Experiencing a sense of happiness and joy from eating an Eggmuffin from McDonald's

Ever since 2010 started, I've been learning about how little things can bring me so much happiness. Here I thought, for many years, that I was perhaps a superficial L.A. person who only gets happy from shopping and buying nice things, but I've learned a great deal of who I am in the past month alone.

I've learned that little things in life are indeed what make me truly happy.

Here are just some of the examples:

1) Eating a delicious Eggmuffin with a small coffee from McDonald's for breakfast - For just a couple of dollars, I get to experience this taste of heaven. I LOVE their breakfast, and my favorite combo is their strong coffee and Eggmuffin. In fact, I dreamed about it all last night and will go get some right now.

2) Michael Jackson memorabilia - Ok, I understand some of this can be expensive (case in point, MJ Official Opus), but I found some really great Michael Jackson pins, 4 for $5, and I was jumping up and down like a twelve-year old at the store. Also, seeing This Is It and ordering the limited disc edition DVD set were some of my happiest moments.

3) Spending time with my family & my dog - This is given. I realize that I don't need to have fancy dinners or be at the hot spots to truly enjoy the company of my family or friends. I also just love having my dog lie on my lap to take a nap and just spending time with her.

4) Wine Nights with girlfriends - I absolutely love drinking wine while chatting with my close girlfriends. We don't need to impress each other and can talk about anything. Nothing is off topic. It is also a fun, inexpensive way to spend quality time with my true friends.

5) Frugal Shopping/Lifestyle - I have really learned to be frugal. Every dollar counts. There are many people around the world who would be just grateful to have shelter, clothing and food. I don't want to waste anything and while working hard for the money and for what I am passionate, I also want to be frugal and save, save and save.

Ever since I started noticing about how little (and sometimes free) things make me truly happy, I've become a more positive, happy person.

Why don't you make a list of things you are grateful for and also make a list of things that have made you happy or make you happy? You would be surprised :)