These are a few of my favorite things

Poynter had a story today about how blogging might be good for you. An article in Scientific American says:
"Scientists (and writers) have long known about the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. But besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism, expressive writing produces many physiological benefits. Research shows that it improves memory and sleep, boosts immune cell activity and reduces viral load in AIDS patients, and even speeds healing after surgery. ...
Our limbic (primitive) brain may have an innate need to communicate -- akin to our drives for food or sex. Thus, as we blog, our bodies may release the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine.

So my thought was that if researchers think blogging might have positive effects on mental state, what if I blogged about the things that make me happiest? Too meta for you?

In no particular order, I love:
-- lounging in the sun, lazily reading a book or magazine
-- laughing so hard it makes me snort
-- spending time with friends who can make me laugh so hard I snort, and friends who are comfortable enough not to be embarrassed
-- teaching someone to do something that had previously confused them, and hearing the "a-ha!" in their voice
-- a big ol' fruity girltini, or just about any cocktail that can wear a parasol
-- listening to old jazz, tapping my foot or bopping my head OR
-- turning up old rock a little too loud and shouting the lyrics to Van Halen or AC/DC OR
-- dancing around the apartment to '80s techno that reminds of long-gone college days
-- getting a love note from my husband
-- eating a great meal -- whether that's an elegant multi-course affair with wine and such, or a pizza from Lombardi's with garlic spinach, olives, mushrooms and extra sauce
-- just barely catching the bus or subway, instead of seeing it speed away
-- hearing from friends who have good news (not that I don't like hearing from friends when they *don't* have good news)
-- solving a puzzle that previously eluded me -- figuring out a complex problem in Excel, taming PowerPoint, pulling together a business plan that suddenly clicks together
-- playing yenta and introducing friends to friends, or otherwise connecting people who might not have otherwise met
-- getting a genuine hug from someone who's truly happy to see me
-- researching hotels, restaurants and things to do on vacation, enjoying the anticipation of the fun we'll have, then exploring a new town with my hubby
-- coming home from vacation to a clean home (yes, I really do clean before I leave town, because it feels nicer to return that way)
-- learning something new and beginning to feel it click
-- related, talking to really smart people and hearing ideas that are new to me
-- the afterglow of a good workout
-- sleeping in
-- reading the paper and getting sucked into an article about something I previously didn't care at all about

What about you? What do you love? Share the psychological benefits with me and comment!