
    http://therandompenguins.tumblr.com/post/109200131665/with-love-excitement-and-a-healthy-dose-of

    Keep on truckin’. Darkness is temporary. 🙂

  596. Ordered colouring books for my own adult colouring pleasure and according to the teacher from the post office, it arrives today! I am so very excited about this fact. So excited that I’m breaking out an additional exclamation pint. Here it comes… Are you ready? Not yet? Ok I’ll wait. Ready now? Excellent! No that wasn’t it. This is:

    !

  598. So, I realised that it’s probable that the bad experience I had with a previous partner could be termed rape. And I feel good about that, because I’ve hated the little rat for 8 years, but felt that I had no cause – everyone gets dumped, right? It’s no big. But rape is big. And I am totally justified in continuing to dislike the rat. And oh dear dog am I glad we didn’t get married. It’s a sunny day, I got raped, it wasn’t my fault, and life is good now. I can move on. (Sorry, that probably wasn’t as sunny as you might have liked, but it’s extraordinary just how good I feel about resolving this.)

  599. Things that make me happy today: I am only 4 weeks away from delivering my baby girl-Yay! Also last night my four year old told me some bigger kid was being mean to him. In the midst of me telling him some people are just mean, he looks at me and says “mom, I’m made of metal and lightening. I’m awesome and now I’m done talking about it.” So proud of him and whenever I feel like crap I’m going to tell myself that.

  600. I watched a beautiful sunset out of the window and it made my soul sing inside my chest

  601. I just got two new baby kittens last night, about 7.5 weeks old, and they are just the cutest wrestle-mania loving, pounce-crazy, snuggle-bugs, ever. So much cute.

  602. I read so many lovely stories here today. Really beautiful. It makes me want to like people again.

  603. I survived having the flu for the first time in over ten years! But most importantly I didn’t poop, pee or puke anywhere that required cleanup. Which makes me furiously happy!
    Also my 80yo dad gets to move to local rehab after having a subdural hemotoma 3 weeks ago. This in spite of the fact that he also had the flu and managed to pee, poop & puke everywhere.
    So I am very thankful for healthcare providers!

  604. /Users/beth/Desktop/IMG_1016.JPG This is my Squeak with whipped cream on his face. The really good news is that he is now found after being missing since yesterday. I had been frantic. Now I am just tired and happy.

  605. Oops. I posted this but then the internet ate it. Anyway:

    Here, have some penguins — those always make people happy:

    This one will wink at you and make a little smack-sound:
    http://therandompenguins.tumblr.com/post/113736938675/its-alive
    This one is based on a true story:
    http://therandompenguins.tumblr.com/post/115384264895/when-youre-standing-there-at-the-gas-station-or
    And this one has made a little family with an owl and a bat, because family can be whatever we want it to be:
    http://therandompenguins.tumblr.com/post/109200131665/with-love-excitement-and-a-healthy-dose-of

    Hang in there. Darkness is temporary. 🙂

  606. I have a crush on a boy at work and I’m pretty sure he likes me and we’re finally getting somewhere. PS, I am WAY too old to talk like that.

  608. My adult children want to move back home for a year to save more on their downpayment for a house. While such a full house can and has driven me batty, I like the idea, becasue i like my kids, plus, and this is the BIG plus…

    Grandbabies in the house all the time !!!!!!!!!!! Whoo hoo!!!!!

  609. We are buying a house. Not just any house, but THE house that I wanted. My husband and I have been married 22 years, and I’ve always caved to what he wanted–and that includes the house we built,lived in and finally sold. . I caved when we moved into this rental directly across the street from the house we built and sold before losing it to the mortgage crisis. All I asked for of the new house is a place to have 5 chickens-no roosters, just hens..I don’t have chickens now-its been a not so secret obsession of mine for the last 4 years,but the city I live in you cant have “livestock”–I say they’re going to be pets, but the city considers them “livestock”..When we drove up to the house we are buying–there in the back was a chicken coop. Inside the chicken coop were 5 hens. No rooster. I turned to our real estate agent and said-“Do the chickens convey? Because if so-this is my house!”. I was kidding-we hadn’t even gone inside the house. We walked through the entire house-and it hit on everything my husband wanted–and me too. As we walked outside to leave, i told my agent out of all the houses we’ve looked at–and have been a lot, this 1 made me smile–and not because of the chickens. After narrowing it down to 2 choices, we settled on what we called the chicken house–it is the perfect size for us being new empty nesters, has the acreage and storage for my husbands tools and toys, fruit trees and a beautiful kitchen and already built chicken coop. We put in our offer, and it was accepted. And then, i got a separate email from our totally awesome agent, with these simple words “The chickens convey! I REPEAT_ The chickens convey!! Gotta love living in South Alabama where chickens convey with property!” Sorry for the long winded read, but….CHICKENS!!!!

  610. The IRS agreed with me – they do owe me $200. I got a government agency to admit they were wrong!!! WIN!!!

  611. My husband spent 33 days in the hospital, from February 23 to March 28. He was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma (we thought he had pulled a muscle!!!). The good news is that he survived being deathly sick from the cancer and the chemo and he is improving every day! Hope your day improves soon!!!!

  612. Sitting in a restaurant by myself, eating a slice of chocolate pie in celebration of my freshman daughter’s successful band competition. She struggles with ADD, but to see her apply herself to something that she loves, and to see the fruits of her labor, and that of the rest of these kids, is remarkable, and hopefully explains to anyone who saw me why I was crying over delicious pie.

  613. I’m a published writer! AND it’s in a book with YOU. Listen To Your Mother came out yesterday and seeing my name in there was kind of like the big fat FUCK YES I needed. Eight years after a divorce that turned me inside out, I am finally feeling good.

  615. I found happiness in everyone else’s posts here! I’m packing up the house to move, and so far, I haven’t un-hoarded anything my husband will think was questionable and get all judgey on me. I haven’t gotten all stabby on him, so its a win-win.

  616. The comforting thought that if you can be unhappy, absolutely nothing I achieve will truly make me happy, so I can relax, give up, and be unhappy without having to do anything as opposed to unhappy and spending time and energy chasing my dreams.

  618. The renovation to make my kitchen accessible is finished! I can wash dishes again!

  619. I have two incredible spectacular daughters and two wonderful grandchildren and my husband (husband number 2) is totally outstanding. I have a job that is fun and that if I wanted to I could leave at any time. This all comes after a time when life was much more bleak and I hated the same job because of those I worked with and what I was being required to do. Life changes and it gets so much better.

  621. I have a new lover. He lives in NL, so we’re just setting for now, but it’s wonderfully exciting, even so.

  622. My husband and I are adopting a new doggy this Saturday! A rottweiler mix named Lily and we’re soooooooooooooo excited to be bringing a new fur baby home!

  623. Hey, here’s a joke for you!

    If you’re on the Oregon Trail, and you meet a man named Terri, and you make fun of him for having a girl’s name, and he shoots you, what do you die from?

    DISSIN TERRI!
    (Haaahhaaaaha! Come on, that HAD to give you a little smile today!) I always love a funny joke.

  624. My slightly crazed goldendoodle, insanely expensive breed I must say, was praised by our kennel owners. It was said that he actually walked outside his pen & didn’t eat his lead on the way out. First time–whoo-hoo! Yes, he’s 5 years old.

  626. I’m with you on the puppy thing. I got the puppy outside today before she could poop on the rug! Major accomplishment.

  627. Joyful thoughts: 1. I had to scroll quite a ways down the page to find the end of the awesome wonderfulness that is your blog comments. 2. I have 5 amazing teens. Right now they are 19, 18, 16, 15 & 15. They are responsible, not mouthy, hard-working, lovable teens. And they are all mine.

  628. Everyone in a meeting I was in yesterday stopped the discussion so we could all watch a thunderstorm roll by. (We don’t get a lot of variable weather in Cali)

  629. In May my son, who has bipolar disorder, will be graduating from college with a degree in mechanical engineering! I am so proud of him.

  630. Cats playing pat-a-cake just about made me pee in my pants!! LOL The image of a grown-ass woman being unable to hold in her pee while she laughs should be enough to brighten anyone’s day! LOL. xoxoxo Jenny…feel better soon!!

  631. I love you people. Didn’t realize that I needed this too until the third time I refreshed the page to read more comments.

    My good things:
    Last week I finally got to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with my BFF and it was awesome. I also got to pick oranges and wander through citrus groves in bloom which has to be one of the best smells ever. I babysat my 6yo and 3yo nephews for a couple hours by myself for the first time and we all survived. And I’m having dinner this weekend with most of my since-forever pals and I am super excited. (I made a 30-pack out of 6-packs so we can make a build-your-own 30-pack befitting a 30th birthday!) And I would like to second all the above comments about spring, daffodils, peepers, and warm weather. FINALLY. <3

  632. Spring Break!!! Babysitting my two granddogs while the kids are in Vegas

  635. It’s finally spring in the Northeast! Going outside and watching things grow has made me joyful. Oh – and I pre-ordered your book. These are the things that have made me happy!

  636. Today I got the happy pills I’m going to need for my new job that starts in a couple weeks. Also, the first of the jacarandas that line my street are coming into bloom and the whole will be a giant wonderful sweet-smelling mess of purple.

  637. I went to the dentist today and had a tooth extracted and I didn’t have a major panic attack or break down sobbing. I just shook the whole time.

  638. I just sold my first house. After 14 months of unemployment following a job layoff that ended a 20 year career, I really, really needed this.

  639. I think I made a student very happy today just by listening to his story…it was a good day!

  640. My kids are now 4 and 14 months and just started playing together for real. They run around in circles squealing and giggling and then when they bump into each other they belly laugh for ages. It is the most wonderful sound in the entire world. Go listen to some tiny kids laughing- impossible to not smile at least a little bit. I swear, all the problems in the world could be solved if a bunch of toddlers laughed at them.

  641. On our 20th anniversary this upcoming July 10th, my partner and I are getting married because we finally fucking CAN. Hurrah!

  642. After the Neverending Winter, yellow daffodils are blooming in my yard!! Plus, chocolate chip scones exist. THAT’S happy.

  643. Realised a longtime dream to come on holiday to DisneyWorld with my family, enjoying the sunshine. Which is bliss 💛

  645. I will be 90 days sober on Monday! And your book and Allie Brosch’s book and blog have helped me get help for my bouts of depression, since I don’t feel like I’m a failure anymore at not being able to just “snap out of it’. New medication is helping, and finances are turning around since I’m able to refocus on my business now!

  646. I want to take my kids to Matilda but am too scared of NYC. But I hear it’s coming to NC next year!

  647. http://www.boredpanda.com/funny-animals-licking-glass/ animals licking glass. There is something about animal tongues that always make me smile.

    I also consider B1A4’s song Beautiful Target my happy song because I cannot listen to it without smiling. Works best if you watch the music video for it on YouTube, it is filled with bright colors and five talented people singing in both English and Korean. Still works even if you do not understand Korean because a surprising (for me) amount of the song is in English.

  648. I conquered a major moment of social anxiety. Everything in me screamed that I should just say no and stay home, BUT I got my shit together and went to a Maroon 5 concert last weekend. I’ve been floating on clouds since then.

  650. Yesterday I had a long phone call with my younger daughter who’s been travelling for 10 months; and got an ‘EXCITED!’ text from my older one who’s been gone 18 months – because I’m meeting her in Turkey next week for a tour that will take us to Gallipoli for the centenary of Anzac Day (huge for us Kiwis and Aussies). And the tour is free because I’m a travel writer, and we got tickets for the centenary because I was lucky in the ballot. Any contact with my wandering daughters is a joy, and to be actually seeing Amy again after so long is just wonderful. Enjoy having Hailey at home and part of your life every day, Jenny.

  652. Something good…

    I am a 30 year old single mother to a 5 year old little boy. I graduated with my Master’s in January and have an amazing job. I just recently found I was nominated and won the Metroversity Outstanding Adult Graduate Award that encompasses graduates from 8 universities (I believe). I will probably get a wall decoration.

    Something a little bad and good…
    The best part about all of this is nearly 8 years ago I turned my life around. I am an addict and always will be, I had overdosed and nearly died. I was a survivor of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. Then I started living in the land of rainbows and duckies.

    The worst…
    Then when my son was one, my mother unexpectedly died (I found her and couldn’t save her), then a week later my dad nearly died, then about three months later I ended up divorced.

    More good….
    I was pretty sure I was going to begin swirling the drain again, it was hard, but I didn’t just survive, I thrived. Much like you, you are thriving. You may not always see it, the darkness tends to not allow us to see it, but we see you thriving! Somehow I made it here. My son is happy and healthy and I have more light than dark despite my GAD, depression, PTSD, addictive personality, and the various other DSM diagnosis attached to me.

    Love you!

  653. I am happy that I am a stay at home mom, which allows me to volunteer on a regular basis at my kids’ school. Today, I got to read with a bunch of first graders, many of whom are from extremely poor families or ESL. I view my job as a cheerleader; yes, I help them improve their reading skills, but I also get to teach them that reading is awesome, and every time they get a hard word right, they are building their brain muscles. Today I was able to celebrate with many of them who had moved up a reading level; their faces just light up with pride when I tell them how proud I am of them. Many of these kids don’t have reading support at home, so I try to be a non-teacher figure who supports the heck out of them. Those sweet kids just make me smile. 🙂

  654. I am FINALLY starting to feel like normal again. The physiotherapy is clearly working, and I can do all those ordinary tasks I haven’t been capable of doing for the past two months: walking, bicycling, riding in a car, going grocery shopping, reading computer screens, watching movies. etc. IT IS SO EXCITING! I can take my life out of limbo and start living again!

    Also, I have THE MOST understanding and supportive boss imaginable. I don’t know how I would have managed to keep my job for the last two months of ongoing illness without her and my coworkers’ support.

  655. I’m about 17 weeks pregnant, off my anti-depression meds for the baby, and feeling very unattractive and uncomfortable in my own skin. My 4-year old doesn’t know any of that. Today he told me, “Mommy, your belly is pretty!”

