Things That Make Me Smile (Even When the World’s a Bit Rubbish)

[popghost]

Lately, I’ve been clinging to small joys like they’re glittery life jackets. It’s easy to spiral into the doomscroll or get stuck in sticky brain fog, but there’s something so grounding about sitting down and asking: what’s actually making me happy right now? So here’s a chaotic, sentimental, possibly unhinged Top 10 of things that have made me grin recently. Some big, some tiny, all glitter-adjacent.

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1. Songs with fake endings when a track pretends it’s over and then slaps back in with one last chorus or key change? I grin like a maniac every time. Bonus points if it involves a dramatic pause or fake-out fade.
2. The way cassettes sound just a little warped like the music is trying its best through time and damage and still making it. Resilience, but with reverb.
3. When a seagull struts like it owns the pavement sorry, but it’s funny. I love a confident trash bird.
4. Rewatching Empire Records and mouthing the lines “Damn the man, save the empire!” still works as a life philosophy, actually.
5. The fact that Sugababes are having a cultural moment  justice for Mutya’s harmonies, honestly.
6. When someone leaves a silly little comment on a blog post like “this made me feel feral (in a good way)” or “I thought about this at work and almost dropped a croissant.” It’s community! It’s joy! It’s ✨content✨.
7. Chewing gum that tastes like fake fruit flavour and Year 9 trauma not because it’s good, but because it makes me laugh at how dramatic I used to be. Like, why did I chew this and then write poetry about my crush on the back of my planner?
8. A good playlist name like “songs for when you want to dance but also cry into a disco ball.” It’s a vibe and a therapy session in 30 characters or less.
9. The specific chaos of a half-decorated charity shop window in July plastic sunflowers, leftover Valentine’s bears, one Union Jack bucket hat, a Halloween candle. No theme. No rules. Just vibes.
10. Having feelings about obscure 1953 chart-toppers at 3am because nothing makes me feel more alive than sobbing about a forgotten Doris Day ballad like it personally wronged me.

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Joy isn’t always fireworks. Sometimes it’s a seagull power-walking past you like it’s late for a rave. Sometimes it’s a cassette warble or a sugar crash or a playlist title that reads like an inside joke with your younger self. I’m collecting these little moments like stickers—messy, colourful, and always slightly off-centre. What’s been making you smile lately?

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Comments

[gallimimus]

No trauma like that Year 9 trauma, haha!

I love your list of joys, especially the weird charity shop window. There's one near where I live which is currently half summer holidays (plus one bear in a Santa hat), half VHS tapes and a single row of sheet music. Next time I walk past it, I'll remember this post and smile :)

[popghost]

A Santa bear hanging on to July for dear life, VHS ghosts of someone’s old movie nights, and a lonely row of sheet music like it’s auditioning for a Wes Anderson film - I’m obsessed. It's like the window is trying to cast a spell and forgot halfway through.

[haunted_cherries]

This is honestly such a great list, though I have to admit that "a seagull power-walking past you like it’s late for a rave" had me on the FLOOR and is ABSOLUTELY worth living for xD

Recently in bed with one of my huge plushies made me really happy after a super long day at work!!

[popghost]

YESSSS that is elite-tier self-care!! There is no comfort like collapsing into bed and just absolutely faceplanting into a massive plushie—instant serotonin, 10/10, would recommend to literally everyone. The way plushies just absorb your stress like little emotional sponges?? Iconic. I hope that plushie knows they are a hero and a legend.

[haunted_cherries]

YES AND YES, somewhere in my heart of hearts I think it knows!! ; u; It's a huge fat cat plushie from an MMO I playing (Final Fantasy 14), and GOSH plopping down onto it and just letting all the stress of the day melt away is BLISS DHJKSHDKJS

[endlesstwanted]

Oh, to find joy in the little things✨ I love how detailed your list is ^^ and a I love a confident seagull too!

[popghost]

Right?? The little things are where the magic lives ✨ I’m actually still working on finding joy in them myself — sometimes it’s just noticing a weird cloud or a random sticker or how my tea smells when I’m not even paying attention. It’s messy and slow but honestly? That trying is its own kind of sparkle. Also, confident seagulls?? Absolute chaotic main characters, and yes, I stan from a safe distance 😂 Thanks so much for loving the list—it really means a lot! 💖🪶