#81 - Watch kids play

"The soul is healed by being with children." - Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russian Novelist and Writer, 1821-1881)

#80 - Eat happy food

Food like salmon, black berries, banana, spinach and sunflower seeds have compounds that will boost your mood. Choose the right food for a happier, healthier you!

#79 - Embrace festivals

Embrace festivals and join in the celebrations.

"The truth is that existence wants your life to become a festival...because when you are unhappy, you also throw unhappiness all around." -Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

#78 - Eat street food

I love sampling the smörgåsbord of local food offered by street food vendors, especially on my travels.

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." -James Beard

Photo - Shot in Taipei, Taiwan, 2008.

#77- Swing!

Sit on a swing!

"The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing."
- Natalie Kocsis

#76 - Travel the world

Travel if you can, for a change of scenery imparts new vigour to the mind.

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Photo-Shot in Florence, Italy, 2005.

#75- Watch flowers dance

Have you ever seen a flower down
Sometimes angels skip around
And in their blissful state of glee
Bump into a daisy or sweet pea.
~Jessi Lane Adams

Photo - Shot in Lucca, Italy, 2005.

#74 - Go to a funfair

Why? Because funfairs are fun!

Photo - Shot in London, 2008.

#73 - Support a cause

Support a cause for humanity, peace or the environment.

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain

Photo- Shot in Johor, Malaysia, 2008.

#72 - Be thankful

Be thankful that you are blessed with food to eat and a place to stay.

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." - Buddha

#71 - Eat comfort food

When you're feeling out of sorts, treat yourself to some comfort food.

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort."- Normam Kolpas

#70 - Play like a child

"I think there's a little child in all of us and we all too often forget to let the child out to play." - Donna A.Favors.

Photo - Shot in Malaysia, 2005.

#69 - Go back to nature

When life gets too overwhelming, it's time to go back to basics. Take a step back and retreat to the countryside where life is tranquil.

"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver." - Martin Luther

Photo - Shot in Lim Chu Kang countryside , Singapore.

#68 - Live in the moment

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today." - Dale Carnegie

Photo - Shot in Provence, France 2007.

#67 - Look up

Keep your chin up during trying periods. Maintain a positive view and realise that you cannot please everybody. And don't forget to read your favourite quotes to keep you inspired and motivated.

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” - Albert Einstein

Photo - Shot in Paris, France 2007.

#66 - Get out of town

Hop on a bike and ride out of town. You'll discover that many interesting places are but a short ride away.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust

Photo - Shot in Penggarang, Malaysia, 2005.

#65 - Sail away

It's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free
- Christopher Cross

Photo - Shot in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2004.

#64 - Don't sweat the small stuff

Life is already stressful enough, don't be too anal and let yourself be bothered by little insignificant things.

#63 - Embrace simplicity

Manifest plainness,

Embrace simplicity,

Reduce selfishness,

Have few desires.

- Lao-tzu

#62 - Throw a party

Gather some friends together and throw a party. You'll definitely feel happy after a night of feasting and merry making!

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance."

#61 - Eat ice cream

Ice cream is my favourite comfort food. Eating ice cream always makes me happy!

#60- Awakening

The lotus produces a beautiful flower even with its roots in the dirtiest water. The symbolism is that a person can rise above being rooted in the ugliness and suffering of this world, and should try to be pure and help others with the beauty of the spirit.

A lotus represents life in general. As the lotus flower grows up from the mud into an object of great beauty, people also grow and change into something more beautiful.

#59 - Indulge!

Go out with friends and treat yourselves to a nice meal! Good friends and good food will always equate to a wonderful time!

Photo - Shot in Paris, France 2007.

#58 - Do nothing

Take a day off and do nothing. Give your body and your mind a good rest.

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." - John Lubbock

Photo - Shot in Bend, Oregon, 2007.

#57 - Flip through your album

Bring out the album and reminisce happy memories.

"The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time." - Friedrich Nietzsche

#56 - Surprise someone

You don't have to wait for special occasions to send someone flowers or gifts. Surprise that someone every now and then. Happy surprises are always welcomed.

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize the, but that they seize us." - Ashley Montagu

#55 - Go shopping

When you're feeling down, a little retail therapy may just help to lift you up, if you shop wisely that is.

"I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist." - Tammy Faye Bakker

#54 - Pursue your dreams

Don't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving your dreams. If music is what you like, go take some lessons. It's never too late to pursue what you like.

"To achieve happiness, we should make certain that we are never without an important goal.'- Earl Nightingale

#53 - Visit someone

I'm always filled with happiness after visiting the people I love and care about. Find time to visit your friends and loved ones, they'll surely appreciate your time and presence.

"The most beautiful things in the world are not seen nor touched. They are felt with the heart."- Helen Keller

#52 - Try scrapbooking

Scrapbooks are loads of fun. They're fun to make. They make great gifts too.

#51- Teach

If you have a chance to teach someone, you'll find it an extremely rewarding experience. Kids like listening to stories. Try reading to them and see their faces light up!

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” - Lao Tzu

#50 - Keep learning

Learning new things and undertaking new challenges keep me happy. Stay curious and you will never stop learning as long as you live.

"Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will." ~Vernon Howard

#49 - Show gratitude

Show gratitude and appreciation to someone close to you, like writing a letter to thank them for who they are and what they have done for your life. It costs you nothing but it might mean the world to them.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

#48 - Keep priorities balanced

Are you so caught up in the day-to-day busyness of life that you forget to live? We’re often so focused on achieving our ultimate goals that we fail to appreciate other things along the way. From now on, keep your priorities balanced. Put equal amount of time into your family as into your career. Engage in meaningful activities like bonding with family and friends or pursuing charity work.

