The first rays of the sun, the sound of birds chirping, or a cup of good coffee, there are little things that manage to cheer us up no matter how jam packed our schedule is for that day or how difficult the day has been. But, often times, we get so caught up in things that we fail to count our blessings and be happy. The Week’s Swasti Gautam & Ashma Chhetri had a few people name the three things that make them happy on a daily basis. Their answers might make you grateful for the very same things in your life or have you thinking about your little sources of happiness. Either way, our mission will have been accomplished.

Sitaram Khattel
comedian

Social work, Daughter, Onstage acting
In life, I have received a lot of love from people. Now, I’m at a stage where I can give back. Working for those who find happiness in small things really uplifts my spirits and cheers me up, even if I’m having a particularly hard day. Whenever I go to the villages, people welcome me with so much gusto and enthusiasm that it makes me feel really, really good. I will do whatever I can to make sure I continue to touch lives and keep this connection I have with them alive. Secondly, my jovial daughter is always excited to see me come home after a long day at work. Her laughter and excitement gives me a sense of contentment. She will brighten a dull day. And lastly, acting in front of the audience is my favorite thing to do. I feel extremely happy when I see my audience smiling and satisfied with my performance. There can perhaps be nothing better in the world than an audience applauding for you. 

Bipashi Tuladhar
pilot
Workout, Makeup, Hanging out with friends and family
I’m a fitness enthusiast and I love working out at the gym. I love the ambience and find that exercising at the gym instantly lifts up my spirits. Even if I’m feeling a little down, there’s nothing a good workout can’t fix. I would definitely recommend everyone to incorporate a little exercise in their lives to see how their mood changes. Another thing that makes me happy is makeup. I always loved playing with colors and that steered me towards learning the art of makeup. Now learning new tricks of makeup and making YouTube tutorials have become an inseparable part of my life. Next is spending time with my family and friends. Spending time with them eases my worries and reaffirms and strengthens my belief in myself. 

Upendra Man Singh
footballer
Food, Friends, Training
Food, for most, is for sustenance but, for me, it’s my ultimate source of pleasure. I can never say no to good food, no matter how full I am. Whether it’s a Newari delicacy or a plate of steaming hot momos on a rainy day, just the smell and sight of it will cheer me up. After food, I love to hang out with my friends. It’s a therapy of sorts to be able to confide in people you are close to and be able to share the ups and downs of life. If I’m having a rough time then hanging out with my friends will surely put my mind at ease. Then, I cannot ignore my trainings. It’s the fact that I’m working towards something that makes me happy and allows me to enjoy the rigorous regime.

Sangharsha Bhattarai
writer, freelance photographer 

Books, Family, Gratitude
I’m extremely fond of reading. If you want to cheer me up on a rough day, get me a book. Reading makes me happy because books often take me to places I have never been and introduce me to new and weird people. I learn every time I read. There is nothing more satisfying than broadening my knowledge through reading. The second thing that I love most about my life is my family. They are my source of happiness and there is nothing that a chat with them or some time with them won’t solve. They are the ones who make me believe that everything will be alright, even when it’s all going horribly askew. Lastly, I am blessed to be living a fulfilled life. I have my loved ones around me and if I want something I’m in the position where I can simply buy it. At night, before I go to bed, I like to reflect back on my day and thank God for everything I have. That is one of the most fruitful parts of my day. A sense of gratitude can make you really happy.

Dr Rajendra Baral
oncologist
Happy patients, Meditation, Accolades
For a doctor, I think there’s nothing more satisfying that seeing a happy patient. It’s not only a single person who is happy actually, their entire family is relieved and filled with joy. There is this vibe that is positive and uplifting. It fills me with a sense of contentment that makes all the trouble I go through worth it. Another thing that calms me down and grounds me is meditation and I always manage to take out an hour to meditate, no matter how busy my schedule might be. It’s when I thank god for everything he has given me, including my family. I also give thanks to my mother who has sacrificed a lot to get me to where I am today. And lastly, it makes me very happy when people appreciate my work. A little praise and accolades never hurt anyone, did it?

