Alright, often the teen years are complicated, but there's always something good. What makes (or made) you happy as a teen? When I was a teen, I would definitely have had to say that choir was something that made me happy. I can remember that my proudest moment in high school was when I received a good score at the music competition and advanced to the state level. That was great. Yes, I realize that makes me a geek.

Hanging out with friends was definitely another. My friend, Jason, was definitely one I preferred spending time with, and no I wasn't like in love with him or anything. He was just a really good friend! I miss him sometimes though... Oh well! I'm still happy about the time I did spend with my friends at school even if it was a time where nobody actually knew the real me. Partying was another one, but I didn't do that too often. I would never promote that past-time though.

I'm still in my teens and I still enjoy hanging out with my friends. Writing brings a smile to my face as does all the editing I do for my friends. Being with my Mom and sister makes me laugh and I like going to school (not the exams, though)...

I guess there are a lot of things that make me smile and be happy.

BeaStKid

Reading for me
Especially Fantasy stories, I think that's because I wanted to run away (in my thoughts) to another place, where the rules of this world didn't apply
And playing (online) games, for the same reason I think

As a teen I loved to spend a lot of time reading in my room - sci-fi, fantasy, history, and I averaged 5-6 books per week in winter.

I was especially happy singing in the choir or playing trumpet in the orchestra.

I had three very close friends (originally 5, but two died, one at 15 and the other at 18) with whom I really enjoyed cycling, hiking, camping (in tents!!) and anything else that gave me an excuse not to be home.

Kit

Reading was big thing for me too, but I seem to have lost that abit. my friends made me the happiest though when I found them. doing anything with them was great. i also liked achieving things, challenging myself and trying new things, not sure how happy that made me though, it was often very stressfull, still is, Im still putting myself up for difficult things. but i do get a sense of achievment or something from it otherwise I would be content not pushing myself.

celia

I had not really discovered writing at that point in my life. I would probably have liked it just as much though.

There were definitely some fun times. I can remember a couple of times, there was a school-sponsored trip to Branson which was awesome. We would go to Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills. The next day was bad, but those trips were a lot of fun. Sometimes I miss it, but I still prefer being an adult.

I'm still a teen (18), so I'll list the things that make me happy now.

• My partner Doug. We're really partners, registered California Domestic Partners since last November. We're also roommates in the dorm.
• My folks, my sisters (14 and 11), and my adopted brother Chris. For me they're the perfect family and I love them unconditionally -- which is how they love me.
• School. I'm starting my sophomore year in college and I'm having a great time. Football team sucked last year, but maybe this year...
• Friends. I've always had a fairly large group of friends, and still do. It was great getting together with a bunch of them this summer when they were home from where they'd been going to college.
• Hiking. I've love to go hiking, and there are hundreds of miles of trails near where I live. Sweet!
• Reading. I love to read, book I can hold in my hands and online that I can read on my computer screen. My favorite kind of story? Science Fiction.
• Writing. I'd love to be an author. But I'm aware that I probably won't be able to make a living by being a writer. So I'll go into computer science, and write as a hobby, as something I love to do. I've taken writing courses, and I've been writing a lot of stories and even some poems. No, none of them are here on GA. I'm hosted on Codey's World where I'm able to do my own web pages and story graphics, something not possible for me to do here.That lets me combine two of my interests: writing and web development.

Colin

Awww

LOL, I'll go with Colin! His posts always perk me right up


On the other hand he wasn't around when I was a teen (well thankfully he was, I'm not that old ), but yeah when I was a teen I had the most awesome time! I had a really great group of close friends, but I was also good friends with lots of other different groups so I never got bored and I always had lots to do after school and on the weekend. I rather liked school too. I really enjoyed the school where I went and I had fun in most of my classes.

