It was that one day in September.
Platters of glorious food carefully placed around the room by the incredible hostess.
The gentle clink, clink as wine glasses were refilled and more beer was pulled from the fridge.
Attention in the room suddenly shifted to the reason we had gathered, all eyes were on the TV.
We were watching the AFL Football Grand Final.
The game was nearing the end and as the final siren went I watched image after image fill the screen.
Uninhibited displays of happiness by the winning players.
So much more than smiles on faces, they had electricity pumping through their veins requiring a big outlet. Their bodies contorted and twisted into dance moves and star jumps. Exhausted men now jumping into the air, with fist pumps. Their voices in a constant state of yelling.
For most this was the moment they had been working toward since childhood. They had just played in a premiership team and nothing else mattered. Their body’s so charged with the most incredibly, intense feelings of happiness that no other feelings can exist. Even the basic physiological feelings subsided to make way for this torrent of happiness to surge through to every cell in the body. Hunger, thirst, pain, tiredness all gone for now.
As we all watched on I asked this question of the group and I have asked myself this question several times since.
When in your life have you felt such intense happiness?
Happiness that has the power to take over your actions, that has your skin tingling and leaves you wanting to burst out from its confines. Happiness that feeds you, waters you , shelters you, happiness that has no room for worries.
Happiness that explodes like a firecracker, its brilliance so dazzlingly bright it cannot be sustained. Slowly fading and lingering, leaving behind a comfort a warmth and a memory.
I saw these pictures last week 28 Moments that Prove Dreams Do Come True
I saw in many of these photos and videos those same expressions, a happiness too strong to contain.
I noticed 3 factors contributing to the intensity of these happy moments.
1. The Unexpected
The element of surprise plays a huge role in achieving mind-blowing happiness.
Number 6. When the woman’s birthday wish came true with an unexpected visit.
Number 24. The guy making the half court basketball shot and the hug from his favourite player, hard to tell who was most happy.
2. An emotional investment
Number 2. The soldier seeing his child for the first time.
Number 18. The lady who found her cat 16 days after a storm destroyed her town, this would also be unexpected.
Number 10. The grooms seeing their brides for the first time.
3. The moment you recognise your long-held dream has become reality
Number 15. The NASA heroes landing their rovers on Mars.
Number 16. The swimmer winning his first gold medal in the Paralympics.
And of course our footballers who won their Grand Final that day.
To answer the question, when have I felt such intense happiness?
These distinct moments stand out for me
The time I was promoted to Store Manager, it was unexpected and was the result of many years of hard work. I remember feeling like I could not sit in my chair any longer as my boss reviewed my contract. I left the room and headed for the toilets to stand in a cubicle and fist pump the air. I had such a physical surge of energy I had to release it somehow while maintaining my professional composure.
My now husband proposing to me after 11 years together, completely unexpected and I rode this high for quite a while. Pinching myself over and over again for days to come.
The ultrasound that confirmed I had reached the second trimester with a healthy pregnancy after 4 miscarriages. My daughter would have felt a lovely surge of energy and a big Mumma hug in utero that day.
Take a moment now to think back, back to a time when have you felt incredible intense happiness? How does it feel? Where are you? How did you express yourself? Savour this, relive it, it is yours.
Share your story in comments below.
Enjoyed this happiness chat, there is more to come as I search the nooks and crannies of everyday life to unearth the happiness we all have waiting to be discovered.
Todays post was part of a very cool Be Happy Party link up. I could not resist a Be Happy Party.
I love all 3 of your happy moments!! 🙂 Especially your daughter! 🙂
I think my happiest moment was also getting engaged. We’d been together about 3 years, and we are getting married next year….which will probably be another happiest moment. 🙂
Kalee congratulations, enjoy the lead up to your wedding so much happiness tucked up in there.
Toe-curling happiness. I’m all for that. Whenever I eat my favorite foods, I get that same feeling.
Lets see…my wedding, the births of each of my four children would have to be the biggest. But also – the day my son earned his Tae Kwon Do black belt, the day Shutterstock accepted me as a contributor, and the day our family departed on a Disney cruise. On a smaller scale, I love watching my kids shine – academically and in sports, receiving surprises in the mail and eating dark chocolate sea salt caramels :). Loved this post Karen!!
Tressie so much happiness around you…..
I am so trilled Shutterstock have accepted you too and why wouldn’t they??
Ah well – several years prior I tried and was rejected 3 times. I gave up temporarily, worked on my skills and tried again this year and was accepted. With what I have learned I’m embarrassed of what I submitted prior LOL but now I feel like I have arrived 🙂
I remember a moment during my first teaching contract. I stood in front of my class looking at the sea of eager Year 2 kids. I remember thinking that if it all ended then and there, I had done it! Achieved “fist pumping” happiness. Your words were a reminder. Thanks Karen.
Oh Annette, so glad you gained a moment to relive that happiness
Moments of happiness for me? Like you – seeing that ultrasound pic of a healthy, peanut sized baby and hearing “everything’s perfect” – this after just one miscarriage. Can’t imagine 4. Bless you. Another happiness snapshot would be learning I’d been accepted to the acting class in first year uni after an almost dreadful audition which I saved at the last minute. Most recently – learning my daughter got the part-time job she wanted and my son found the ring he thought he’d lost. Great post Karen.
Kelly acting classes, will have to hear more one day. How amazing.
I think not being afraid to feel negative emotions is a big part of letting yourself feel happy, too. If you try to block off any one part of your feelings, I don’t think you can ever really experience the depth of everything we can experience in life. But that’s just my little bit of experience 🙂
Rachel yes so true, the negative emotions give us contrast and I know they help me appreciate the happiness even more.
Hmmmm…probably my engagement day and wedding day. I was 36 when I got married, so I waited a LONG time for that! I am still waiting for the ‘baby’ happiness (we miscarried last year)…but I can anticipate – and reading about your story (4 miscarriages. I am so sorry! I am so glad you have your daughter now!), I am hoping I will get that same happiness.
When I have some of the ‘successful’ days of teaching, that is a joy like nothing else also. And a good church worship service does it for me, too!
Oh Katie my thoughts are with you as you wait for your baby happiness, I do know that feeling well. Never give up on hope.
Visiting from SITS! Forgot to mention that! 🙂