  656. I am eating gourmet mint infused chocolate, I just went for a walk with the love of my life, tonight I am going to yoga class, the sex toy I ordered should ship soon, and my foster kittens are finally doing better!!!

  657. I’m starting a new job son and my son just started sleeping through the night!

  658. My kids (girls, 7 and 3) behaved appropriately and stayed in the waiting area the whole time I was in an exam room for my annual today. First time I’ve had to attempt it, and they nailed it!

  659. While visiting my sister and her dogs in FL, my Gerber Baby/Kewpie Doll/Peaches n’ Cream perfect granddaughter, who shall be known for this purpose as Elisadazzle, watched the dogs do their doggie things and turned to us. With a droll, Paul Rudd voice, she pronounced the dogs “hirarious.” From that moment on, all things were, of course, hirarious.

  660. I woke up this morning 🙂
    Seriously, just reading everyones’ comments makes me happy. We have so much to be grateful for.

  662. My puppy is ALMOST completely housetrained as well but you gotta keep an eye on them! The other day he started peeing on my suede jacket. I freaked out at the time but you gotta see the humour in these situations! 🙂

  664. I work at the Bullitt Center (www.bullittcenter.org) as the building maintenance engineer. Our building was just certified as a Living Building. This is huge. We produce more electricity than we use, we put nothing down the sewer (we have a greywater treatment on site and composting toilets) all materials used in the building have to pass a “red list” to keep toxins out of the building, and we collect enough rainwater in a cistern on site that we will (soon) be using only water collected on site in the building. Our toilets only use 100 gallons of water per week. for over 100 people. You probably use more than that in your household of 3 in one week. I am extremely proud to be part of something so significant to our selves and our world. It shows that we can build and live sustainably right now, with no sacrifices to productivity or comfort. It gives me great hope for humans as a species to not only thrive, but be stewards to a healthy world.

  665. I built my own gaming desktop last weekend from scratch. Goddamn I am proud of myself. Also, I named him (my computer) Victor to commemorate my victory over computer parts, but now, whenever I see you talk about your husband, I think about my computer doing whatever it is your Victor is doing. It’s hilarious.

  666. Something good?
    I’m on Spring Break. That is good. And I’m eating the left over marshmallow eggs from my kids baskets. That is not good!
    Have a good week, Jenny! 🙂

  668. Even when my 2 year old son seems to have nothing in him but whines giving and getting mommy kisses is still his favorite thing which gives the best of the warm fuzzies. Also pretty soon I’ll get to have my body back along with a new little boy to cuddle with!

  669. Something good? I’ve got just the thing. We just found out we are expecting our first child! And they will be coming around Thanksgiving! Hang in there!

  670. Last month I (and four other students) won tea with the First Lady of the university I attend as a graduate student. The tea took place yesterday. It was a lovely experience.

  672. My 11 year old daughter, who did not adjust well to our move, told me that she was doing better and was pretty sure she would stay here. And that she didn’t need to see the counselor quite as often (she was self aware enough to say that she needed help). And she’s had two pieces of art selected for shows here.

  674. You know what I am happy about right now? That we, this sisterhood of women who have been battling demons far scarier than most people’s worst nightmares, can come together and lift each other up! We are fucking warriors, y’all! Every single morning we wake up to, is another battle won. I am forever grateful to be a part in this sisterhood. Jenny, you are amazing! I don’t think you will ever be able to comprehend how many lives you have saved, just by being you, by being honest about your struggles. Thank you, for being a beacon of hope, to so many.

  675. My step-son that is graduating college in May already has a job offer in his chosen field. Huzzah!

  676. I just had both bathrooms in my house remodeled and the workers are finally gone. It is so nice to be able to take off my bra when I walk in the house again.

  677. The people I work for offered me an all-expenses-paid 17 day trip to Southern France to go on a tour with them and a few guests. All that’s required of me is that I help them keep track of people and pour wine (which I do anyway, we’re in the wine business). At first, you know, I came up with dozens of reasons why I couldn’t accept their offer, and finally my husband said, “Hey. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and if you say you can’t go because of me or the kids, you’re doing us a disservice. Go. Have fun! And no guilt.”

    So, I’m going!!! For free! I’m pretty excited (and working on letting go of the guilt).

  678. I’ve also been crawling out of the darkness today. I’ve dealt with (not suffered, I refuse to admit its suffering) depression all my life. It is a constant battle, today I win. Your blog helped a ton. My happiness status is my husband and I have been trying to plan a vacation with my parents for almost 3 years (we’re all more like friends than family, thats happiness right there). We leave on Friday for Kauai 🙂

  680. i drove an hour each way today just to eat lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with my daughter, son and grandson. It was worth every minute!

  681. What a fantastic cascade of happiness! I know this may sound odd, but I am currenty fighting off a case of Shingles (not the roofing kind), but I am so happy I caught it early and it looks like I might just get better without having the rash! Also, my hubby came home all exhausted from his new job and still just went out to get chocolate ice cream for me!

  682. I’ve long been cursed with having really, really weird problems – not BAD problems (although I’ve had those too), they’re actually rather small, but they’re just WEIRD. But the beauty of that is that they’re usually so weird that there’s an element of the Monty Python to them, which keeps me in a good mood, or is at least entertaining to bystanders. It’s trained me to find the element of the ridiculous in every challenging situation, which is a major source of personal strength.

  683. Sad but then good: My mom passed away last year in May. In April 2014, I was home & helped her make this pastry that she made every year on Good Friday, for Easter. I had meant to travel home to re-learn how to make it for years, and last year I was home helping her recover (we thought) after an illness, so when she died I was grateful I had had one last chance to make it with her.

    This year, first year without her, I decided that I needed to make this pastry so that I wouldn’t forget- it, her, all of it. I had to borrow a friend’s kitchen because ours is being remodeled. I was terrified I was going to mess up and would have bowls of too hard dough. The dough at first wouldn’t rise, then I realized I couldn’t chop the walnuts small enough, I couldn’t find measuring cups- all sorts of calamity. And then the dough doubled, the walnuts seemed fine, Stevie Wonder cheered me on through the radio- and I got into my groove. I managed to make 12 loaves of this pastry, called kolache, and I felt she was there every step of the way. I miss her terribly but I’ve been surfing all week on the high I feel from achieving it and hearing her voice guide me through it all. I feel reassured that, while she is gone, she will never leave me.

    That’s a whole lot of good right there.

  684. About 6 weeks ago the hubs flooded our house & it’s been torn up ever since. The contractors are finally here getting good work done. They say my house will be done by Friday. I’m happy that I finally have walls & a ceiling again.

  688. After 5 1/2 years of a job that made me want to drive off the nearest overpass at a high rate of speed while blasting Take This Job and Shove It!, I started a new job in December that I absolutely LOVE! Life is SO much better when you’re not thinking every minute about how you might quit your job and take your teenager into the wood to live off the land.

  689. My 16-yr old daughter who has been practicing self-harm finally agreed to see a therapist and after the first session she actually opened up to me for the first time in years. She loved your first book and I’m hoping your second book will help her continue her journey to being safe.

  690. When I was 19 weeks, 3 days pregnant with my second child, we went in for the “big ultrasound” to find out if we were having a boy or girl. Instead, we got our hearts crushed when we were told that it is a boy, but that his brain did not develop properly, and he would not survive the pregnancy. We were told that he would not live more than a few moments, maybe , just maybe, a few hours, if we were lucky enough to not have a stillborn. We were encouraged to abort because he most certainly would die, and. If he didn’t die, his life would be utterly horrible. Well, we just celebrated his FIFTH Birthday! He not only survived, but has far surpassed all expectations. He walks, talks,sings, dances, counts, knows his alphabet, and raises hell with the best of them. He is my miracle. He starts kindergarten this fall.

  691. Have had a not-awesome week myself but decided today to drive home yesterday, the first warm day in the NorthEast, aka Hoth/Winterfell (oh! new GoT Sunday even more good news!), with the WINDOWS DOWN and turn it all around by BLASTING my favorite songs. New Order, Rhianna, Van Halen, Tupac, Oasis, Sugarland…you name a genre it was booming from my car!

  692. It may seem silly…but go to YouTube and look up “I saw the light” by Casting Crowns. Turn it up and clap and stomp your foot. It’s one of those banjo songs that just make you happy! Do this with your family to increase happiness! PS, I have been anticipating this new book for nearly 2.5 years!!!!!! (Despite not knowing anything about it besides its super cool author). I am beyond psyched!!!!!!!

  693. The magic of the Saint James Garfield facebook page got me in to see a dentist finally. They confirmed the dire need, but also I now have hope that I may actually survive this after all <3

  696. I am doing really great work with my clients in the business I started 3 years ago when I couldn’t find a job.

    My son moved back in with me in January and this time around, he is pretty delightful to have around. And his dog is OK too.

    My dad is traveling from Greece to visit me – I haven’t seen him since 1987 – and meet my kids.

    Thank you for sharing your self with us. I greatly appreciate who you are.

  697. My autistic granddaughter made vowel sounds today. Aaaaaa. Daaaa. Aaaaaa. I’m happy 😊

  699. My pet goat Samantha had quadruplets two weeks ago and I am finding it very hard to be depressed in the presence of four baby goats. And despite the fact that I had calculated her due date wrong and was totally unprepared for the event, I only had minor hysterics. And then I threw a party to celebrate the arrival of the goats and invited the whole neighborhood and managed to pull it off without having a panic attack. So go team me!

  700. My kid is doing well, everything is blooming (especially the bluebonnets), I have food in the pantry and a little money in the bank.

  701. I am going to spend a long weekend @ college with my son. Last one as he graduates in May. So proud of all the things he has done.

  702. I have an entire page of links on my Pinterest that make me happy when I am sad. Here is one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY. It is a video guy being shagged by a rare parrot. I swear it isn’t porn. It has Stephen Fry in it too. I hope this helps. 🙂
    Also I am making up my own custom version of Cards against Humanity for my own personal use, and “Beyonce, the 5 foot metal chicken” is part of the deck.

  703. I passed my first semester of nursing school and am fulfilling a life long dream♡

  704. My kids are doing awesomely well and making good progress toward becoming independent adults, which is a reward in itself.

  705. The handyman showed up today and got my shades hung so now my new neighbors have to find somebody else to stare at! Also, he hung hooks and shower curtain rods and other necessary handyman stuff. This is a good thing. Also…I love you and can’t wait for your new book.

  706. My birthday day went to hell in a handbasket on Sunday April 5th.. My writer’s group met last nite on the 7th and presented me with a crazy ass 6 ft. tall paper mache celtic fertility goddess/mermaid and then took nail polish and painted nipples on her. I will laugh about this for years to come. Her name is Sheila. I think she and Beyonce would like each other!

  707. My happy today was in the form of my gnarly redbud tree budding, a large patch of violets, and the first bee of the season. New growth every day.

  708. It’s raining, which may seem like bad news, but I live in New England, so rain is good for getting rid of the huge dirty piles of snow that we still have everywhere! And rain is also good because it is not more snow!

  709. I leave tomorrow morning for San Diego. I’m a welder and two of my friends and I are in a competition. We have 6.5 hours to build a large fire pit wit limited tools. I am so excited and nervous I can hardly breathe, which is silly. We got this! If we win, we go to the national competition in June, in Kentucky. A smoker in the same time with the same tools.

  710. Despite the many MANY setbacks I had in the last few days, I’m able to salvage at least a good thing or two out of it–
    – actually being able to do a skill on roller skates that I’ve been working hard to get (I play roller derby, though very badly.)
    -getting Trolli sour gummi eggs from a coworker. They are the best thing ever, in part because in the midst of her own personal issues she took the time to think of me.
    -my Spotify playlist totally understanding that I needed to hear Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” and the Violent Femmes “Kiss Off” today.

    ….and now I’m trying to remind myself of things to look forward to, such as–
    -getting to go home at the end of the day and get a high-five from my dog. That high-five has saved my spirit on more than one occasion.
    -the Welcome to Nightvale live show I get to go see in two weeks
    -getting new roller skates. They’re black and teal and sparkly and HOT.

  711. I just got back from a 9 day vacation with my husband to Prague and Munich, started a new job, lost weight, and bought a dinosaur planter for my office.

    Plus my sister is coming to dinner tonight and she is awesome and gave me more of a reason to buy good wine.

  712. My friend Eric Thacker bought me a guitar. I don’t know why he did it, I just got an email from eBay telling me it was paid for and has shipped. It’s not like I don’t have a few guitars but it is rather nicer than anything I own and cost more than I’d ever spend on myself.

  714. I realized I had a B&N gift card from Christmas a few years ago, so I checked the balance and had just enough to buy the new book! But then I wanted free shipping so I added the first to my shopping cart as well, which meant I was getting free shipping but paying more, but hey, now I have two books and free shipping so I’m calling it a win.

  715. My two sons are awesome kids. We are surprising them with tickets to see a a British ukulele band. They are the kind of kids who can appreciate this. Also the fact that a British ukulele band exists is a reason to be thankful to the universe.

  716. After 35 years of helping other people get more out of their tech, I have selfishly decided to stop and start learning more out of FUN tech. Oh, and I’m learning how to play the xylophone too!

  717. I just found out that a friend’s three-year-old son calls “tissues” (as in Kleenex) “tennis shoes” and laughed and laughed and laughed! That struck me as just hysterical! That random funny ought to cheer anyone!

  718. A few weeks ago, when I was 9 months pregnant, I got a little crampy, like I’d eaten a bad enchilada. Except that I hadn’t eaten a bad enchilada, so I hopped in the car with a hyperventilating husband, a shepherd mix who was all ARE WE GOING TO THE PARK? THE PARK? and a bulldog who likes to sit on the driver’s lap and roll the windows down with her feet. The rest of the story is here, but suffice it to say that it ended in a baby (whee!): http://eggton.com/2015/03/28/the-one-where-we-have-a-son/

  721. I just googled skunk ape and went on a Strang yet wonderful Internet voyage. Also,I am sitting on my porch listening to the rain in springtime. Nice…

  722. Today was 80 degrees and sunny, I got to list my top five favorite books as part of my job, the semester is almost over (which means time for reading for FUN), my parents are healthy and happy, my brother is succeeding at his cool new job, my sister is finally getting to pursue her passion, my husband is right beside me planning something to make us for dinner, I pre-ordered your book on Amazon, and my dog finally started peeing outside more than inside as well (I hear you on the immensity of this victory!)

