"The Wedding Dance in the Open Air" (1566) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Lerner and Schlechter ask readers to consider these questions:
What kinds of activities make you happy?
What delights you?
What improves your mood?
Answer any ir all of the above. We’ll be looking through these answers for possible activities that might be enhanced when more people participate in them so that the Honors Student Association might try to help make that happen, but please don’t feel that you have to only list activities that are better when done as a group.
My favorite activities include your typical everyday things, watching movies, concerts, volleyball and much more. But the one thing that honestly delights me and improves my mood more than anything is learning (cheesy yes I know). There is a sort of excitement that comes from learning something new, knowing that you are now a more well-rounded person than you were just a few moments ago. I love listening to intelligent conversations where I’m not obligated to do anything but listen to ideas, opinions, facts, and so much more. Whether it be through podcasts over economics, YouTube videos over watches, documentaries about interesting figures like Bill Gates, there is no greater excitement in my life and activities than understanding new ideas, new concepts, new everything. It’s almost like a mentality outside of the classroom that I am always a student and always a learner.
ReplyDeleteWhat kinds of activities make you happy?
ReplyDeleteWhat delights you?
Throughout high school I had many different opportunities to explore extracurricular activities that would allow for creative outlet, physical exertion, and caused me to step away from the seriousness of school and academics. Though I enjoyed all these things, there was one thing I knew I could do my entire life and count on it always bringing me joy and fulfillment. Musical theater introduced a whole new art form that I didn’t know existed. It took the three things that brought me the most joy and put them all into one. Acting, dancing, and singing. It was perfect. Not only did performing fill me with joy and excitement, but it also introduced a whole new motivation to do well academically that wasn’t there before. I also found myself spending more extra time talking to teachers in classrooms after school or talking to students I wouldn’t usually talk to about things I really didn’t even know anything about. It opened my mind, challenged me, and I fell in love with the process of sharing my art form with my peers as well as watching them grow into their own artists. As I improved and continued to learn new things, I realized that it was something that I wanted to remain a big part of my life. As I grow and become an adult with responsibilities and a job to go to, I know that if performing arts appears here and there in my schedule, I will automatically be a happier person overall. I can’t stand thinking that I would ever have to go without it. And if I can do what I love while having a more positive mindset, it’s worth every second.
Lizzie Jones
What delights you?
ReplyDeleteIt's the simple things that delight me. Watching a movie or show with my family and sharing a reaction to a plot twist (ex. Breaking Dawn pt. 2 or Stranger Things) is something that creates a sort of connection; I feel the same thing at church when everyone takes a deep breath during a song at the same time. I delight in getting ice cream with friends after church, having scary movie nights with my old academic team, and going to Walmart and Applebee's with my oldest friends. Orange sherbet, eating hot stew when coming in from the cold, wearing my tropical dad shirts from Goodwill, reading a book or watching Harry Potter when it rains delights me. Graphic design and writing fiction give me great outlets for creativity - I can make or write anything into existence that my mind can think of. Movies delight me; I could literally talk about them for hours (and probably sound like a total snob when doing so, but, you know). A well-designed poster is a must, and a movie with a great soundtrack/score gets bonus points from me. I love turning music up loud enough that nothing else can be heard, and I love when you can feel it in your chest at a concert. Dancing is one of the things that delights me the most; when you're alone or in a group of people that are also dancing and you finally turn off your brain's negative thoughts and just start moving, it's amazing.
Any activities that include going outside or socializing with my friends and family automatically make me happy. I love to play sports, have family cookouts, go out with friends to eat, or go to McDonalds at 11 p.m. for a caramel frappe. Although it is not hard to make me happy, nothing quite delights me more than when I have a nice clean room and when all my work is done. Whether it’s schoolwork, chores, or that “I’m out of here!” after work feeling. Something that instantly improves my mood is of course, FOOD! Food and ice cream. Or a nice warm brownie. Doing my daily bible devotional and watching my favorite shows on tv also improves my mood and makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteHappiness for me comes in forms of little things. Laughing with my closest friends about the most insignificant things. Random phone calls to and from those that I miss. Having a REAL conversation with someone. I’ve found, in my own personal life, that I experience real happiness when I feel a connection with people. Wether it’s reminiscing about our past experiences, or getting to know someone new, having that connection makes my heart happy.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of my joy comes from activities with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Wether it’s through worship to God, breaking out in random acapella singing, bible studies, or the classic pizza nights - knowing that the deepest part of myself is connected to them beats any and all other experiences.
I relate to you so much in that the little things can bring loads of happiness. Real conversations can sometimes be rare but they are so needed and beneficial. I hope to have a real conversation with you one day because I'm sure we'd both benefit from it! Especially seeing how your faith contributes to your happiness and joy, that is something I value so much.