#47 - Count your blessings

Reflect on what really matters and work towards a happier and more fulfilling life. Reliving happy memories is one of the most effective ways to cheer you up. If you want to stay happy, don't forget to count your blessings everyday.

"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles."

#46 - Avoid toxic people

Avoid people who may bring you down with their negative attitudes. Detaching yourself from people who make you miserable can help you feel happier and become healthier.

Toxic people are like poison. They drain us of our energy, time and sanity. Steer clear of people who rob you of your self-esteem. Instead, surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself. When you're happy, you will in turn attract more happy people.

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." - Buddha

#45 - Read inspiring stories

Reading inspiring stories makes me feel inspired and motivated. Reading about how others have overcome adversities helps me put things into perspective. I've learned alot from other people's success stories, they make my life better.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

#44- Keep a dog

Rusty is always happy to see me. Seeing him makes me happy even on a crappy day.

"If it wasn't for dogs, some people would never go for a walk."

"Dogs are better than human beings because they know but they do not tell." - Emily Dickinson

"A dog is the only thing that loves you more than he loves himself." - Josh Billings

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

#43 - Change your scenery

Have lunch in the park instead of at the food court. The change in scenery will awaken your senses.

"If everyday is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing." - Gail Sheehy

Photo - Shot in Loire Valley, France, 2007.

#42 - Move on

Don't dwell on the past. Learn from mistakes, look ahead and move forward. You will save yourself lots of misery.

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."

#41 - Run

Running helps to improve your mood. When the endorphins start coursing through your system, you'll feel yourself getting lighter and happier. Running gives you tremendous health benefits too. It's easy to get started*, all you need is a pair of running shoes.

"Sunshine is delicious,
Rain is refreshing,
Wind braces us up,
Snow is exhilarating,
There's really no such thing as bad weather,
Only different kinds of good weather."

*Do check with your doctor if you have any health problems.

#40 - Eat chocolate

Eating chocolate makes me happy. Dark chocolate makes my heart happy too! Flavonoids found in dark chocolate can help maintain a healthy heart and good circulation, and reduce blood clotting that could lead to heart attack and stroke.

"Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get. " -Forrest Gump

Photo of chocolate shop - Shot in Belgium, 2007.

#39 - Take a break

Take a break from work or chores and have a cup of tea. Even better, invite your friends over and while the afternoon away. It's good for your soul.

“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.” - Chaim Potok

#38 - Watch fireworks

Watching fireworks is rare treat that I savour. Spectacular fireworks evoke a lot of joyful emotions because they're often used to celebrate momentous occasions. If you know of any firework displays going on in your area, make time to be there. You won't regret it.

Photo- Shot in Singapore, 2007.

#37- Eat well

Eat enough protein and carbohydrates daily to fuel your body. Eating the right kinds of food will even make you happy. Baked potato improves concentration, calms the nerves and boosts our mood. Salmon has high Omega-3 fat content which helps our body produce extra serotonin.

Photo- Shot in Paris, France, 2007.

#36 - Ride a bicycle

If you have a chance, ride a bike in the countryside, through the rolling green fields where the air is clean and fresh. Imagine the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin...you'll be as free as a bird!

Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. - Albert Einstein

Photo - Shot in Provence, France, 2007.

#35 - Smell the roses

Instead of rushing about daily, stop and smell the roses. It's often the little things that can bring cheer to your day.

"Avoid being impatient. Remember time brings roses." - Anon

Photo - Shot in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2004.

#34 - Sit by the beach

Listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shore and feeling the sea breeze blowing in my face never fail to put me in a good mood.

"The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood and the sound of outer ocean on a beach." - Henry Beston

Photo - Shot in Bintan, Indonesia, 2007.

#33 - Stroll through a garden

Strolling through a garden that is bursting with colours will do wonders to your soul and spirit.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. - Marcel Proust

Photo - Shot in Bruges, Belgium, 2007.

#32 - Grow plants

Gardening is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding hobbies to have. Pottering about in the garden is relaxing; watching plants thrive under your care will certainly make you happy.

"Earth laughs in flower."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

#31 - Catch a sunset

Watching a gorgeous sunset always fills me with awe and happiness.

Happiness is a Swedish sunset; it is there for all, but most of us look the other way and lose it. - Mark Twain

Photo - Shot outside our house in Singapore.

#30 - Go on a ride

Visit a theme park or funfair, and enjoy an adrenaline packed day. The carnival-like atmosphere is infectious, you'll find lots of happy faces.

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing." - Dale Carnegie

Photo - Shot in London, UK, 2008.

#29 - Be around kids

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

#28 - Take a walk

When I'm feeling down, I take a walk around the neighbourhood. As I move along, I start to notice the sunlight filtering through the trees, I feel the breeze and hear birds chirping. I always end up feeling happier and lighter.

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.” ~Mary Anne Radmacher

Photo - Shot in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2004.

#27 - Develop a hobby

Hobbies can give perspective to your life. Having a hobby can enhance your life and improve your personality. It also relieves stress and makes one happier.

"Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto." - Dale Carnegie

Photo - Shot in Bintan, Indonesia, 2006

#26 - Smile

Start everyday with a smile. It can brighten the darkest day. It costs nothing yet gives so much.

Peace begins with a smile. ~Mother Teresa