  724. My dogs. They’re my newest obsession. My career as a business owner. It’s my previous newest obsession. Self acceptance. Sunshine. Hugs. Laughing. The sun is shining pretty bright in my world, and I want to recognize that and be grateful.

  725. I have been making LOTS of crafty things which makes me happy and makes me feel productive (which also makes me happy). Let me know if you want a bearded lady cameo scissor keeper.

  727. My daughter’s PSAT scores was in the top 2.5% of Hispanic students in South Texas and for that she will be honored by National Hispanic Recognition Program which opens many scholarship opportunities. Also, her actual SAT scores earned her an automatic $6000/yr scholarship at UTSA which will save her/us $24,000! GREAT NEWS and too “braggy” to share anywhere else. Thanks for the outlet. SO PROUD OF HER!

  728. I recently proposed to my boyfriend of 5 years. He said ‘yes’ and insisted on buying me an engagement ring anyway, and I feel completely unapologetic about how much I love it.

    Interesting addition to that story – my boyfriend says I beat him to proposing by two months. His plan was to take me kayak camping somewhere remote, then hide the paddles until I said ‘yes’. Maybe not my choice proposal, but we would talk about it for years.

  729. I have had Judy Garland in my head for a while, singing, “Forget your troubles, come on, get happy. We’re gonna throw all cares away…!” and that makes me happy. I start singing out loud, pretending I sound like her.

  730. The world is exploding with wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country. Come see, I will throw your ass in a field of bluebonnets. It’ll be amazing.

  731. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago, and she told me my sugar was high. She then sent me to have blood drawn for another test, and they called with the results today. The new test was normal, so I am not diabetic! This was good news, especially since I’m not sure I can truly survive without carbs.

  732. I took a BIG leap today and mailed a letter to a Very Important Person. I don’t know if she’ll even read it, but if she does, it could result in a dream job kind of situation. I think the reality of having finally done it is just sinking in. Big ovaries. Big. Huge. I have to go hyperventilate now. (In a good way. :))

  734. I’m proud of myself for being a dedicated teacher and for being an advocate for my middle schoolers daily. It’s a really hard job and I keep plugging away because it’s important and because it’s my purpose.

  735. Here is a recent happening that delighted me. My husband took our two boys to an elementary school fair, where kids play little games to get tickets and then turn in their tickets to get a prize (random assorted stuff donated by local businesses). My youngest boy took one look at the prize table and fell in love with this super sparkly Claire’s bracelet-making kit. Nobody made fun of him or tried to steer him away from it, and older brother even gave him some of his own prize tickets so he’d have enough to get it. We have been making sparkly arm parties ever since, and he is so unabashedly happy about it.

  736. I’m in the middle of a particularly lousy, scary, anxiety saturated stretch myself right now. Lawdamighty. Just kicking my teeth in. HOWEVER, one thing I have noticed so vividly, starting last Friday, is that I have been remarkably blessed with unexpected, magical little drops of grace these past few days. I don’t believe in coincidence (my guess? 95% statistics and probability, 5% divine/cosmic/I’m-so-not-an-atheist/karma/whathaveyou intervention). So, what I’m noticing while I’m in the middle of this particularly festering pile of shit is that my hand is being held. I’m not dropped on my butt without hope. So, I’ve been clinging hard to these magical droplets:

    Passover Seder at synagogue on Sunday night was a really wonderful experience. And, because I am currently vehicle-less (my car died…while I’m jobhunting…and broke….hence the exceptionally large pile of shit), with one little mention to my rabbi that I might need a ride to the seder, all of the sudden, a gazillion people have offered me rides all over the place anytime. I won’t have to miss a lot of things I thought I was going to have to miss (not just errands — things that are really important to me). People kept coming up to me saying, “I heard your car broke down. Just call/text whenever you need to go somewhere.” Or, “Oh! Do you need a ride to …. ?” and planned me transportation to certain things before I’d even begun to try to make arrangements. Their helpfulness, and, more overwhelmingly, the realization that they truly want me around and embrace me (I’m used to being unwanted), has warmed my heart and filled in some really cold, jagged gouges in my spirit.
    A dear friend “kidnapped” me Sunday afternoon and took me for a couple of hours of iced coffee and conversation. She even sent me home with a bottle of Pepsi to enjoy later. (I’d been fighting the onset of a migraine, and she wanted to arm me with caffeine. Gotta love that!) That outing was a great destresser.
    I was given a plant. A free, unexpected green thing. Life. I’m telling ya.
    A while back, another friend was telling me about an author whose work he really enjoys that he thought sounded like something I’d really like (he and I have very similar reading tastes). I was intrigued and told him that I’d see if the library had any of her books. Later, he asked me if I’d gotten any, and I told him our library system doesn’t have any. This weekend, he found me and handed me a paperback of one of the books in the series. Sure enough, I am way into this book. It is good stuff.
    I went to sell 2 tote bags full of stuff at the buy back counter at 2nd and Charles. It put a little bit (LITTLE BIT) of cash in my hand (not much, but, hey, I decluttered, and any penny is a good penny). BUT, what was supercool, was that the free bins at the front of the store were overflowing! With good stuff like vintage cookbooks and weird science books! And, I got a bag full of happies for myself and 4 books for my best friend. Some, I’ll keep. But, most of them, when I’m done with them, I’ll go put them back in those free bins so they can bring someone else joy. I’m having a lot of fun looking through them.
    The library had messed up my account and had me listed as having a missing book that wasn’t really missing. That mess is finally straightened out, and the library is a happy thing for me again. Whew!
    I had the opportunity to spend a little bit of that little bit of cash (not much at all) to help pitch in with a large group of people on a birthday surprise for someone I greatly admire and who has brought me much joy over the years. He is a very kind, special person, and this is a significant number birthday, so loving mischief is afoot. 🙂 Are there more immediate, practical demands that $13 could/should have gone towards? Sure. But, it healed me tremendously to be able to GIVE and spread happiness. Also, as you can see, I have been given much recently. Who am I not to pass the good energy along? I look forward to witnessing what will hopefully be huge delight on his part when the birthday surprise unfolds in a few weeks. It irritates me to no end that I’m so needy right now. I’m grateful for the chance to be able to give,
    In the midst of all the chaos and transportation-less quandary of being mostly trapped (no public transportation here), I have TWICE had the opportunity to do one of my favorite, soothing, self-care activities: spend a chunk of time at the book store slurping on a cold drink while reading through crafting, homesteading, art, and fairy/fantasy magazines. Helps my brain breathe. Reminds me of pleasant things. Gets my imagination imagining stuff other than bad stuff. Basically, it reboots me.
    Out of the blue, a friend emailed to say she was mailing me a crochet pattern book she doesn’t need anymore. Poof! Surprise!
    Over the past few days, I have realized a very important fact: for each unavoidable person with a significant presence in my day to day life (i.e. mostly family members) who has a very negative viewpoint and whose voice beats me down, I have at least 3 other people in my life whose voices are positive and encouraging and build me up. I must have finally figured out something in life because this is the first time I have ever had this healthy ratio. I am grateful beyond description for those good voices. I’ve also been learning to text, call, seek them out and say, “I am listening to the bad things, and the negative input is hurting me right now. Please, I trust you and need to hear you say the things I need to hear. Please help me clean out the rabid bats from my brain.” And, they do. They are good people. They are blessings. They are perspective checks. I am mightily appreciative and only hope I can be of value to them in some way, too.

    There. Even in the middle of YUCK, YUCK, YUCK, I can easily type out a top 10 list of good. Jenny, we have to cling to these magical drops of grace so our souls can breathe.

    I go back and forth between crying in despair and crying in gratitude.

  737. In 1.5 weeks I get to go back to the east coast to celebrate a baby shower and my mom’s b-day. Long trip, but worth it for all the celebrations!

  738. The groundhogs and moles did not eat all 80 crocus bulbs I planted in the fall. They left about 10. This makes me happy since I assumed all were consumed.

  740. I thought today was going to be shitty. I was fully prepared for it to be shitty. It even started off shitty (hello not timing the “You ABSOLUTELY cannot dry this” washing poorly and wearing slightly still damp clothes to teach the morning of my first ever peer-evaluation). But, I received a sincere and thoughtful thank you note from a former student who was accepted into graduate school, the meeting I was dreading turned out well, I grabbed dessert with a colleague, faculty were granted an extension on a very time consuming yearly report, AND when I got home, my neighbor had started mowing my lawn so I wouldn’t have to. All in all – today was freaking fabulous….

  741. Old Cat is less than a month away from his 19th birthday. And he still plays with toys when he thinks nobody’s looking. I’m so, so happy he’s still with me.
    Daughter is about to get her master’s degree. She just found out she may graduate cum laude. I’m insanely proud and in awe of this amazing human who came out of me.

  742. Out of the blue my daughter asked me last night to sing a song while she played it on her violin. This might make you think we are a musical family but you would be completely wrong. She plays pretty well, I think (thank you Suzuki). Me, I don’t know how to sing. I mean, I love to sing, but I seriously suspect I’m tone deaf, and no one who has ever heard me hum (or speak, actually), has asked me to sing. Apparently she doesn’t know any better. I’d never heard the song, and after clearly and completely fucking it up twice I asked her to play it once without me singing so I could try to match it up in my head, which I actually did! Then I actually sang the song while she played! I was awful but we didn’t care. We loved it. I don’t know how to explain how happy this made me, but it did. I’ve always said that if I could have a completely selfish wish, it would be to be able to sing. And last night, my singing made my daughter happy and my heart very happy indeed.

    Also, something that makes me happy is the space you’ve provided for me to connect with my tribe. All the hugs and smooches in the world to you, Jenny.

  744. My fiancé and I are getting married in less than 6 months and even though I am super stressed over planning (and trying to buy a house at the same time) he has been my rock. Everytime I look at him I am happy we get to spend the rest of our lives together.
    Also your book announcement made me so incredibly happy! I love you!!!!

  745. My husband planted green beans today. And the cat did not go along behind and pee on them. Win!

  746. Today I was happy just to go to the gym for a mild workout, and shop for groceries. That’s it, but at least it’s something.

  747. My baby looks me in the eyes and grins and says “guh!” like she’s telling me the best news ever. And daffodils are blooming.

  748. On spring break, our 9-yr-old daughter used the spare walk-in bathroom shower as her ‘toot’room every time she was gassy…..and it echoed. A. Lot.

  750. Yesterday one of my clients was approved for what will be a precedent-setting chicken coop for the dementia and alzheimer wing of an assisted-living facility in a relatively urban area. I can’t wait for their residents to have the chance to spend some time communing with their new feathered friends! 😀

  751. I think that I have finally learned that it is okay to be single. I may be lonely on occasion and wish I had a significant other, but I don’t NEED one to be happy. I can be happy just being the best version of myself. 🙂 It has taken MANY years and lots of crappy relationships to get here.

  752. Today one of the people that I work with (I am a case manager at a transitional living facility) told me that they have a plan in place to successfully transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. This is what we have been working towards for months. More importantly than self-sufficiency though is that this person feels a deep and abiding change in how they see themselves, how they see their lives and how they are going to move forward. There isn’t a better feeling than knowing I was able to accompany them on this journey and facilitate the opportunities for them to start. Today is beautiful.

  753. I won my spelling bee and my hubby and I are going to have a ‘special’ celebration tonight! happy, happy for me!

    depression lies. You’ve got this Jenny!

  754. After almost 6 years of medical problems due to multiple concussions, including depression, suicide hospitalization, and surgery for cyst removal, my daughter is off of all medications and will graduate from high school in a few months, on time, with the rest of her class. It’s our miracle. And I am forever grateful for it. It’s not perfect, but it’s really damn good.

  755. I am putting the finishing touches on my dissertation and I defend it at the end of the month.

  756. Reading these comments, I am reminded once again how proud I am to be part of this tribe ! Cheers !

  757. I started this silly blog 3 weeks ago while recovering from major surgery that I didn’t want to have. Did I mention my husbands job was eliminated that week? As it turns out, the surgery was very important, my husband found a new and better job, and my blog had over 300 hits the first day and has been quite popular in a hurry. Just when you are at your worst, the point to it is revealed and something wonderful comes of it. Don’t give into the darkness.

  758. On Easter morning there was a snake in my house and I’m phobic. My cat (the hero pet) kept in under the stove until a friend gave up their Easter morning and came over and captured it. My dogs completely abandoned me during this trial for the hope of getting some pop tarts (NOT hero pets). After that trauma & internal freak out I had to study for a neuroscience final– made a 99! (They do say a moderate amount of anxiety=optimal performance so guess the snake helped). Today the happy thing is: there is no snake in my house!! BTW, try putting panties on Dorothy Barker and taking them off when she goes outside & back on when she comes in (I know it’s weird but that’s what finally turned the corner for my boxer with house training).

  759. I found out, literally less than five minutes ago, that my best friend got a job she’s been really wanting. She’ll have to move away, but it’s only about an hour drive, and I’m convinced it will be a very positive change for her!

    My boyfriend is recovering from his depression, and he’ll be turning in an application to volunteer at the local humane society tomorrow after a long period of unemployment. It’ll mean some good activity for him and a way for him to get used to being around people, plus sometimes I can go with him and walk dogs or cuddle kitties!

    My other best friend (yeah, I’ve got a couple, and they’re all the best, because they’re the greatest) is now gunning for a promotion at her part time job that could be quite a great raise for her – she’s not quite sure if it’ll be salary or what the pay will end up being, but it’s got some great potenial.

    My mom has been off chemo for two months now, after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer back in August. She kicked its ass! So happy for her, it’s hard to put into words.

    Me? I’ve got great people in my life, I’m kicking ass at my job, and I have a whole mess of things both little and small that I have to look forward to for nearly every month for the rest of the year. My boyfriend and I are celebrating 10 years together in about 2 weeks, for instance. And all these things I’m looking forward to, I’ll be doing in the company of some or all of these wonderful people in my life.