Delete^This was Arely Hernandez by the way
DeleteWhat delights you?
ReplyDeleteOne thing I constantly do to put myself in a better mood is compliment and/or serve others. I know it seems kind of backwards, but a lot of times acts of kindness are beneficial on both ends. I feel like a good activity for the honors program might be working a charity event, like helping out at a soup kitchen or an animal shelter. It would be great for us to become familiar faces to people in the community as well.
Jami Watson^^
DeleteThe kind of activities that make me happy are the ones that engage and challenge me. I've always been drawn in by difficulty, which is why my room is filled with puzzles and Rubik's Cubes. I find joy in finally completing something that took a lot of effort and time. It really is a rush like no other to finally complete something that not many others are willing to put the time into or are even capable of doing. My favorite example would be the Rubik's Cube. It's a challenging puzzle, even with a tutorial to follow along to. And I think my passion for challenge came from the moment where I finally managed to match all the colors together after months of trying.
ReplyDelete- John G
What makes me happy? It's actually kind of difficult for me. I experience temporary happiness quite often. My mind has difficulties processing extreme happiness, but I think I feel happy when I am content. Happiness and excitement are a bit different for me. I feel most happy around my cats, when it's quiet, warm, and safe. But when I'm out and about with people, on rollercoasters, playing games, and talking to others, I feel excited and not happy in the same way that I am with my fuzzy babies.
ReplyDeleteI find happiness in art and activities that are calming and allow me to focus on one thing rather than begin to feel the overwhelm of everything around me. Focus on on cross word or one coloring page (not to sound elementary, but it is a great destresser!)
ReplyDeleteMallory Forgione
DeleteThere are many activities that make me happy. I guess the activities that tend to make me the most happy tend to be active activities such as running, volleyball, and corn hole. I enjoy these activities for several reasons. One reason is that I’m pretty good at them. Another reason is that I love competition. I tend to enjoy any type of activity that is competitive. Other activities that I enjoy that aren’t as competitive are group games or discussions that help you get to know people in your group better.
ReplyDeleteI have ADHD which makes finding one thing to keep me entertained very difficult. I have however found a love for creating things. I went from cheap acrylics to watercolors. I've taught myself how to embroider, sew, and use clay. I love taking junk and turning it into a work of art. Creating things brings me such a since of joy and calm that I can't help but be happy. I never have to worry if it is perfect because art is subjective. I am never being graded on whether my lines are straight or my thread is in the right spot. Learning new crafts brings me such joy and calmness.
ReplyDeleteActivities that make me happy are playing games. I feel like games are a great way to connect and break the ice with people. I also just love games. It can honestly be any game whether they are card games, video games, board games, or games like capture the flag, hide and seek, and things alike. As much as I enjoy winning, the laughs and competitive comments are honestly the best part. Another thing that boots my mood and makes me happy is listening to music. Music helps me focus, destress, and overall helps me be more productive. I almost always put my earbuds in and blast music when I am working on my schoolwork to help me stay on task.
ReplyDeleteThe activities that make me the happiest are listening to or playing music and being with my friends. Music has been a huge part of my life ever since I was little, so it only makes sense that it is the first thing I turn to when I want to be happy. Whether it's listening to records, playing the drums, or singing, music never fails to put a smile on my face and make my worries melt away. Being with my friends also helps me be in a good mood.
ReplyDeleteThere are many activities that make me happy. I love to mow. I have loved it since I was a kid. Something about seeing the grass cut really brings me enjoyment. I have owned a mowing company since I was twelve and I plan to do something like that in the future for my career. Sports also make me very happy. I played almost every sport in high school and I am playing football here at ECU. If I ever need a pick me up, I will just turn on a sporting event. It doesn't even really matter what it is, I will just enjoy watching it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest things that improves my mood is food. I love to eat all types of food and try new food. Also, hanging with my friends improves my mood a lot. My girlfriend is always there to help me and talk me through stuff whenever I need some reassurance or just a mood boost.
There are many things I enjoy doing, whether it is reading a book, playing board games, crushing it in volleyball (preferably not my ankle), and especially taking walks out in nature. However, while these activities are ones I enjoy, there is one thing that I enjoy even more. Regardless of what the specific activity is, I love spending time with my close friends more than anything else. It is always refreshing to have deep conversations and walk away feeling refreshed. I have noticed that simply talking with my friends, and even people in general, can improve my mood. A recent example happened a few days ago. I was not exactly ecstatic with classes about to begin. I was sharing some goofy memories I made last year with a lady from my church, and I felt excited to begin making new memories this year.
