Montana Winter Blues: Small Things Making Your Neighbors Happy

Feeling exhausted and down in the dumps from Montana's crazy cold, windy weather? Winter can be downright unpleasant around here sometimes. Sure, playing in the outdoors is a huge reason why we live here but during those periods of weather when the fun stops? It can be a downer.

We (and your Montana cohorts) are here to help! It's not a magic wand, but we put together a list of "things that are making you happy these days".

We simply posed the question online and got DOZENS of responses back. Here are some of the best, keeping in mind that sometimes it's the little things that can pack a big punch.

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"I'm loving my new job. Have only been there a few weeks and it took me a while to find a job in my field after being unemployed during the thick of COVID. New starts are scary but taking a leap was one of the best things I've ever done."

"Legalized weed helps a lot."

"Cooking. My kitchen is a disaster. I don't really know what I'm doing and have never been good at it. This cold weather kept me home and I was alone for a few daytimes. Lucky for me stuff worked out and we ended up with really good dinners. And I cooked everything from scratch!"

"My son and I are restoring a car. We ordered a bunch of parts we need. We'll be ready to work on it when the weather gets warm."

"I gave myself a manicure at home and used a bright color and polka dots with another. It actually turned out pretty good and it makes me smile every time I see my hands."

"My wife gave me a mid-life crisis weight bench for Christmas. This week was the first time I used it and it was completely awesome. Turned up the tunes and worked out every day. The years are taking their toll but this made me feel like high school kid."

"It's been SOOOO COOOOLD but I bundled up one day and grabbed my camera. I'm no professional photographer but landscapes and wildlife are fun to capture. Got some of the best pretty pictures I've ever taken. Ever."

"Morning coffee, sunshine, reading funny books, planning trips to sunny places with palm trees and beaches. Simple stuff. But happy stuff."

"My car is old and didn't start for two days so I stayed home and wrote notes to a bunch of out-of-town friends. Don't have any stamps so when it warms up they'll get mailed. Better late than never."

"Getting ready for garden season. I organized seeds, planted some and ordered more. It's a little too early for a bunch of planting but it makes me happy so don't care."

"Last weekend 'the guys' met for breakfast. We hadn't done that in a very long time and it was good to bull**** and stuff."

"I was able to take a day off. Did lots of yoga. Just started so I'm just doing very easy stuff but it felt amazing and was very relaxing. Life has been stressful for me."