When I was a teen my friends and I had a wide variety of hobbies and interests. Sometimes we'd get together for something typical like dinner and a movie, but we'd also often do big poker nights. Or we'd go to the horse track. Or maybe spend the weekend at the beach. LOL, or just party hopping

I had a really great family environment too. I couldn't have asked for better

Looking back though, I'd say one of the things I actually appreciated the most - or at least appreciate in retrospect - was the lack of housework. It was pretty awesome that someone would just do my laundry for me, and I could just come home and take a nap and wake up to a fully cooked meal. And really I don't mind doing those things for myself very much, it was just nice not having to deal with them.

Anyway, I've been quite lucky. I was very blessed in terms of family, friends, background, etc., and apart from all that I'm naturally prone to happiness and being in a good mood. I usually get over bad stuff pretty quickly too. Usually just being awake - or asleep for that matter - is enough to put me in a good mood.


Take care all,
Kevin

My two or three close friends make me happy especially my best friend and soon to be roommate Kevin. He's one of the few people that really understands me, and he says I'm one of the few people that understands him.
Going to the park, smoking cigarettes, and writing poetry makes me happy. Drinking coffee makes me happy. Enjoying simple pleasures makes me happy.
Doing mindless manual labor like I did yesterday (helping an old couple move) makes me happy. And to everyone who said reading makes them happy, it makes me really happy to. Even though I get down on my self sometimes I'm really a very lucky person with a wonderful family and great friends. Which seems to be a rare thing for some people my age, I feel very blessed. The only major hurdle I have coming up in the next few months is coming out to the parents. It will be all down hill from there I hope.

That's awesome dude!

And I'm sure it'll go great with your parents!

Watch the cigs though okay

I'll agree with everyone who said reading. Reading is very enjoyable.

As a teenager myself, many things make me happy. These include:
~Belting out songs that are meaningful to me (and sometimes some that aren't so much).
~Chocolate...
~Dancing. It's my life, and it's what I love.
~Art. Drawing, painting, designing.
~My friends, mis amigas, etc. They are simply amazing people who I love to be around.
~playing my keyboard. even though I'm not too good and am out of practice.
~Traveling. I've been very blessed to have been able to go to all the places that I have, and I've had a blast doing it. It really is a lot of fun.
~Writing. Especially poetry, and especially when I have inspiration and on a roll


~Mikie

Cigarettes are bad for you. I just quit recently. They may make you happy now, but eventually the coughing and the smelling like an ashtray will make smoking lose it's charms. Now, poetry is good. I wish I had started writing poetry back then, because it would have made me happy.

Just to make everyone feel better about the cigarette comment I hope to quit after I come out to my parents. I have also cut down a lot from what I used to smoke, its gone from 2 packs a week (40 cigarettes) to maybe a half a pack or less a week (I don't feel like I need to smoke anymore but it still helps a lot when I'm stressed or sad). Thanks for caring enough to say something though. And Tiger I've found that writing poetry has probably been the best thing for me especially in the past few months. It allows you to get all of your emotions out when you otherwise might not be able to.

Hanging out for hours with friends or chatting, Reading stories. listening to music, going places etc.

Oh, I forgot one most important thing that gets my spirits up -----> Mountaineering..

BeaStKid

Okay...
I believe I may actually have a problem with what makes me happy.
jk
I REALLY love shopping!
It fills me with happiness unparalleled by any other thing that I do.
Mostly, it's just clothes. and SHOES!
But I swear! I could get just as excited if I had to go shopping for anything else. Even weird stuff!
The other day, I had to go shopping for materials when I was repainting my room. I got SOOOO into it. I even totally redecorated. It was so FUN.

But the part about it being a problem was just a joke. Sometimes I just think I shop too much.

Aside from all that, I also REALLY love to paint. And weld. And sculpt.
And just pretty much create things in general.

I think it's really interesting to see just how much we all enjoy doing the same stuff.
Pretty much every single person who's responded has put reading.

So I think it would be completely remiss to forego saying it myself. I like to read too. There. I said it.