    Also I’m pretty damn excited about your new book. Just looking at the cover makes me happy.

  760. I brought in a fruit tart for my coworker who is having breast cancer surgery tomorrow. And I am usually the person who thinks of no one but herself, so that gesture was the equivalent of the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes in one day! 🙂

  762. You asked for something to make you feel happy and I thought you might like to know how paying taxes can make you smile.

    Sometime later this year my property tax bill will land with a thump in my mailbox. Most other people’s mailboxes will also get this present. And I wanted to share a good reason why you should be happy to pay it.
    Last week, a man called and told me his address, and then said, “I want you to come and find the mess before my wife gets home from work. I’ll be in the basement.” And then he hung up.
    I’ve taken 911 calls for more than ten years, and I knew exactly what he was going to do. I entered the call.
    Because people pay taxes on their property and on their phone bills, we have one of the best public safety systems in the world. We have dispatchers who are trained for emergencies, officers who can act quickly, medics who respond with know-how. And because we have money for all that and more, like computer programs that store information from previous calls, systems that identify locations and callers, radios, fire stations that cover the county, training for dispatchers in terrorism, hostage and suicide callers, we knew who this caller was. We knew he lived in the basement apartment of what looked like a regular single family home. That the entrance was in the fenced back yard, behind the gate. That he had previous medical calls for mental health problems. And that he was serious in his plan of action. He was also lucky. Someone had had a car accident just a few thousand yards away, almost at the entrance to his subdivision. Police were on scene dealing with it when he called 911. Because they were able to get there so quickly, when they broke in they found him still alive. He hadn’t yet bled out.
    When I left work that night, I took it as a win that later that night his wife went to the hospital to see him, instead of the medical examiner’s office.

    Just remember that everyday our neighbors live because we contribute to each other. And that’s a good thing. So smile when you write out your mortgage check this month or see the extra on your phone bill. Your helping your family and neighbors.

  763. Something good is getting to read your blog!! I can fully appreciate the dark moments, as I suffer from depression and anxiety. But your humor, witty and nuttiness (that’s a good thing) often bring me laughs and smiles. So my something good is getting to read Jenny Lawson. Well, reading her words when she writes books or blog posts. Reading Jenny Lawson would be weird … or psychic?

  764. I love all of these.

    My happy is that after a long stretch of under employment, I was able to confidently preorder a copy of your new book for myself and one for my mom, knowing that come September I still won’t have to worry about spending $40.

  765. One of my students got in a lot of trouble at school and was transferred to an alternative placement campus. I got an email from her today expressing “sincere appreciation” for what she felt I had done for her. This is why I teach.
    My son is a doctor!! I’m so proud of him!

  766. After 18 months, I’m still cancer free, and after 10 months of a medically supervisde diet, I’m 105 lbs lighter. WOOT!!!

  767. After a year and a half of being harassed at work, I changed jobs. The people I work with now are amazing. We just had a girls’ night (weird for me because I’m not good at social stuff). When we got on the elevator to leave, we were all talking and laughing so much that it was almost 2 full minutes before someone realized that no one had pushed the button to the lobby and we weren’t moving. Life is good.

  768. My younger brother and his husband are in the process of adopting a beautiful little girl! She’s four and my daughter is 3 and they are the best of friends. Seeing them play without a care makes all the shit fade away. At least for a bit.

  769. The snow is finally all melted from my yard and the crocuses are ao pretty. I have on pants a size smaller than I have worn in a few years. My friend is back with her boyfriend and that is a good thing – they are good together. There are lovely yellow tulips on my coffee table. And you have a new book. All is well….

  771. I am so thrilled about your new book!!!! I bought a house in Oct.– and my friends and I speak “the bloggess” all the time….so of course one of them brought me a rooster/chicken plate as a house warming so I’d have a little Beyonce. You inspire us all!!! <3 Smooches!

  772. Our son is getting married in July and our daughter is four weeks away from finishing her first year of college. So proud of them both and love them to the moon and back!

  773. I have a student from Sierra Leon who was painfully shy in September. I’ve been working with him all year, and last week he actually volunteered to present his project to the class. I was so damn proud of him, and all the kids in my class who were respectful even though they could tell he was nervous.

  774. Things are going great for my young adult kiddos. One got into his first choice law school and a cool internship for summer. One has the job of her dreams and is setting the world on fire and the youngest is quietly leaving the other two in his dust. It’s everything I want for them as a mom and I don’t want to be greedy or ungrateful, but I’m still fighting the darkness and am ready for a break/good news for the hubster and myself. Though, if I had to choose, I’d take the darkness and anxiety any and everyday if it meant my kids didn’t ever have to deal with it themselves.

  775. On Easter Monday I went kayaking with my kids and Ex, it was a hard day to begin, the first Easter since i moved out, driving to the lake I kept feeling that anticipation of a crashing wave of darkness…. managed to get through and once we were on the water it was amazing, the water was so calm, the kids fell in, nearly swamping the Kayak. So glad i didn’t give in and turn around.

  776. Girlie and I are headed to the homeland tomorrow, to see Grandma and Grandpa. All concerned are confident that it will be epic. Lots of love. And I’ll beam some of it your way.

  777. Happy thoughts: when I come home my two mini dachshunds Augie and Thatchie give me a hero’s welcome.

    Dogs are happy wrapped in fur. (Relax, PETA.)

    Also: I was terrified of starting my new job. I love it!!

  778. The 6-year-old girl down the road came flying over tonight to introduce me to her new pet goat, Olaf. Her boundless love and enthusiasm are contagious.

  779. It is still bluebonnet season. Get out and enjoy them. There is no better balm for a Texan’s heart. To steal a line from the cover of my planner: The world is full of beautiful reasons to be happy. (Stay away from the darkness. Don’t ride the spiral. You deserve better!)

  781. My mom is in her 4th year of being cancer free. The tests came back yesterday.

    My own breast biopsy came back cancer free on the 17th, and my bills for it will be a third of what I thought it would be.

    My dad is going strong 9 years after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

    My sister is visiting next week and we’re going to eat ourselves into a stupor at Epcot.

    A funny for you, I accidentally punched myself in the face this morning while putting on my bra. Coordination at its finest.

  783. After our beloved senior kitties passed away last June, my husband and I have adopted three adult rescue cats. Two of them are painfully shy and the first one we adopted needed 7 months to adapt to the house before we could bring in other kitties. Yesterday they were all in the same room together peacefully for the first time!!!

  784. I got two articles accepted for publication for work, and I’m really excited about that because it was hard work. And, one of my favorite bloggers has a new book coming out, and I can’t flipping WAIT to read it because she’s an outstanding writer. (PS she’s you.)

  785. After sixteen years of writing various novels, I just had my first real acceptance of a novel!!!!! it is YA fantasy called STORMHUNTER. There are pirates.

    Felicity Banks

  786. I have never run any type of race or competed in any type of running event however —
    I have finally overcome “I Can’t” and “I ONLY…” attitudes and in a little over two weeks I am walking a half-marathon to raise money for St Jude Children’s hospital.

    Should anyone here feel included to help me reach my fundraising goal and help kids with cancer and their families…I would appreciate it.
    http:\heroes.stjude.org/MelissaCook

  787. I used to be severely overweight. I had weight loss surgery and lost 180 lbs. I went from barely making it through the grocery store to walking a marathon. OK, this was in 2006 but it is one of my proudest moments. I walked 26.2 miles. It took over 8 hours and I did it. Wow!

  788. My daughter got accepted into SF State. She’s worked so hard, she has dyslexia, so this is a big coup for her. Plus I’ve been super-productive the last two days at work, getting caught up from having been without a secretary for 3.5 months. AND we had a super duper rainstorm yesterday, very welcome in drought-stricken CA. Life is very, very good. 🙂

  789. My good news is that despite my Crohn’s disease, and anxiety, my doctors (GI and gyno) think I’m okay to …. expand our family for the first time. I’m not going to tempt fate by being more specific than that, but I’m grinning like a fool! Now, on to the flexible sigmoidoscopy!

  791. Oops. Just realized there was a typo in my earlier comment. Passover Seder was on Friday night, of course. Not Sunday. Doh!

  792. My eight year came running in to my room and frantically yelled,”I REALLY NEED A CLONING KIT!!!” Combined with his question about how much damage radioactive exposure would actually do to his DNA, I feel super confident about his middle school years…

  793. I graded my first year law students’ final legal writing papers. They are better than the first ones, by far! They learned something! I may have taught it to them! Win.

  794. Well, this afternoon, I was actually sitting in my lawn chair in the sun, thinking “Iam overwhelmed with happiness”, but what do I do with that? I was embarrassed to post this on my facebook page for whatever reason. Sometimes I feel that I seem to be gloating when I talk about how happy I am. I am glad to have an invitation to share.

    First off (this is not an apology, but an explanation as to why my happiness stands out), I am not always so happy. I have my black moods (depression runs in the family and I am going through perimenopause, hot flashes, lack of sleep, mood swings, and all that fun). I know good moods and bad. I really appreciate the normal.

    Today, almost at the end of a hike, I was experiencing a total high. The physical exertion of a hike in the mountains of Arkansas, mixed with the absolute beuaty surrounding me put me in an emtional tail-slin. My heart was beating and swelling, and I had a grin on my face that I couldn’t erase if I tried. Everything was good.

    Nature is beautiful. Exercise is an elixir. It isn’t always easy to push myself to make use of these mood lifters. When I do, nothing can stop me. Life is good.

    There are days when reading your blog does this for me. Humour is good. Reality mixed with humour is even better. I thank you.

    Continue to reach out and to ask for what you need.

  795. This summer I’m going to spend 2 months doing drum corps. Marching band is my favorite thing in the world I’ll be surrounded by the most amazing group of people I’ve ever met. They’re dedicated and the staff is wonderful and the food is surprisingly good. I’ll travel the country and preform more than 20 times.
    Plus, I met a cute guy at the last camp and something might happen on tour. If that’s not enough to celebrate, I don’t know what is. http://www.gofundme.com/joispumped

    I hope you get cheered up by all these awesome comments and links 🙂

  796. When I got home from work today, there was a tote bag on my bed styled to look like the card in library books that get stamped when you check the book out. My brother bought it for me as a surprise, and for no reason except that he’s awesome. I already knew I had the best siblings ever, but today has been a fantastic reminder of it 🙂

  797. I got tickets to see “Welcome to Nightvale” live in Fort Lauderdale FL a few months ago. As it got closer to the day of the show I decided to rent a car to be safe. I have a car that’s on it’s last legs and live 2 hours away from the theater but I love the show to peices so I put time and cash aside so I could go. When I went to pick up the rental they were out of the type of car I rented on their website so they decided to give me a free upgrade. But when the sales guy took me over to look at the upgrade they had picked out they found out there were some problems with that car. So to make up for it he let me have my pick of the lot. O_O I had a road-trip in a gorgeous car (worth more than I make in 2 solid years of work) while blasting music I love to go watch people and stories that put a huge grin on my face. Also I stopped for cheesecake while I was out there because the cheesecake factory is awesome and they aren’t anywhere near where I live.

    And thank you for the writing and stories you post. I can’t begin to tell you how helpful it’s been to know I’m not the only one.

  798. Texas hill country bluebonnets
    Puppies
    Not screaming at my boss
    Mudbugs
    Playing with a chainsaw.
    Hehee
    Big hugs

  799. At PTO Volunteer Appreciation Brunch this morning, I’d amassed enough volunteer hours that my son presented me with a PTO sponsored book to donate to the library. It was one of his favorites, has a nameplate inside with our names on it as the donors, and he was so proud I thought he was going to explode.

    Then I decided I needed a copy of your book on my Kindle in addition to my hardcopy. Sending happiness and some residuals your way, beautiful lady. 🙂

  800. conversation with five year old this morning:
    Me: let’s hit the road Jack or we’ll be late for school
    Offspring: OH let’s listen to that song on the way
    Me: ok but are you sure you can enjoy it? Just by listening?
    Offspring: (with sweet batting eye lashes) of course!!
    Me: (in car as Ray Charles starts to sing) hit the road Jack…
    Offspring: what did he do?
    Me: no idea buddy it’s just a song
    Offspring: will he NEVER see her again?
    Me: ugh – not sure
    Offspring: do you think he’s a robber?
    Me: no
    Offspring: Maybe he didn’t share?
    Is his name even Jack?
    What road do you think he took?
    Does Jack lives near Hillcrest St?
    She sure sounds mad…….
    Me: pretty much a mystery
    Offspring: we may never know – unless we use science

  801. I’m halfway through college and my 12 year old is proud of me! That is the most wonderful feeling I’ve had since the day she was born. Plus, we saw crocuses today!! Slowly, one day at a time, I’m closer to joy and further from darkness. Life is not easy but it is wondrous.

  804. My spouse came out as transgender last year. We’re one of the lucky couples who have a legal loophole to being in a same-sex marriage, which is otherwise not allowed in our state, because she was male at the time of the marriage.

    But we just found out that there is going to be a mass wedding at Mount Rushmore over Labor Day weekend to celebrate same-sex marriages being forced to be legal here (pending the actual verdict of course). We’re going to be there to renew our vows. I am ridiculously excited to marry her again. 🙂

  805. Things that make me happy:

    I’m back in grad school for library science. I’ve been since last year, but I think calculated, I’ll have my required credits by the end of the fall quarter.
    I’m going a way for a weekend with my mom. To see the Fabulous Beekman Boys. Minus the long drive it’s a great weekend away.
    It’s spring time, so that means amusement parks are opening up soon! (well in PA anyway).

  806. I have a daughter who is an extremely talented young artist. Last week at this time, she found out she didn’t make it past semi-finals during try-outs for the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders (this was her 3rd attempt—-which is two more attempts than I would have done). Today, one of the Philadelphia Eagles PLAYERS gave her mad props on Instagram for a sketch she did of him. She has been beaming all day…..and I’m one proud momma of a beautiful, determined, talented young lady.

