A Toolkit For Happiness

A dog.

Or a cat.

Even a bat.

Some being to care for.

 

Have a routine,

so you can break it

and feel the exhilaration

the tiniest freedom brings.

 

Just drink enough

to make you good company

in others’ opinion,

rather than your own.

 

Or don’t drink at all.

 

Eat food you make yourself,

make food for someone else,

eat out with your partner,

but pretend it’s the first time.

 

Live in a place

you can afford,

it may not be a city

but people will say hello.

 

Say good morning

to anybody, everybody,

SOMEBODY!

(They’ll say it back).

 

And that is priceless.

 

Give things you don’t need

to people who do.

Give money to beggars

- and some conversation.

 

Smile at yourself in the mirror,

laugh at how you look now:

remember how you got here,

tell a friend all about it.

 

Ask questions

Listen to the answers,

ask some more;

promise help and deliver it.

 

You might need some, one day.