Oh yah i also love to do a little of this, , and also a little of this, .

Of the latter, I just have to say, I'm alittle bit of a work-aholic. I just really love being productive. Ha.

So yah. That's all.
all of those thing make me happy.

Seeing as this is a forum about (gay) literature, it's no surprise really

What makes me happy? Well there are so many different things that do this for me.

For one, I love to go running. There's nothing better then running your stress away and getting in shape. While everyone doesn't share this sentiment, there are medical studies behind this that say when you exercise (either by working out at a gym or by running or something of the like) that it releases different chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. I also like it because it gives me time to think and listen to some music.

Another thing that makes me happy is music. I love to find different songs that match my mood and just listen to it and let the meaning of the songs take hold of me. It can be very relaxing and sometimes it can lead you to discovering a band that you haven't heard in a long time and get back into them (I used to listen to The Killers then they went to the wayside, but now I found them again and I can't get enough of them).

Also hanging out on Gay Authors, to me, is a whole bunch of fun. Between the stories and members and the fourms, it's guarenteed to bring a smile to your face.

Eric

Well I am indeed a teen, haha. So I do enjoy running with my XC and Track team. And I also do enjoy playing music. A lot of you guys had singing (in a choir) in yours... that WAS one of my favorites. But my jerkass director totally kicked me out of the concert, the night of the concert..... soooo not so much anymore. I also very much love time with my friends. They're so great, except some of my friend's friends hate me... but I got past that.

What makes me happy? Hmmm.....gonna have to think about this one..get back to me in a week^^ lol but really? what makes me happy is dancing, reading, TV, video games, my freinds and family, my stuffed animals, cats, coffee, the internet, tea, british people, and food. alot makes me happy and this is not all of it, but its all im giving to you^^

Dude! That makes me really happy too!

Who can be sad when they have a hot new outfit and some brand new furniture?

BTW, welcome to the forums


And welcome to you as well, Freindly! Those are some nifty things and many of them make me happy as well


Take care all!
Kevin

Well, I know what makes me happy now. New episodes of Desperate Housewives makes me happy. Also, I am inspired to write again. Yippee!

Reading's a given. Writing seems obvious.

I actually like this topic, it made me stop and think...and I might have actually thought it, but the same things that made me happy back in high school, still make me very happy now, moreso because, I think now, I appreciate them so much more.

First and foremost, my friends. I have pretty good ones, most of them, I met during high school. They were my family when I didn't have one and taught me quite a bit about what makes a family. They make me happy.

Camping always has made me happy. Fishing and swimming and all the other things you do when you go camping.

Traveling!!! Never fails to put me in a good mood. Nothing like driving down the interstate, belting out the lyrics to mah jams, windows down, music up enough to overpower my horrible voice.

Dancing. And partying. I don't really see a problem with partying, I love it even, especially with good friends. All things in moderation, though....o_O

what made me happy as a teen is that I hang out a lot with my close friends. Go to coffee shops, "window shopping" or "actually shopping" (every saturday), go to the beach and just "chill", in general.

Also, there's, um, being in a relationship. Just to feel the warmth of the man I love beside me makes me so much happy.

What makes me happy?

That's easy! Friends is obviously a first -- its what makes living worthwhile! Partying, dancing and playing video games with them. And talking, too. Its amazing how fast a fun conversation can bring a smile to your face.

Writing, reading, and drawing as well, though I'd have to say writing and reading makes me happiest, 'cause I get to like, escape from school stress and stuff.

Playing the piano. I love listening to the latest tunes that move me, and then learning how to play them myself. It can be challenging, and very satisfying.

Badminton! Love it lots. Also a very good stress reliever.

And finally, I'd have to say travelling. Although it can be tiresome, I find that I'm always in a good mood while on trips around the world, whether its just with my family or with friends.

That's great wings

Friends are important to me, and a great person to confide in. Espically when you cannot tell a boyfriend/girlfriend or family.