  807. Today I got a SERIOUS haircut and was feeling regret and insecure about it. I felt ugly. After I showered and dried my hair I asked what my husband thought of it & he said ” I Love It!” Made me so happy. I struggle with my self-image and have low self esteem, so it was nice to get a compliment!

  808. Holy crap. Look at how many people you’ve impacted!
    One of my dogs is curled up next to me, snoring. Also, I really wanted chocolate today and one of my colleagues opened this mini treasure chest in his office and IT WAS FULL OF CHOCOLATE. Awesome.

  809. Thank goodness for puppy-potty-training! I know how 52% off outdoor business happening actually OUT-OF-DOORS is a wonderful thing! It’s one thing that definitely pulls us up out of the darkness and reminds us why we got that furry/cute thing in the first place. Every moment of it is a victory! Celebrations! 🍻🍷🍻

  811. I watched a group of kids do amazing things with music today (https://youtu.be/DDLlcBHH5Qs – not today’s performance, but you get the idea).
    One of them is my son, and it gave me chills to watch them (even if I was on my rescue meds because chaperoning the tour makes my mania spike).
    But I do it because the kids need parents to make it all happen. If it just means some Risperdal and a hot shower for me, then so be it.

  812. Your autograph on my APA membership card a couple years ago made paying dues totally worthwhile.

    Also, my kid is helping me learn all the words to “Let it Go” from Frozen. Does that count as good news? I’m not quite sure myself. 🙂

  813. I am very proud to say that I kicked cancer’s ass! Got the bad news that I had cancer in July and the good news that I am in remission in December. Life is good!!!

  814. I watched a group of kids do amazing things with music today (https://youtu.be/DDLlcBHH5Qs – not today’s performance, but you get the idea).
    One of them is my son, and it gave me chills to watch them (even if I was on my rescue meds because chaperoning the tour makes my mania spike).
    But I do it because the kids need parents to make it all happen. If it just means some Risperdal and a hot shower for me, then so be it.

    (And to Jo ^ who made drum corps? Get it!)

  815. I keep coming back to read these and suddenly it makes me realize the small things I’m happy about.

    Tonight I played Skip-Bo with Hailey and she beat me soundly without me helping her at all. Then she decided she wanted to learn French so we downloaded an app and spent an hour learning conjugation and high-fiving each other when we passed the online tests. Dorothy Barker hasn’t had an accident all day. I found a cheese puff in the refrigerator. Things are good.

  816. Things that make me happy…
    My husband’s laugh. My dog’s enthusiasm and unconditional love. Quiet time. Hot baths by candlelight. I’m leaving on vacation in a few weeks, and get to see friends I haven’t seen for over a year.
    Things I’m proud of…
    I’ve been holding down the fort successfully while my boss is away. My sewing projects are going well.

  817. Grandbabies! In the last year, I have become a grandmom twice. It is the best job I never knew I wanted.

  818. I called my online friend on Skype who is house bound and sang her happy birthday you m***** f******. She laughed so hard she cried. And then we both snorted a lot. The end. Oh. And I’m not in kidney failure yet!

  819. Boss just told me this afternoon that I can skip the very early morning meeting scheduled for tomorrow, and I’m thrilled that I’ll get a little more sleep tonight than expected!

  820. I took out the trash and the recycling today and life feels less cluttered!

  821. We’ve closed on our new house, which actually finished in time for us to have some overlap before we have to be out of the old one. We DIDN’T have to move everything to storage and live with my in-laws (not that they are bad, but still…). And the new house is beautiful and will be so much fun to turn into a home. Still a ton of work to do, but we’re so happy and excited.

  823. My son brought home straight A’s on his report card! 🙂 I’m a proud mamma, and a lucky mamma because I have 3 pretty darn amazing kids. 🙂
    That’s pretty much what is keeping me going lately so I’m pretty sure it will do you some good too!! LMAO 😉

  824. I did my workout tonight like I was supposed to, and I have an interview for a promotion tomorrow. 🙂

  825. I kinda wish you had “like” buttons so I could let everyone know how much I’m liking their comments! 😀

  827. I’ve finished my PhD!
    First-generation college kid, foreign country, strange (but beautiful) language. And I want to give a shout-out to you/your book/your blog for pulling me through the hard times, making me laugh and cry and laugh again.

  828. My tree is in full bloom. We planted it the year we moved into this house, and the trunk was smaller than my wrist. It is now taller than the house, and makes me all smiley when it blooms every year.

  829. My 10 yr old daughter is going to be in her first ensemble competition this Saturday (piano). First, we threatened her with punishment if she didn’t memorize the pieces and perform in the competition, based on a recent experience. She surpassed that hurdle. Right now, she can occasionally play the hardest piece with out mistakes. We hope she plays well enough to be proud of herself. We are already proud of her.

  830. My son (9yo, Down syndrome, non-verbal, VERY vocal) was having a melt-down at the meat counter at the grocery store yesterday. I did my best to get what we had to have and get us out of everyone else’s way and his noise away from the customers and butchers that were trying to hear each other. I have a hard time making eye contact with strangers when there are a lot of them so I was just assuming what was on other people’s faces. When I said that I was done because I couldn’t think of anything else I might want with my son making that noise one lady said, “Do you want me to order something else for you and you can walk him around a bit?” I thanked her and said we had enough for 2-3 dinners so it was fine guess how she responded? SHE GAVE ME A HUG. I’m telling everyone how great that woman was. Sometimes the people you think are judging you are just bashful about how to help, and then an extrovert shows up. IT WAS SO AWESOME I’M TEMPTED TO USE A CUSS WORD.

    Love to you, Jenny. I hope someone surprises you with a hug when you could use it so that it’s not scary.

  831. My second child was born with serious health problems and we didn’t plan to have any more children. We adore our darling girl but there are lots of doctor and therapy visits. Our third pregnancy was a big surprise and I was very worried about baby #3 having the same health problems…he was born 2 weeks ago and is perfect and healthy. We’ve been sitting up at night on the recliner watching the Twilight series because he only wants to sleep in my arms. My older two children are adjusting well and my daughter is getting stronger and more independent. I’m happy.

  832. I was horrifically abused as a child, not surprisingly married an emotionally abusive man, almost died, and now am living on the most beautiful Ranch in Texas with my Sweet Baboo/second husband with three labradoodles and 5 peacocks. The Eternal one takes tremendous care of our wounded souls. Hang in there; you’re an amazing blessing. There are angels and love around you. Allow yourself to feel the love.

  833. I send people this (http://www.mandatory.com/2014/01/17/20-snakes-wearing-tiny-hats/2) whenever someone asks me to send them something happy. I can’t think of anything happier than this lady-snake, who is clearly heading to a lady-snake tea party and will be the envy of all her lady-snake tea party having friends!
    Also, next month I celebrate 5 years with my husband, and I AM SO HAPPY I PICKED HIM!

  834. I too often see the darkness before I see the light. However, this week marks a new chapter in my life. One I’ve been waiting for for a long time. This week is my last week at my job of almost 6 years. This weekend I am moving in with my boyfriend, and next week, I start a new job that is almost double the pay of my last one. I’m scared to death, but I know that these are all positive things!

  835. Feeling blessed by the people surrounding me who love me; never noticed it more than this week!

  836. My younger son has been working hard all week, and he finally learned all the words on the Pre-Primer list. My older son was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism and we are FINALLY meeting with the school tomorrow. I went shopping today and not only found dresses that fit me, but they were a size smaller than I thought I needed!

  837. I drove my first transport for rescue kitties this week. From Mpls to almost Chicago in one day. Those two senior Persians were the best co-pilots ever. 🙂

  838. I love you and I love this tribe.
    In case you missed it, someone above said:
    322Stacy Koster | April 8, 2015 at 11:54 am
    “In a fit of panic last night I canceled my order for 21 ducklings. ”
    And I love how I kind of fit in with your people, and I’m happy.

  839. I got a promotion today at the job I love. And I love all of you tribe members fiercely and with much fervor.

  840. I’m getting such a kick reading all your inspiring stories!

    It’s been a busy lately, with several stressful things I’ve had to scramble to handle. But I’m so lucky to have wonderful people who support me and each other, to have a job I enjoy, and a happy home with a loving family. My joy this week includes writing and editing for Camp NaNoWriMo, working on a novel I drafted last November. It’s challenging and intimidating, but I’m learning and having a great time stretching that part of my being.

  842. Your writing makes me laugh out loud – always a good thing. Plus I don’t have to go to work tomorrow morning.

  843. I suffer anxiety, panic and dysthemia (long running depression) with the occasional bout of agoraphobia tossed in for good measure. Through years of this bullshit, the only thing that keeps me going is having a very twisted sense of humor, and the fact that I am loved in spite of how broken I am. I am proud of myself for a great many things in truth, and yes it does almost seem sometimes like tempting fate every time I have a good day. Good day, of course, is a highly subjective term…

    Keep at it, and be proud that you make it a brighter, albeit weirder, day for someone somewhere.

  844. We made a very big move to a tiny rural community a month ago in order to provide our daughters a better life. The stress has been unreal. But I finally got a job that I just started Monday, and the people in this town are going out of their way to offer help, advice, and just generally make sure that we are successful in our farming/ranching endeavors. We didn’t know a single person when we came here, and yet they all seem to genuinely care about us. I’m slightly bewildered but incredibly thankful. We spent four years planning, agonizing, saving and second-guessing…and I really think it’s going to work out.

  847. reading this much joy has brought a tear to my eye and a smile. How wonderful to see so much good in the world today! My mother fell today but she is ok, just shaken up. I’m so lucky to still have her in my life and blessed to be able to help her!

  848. There is no way you will contract this miserable #$@#ing spring cold through the internet, so that’s good. For you. I’m still miserable. Ya got anyone you’d like me to sneeze on?

  849. 2 positive ‘coaching’ sessions today at work. Still (for a month we’re trying to get about 28% of sales calls to us to produce sales) at over 150%, personally. It’s a fluke, but it’s a happy fluke.

  850. I got some new after-shave scented talc today. As a trans-guy, this means that I can wear my chest-binder in our Aussie heat without worrying about a swamp forming in my cleavage. AND I don’t have to smell like baby-powder to do it. 😀

  851. My dog is likewise going to the bathroom outside slight more than inside! Happy carpets, everyone!

  852. I think I’ve found a counseling/psychology center that would work for me. I hope I can go sometime soon.

  855. Two days ago I successfully defended my master’s thesis (a novel, or half a novel actually) and received nothing but affirmation of my writing skills and recognition of the immensely hard work I’ve done in my program, and I could have cried. And one of my committee members told me my critical preface, which was basically a personal essay, was sweet and honest and that I t was really refreshing. So that was nice. 🙂

    Also. I cannot wait to read your new book. I love your writing so much, just so you know!

  856. I’m four months pregnant with a baby girl, and my two year old son has decided that his baby sister’s name is “Heart” which is both confusing and absolutely precious.

  857. I am happy that you have the strength and the courage to continue, even when you are struggling, to reach for what makes you happy and to encourage other people. May God bless you. Oh, and I’m happy about my ridiculous cat, whose name, poor thing, is Monday—because my son has an unfortunate sense of humor. But it’s okay. She thinks her name is Kitty kitty anyway.

  858. Waiting for our brother to finish his appointment at a cancer clinic, my sister and I had the pleasure of witnessing the most remarkable woman with attitude. Hands held high, she burst through the exit door where they do radiation and loudly exclaimed to a waiting room full of people who didn’t know her “Nine treatments down, nine to go – I’m half way there!” We gave her a round of applause.

  859. I’ve survived the terrible SAD inducing month that is March and things are finally starting to look good again. BIG hug!

  860. OK ready? This post is just going to keep getting better….I spent yesterday hanging out with PUPPIES. At a farm that provides gardening therapy for clients with serious and persistent mental illness. The farm rescues puppies from a kill shelter and socializes them. Before sending them off to a prison where the female inmates bond with them and train them to be service dogs. Then they become service dogs for veterans with PTSD. These are LIFE SAVING PUPPIES.

    (It’s the Farm at Penny Lane in Pittsboro, NC if anyone wants to support their amazingness….)

  861. Last year I started some serious therapy process, and although it was hard, this year things are much more lighter. Like I thought about suicide many many times during the process, but now I feel just so much better. And I started a meditation program by Osho that is really helping to make my mind stop goind round and round with stupid thoughts. And that is all really good! We can get so used to feeling weird that the prospect of feeling good feels weird, but it’s actually a good weird! lol

  863. My granddaughter is here to visit me during her spring break. She is six years and has crazy hair freshly chastened from a recent bout of head lice. I love her madly. She sleeps like a starfish in the middle of my bed. I have but to find my spot on the edge and hold on. I love waking to find her skinny leg laying over my hip.

  864. I homeschool my 6 year old daughter, and she still managed to learn to read! Also, I got asparagus out of my garden this morning.

    My husband is about to leave for an 8 month deployment, so I kind of needed to read all these good things. Yay good things!

  866. I returned from Paris last week having visited my former roommate. She and I hadn’t seen each other in 8 or 9 years and hadn’t spoken in 4. When I knew I was going to be visiting I reached out and said I would love to catch up over coffee when I was there. She invited me to stay at her place and we spent my visit walking around Paris, catching up and realizing how much we still liked each other. Lovely to know that losing touch for a long while doesn’t mean losing a friend.

  867. Nursing (RN)school orientation was yesterday. Perhaps
    the 2nd go around will be just what I need,to actually
    make it through. I have hope.

  868. I have an amazing little dog that is my anchor of happiness every evening. He’s smart, fearless (except for the vet) and totally loving. I’m 46 years old with no grandchildren yet so he’s my granddog. I also struggle with depression and for the past 2 weeks, panic attacks at work. They are gradually getting better.

  869. We celebrated our family birthday (some folks call it a famiversary) this past weekend. On April 4, 2003, my husband and I adopted our two sons. Twelve years later, they are still alive and don’t totally hate us. WIN!

  870. Spring is finally coming to Connecticut and I made it through this winter without putting my house up for sale! BTW, sorry to hear about your blues. We all have them. You’ll get through it.