Niharika Kharel
zumba instructor
Zumba, Food, Family 
I love to dance and as a zumba instructor I get to dance and make people dance with me. What could be better than that? The thought itself makes me happy. I’m also constantly trying out new moves and dance forms and it’s the energy that fills me with a sense of positivity that makes even difficult days seem okay. I’d say I dance my way through things and that’s a pretty good way to live your life, wouldn’t you say? Food also makes me happy. I love trying out new dishes and am always craving one food item or the other. Then, there’s this sort of a ritual that I have. At the end of the day, I tell my parents everything that’s happened in the day or if they aren’t around, I write it down. I find this extremely therapeutic. It puts a lot of things into perspective and relieves stress as well. It’s something I look forward to every single day. 

Subeksha Shrestha
banker 
Bed tea, Rain, Home
There are these times when my husband wakes me up with a hot cup of tea, which makes me happy. Waking up in the morning can be difficult sometimes. A cup of tea made by my husband brightens up my mood. Secondly, I love cuddling inside my blanket at night, when the gloomy weather is accompanied by drizzling rain. The combination of light rain and a sound sleep is the best thing in the world. Lastly, I get excited when my work gets done on time. I hate staying in office once the working hours are over. Going home on time gives me satisfaction.    

Simrika Sharma
senior communications officer, WWF
Kids, Work, Freedom 
I have seven-year-old twins and they are my source of happiness. My children make me very, very happy. And I think that’s true for every mother. For us, our entire lives revolve around our little ones and seeing their beaming faces at the end of a long day can simply erase all our worries. Then, it’s my work that makes me feel good about myself. I have been working since I was 19 and I cannot imagine not having to work. The fact that I wake up every day to do something productive never fails to bring a smile to my face. Work is definitely a struggle, but in the process of struggling I learn and that’s always a good thing. And last, I’m at a point in my life where I can make independent choices and decisions. I don’t have to ask for permission or consult with others for anything. I cherish this freedom and the satisfaction I feel because of it is something that makes me happy just thinking about it. 

Pratima Mudbhari
social worker
Mornings, Work, People
If you meet me in the morning, you’ll see that I’m unusually excited and peppy. It’s because I simply love mornings. I think every morning is fresh start and I take delight in that feeling. I try to use my morning time as productively as possible. And since I’m at my freshest best, I can actually finish a lot of pending work and this early achievement fills me with great pleasure. Then, I love heading out to work because there is so much to do and my work excites me. I’m grateful for the work I do and it’s a constant source of happiness. It’s such a joy to be able to love your work. Also, interacting with different people everyday makes me happy. I get to learn and know so much while conversing with people, and every person is so different from another that each conversation is unique. I enjoy it and it really cheers me up

Himanshu Goyal
businessman
Meditation, Books, Music
I meditate for at least 10 minutes every day because it helps me contemplate on things as well as bring order into an otherwise chaotic mind. For those who work long hours, it’s imperative you start your day right and meditation helps you do just that. Also, I like to read non-fiction works. Since the content is based on real life experiences, there is a lot you can learn from reading good works. You can’t have all kinds of experiences yourself and so you learn from others. It’s vicarious living at its best. There is something really soothing about reading a good book. Music also has the same effect on me. It’s always playing in the background, especially when I am driving.  I love listening to R&B. It always manages to make me forget my worries and start all over again. 

Subeksha Shrestha
banker 
Bed tea, Rain, Home
There are these times when my husband wakes me up with a hot cup of tea, which makes me happy. Waking up in the morning can be difficult sometimes. A cup of tea made by my husband brightens up my mood. Secondly, I love cuddling inside my blanket at night, when the gloomy weather is accompanied by drizzling rain. The combination of light rain and a sound sleep is the best thing in the world. Lastly, I get excited when my work gets done on time. I hate staying in office once the working hours are over. Going home on time gives me satisfaction.    

 
• finding
 
• happiness