The group I've suddenly found myself belonging to. I suppose that goes under Friends; but just saying 'friends' seems so... It doesn't describe the sheer feeling of I'm so happy right now I could die when we're together, the very literal tightening in my chest when I realize that this is the way my life should always have been and be, and that if I ever lose this connection with these people, I'll have nothing left to live for.

That's just... It. There's other things in life that make me happy - like music, and horse riding, which I haven't done in five years, and the choir class once a week when the whole school gathers and seventy peoples voices melt into one - but those things seem almost unimportant, dull when confronted with the feeling of contentedness ('s that a word?) and warmth when I'm surrounded by the people I love and the people I know will accept me no matter what happens.

*shrug* But perhaps, that's normal and I only feel like they're special because I had such a hard time making friends before.

And Kit - I'm just... Really, really sorry about the death of your friends *hugs*. Nobody deserves to die that young.

I like hanging out with friends, and, of late, I'm thinking nostalgically of just spending time with my family. Playing piano is a great way to forget the world for an hour or so. But what really makes me happy is writing creatively -- prose, poetry, music. It's torture, but it's... ah, let's just say it's the sweetest torture in the world -- especially in the moments just before and just after the end of a piece. It's like figuring out a really hard math problem all by yourself, and knowing you're right.

Running makes me happy, and my friends that do it with me also. Music is also something that i like, but only to listen to, playing music is sooo not my thing. Oddly enough i like to go to school, when i am there i get to see all of my friends, so it is awesome. That's all i can really think of at the moment...

p.s. oh yeah, reading too.

On a total first thing to pop into my head type of response:

Noodles
Computer Games.


Though I may just try and have a think of something a little deeper....

HAHAHA!

when i first read this thread I knew you'd reply something like that

I think happiness can be found in many many things, it's all about how we perceive things, and I think at the end of the day it's down to us to "BE" happy...

aristotle put it nicely - happiness depends upon oneself


things that put a smile on my face are similar to ones previously listed

spending time with family + friends
partying, especially dancing like no bodies watching, and just spinning around like you don't have a care in the world.
getting into a fresh bed, (with lavender under the pillow) the snug feeling is AWESOME
finishing a run after you've really pushed yourself (even though i rarely do so atm)

slightly different tho

a cup of hot tea on a cold day (or any day) - it's better than chocolate...
champagne - always makes me giggle like a school girl.
Stand up comedy acts - thats what they're there for
(joan rivers, wanda sykes, jo brand, alan carr etc)
my cat - he does the funniest/stupidest things ever
Driving - especially when you can seriously belt it down a country lane

The suffering of my enemies.

That twitch that they make when you twist the blade is espically satisfying.

But James...
I really can't believe that anyone as sweet as you actually has ANY enemies!


Kit

Hanging out with friends, or the boy...

But if i'm alone... listening to some music and writing (which i've been letting slide atm )

Eric

Yep yep!



Woot. I was constantly reading. I would stay up till past midnight and mom would make me turn off my light. LOL

Domluka's stories made me very happy!


Growing up I was always a bit strange so in high school I kinda gathered all the strange kids together and we had our own group. That was lots of fun and our group made me extremely happy.

Writing, being in the Young Writers Group and volunteering at the library also made me happy.

And YAOI! I was known as the "Yaoi Goddess" in my group!

Oh god, running drives me insane. I'm perfectly fit enough to go running more often than I do, but the crippling boredom actually makes it hurt that little bit more. Some people have the mental strength to think of the end and nothing more, but my mindset is something more like 'god, I could be doing a million other things right now' and then all I can think of is how much my legs hurt haha.

I do like walking, though. Sunday walks with my iPod are the best.

1. A good Bacon Cheeseburger.

2. When a batch of Fudge turns out right.

3. When my holiday baking turns out right.

4. When my holiday baking is done!

5. A Good book, a comfortable chair, a cup of good hot chocolate, soft music...and my cat...