  871. This is such a positive comment thread! Congrats on all your victories Jenny (and everyone).

    My most recent victory: I bought a bicycle! This was supposed to happen two years ago for my birthday, but shortly after my birthday I was in a crappy car accident, and then back in the hospital for other related medical issues shortly after. I finally bought my birthday bike! happy dance

    You’re on Instagram?! How exciting; my cats are following you now – don’t worry, they don’t beg much, but they do like to get underfoot at the most inconvenient times always (they aren’t on Twitter much anymore – look for ‘bax’… ).

  872. I will have the honor of officiating my friends’ wedding this summer. I officiate lots of weddings, but it’s extra special when I get to do this for people I love.

    Also, I’ve preordered a very cool book due out in September. Maybe you’ve heard of it.

  873. I had a baby last week. The pregnancy was awful, the labor didn’t go as planned, I was in crippling pain for ages and didn’t progress at all, had to have an epidural (which I was terrified of) and a huge episiotimy which made me lose a ton of blood and made me ill. But my little boy is amazing and perfect, and the hospital staff were so positive and supportive that I’m so much happier with how things went down and felt like I was supported and in control even in a less than ideal situation.
    And now I’m home with an amazing little boy who makes me furiously happy.

  874. My To-Be-Read shelf is overflowing with bookish goodness, and I have Friday afternoon off work for a massage and then I am going to go home and read with the help of my two wonderful cats, and the weather this weekend here in NC is going to be spectacular, not too hot and it will be sunny.

  875. I’m going to England next month for the first time! Super excited!

  876. Healthy family, job, home, good marriage. And you showed me the amazing life of stuffed squirrels. Also – Miss Dorothy is just WAY too cute for her own good. You are in trouble with that. 🙂

  877. I spent way too much money on a tree rose last year, which looked lovely in the summer and then died over the winter. I contacted the company, and they said they would send a replacement out this spring. It arrived yesterday, and I was seriously impressed. A big company actually came thru on their promise. And my manicure is holding on for now 11 days.

  878. Last night I received a plot in my local community garden! I’ve been on the wait-list in my city for years. When i finally got to see my plot, it had blooming daffodils and sprouting herbs already waiting for me! I could not be happier, and more thankful to the previous gardener for doing such a great job.

  880. I find that Boney M works best for me when I am in a funk…how can you not join in to “Daddy Cool” or “D..I..S..C..O”? The flip side is the kids go nuts…but they haven’t yet learned the therapeutic powers of disco music!

  881. I tweeted it to you so I could include an adorable picture, but I’m happy because my foster dog has a wonderful application on him! He’s going to meet his potential new family this weekend!

  883. OH! And I’ve hit at least 10,000 steps every day since Easter (including Easter) and Tuesday I managed to make 15,000 steps for the first time. 😀

  884. Okay, I’ve had an amazing adventure in South Africa this year. Despite the ups and downs I am feeling happy that I’ve had this experience. I am also happy to be going home in less than three weeks. I have almost finished my latest novel and I have finished all my Reiki training. Well, that felt good. What a great idea. ♥

  885. I just posted something complaining about crappy fashion choices and ranty rant rant. Not so positive.

    BUT:
    I got a new pair of glasses yesterday that make me feel nice, and are different that my past style of about 8 years. And I can see! Yay!

  886. Even though the national media are hell-bent on vilifying cops, I’m proud of peace officers like my husband. Even after 10 years of doing this crappy job, he still believes he can save the human race from itself. He has to see and deal with the worst our society has to offer AND he keeps doing the job without being broken down. I know I’m not that strong.

    I’m proud of my 3 kids. They are so strong and smart. Unlike their shy, anxious mother, they are so fearless and are natural leaders. They keep my faith in humanity alive.

    Last, but not least, I’m proud of all you guys on here! So many people who are strong enough to overcome their myriad of struggles. You peeps are freaking amazing! Love y’all lots.

  887. I spent the day cooking with my husband and we didn’t want to kill each other even once!

  888. I’m a college senior on top of my homework for the first time since middle school and I LOVE IT. I’m going to a museum I’ve had on my list for years [even though I’m less than five miles away] this afternoon because I can finally relax.

  890. After spending almost 3 years in a job where I was unappreciated, I started a new job a month ago. I went to lunch with a coworker on Tuesday where she told me that she was surprised it took the Director of my department as long to hire me as she did since I was “clearly the best candidate” and my samples “were heads above the rest”. She finished by telling me this job was mine to lose during the interview process. It’s been years since I’ve received a compliment that glowing and sincere.

  891. We closed on our 5 acre farm in central Texas last week. My dream of Whanau Farm actually coming true!

  892. This song is my JAM right now and reminds me of your new book coming out!

    Hang in there! We love you, Jenny, and you are one of the people who keep me going!

  893. Our newly adopted 16 year old doesn’t understand love. She’s been home 6.5 months. We’ve been teaching her the 5 love languages and we’ve asked her to just observe and record when she sees love in any form happening between her 3 younger siblings (2 home since birth, 1 home since 18 mos) and the parents so she starts to recognize it.

    Bursting with joy this morning when she not only responded to the love of her brothers but expressed love to her sister. It’s slow and effortful, but she’s TRYING SO HARD and I’m extremely blessed.

  895. I got to interview for my dream job yesterday. Even if I don’t get it, that’s a stellar moment!! Plus I have an incredible job right now. And an awesome Husband. And you to read, which is an amazing gift all by itself. Thanks!

  897. You’re awesome and you inspire me to keep writing! I hope some day my blog will be featured on that long list of awesome blogs you have in that pink bar on the side of your page. 🙂

  898. I have a husband who loves me even when I’m on the throes of depression. I have good friends who love me and want me to be happy. I have 2 beautiful kitties to come home to each day.

  899. i got engaged! My great grandmother turned 99 on March 30th! I get to quit my crappy job soon! My dog lost 4lbs and only has 5 more lbs to go! I am giving up sugar! My garden is almost ready to harvest! You wrote a new book and I’m super excited to hear about it/can’t wait to read it!

  900. The speech team I coach qualified two students for the Minnesota state speech tournament for the first time in many, many years–and nearly qualified a third! We compete in the toughest section in the state, so this a real accomplishment for the students, and a reflection of their hard work.

    An my new kitchen floor is finally being installed.

  901. When you get overwhelmed with your situation, there are always options. We’ve been searching for additional options, and have been inundated with them. Now to pursue them and improve our lives! There are ALWAYS options. That concept gives me comfort.

  902. I just bought a new (used) van for $1700!
    It’s a 15 years old Honda Odyssey. YAY! No longer w/o a vehicle!

  903. We introduced our daughter to Tim Minchin (and Eddie Izzard) at an early age. Glad you’re doing the same! It helped make her the ornery character she is today. 🙂

  905. I have never dated before, but now, I have a man, sort of. We are still trying to figure out what we are doing, but I have someone to figure things out with. 🙂 And I think he has as much experience with dating as me. So a big thumbs up on that.

  906. I’ve been wearing a cast on my right arm for months now and when I was at the grocery store a man jumped out of line to help me to my car with my groceries! Thanks nice guy in Mukilteo!

  908. Your first book arrived at my door yesterday, all the way here in South Africa. Little leap of joy! 😀
    Can’t WAIT for your pre-ordered new one!
    THANK YOU, lady awesomeness!

  909. My freelancing career is taking off, and we’ve been out of debt for an entire year throws confetti

  910. I GOT MY STITCHES OUT!!! Sliced my hand while washing super sharp blender blades two Sundays ago and got the stitches out and it’s feeling amazzzzzzzing! Yippee for being able to use both hands again!
    ALSO, now my husband has agreed to always wash the blender so this doesn’t happen again. DOUBLE WIN!!

  913. Hi Jenny. I am sorry you are going through a hard time.
    I am currently proud of being very neat about things. Trying to keep everything organised even if they are tending towards chaos. So far so good. Of course I am not being extra hard on myself or anything. Just taking some extra time to do one thing (a little better) at a time.
    Also for once in my life, handed something over to the Boss that she liked the first draft of 🙂
    I kind of liked this exercise. You are awesome.

  914. I’ve had a job offer to work somewhere and make 2x what I do now. The best thing is that I will leave my current job with my abusive employers of 7 years, and will get to work part-time from home and see my kids more!! Finders crossed it all works out, my soul needs this!

  915. I’ve exercised and eaten right for three consecutive days. It may not sound like much but it’s a turning point for me. I can’t wait to weigh in next week.

  918. I’m actively taking steps to get out of my toxic gubmint job and start my own freelance writing business. And heeeeelarious blog. They aren’t mutually exclusive, after all. Oh the freedom; the freedom to succeed and fail and pick myself up again (and succeed some more) on my own merit is more exciting than when Disneyland is about to close, but the ride operators let you ride Space Mountain five times in a row anyway. Happy happy joy joy!

  920. My clothes dryer stopped working but who cares cause it’s only a $10 part AND we’re adopting another shelter dog this weekend. Yay for woofies!

  921. We have SNOWDROPS!!!!! & 1 crocus. The very first of the spring flowers, and you can only imagine how happy that makes us after a long winter. Of course, we still have large patches of snow too. We are in Ottawa, Canada, Zone 5a by Canadian standards. I think you would be zone 8 or 9.

  922. ummm how about the fact that your book comes out in September? I CANNOT wait!!! Also, Orange is the new Black will be back on in June! Lastly, I made it back from Vegas without shitting my pants this time…take that Dorothy Barker.

  923. I get to go see David Sedaris this Sunday with a good friend of mine that I haven’t hung out with in years. Would only be made better if you were on that stage too!

  925. I didn’t burst into tears when it snowed again yesterday! And I also did my taxes by myself!

  926. I transitioned and the happiness I felt then at finally living a genuine life still continues. Yes, it competes with a metric fuckton of daily negativity, but in the balance, I’m healthy physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally and the happiness that is now an innate component of who I am continues unabated despite it all.

    I think I’ve discovered perpetual motion or something: being happy makes me happy. All it takes is a trigger to start the process.

  927. I found out that one of my new neighbors is a bigger crazy dog lady than me, and that the half-dozen stray dogs that disappeared before I could rescue them are safely ensconced in her enormous fenced yard. So relieved when I saw them that I cried on the way to work.

  928. Last night, I had a horrible time with a scratched eyelid. Now, I don’t typically cry from pain. I just get mad that something would dare hurt me. This scratched eyelid business, though? It was so bad that I sobbed while trying to soothe the pain and discomfort with a cool shower. But this morning, after sleeping it off for nearly sixteen hours, I felt a LOT better. My eye occasionally tears up, my eyelid is swollen, and my eye is red – I keep thinking of “The Tell-tale Heart” every time I look in the mirror – but I definitely feel better. I want to call my entire family, one by one, and yell “I FEEL BETTER!” at each of them because holy crap. Today is so much better than yesterday.

  929. My sweet, beautiful baby girl turns three weeks old today! Her hair is so soft and it smells so good. Also I finally finished her 3-year-old big sister’s baby book today, only took 3 friggin years, nbd…

  930. I got sunglasses recently, for the first time in a long time. I feel like a terminator.

  931. I have gained enough confidence in not sewing my fingers together to try to sew clothing for me instead of just for my greyhounds. Also, I get to help 2 families choose their new greyhound family members this weekend, AND I have coconut cake in the fridge. Some days, life doesn’t suck so bad. 🙂

  932. My 16yr old jack russell terrier is celebrating her half birthday this week, making her 16.5yrs old and she is spry and alert and full of life and love. This makes me very happy. And congrats on Dorothy Barker peeing outside more than inside, in no time at all, it’s be almost (no dog is ever completely housebroken, right? Or is that just mine?) all the time! 🙂

  935. Monday I started a new job that included a 15% raise. I didn’t apply for this new job, it was created for and offered to me specifically because the management where I work knows how valuable I am and there were a couple of months of negotiations behind the scenes about how best to use my skills before I ever found out about any of it.

  936. The load of bee-safe seeds I ordered arrived! Flowers, lettuce, kale chard and bigass sunflowers. BIGass. I can’t wait.

  937. I was able to put my grief on the shelf long enough to go support a friend in the midst of depression even though she was not very supportive of me when I was going through my own depression. I’m proud of myself for being able to be kind even when I felt like yelling and throwing a fit.

  938. I get to go back to school! Working toward my goal of becomng a nurse practitiner!Classes start Monday!

  939. I got approved for a loan for a new (to me) car, so that we could retire the 25 year old one with no safety features, and parts that were perpetually at risk of flying off if we drove over 20 mph, which almost wasn’t a problem anymore, because it could barely get up to speed. I just bought a 2013 Impreza which drives absolutely nothing like a county fair ride assembled by a meth-head.

    Also, my house is super clean and almost totally organized.

  940. I just signed a book contract with an academic press (my first book – turning my dissertation into something a few more people might read – yay! I am OVER THE MOON, and totally overwhelmed by the whole project!)

  941. We saw twin lambs being born today, right in front of us, which made my 8-year-old daughter go ‘ahhhhhh’ involuntarily, and that made me smile. We also got to scratch pigs and piglets for ages, while they told us just how happy they were being scratched and my children told me how much they liked pigs. It was just lovely. xx

  943. My rat still loves me even though I can’t make her cancer go away.

  944. My husband’s follow-up CT scan came back clear last week. His cancer remains in remission! (He was diagnosed two years ago this Saturday, right before our third child was born.) I can’t even type that without tearing up.

  945. My husband’s follow-up CT scan came back clear last week. His cancer remains in remission! (He was diagnosed two years ago this Saturday, right before our third child was born.) I can’t even type that without tearing up.

  946. A few weeks ago I was asked to be the photographer at a Lunch with the Easter Bunny fundraiser. The benefit was for a little girl with Leukemia.

    I’d never taken portraits before let alone of children on the Easter Bunny’s lap. I never wanted to do well at something as much as I wanted to do well at this. People were paying money to help a sick little girl and I didn’t want to let anyone down.