ReplyDeleteWhat delights you?
ReplyDeleteWhat improves your mood?
I'd say that movies are a big part of what makes me happy. It feels nice to leave my own life for a little bit and just go into someone else's. When I'm having a bad day it's nice to just watch someone else live their life so I can calm down and relax, then to come back to mine and figure out what to do next.
There are several activities that make me happy. Spending time with my friends always makes me feel happy. I am a bookworm and a knowledge seeker, so reading and learning new things is a healthy challenge and delights me.
ReplyDeleteSitting at home and listening to calm music always improves my mood after a long and stressful day. Sometimes I do try to read or learn new things to relax, but if I had a very stressful day it can intensify my stress and make me feel more stressed out.
“What kinds of activities make you happy?”
ReplyDeleteThe most fulfilling activities that make me feel happy or content would definitely be the artistic ones. Painting, drawing, sculpting, crocheting, basically any grandma-like hobby makes me feel at peace. The most rewarding feeling is seeing the final product of what might have taken weeks to do. The journey of creating something with your own two hands from your own imagination can make me happiest as can be. Sure, it takes time and effort, but hey everything else in the world does too. Artistic hobbies aside, I thoroughly enjoy watching films and TV shows by myself. As a somewhat introvert, I relish in the peaceful moments in my life where I can just sit back and enjoy my own personal company. My social battery eventually does drain so it’s comforting to just sit back and relax. To summarize it, the activities that fill me with the most joy are strife-free and tranquil.
-Jimena R
ReplyDeleteWhat improves your mood?
This is sort of something I recently picked up and have been using to help improve my daily mental health and happiness, as well as boosting my mood in the short term when life is being particularly difficult. Breaking down the days activities and taking a moment to just breath and think about what I am expecting out of the day really helps me slow down and vastly improve my mood. I think of it as meditation I guess, but I'm not fully confidant in my knowledge of meditation to call it that. Basically, letting your thoughts rush around your mind and pulling at the thread of thought you are feeling until it all begins to calm down and give some clarity. It only takes about 10 - 20 minutes to do, but it can relaxing to sit with yourself for a bit longer. I use this "meditation" before any major social gatherings or before other stressful events to mentally prepare myself for what is ahead.
Although it might seem basic, reading is one of my favorite activities and can always make a bad day better. I tend to bounce between hobbies quite often but when it comes to reading, I never get tired of it. I think this is because how different your experience can be each time you pick up a book due to the mass quantities of both authors and genres. It is also always a joy to share this experience with others through book clubs or just having a chance to discuss current reads with other people.
ReplyDeleteI feel happiest when I'm hanging out with my closest friends and family. Maintaining my personal relationships is one thing that is crucial to feeling happy, along with feeling productive, and learning. I don't do any certain activities very often, when I have time I will play video games or go watch a movie with my friends, and I like nature. When it comes to special activities, I really enjoy , exploring new places, obstacle courses, escape rooms, and amusement parks, but these aren't things that I do often.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about personal relationships, as my relationships are where I get most of my happiness from as well. I also feel happy when learning new things. I have rarely been to amusement parks or had any new experiences.
Delete^Hunter Allen
DeleteWhat kinds of activities make you happy?
ReplyDeleteWhat delights you?
What improves your mood?
Well, I will start off with things that make me happy. Spending time with friends and family is a main one. When my social battery is drained, I also just enjoy listening to music, working on project vehicles, or just driving. For me, listening to music just makes everything better, so if I can listen to music while doing things I already like, then it just makes me even happier. It both delights me and improves my mood no matter what. Watching movies almost always improves my mood. If I had a frustrating day at work, I usually put on a movie I am fond of before I go to bed just to improve my mood and settle my mind down. I am still discovering activities that make me happy. A couple of weeks before this semester started, I began exploring country back roads on a dirt-bike. The combination of biking and picking new roads and seeing things I have not seen before just is something I now look forward to doing every weekend!
Spending Time with friends and family also makes me happy, but I cant be around them for too long because I get very socially tired and I need the rest of the day to relax and recover.
Delete^ Hunter Allen
DeleteThe activities that make me most happy are pretty simple. Crocheting gifts for the people I love is probably the biggest one. Following that closely, is the time I spend with my family and close friends playing board games, particularly Catan or Cranium. Coming in last, a rainy day, curling up in my reading chair with a good book or two, fairy lights on, ambiance in the background, and some hot tea. The thing that delights me is seeing true joy come from someone. For example, I love seeing candid photos of someone laughing or looking at something they love. The pureness of those expressions really makes me happy. Some things that greatly improve my mood are my mom's peanut butter sheet cake or chicken and dumplings.
ReplyDelete