What makes me happy: Blowing Bubbles

The photo used came from Photobucket created by: Cindy Sarcady

As many of you know, in attempting to answer the question of What Makes Me Happy, I have been going on a daily hunt, and lately, a LOT of introspection. One of my realizations is that, really, many of the things that makes me happy (and, yes, I will write about them here) are things that are actually...free (or in this case, a bottle of bubbles).

My love affair with bubbles began in kindergarten.  I remember the teacher giving us plastic cups with bubble solution and a straw (yup, no wands then). She then encouraged us to go on to the playground where many of us kids just plopped ourselves on the grass and blew away.  I remember blowing into my plastic cup and out surged an amazing amount of bubbles! It was one of the activities in kindergarten that is still branded to my memory to this day. As a kid, I loved to get all lathered up.  There was something about - and still something about - bubbles that makes me happy.  Bubbles even LOOK happy to me.

As I look back, now I know why much of my allowance goes to shampoo and body washes (ask my husband...) - some ladies buy clothes and shoes or bags when they're depressed, not me! I buy shampoo (or body wash)! I am also very particular about my bath lilies (yes, that is what you call those net-like things that resemble some sort of flower), they have to produce a LOT of bubbles.

I hope I am not getting too philosophical about this, but the beauty of bubbles may be that it reminds us that beautiful things can be fleeting, and just vanish into thin air...so seize the moment. And, if we miss it, we can always create more. 

My favorite ways (currently) of enjoying bubbles:

1. Every week, I ask permission to lock myself in the bathroom for an hour, light a few candles, put on some spa music, and just take my time in the bath;
2. When I have the privilege of staying in a hotel, I take advantage of the bathtub, I put on a LOT of bubble bath and just soak myself in bubbles;
3. The highlight of my day is taking a bath (with those marvelously smelling shampoos and body washes), and I make sure to make a lot of bubbles with my bath lily.

None of the items above, though, can compare to the experience of blowing bubbles.

Sadly, I haven't been playing with bubbles much (aside from the bathroom of course), thinking that it was "childish" and "silly" if I did.  Truth be told, I have been buying bubble solution (or making our own) purportedly for my kids, when all the while, maybe, I was really the one who wanted to play, or at least, some forgotten part of me.

Maybe we would all be happier if we allowed ourselves to do childish and silly things...

So now I confess, I still love to blow bubbles, and it is only now that I have realized that it actually IS one of the things that make me happy. Such as simple thing, and yet, fascinating.

For all my friends who are willing to confess that they enjoy bubbles too, here are a few simple recipes:

Gumamela Bubble Recipe (we actually used to make this as kids :)

4 Gumamelas (Hibiscus) - pound until some slimy stuff come out
1 cup of water
some detergent

Exploratorium Bubble Recipe

2/3 cup Joy dishwashing liquid
1 gallon water
2-3 Tablespoons glycerin (I think you can find these at Mercury Drug)

Ok, am off to a toy store to buy me a bottle of happiness (or, if I am feeling up to it, make my own :)