    In the 2 weeks I had before the event I bought a flash, an extra camera battery, and practiced like my life depended on it. The day came and I took 76 photos. Of those 76, 73 were perfect and the 3 that weren’t perfect weren’t anything people couldn’t live with. I’ve never been happier, more relieved, or prouder than I was at the end of the day that no one went home unhappy with their photos and that I helped raise money for a sick little girl

    It was exhilarating to learn how to do something new under pressure and then do it well under pressure all while helping a family in need.

  947. I just took my six year old son on a cruise for five days, just the two of us. Like you, travel is one of my major anxiety triggers. Not only did I not have any major anxiety issues, I had a fantastic time and so did he.

  948. My husband’s bypass surgery went well, and I stll have him here with me.

  949. We are finally in a place where we can buy a house and we found one I love. It needs a lot of work, but I think we can do a lot of it ourselves is we can afford for the ones we can’t do ourselves to be rolled into the mortgage. It has a sun room that was done fairly well, a room that can be a craft room and a formal dining room big enough for a pool table, plus plenty of room for the 4 of us, 2 cats and maybe a dog in a little while. We are supposed to close May 5th. Half the time I want to jump up and down, the other half I need to breathe into a paper bag.

  950. After being out of work for nearly 8 months, my husband finally got a job! We will hopefully be out of the hell-hole we are living in soon! Well, that’s provided we can save our car and storage unit containing 99% of our possessions first.

  951. Stepped on the scale…and I passed the 40 pounds lost barrier! Still more to go but yay me!

  952. My wonderful friend, who has breast cancer that metastasized to her liver, told me her last scans showed the spots on her liver are almost completely gone. I cried.

  953. My partner and I adopted a 3yo puppy, named her Whisky, and are celebrating 3 weeks with her. She is the best most amazing dog (no offense Dorothy Barker!) and we love her to bits!
    My one year anniversary is coming up with my partner, and we’re excited to do something special together.
    My mother has been mad at me for almost a whole year, and while we’ve texted and even met once to introduce her to my gf, she stopped calling me once she got angry. She called me for the first time in 10 months, 2 weeks. It was nice.
    My little brother is moving in with us in about a month and will finally let me help him get his life back together after a lot of personal pain and set backs. <3

  954. My roommate unexpectedly cooked dinner for me and it was actually EDIBLE!!! It’s like a miracle.

  957. One of my college kids was having an awful day and chose not only to share it with me but when texted from another friend to hang out chose to stay at the coffee shop with me for a few hours instead.

  959. I am wearing a dress that looks like a ladybug today. It is my state’s official bug. I’m feeling patriotic.

  960. My Good Thing:
    After a 10 year wait, my own book was finally launched as an eBook on Amazon last January! This is the year I became a Published Author, after a decade of apprehension and fear of rejection kept me from stepping forward.
    In reality it is still a double edged sword, lifted proudly in this moment to glint in the sunshine. Sales, public response, and general acceptance into ‘authorly type’ circles is not there yet, leaving me to linger at the shadowy edge of confidence and despair, but I can see light ahead with the two gleaming 5 ✰ reviews it has received so far! As well, just over 100 copes have been downloaded during two free promo events, so super jazzed that anyone would even want to read it! Would love to gift you a copy for further bed time story adventures 🙂

    Being an Author is a tough gig any way you look at it. I’m empresses that you would embark on such a venture. It is further proof that you are a strong individual; far stronger than the demons that linger in wait within your darkness. Battle on Bloggess- The world has embraced you, and that is half the battle won!

    KJ Folk
    (Can find my on Twitter @1_Bored_Monkey if you would like that copy 🙂

  961. My third-grader cut his hair in class yesterday, and I was all prepared to be upset about it, but then I noticed how much better it looks. Now I’m thinking of waiting until his older brother is asleep and sneaking him in to cut his hair, too.

  962. Happy things:
    1. I went for my first walk in months(I’ve been having health things)
    2. and on my walk at the lake I saw
    a. red winged blackbirds for the first time and heard their mating calls
    b. turtles, many TURTLES, one the size of a dinner plate
    c. a really cool, I swear, small bush sized growth of mushrooms (they were SO COOL)
    d. and a tree full of caterpillars
    3. I bought a Groupon a while back for Barnes & Nobles ebooks, which I had forgotten about, and used it today to preorder your book which I thought I wasn’t going to be able to afford. I happy danced all over the place when I remembered that Groupon!

  963. I accidentally adopted two sweet dog-heads in my first semester of nursing school. They are the sweetest and are in a better place and it is all happiness! Also – aced my last pharmacology and pathophysiology test!

    P.S. Already pre-ordered your book, I am SO EXCITED FOR SEPTEMBER!

  964. Things that make me happy: your blog, your book, knowing there’s another on the way. Also,
    I’ve been married 30+ years and, in spite of my husband knowing me exceptionally well, he still likes me. I’ve got a really cool son that still likes seeing us. I embraced the idea of becoming an artist after reaching the age of 60 and people are responding well. Actually sold some pieces. Still a mass of insecurities, but logically understand there’s much to be grateful for!

  965. Making a new friend out of an old acquaintance, and helping give her a safe space via the online support group I run. <3

  966. Today while on my lunch walk (which started late) I laughed so hard I was crying as I was trying to walk…. because I was reading the HR chapter of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. “COME IN, CHUCK!” still cracks me up every time I read it. 🙂

  967. I just got to snuggle my friend’s newborn twin girls! So cute and sweet! Snuggling babies just makes me relax and remind of all the good in the world!

    Something that I’m proud of…. I finally sought out official diagnosis and treatment of my ADHD, Depression and Anxiety. I thought it would crush me to get the results, but actually cried on the way home, because of the relief that I really am not just crazy, stupid or lazy… that there really is something wrong with my brain and body. And I am thankful for a supportive provider who did an excellent job of presenting treatment options, discussing and weighing the side effects and pros and cons of them, and also was open to researching something she had never heard about… Pyroluria, which the more I research, the more convinced is the source of many of my issues. Hubby and I had a LONG heart to heart talk last night as we discussed all the different options, and it was wonderful to realize he finally understood and was on my side and was willing to go to bat for me and help me heal my body and be in it for the long haul instead of just a quick fix. It’s been more than a four year long journey to get to the point of finally getting to the doctor, and for the first time I have hope that things will actually get better in our family.

  968. I’m finally able to run a mile for the first time since I got whooping cough 3 years ago. Before I was sick I was an avid runner, but my lungs were so messed up after that it’s taken years for me to build them back up. Now I’m running every night like I used to.

  969. two good things happened for me… on sunday, someone i loved and cared about, but hadn’t heard from in 20+ years called out of the blue.. and it was really great to hear his voice again. then, today, i watched as one of my students, who has a pretty tough home life, was taking a ‘safe school survey’ in which students are asked how they feel about their school. he spontaneously added that he ‘loved his school, felt happy there, and felt safe with his teachers (including naming me)- he felt he could trust us and tell us anything.’ that’s what we want to hear- and he knows i’ve got his back.

  970. My giant crush that I’ve had for about a year has admitted she has a crush on me.
    And I came out as genderfluid to my dad. He has immediately started using the right pronouns.

  971. Seeing our 8 month puppy stick his nose on the kitchen floor for a minute. He was not sniffing, was not licking, just stood there for a couple minutes with his nose stuck to the floor. When I started staring at him, he had this “what? What else am I gonna do?” look on his face.

  973. My 13yo daughter just got back from NY/DC on a spring break school trip, saw Matilda on Broadway and LOVED it. Hope yours loves it just as much.

  974. When I was 10 years old I borrowed a book about New York City from my local library and spent the next two weeks reading it again and again. I don’t quite know why it captured me the way it did, but I resolved that I would see that magnificent city with my own eyes as soon as I possibly could. It’s been twenty years since I returned the book and I’ve been dreaming of going to New York ever since.
    Last night I bought myself a plane ticket to New York. And then I cried many happy tears.

  975. I thought I’d lost contact with an old friend, but he’s talking to me again, and it’s all good. We are complete and total opposites, but we still have fun sparring with each other instead of fighting. Nobody makes me laugh like that man.

  976. Discovered that my favorite bread bakery opened a cafe! Went to buy bread and got a strawberry scone and flourless chocolate walnut cookies as well. Yummy.

  977. I recently started painting again…and I’m really really really pleased with what I’m doing. I shall attempt to attach a photo. I can’t figure out how to do it. But it’s a painting of roses…and it looks like roses!

  978. I have a job. When I feel like my depression is drowning me inside my head I have people who will be there for me. I’m going to school and in the fall I start my bachelor’s degree. I know that regardless of how I feel, I can keep walking forward… and with every step I am beating my mental disease!

  979. Ten years ago, I got talked into chipping in some money to throw a 40th bday party for a guy I had just started dating. Today, I booked a private auto museum to throw this same guy, now my adoring hubby, a 50th birthday party.

  981. Laughed super hard with my boys about how I farted while bringing out my youngest child’s birthday cake. 🙂

  982. We got chickens during Spring Break. Those hens & that rooster make me smile every day! They are so awesome. Who knew watching chickens could be so entertaining? Or letting the kids pick 8 names. (We can tell all 8 apart, so of course, they all needed names….one of them IS Beyoncé.)

  983. Two months ago I pulled my car over and picked up a filthy, emaciated, abandoned puppy from the side of a busy road. The vet said it wasn’t a single day too soon.

    Today she is healthy, happy, playful, and loved…and ridiculously adorable. I don’t really believe in fate, but someone was looking out for her that day. Sometimes good things just happen.

  984. A while ago I asked you to make the Harold mugs for me…. Remember?

    I gave one of them to a college graduate as a thank you for all of the good work and support she has given me. I told her to use it when she was dealing with job hunting and so forth, and to remember how far she has come. She practically cried. I got hugs. She really, really needed that.

    Perfect art made by you Jenny Lawson, in support of exceptional young people that will make this world a better place if they just get a little help.

    Thank you.

  985. When I need to smile or bring up my sass in the morning, I drink from my Beyonce/Knock Knock mug. If I am anxious in the night, (and I really effing was during chemo) I sometimes re-re-read your first book. Can’t wait for the next one.

    Happy news: on Thanksgiving of this year, I’ll officially be released from the oncologist’s care.

  986. I got into graduate school! 😀 I panicked and bailed last year, but I applied this year and I got in! Boyfriend and I are moving to a new city, and I’m so excited!

  988. My niece loves me. She is my ex-husband’s brother’s daughter. And she loves me despite a hideous divorce. Life is really good because of the people who love you no matter what.

  989. I enjoyed a full-day of baby hugs because our adoption came through. Doesn’t get any better than that. So in love with our little man.

  990. My good news? 1) it’s Spring Break — woohoo! 2) I made it through Palm Sunday, when my sweet baby girl was born straight to heaven last year 3) Today I made it to 24 weeks pregnant with my rainbow baby, which means baby could survive outside the womb now (though I hope and pray she stays put for at least 10 more weeks) and she is healthy and strong and kicking up a storm tonight.

  991. My daughter got into the top art school in the country. I haven’t even put in on FB cuz I don’t want to brag, but I’m so proud of her. She’s worked so hard. And she’s such an awesome kid too, most of the time.

  992. I got the courage to actually drive over the Golden Gate Bridge during my birthday trip this past weekend. I felt so powerful, I almost cried! So silly! And last summer I got to see Denali, in person, and it was indescribable. I’m so happy that for the first time in my life, I’ve got the money and time to travel when I want to. But mostly I am relieved that I don’t have to go back to my big girl job of being a CPS prosecutor just yet, because it was killing my spirit.

  993. I’m a single mom, working retail, and homeschooling. My two teen boys are my everything. When my work schedule allows, my 14 year old and I love to sit and watch movies or our tv shows together in the evening. Tonight, we watched the absolutely beautiful “Song of the Sea”. It is now my new favorite movie. Simply full of love and magic.Spending the evening sharing such a piece of art with my son was the same.

  994. As my Grandpa used to say, ” You woke up on the upside of the turf…what the Sam Hell do you have to complain about”…a really bad depression lie week (month, really) so I am going with it!
    Also, less pee in the house it reason for a wine night!

  995. Yesterday, a friend helped me crack more of the mysteries of this German website I have to use to apply for teaching jobs. We’re almost done now! ( this has been a very long, complicated process) Also, the German tech support guy, rather than being officious was friendly and prepared to help and even chuckled at my charming foreignness

  996. A few weeks ago you shared some kind words with me while my newborn was in the hospital for heart surgery. Little reminders that we would be ok helped me through a really challenging time for our family. I am SO HAPPY to tell you that baby Sam is now HOME and doing really, really well!!!

  997. On my birthday (4/7), I thought I was having a stroke, so I went to a hospital that specializes in strokes and got a CAT scan and MRI. This might not sound like good news . . . BUT! I was diagnosed with complex migraines, which are headaches that mimic stroke symptoms. This means no blood clot in my brain, no brain surgery, no future risk of stroke, and I got discharged the same day I went in! I am FURIOUSLY HAPPY that my best-case scenario came true!!!

  998. After 30 years of a “just ok” life in a cookie cutter suburb we jettisoned our piles of excess everything to move across country to an magically beautiful island. I am grateful for every minute of every day since. Life is calmer, more filled with nature and joy. My son is at a nearby college growing happy and confident (not to mention more employable). I’m also pretty grateful for you and this blog, because the comments remind me why finding the best parts of life is always worth pushing the negative noise aside.

  999. I am not/cannot take credit for it; just thought it was appropriate for the topic and I know it made me feel good: Viola Davis was quoted as saying “One thing that is missing from the vision boards is what happens when you don’t get what you want. Your ability to adapt to failure, and navigate your way out of it, absolutely 100 percent makes you who you are.”

  1000. I made successfully fluffy pancakes for the first time! (the last few batches always ended up flat and lumpy) And my brother the chef said they were okay. Woohoo!

  1001. I defended my master’s thesis on Monday and passed without revisions. I’m only the second student to pass without revisions in program history. I am THE BEST.

  1003. Reading all these happy posts has been awesome! We had a “come to Jesus” talk with our surly teen and he’s been at least 50% nicer. I’ll totally take it.

