This February, I want to talk about happiness, particularly because it is hard to do so if you live in a cold northern country. This has been my personal challenge given that I am going through a particularly difficult time, healthwise. Since I caught Covid just before Christmas 2023, I have not fully recovered, and I have been hit with one secondary infection after another. 

However, I refuse to succumb to depression or give up on little moments of joy. This is especially important given the blues that result from being sick for 7 weeks in a row. All  while taking care of two sick children (alone) as well. Additionally, I missed two chances to go on vacation. The much awaited, and very much needed, winter vacation in February is still a big question mark as I write these lines. My doctor has not given me clearance to fly because of my persistent ear infection.

My children and I have been in gray and cold Berlin since August 2023. Being from the Mediterranean and more accustomed to much milder weather, my health and wellbeing have been compromised. However, this is not just true for me—everyone needs the sun. Studies after studies on happiness and well-being have shown that people need sun and connection to thrive.

Added to all these is the crushing isolation I feel living on the outskirts of the city. I have been trying to sell my house in the middle of a forest for an apartment in the city, because I am a city person at heart. For the past 18 months, we have been trying to move to no success. Neither reducing the price helped, nor doing “thank you and goodbye” meditations for the house. There are simple macro-economic reasons why we have been unable to sell our place, such as the general state of the German economy, high interest rates, and high inflation. We are not alone in this, and like everyone else, we are stuck. To that we can add the daily barrage of news on wars and global economic recession.

This is certainly draining. I certainly needed to practice a great deal of patience, letting go, and leaving it to the universe—it will happen when it happens. Truthfully, it has been a challenge working on my state of mind and state of being in order to get through this exhausting process with grace and gratitude.

In the meantime, the daily grind of life far away from our life’s middle points like school, co-working space, friends, grocery shopping, and other vital parts of life remains exhausting.

What is more, my favorite yoga classes are out of bounds due to a broken finger.

My sinusitis probably needs an operation soon, because it has been resistant to all kinds of medical and homeopathic treatment for the last 7 weeks. The ear pain has been excruciating and keeps me up at night.

But, I told myself : Wait a minute Nora! Snap out of it now! This is all a test and a challenge. WALK the TALK, now!

You can’t wait for spring and the sun to be happy! 

You can’t wait to go on vacation to be happy!

And you certainly can’t wait to sell the house and move back to the city to be happy!!!

Especially since the latter is completely out of our control. 

And so I started looking for tiny moments of happiness or joy in my day, every single day. These are things that are as simple as drinking a hot chocolate in the afternoon with the children, or a glass of wine with my husband at night. 

That square of dark chocolate (10 grams) which I enjoy immensely with an espresso after lunch.

Discovering a new coffee flavor to really look forward to in the morning. 

Having a scented candle which I light up when I coach.

Calling a friend and catching up.

Watching crap videos for half an hour, usually gossip about celebrities, before I run to pick up the kids.

Reading a book, and in fact finally getting back to reading (books, whole books), which I am particularly proud of.

Connecting with an old friend or acquaintance, online.

Calling my aunt in Beirut.

Joining a book club. 

And cleaning my car on the inside (you know what happens in the car if you have children).

Cleaning my windshield with glass detergent, so I can see well and have shiny windows after I remove the frost on the outside. Especially on foggy days in the dark of early mornings.

Cleaning out many drawers and closets. I find incredible joy in decluttering and having a tidy house.

I walk and exercise when I can.

I give my children and husband long hugs.

Having conversations with my sister and virtual hugs (online).

And finally, I am trying to take care of my body using the Life Force Pyramid by Dr. Stutz—more on that in the next post!

We often think that being happier requires something big, something out of the ordinary, expensive, or a little miracle. Being happier is something for the future, like an unattainable dream.

However, this is something that I have been learning lately: learning by doing. Happiness can be found everyday in the little, simple, and ordinary things.

As Mel Robbins puts it: “Happiness isn’t just reserved for the weekends. Or vacations. Or the big milestones.

…or for when you get in shape.

…or get that next job.

…or find the right person.

…or land a huge client.”

Nope. You can access it today, and all it takes is just a few minutes. 

And it can be very easy to do. As easy as watching Netflix with a snack.

I’ll give you an example: email or text a friend right now just to let them know you miss them and wanna catch up!

Make a cup of tea and sit on your sofa, keep your mobile phone away in another room, or somewhere inaccessible, and simply sit and do absolutely nothing for 5 minutes. Absolutely nothing!

Now how satisfying is that?

I once challenged a client to start leaving her phone in the car overnight so that she can’t take it with her to bed where it can disrupt her sleep. She lived on the 7th floor, and this proved to be an incredibly successful trick.

Let me know your own little secrets to make yourself happy anytime and anywhere. What impact does that have on you?

Happiness is everywhere, here and now. You can experience it wherever you are, no matter what season it is.