What makes you happy.? I don’t know about you, but there are quite a few things that make me happy. I’m going to start this post mostly talking about fashion and shopping, but I am also going to go a lot deeper into happiness or at least perceived happiness.

What makes me happy is being able to find great items at the thrift store, usually the Goodwill. The ultimate finds for me are like a great new pair of shoes or something know that I have not yet heard of. I love to find something that is very unique and not going to be worn by the masses. Please don’t get me wrong I am just like most of society in that I do like to wear particular name brands which are social norms, but I also like to have plenty of things that I know I am going to be the only one wearing this or that.

On the simplest of terms, what makes me happy is putting on a good pair of UGG’s house shoes with no socks and just feeling the warmth of the lining on my feet, OMG is there a better feeling on your feet. I highly doubt it, lol. In another simple form, what makes me happy is to find a good book that can teach me some things that I don’t know and give me a new perspective, which can lead to big momentum shifts. This year of 2024, I have read five books already and I am halfway through the sixth book, and it is only the 3rd month of the year.

If you had asked me while I was younger, I would have had a much different answer about books making me happy. I remember when I was younger and there were contests to get free things for reading books and I would skim through the book enough to answer any questions I might need to so I could collect the prize, but there was no joy in it at all for me other than the prize. In a way, looking back maybe the incentivized reading programs are what lead to me becoming a happy reader, but that is still up for debate.

Something else that makes me happy is great smells. I’m sure some will agree that there are just certain smells that make our brains and hearts happy. Maybe it triggers a memory or something I’m not for sure, but what I do know is that there are some smells that as soon as I smell them it just this rush of endorphins and excitement. I know some of you right now are having a bit of this rush come to you as you think about some of your favorite scents.

Staying with the scents, I recently found a bottle of Perry Ellis White 360 for Men which is honestly super hard to find, or at least in my experience it is, but anyways it is probably my number 1 favorite cologne that I have ever owned, Mont Blanc Presence is probably my number 2 or vice versa. I also recently found a very high-end luxury laundry and household scent by Tyler Candle company, which is “Diva”, wow what a smell, absolutely mind blowing. For some, the smell of baked goods might do it for them and for others it may be the smell of a cigar or something that brings back a favorite childhood memory which brings a bit of happiness and joy.

Another thing that has been making me really happy recently is being able to find a person in need that is living on the street and giving them some money or buying them something to eat and drink. Personally, having been homeless before, I don’t recommend giving the homeless individual money and trusting they will use for food, or clothing, or shelter. Rather, I would recommend that you maybe buy them a warm meal or some snacks, or some water or Gatorade during the Summer, socks, and other basic essentials. These things may not always be what they want, but they are what they need which is generally more important.

The happiness that comes from giving to others is much longer lasting than when I do something for myself like buying myself my favorite hat or shoes or hoodies. From experience, I know the feeling that I got when I was on the receiving end of some strangers’ generosity, so I know that when I give to someone in need, they are feeling a similar amazing feeling of joy and hopefully gratitude. I don’t give just to feel good; I give when I actually see and feel there is a need that I can meet, and I am suddenly compelled in the moment. There have been times when I have planned to take out bags of food and or clothing to give away, but truthfully the spontaneity of giving at a moment’s notice without being asked, but just feeling that nudge from the universe, this is a great feeling of happiness.

These are a few of the things that make me happy, but what makes you happy? Hopefully some of the things that make you happy are similar to the things that make me happy, but hopefully different and unique to you and your situation as well. What makes you happy might have something to do with your kids or your career. What makes you happy may be taking a hike out in nature or maybe even living in the hustle and bustle of the New York City lifestyle. I can’t say what makes you happy only you can define happiness for yourself, but what I can say is that I hope there are several things that make you happy to varying degrees.

Take a little time today to think about what truly makes you happy and then set aside some time in your day to enjoy life and enjoy the things that make you happy.

As always get out there and plant some seeds and I assure you that you will start bearing fruit like never before.

-Founder Magbunga.com