  1004. I’m going camping with my son’s boy scout troop this weekend. I love doing this because I get to live simply in my little tent that feels like my cocoon. Relaxing, safe, cozy. Also, I started seeing a therapist a couple of months ago for anxiety related to specific situations and after the first in vivo practice with her, I started conquering the world again 🙂

  1005. I have a new niece! She is one week and 2 days old and i want to eat her face off she’s so cute and tiny! My heart is full of love!

  1007. I am a volunteer with Women Organized Against Rape, we have an annual march/rally during April (sexual assault awareness month), this year my team of marchers is at 34 and we are almost at our fundraising goal of $1000 !!!!!! Our Team will be epic this year !! This makes me ridiculously happy.

  1009. Haha – I had to do the email trick, so very annoying of WordPress!
    Anyways – good news.
    As of this month i’ve been blogging for two years which has been my longest personal commitment outside of my relationship aaaand despite not having a job for the past month and a bit I haven’t given up yet! xx

  1010. I just preordered your new book which becomes available on my birthday. So of course I will be telling people it’s your gift to me, which, in a way, it is.

    Thank you in advance!

  1011. I was supposed to be helping my son with his math homework, but then he ended up figuring it out and explaining it to me and then we both understood it. It was awesome.

  1012. My kids still love me, my long-suffering wife continues to suffer my foolishness gladly, and the cat still prefers my lap.

  1013. I didn’t kill my kid today when he told me he hated me. So, there’s that.

  1014. I got a job last week. It’s only part-time and temporary, but it’s my first real step out of the quagmire of craziness I’ve been in for the past two years since I graduated from law school. Last week also marked my third month off Zanax after being on it for a little more than a year. I am slowly but surely getting myself back and you will too. You can’t know how religiously I read and check this blog. It got me through two years of grossness. You’re amazing and wonderful. Completely unique and 150% not alone. Thank you.

  1015. My 2.5 yr. old love to sing the song Up Town Funk. But his version sounds like Uptown F-U up, lol….. Makes me LMAO every time!

  1018. I did NOT quit school last week, even though I was really sick, we had to move and I couldn’t find my underwear, the Internet guy didn’t show up and I had a paper due that could not be written on my so-called “smart” phone. I somehow found the moxie to take my sick self into the office at 10pm and wrote my paper even though the building has no heat on the weekends, and submitted it with 20 minutes to spare. I didn’t proofread it or spellcheck it, but I didn’t quit either. I’m rather proud of that. That’s a great moment when you realize that being tired beyond belief, sick as an exorcist movie, no internet and no heat does not stop you. That you can persevere is a remarkable thing. I take it back…I’m very, VERY proud of that.

  1019. I had the week off from work and life slowed down. And it is sooooo nice. 🙂

  1021. I am reading your blog again. I have started blogging again myself.
    I think I finally touched on what was causing my 8 month numbness bad mother, bad business owner, bad life do-er meltdown. I never allowed myself to grieve my grandfathers death.
    What’s great about this is that I willingly chose to put my feelings aside and for FUCKING 8 months i was able to religiously choose this. It wasn’t a good choice but the mere fact that I have that much drive and determination means I can be just as determined to get out of this rut and start FEELING again.
    Wohoo.
    p.s. you’re awesome and I know you often hear but we all need to hear how amazing you are and what a difference you make so thank you.
    Keep being you.

  1022. I was afraid I lost all my photos from my study abroad in London, BUT they are all saved! I also wrote the beginning of a chapter and I love it so much, and I have beautiful blossoms from our apple tree in vases around the house. Knee surgery will not get me down today!

  1023. I just got back from a vacation to see work friends, I retired 9 years ago, and it was absolutely wonderful. These are people that have seen me at my best and worst, and love me anyway. I had people in the halls walk up to hug me, and I couldn’t remember their first names (oops). I’m sure if I still lived there they wouldn’t care, but it was very touching. Also, I was an honored guest at a retirement ceremony, and yup, fell down when getting to my seat. Knew you would laugh over that one. I’ve fallen in that auditorium, in that spot before! LOL

  1024. Well, everything in my life right now is a bunch of stupid drama-filled women being mean to me, no matter which way I look, and I’m drowning in the BS, BUT my happy places I made up to go to in my head are:

    I love to think about my epidural when I had kids. I imagine that moment when I was in so much pain and it ALL disappeared pretty instantly once that needle was inserted in my spine. I’ve been rubbing that spot for luck.
    I think about Jesus ripping himself off the cross like Terry Crews in an Old Spice commercial, and then he picks me up and carries me to a beach so we can make one set of footprints in the sand and have a martini.

  1025. I planted a magnolia tree in my front yard. It has one dark purple flower. I love it. I look forward to when it’s big and I’m old. (Right now it’s tiny and I am not super old.)

  1026. So I’m slowly making my way through these comments. Thank you, Jenny and everyone who has commented. I’ve been depressed and my father now is becoming very week after many many health struggles so while the thought of losing him perhaps soon, it’s just a hard time. But many years ago we were estranged so the good thing is that we were able to have time together, to forgive each other, so despite my heartache there is something good to be found here.

    And I found the perfect headquarters for the church of Bloggessenianism. Maybe we can all pitch in and hold conferences there.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/news/8453915/For-sale-entire-medieval-Italian-village-for-485000.html

  1027. I got the new job position that I applied for and I’m so excited! I work for a great company and can’t wait to keep growing with them. Headed in the right direction 🙂
    I have also come to a point in my life where I am financially stable, comfortable in my own skin, and truly happy being single!
    Sending positive vibes your way Jenny, you always brighten my day!

  1028. Good thing today: This blog post, because I needed good messages today. I forget that community can comfort; so good to be reminded. Special thanks to the Anonymous who posted the Anne Lamott link. And the sun is shining, snow is melting. Yay!

  1029. I have the opportunity to see an ecstatic labradoodle with a stick bigger than his entire body grinning from ear to ear every day after work just before I turn onto the mad traffic that is my commute. Different stick every day but same goofy dog smile!

  1030. Laying on the floor under my quilt in progress seeing how the quilting is coming along without the actual quilt design in the way but still seeing the top through the back like a stained glass window is really rad.

  1032. My (as-yet-unpublished) first novel won second place in the Southwest Writers competition. I am paying off my own debts. I’m once again trying to change my eating habits for my health and to try to lose “that last 30 pounds” — not because I care what people think anymore, but because I care what I think.

  1033. ok, i’m a little late to the party, but here is my happy story. I started a part time – evening job and discovered my neighbor down the street works at the same place. I asked if her house was the one with the Roster on the sidewalk….it is! So of course I had to let her read the “Pick your battles” excerpt from the book. All of our coworkers gathered to take turns reading. I am the hit of my new part time job! Thanks Jenny!

  1034. THIS would be better as a video, but it’s a good story anyway about a cat that tried to walk on bubble-bath (Link to post attached to this comment).

  1035. I’m more than a couple days late posting this… but I quit smoking last Friday through the help of laser acupuncture and one of the ground rules the acupuncture professional laid out was to have no caffeine, alcohol or chocolate for 3-5 days after the first session to help the (no) nicotine withdrawals not reappear… I do believe I had my first experience in life that is probably remotely close to what many of you go through on a daily, hourly, minute by minute basis. By the next morning I was despondent – feeling fat, ugly, and unable to leave my house to go to work. I did… but I was ANGRY and then bawling all the way (ten minutes) to work. I struggled to deal with people (bartender) and not break into tears when anyone spoke to me and by the end of the day I was snapping at everyone and feeling out of control. I left a perfectly nice grilled ribeye first fire of the season night with friends to go home and be alone with my cat – and see if drinking caffeine would help – because I didn’t feel like I could even be around people without breaking down emotionally, or lashing out. And thankfully, caffeine helped. Half a can and half an hour later I felt back to normal enough to go get screws for the toilet seat that had broken that morning so I could fix it so I wouldn’t kill myself sliding off the broken toilet seat in the middle of the night or ‘fall in’ (you ladies know what I mean). So Thank You Jenny – for being there (here) and for letting me have a forum to share my goodness – which is…. I am three days smoke-free and have no cravings (now that I got past the caffeine issue). Yay Me! Tomorrow is the fourth day of the the rest of my smoke-free life! And I can’t wait until that morning in September when my Kindle tells me it has downloaded Furiously Happy! Yay!

  1036. This blog post makes me happy. What wonderful list of heart-warming news from SO MANY people! We need this in a negative world. You Rock!! My most favorite ever.

  1037. I want to leave something happy, but I can’t. And it’s STUPID because my life is awesome and all I can do is sit here at my desk and cry, while working at a company that is amazing, while being married to man who adores me, while living in a beautiful house and having plenty of food, and stupid silly dogs and all I can do is sit here and want to die. I’m so sorry, I know you asked for happy. I’m happy I haven’t upset my husband by killing myself today.

    (That, my friend, is depression. I’m emailing you. Keep breathing. You deserve to be happy. ~ Jenny)

  1038. The daffodils are blooming — finally, after a horrible LOOOONG winter. And I’m going to London next week, on the company’s dime, and I do NOT have back-to-back meetings scheduled so just maybe I’ll have a minute or two to enjoy the city.

  1040. For my birthday I took myself to the zoo this weekend. I had wanted to go forever, but I live in a rather remote place, so it was a three day trip with a hotel and everything. I had such a great time, I swear you’d think I turned 8 instead of 45. 😉

  1041. I’ve been off and on a high raw vegan diet for about 3 years now. I’ve stopped beating myself up so badly when I slip up on the program foods or just plain cheat. I’m learning to be patient with myself. I have a lot of blessings and much to be thankful for. I think eating this way helps me stay optimistic and avoid “the dark side”.

  1044. How the hell do you keep up with all these comments? Here goes: I’m cheating, for I’ve done these things after your post… Friday, April 10th, I went to a NAMI Advocacy training (I left my couch. I left my house. I met with and talked to real live people, in the flesh.). Saturday, April 11th, I did my parents’ income taxes, which meant that I DROVE one hour to and one hour from their house in between which I managed to help them. And, I didn’t even come close to falling asleep at the wheel, even though I was exhausted after my hard work. Sunday, April 12th, I finished OUR income taxes, which I had been working on, but still had to dig through a box of papers which I have neglected filing over the past year. Tax season is my paper filing catch up season. The papers are neatly in folders in yet another box. Who knows when they’ll crawl down the hall from our bedroom into our filing cabinet. Enough done for now.

  1045. I recently reunited with my daughter after 5 years of estrangement due to her clueless father and wicked, sociopathic step-monster.

  1046. MATILDA! You are the greatest parents ever. I’m 23 and loved Matilda, book and movie, as a kid-I got the musical’s soundtrack from my public library, put the entire thing in my iPod, and listen to Revolting Children on infinite repeat when I’m feeling down, because it is the greatest song.

  1047. Well ive had plenty of fails this week so I suppose its time for a win isnt it? Im finally getting off overnights, i cleaned most of my bedroom, and i (for the most part) figured out how im going to manage to make my two foot toothless doll poseable. Nothing big but im proud.

  1048. My family has decided to adopt a dig. We figure its a good way to teach my seven year old about having compassion and empathy for all living things. I would rather adopt a cat, but I will probably fall head over heels for a dog.

  1049. I’m proud of my little sister. She’s in the UK production of Matilda….

  1051. I’m starting nursing school. I’m terrified, cause I already have one degree I’m not using, but…I’m doing it anyway. And I’m going to kick its ass.

  1052. This post is old but…I’ve got one! Next Friday, May 15, I will graduate from college. I’m a 38 year old newlywed mother of 4. When I started school, I was a 35 year old single mom. I’m graduating with honors and two degrees. I will finally be able to start counseling children of drug addicts…of which I was one and…I almost raised some. In addition to that, I’m going to be the first person in my family to ever graduate from college.

    Ya. Suck it, haters.

  1054. I know this is an old post, but I needed to see something positive today. So I started reading through old posts and saw this. So, something positive: after wrestling with anxiety for over two decades, I finally saw the doctor. I’d been diagnosed with social anxiety when I was thirteen (twenty years ago). However, over the last two years, I’ve had a whole array of random mysterious symptoms. My anxiety kept me from going to the doctor – what if she thought I was crazy or just making things up trying to get drugs? (I live in Flint, Michigan, so that scenario is actually fairly plausible.) However, after I went from 156 lbs down to 99 lbs with absolutely no idea why, I finally listened to my mom and my fiancé and went to the doctor. My diagnosis so far is severe general anxiety disorder. I’ve been on medication since Tuesday – something called trazodone. It makes me kinda sleepy, but I feel like it’s already starting to help a little. I’ve been reading this blog for years because you are so very open about your anxiety, and I always wished I didn’t feel such shame regarding mine. But, I’m starting to realize that it’s okay for me to have problems. I’m too easy on other people and too hard on myself, and thanks to you and my doctor, I think I might finally be able to be kinder to me. Thank you so much, Jenny. <3 from Flint, Michigan.

  1055. You’re probably going to see this and think “why is some weirdo replying to a post years old about happiness?” – Well this weirdo re-reads your blog when she needs to feel like part of a community, or feel better, or to just stop having a pity party for myself. So here is my happy thing, after years of not knowing what is wrong with me i’ve had a breakthrough. It’s grief. Grief is what makes me feel dark and scary, it’s something i’ve never learned to process, or allow to be part of my whole being, just something i’ve let hang out on my back and clonk me on the head every once in a while. Now that I know whats wrong, I can start to unpack that and heal. To me, that is happy…happiness is a path to getting better.

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Beautiful Writers book: Writers! This coming-of-career memoir (w/ the BEST advice from celeb authors, real shit you haven’t heard) is life. A page-turning beach read doubling as how-to. #Magic

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Where Do I Belong? A memoir of Sarah Carrington: The unbelievable story of growing up in a religious cult in the mountains of Northern British Columbia. What happens to you in life doesn’t make you strong; rising above it does.

CONNECTED: A Personal Journal for Ketamine Therapy Created by writer & patient Katherine Davis for this powerful clinical treatment. If considering ketamine for major depression, check out this essential tool.

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