Ever get stuck on a word game or just find yourself staring at a blank greeting card trying to think of something—anything—positive that begins with the letter "I"? It’s a weirdly specific problem. But honestly, when you dig into it, some of the most comforting, delicious, and intellectually stimulating parts of life are anchored by this skinny little letter. We aren't just talking about "ice cream," though obviously, that’s a heavy hitter. We are looking at the stuff that makes life feel a bit more intentional.
The unexpected joy of the "I" words
Language is funny. Some letters feel harsh, but "I" usually feels personal. It's the letter of the self, but also the letter of connection. Think about incandescence. It’s a nerdy word for light, sure, but it describes that warm, physical glow from an old-school lightbulb or a sunset that hits just right. It’s a nice thing. It’s a vibe.
Then you have ingenuity. Have you ever watched someone fix a broken sink with nothing but a rubber band and a prayer? That’s ingenuity. It’s that human spark of "I can figure this out." It feels good to witness. It feels even better to do it yourself.
Ice cream and the science of the "brain freeze"
We have to talk about it. It’s the king of the "I" list. Whether it’s a high-end gelato from a shop in Florence or a melted sandwich from a gas station freezer, ice cream is universally recognized as a "nice thing."
But why?
There is actual chemistry here. Dr. Steven Witherly, a food scientist who wrote Why Humans Like Junk Food, talks about "dynamic contrast." Ice cream has it in spades—the transition from solid to liquid in your mouth triggers a specific reward response in the brain. Plus, the fat content mimics the caloric density our ancestors craved for survival. Basically, your brain thinks you’ve hit the jackpot every time you grab a spoon.
Intimacy that isn't just about romance
We often hear the word intimacy and think of candlelit dinners. But the nicer version, the one that actually sustains us, is "social intimacy." It’s the ability to sit in a room with a friend and say absolutely nothing for two hours without it being weird. It’s the inside jokes. It’s inclusion.
Being included is one of the most basic human needs. In 1995, psychologists Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary formulated the "belongingness hypothesis." They argued that humans have an almost biological drive to form and maintain lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships. When you get that "I" word—inclusion—your cortisol levels actually drop. It’s a biological "nice thing."
The "I" foods that actually taste good
Let’s be real: some lists of "nice things" include stuff like "icicle radishes." Nobody actually wants an icicle radish for a snack. Let's look at the stuff you actually want on your plate.
Icing. Obviously. The ratio of cake to icing is a deeply personal debate, but a world without buttercream is a sadder world.
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Iced coffee. This has become a personality trait for half the population at this point. Even in a blizzard, people are out there clinking their ice cubes. It’s about the ritual. The "clink" of the ice against the plastic or glass is a sensory trigger that says, "the day has started, and we might actually get something done."
Italian bread. There is something about the crust-to-crumb ratio of a proper Italian loaf. It’s a vessel for olive oil. It’s a sidekick to pasta. It’s reliable.
Idli. If you haven't had these steamed rice cakes from South India, you’re missing out on the ultimate comfort food. They are fluffy, fermented, and basically a warm hug for your stomach.
Finding "I" in the natural world
Nature does "I" really well. Iridescence is one of those things that looks like magic but is actually just physics. Think of a peacock feather, a soap bubble, or the back of a beetle. The colors shift because the physical structure of the surface interferes with light waves. It’s a visual "nice thing" that reminds us that the world is much more complex than it looks on the surface.
Islands. The very concept of an island represents an escape. Whether it’s a tiny spit of sand in the Caribbean or a rugged, foggy rock off the coast of Maine, islands represent a boundary. You are "in" or you are "out." There is a psychological phenomenon called "islandness"—the feeling of being in a distinct, manageable world. It’s why we love them. It’s why we vacation there. It’s why we dream about them when we’re stuck in traffic.
Iris. Both the flower and the part of your eye. The flower is a perennial favorite because it’s hardy and comes in colors that almost look fake. The iris in your eye is unique to you—more unique than a fingerprint. That’s a pretty nice thing to think about.
The intellectual side: Insights and Ideas
Ideas are the currency of the world. There is no feeling quite like the "aha!" moment when a new idea clicks. It’s a hit of dopamine.
Then there is independence. It’s a heavy word, but a nice one. It’s the first time you drove a car alone. It’s the first paycheck you spent on something "frivolous." It’s the ability to choose your own path.
Why "Interest" is an underrated virtue
Being interested is better than being interesting. When you are interested in something—a hobby, a person, a weird historical fact about 18th-century buttons—you are engaged with the world.
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Inquisitiveness keeps the brain young. Studies from the Journal of Happiness Studies (yes, that’s a real academic journal) suggest that curious people have higher levels of life satisfaction. They don't get bored as easily. They find "nice things" where other people just see a blank wall.
Surprising "I" things that deserve more credit
- Insolation: Not to be confused with insulation. It’s the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area. Basically? It’s sunshine. It’s the literal warmth on your skin.
- Improvisation: Whether it’s jazz or a comedian recovering from a heckler, watching someone create in real-time is exhilarating.
- Illustrations: Think about the books you loved as a kid. The pictures made the story real.
- Incense: For some, it’s too much. But for others, the smell of sandalwood or jasmine is an instant "off" switch for stress.
The psychology of "I" and identity
We spend a lot of time thinking about "I" as in "myself." This can be a trap, leading to ego and stress. But introspection—looking inward—is actually a superpower if you do it right.
It’s about integrity.
Doing what you say you’re going to do. Being the same person in the dark that you are in the light. It’s a "nice thing" that provides a bedrock for a good life. When you have integrity, you don't have to keep track of your lies. You just exist. It’s a massive energy saver.
Is "Information" a nice thing?
In the age of doomscrolling, information can feel like a burden. But illumination—the kind of information that clears up confusion—is a relief. Think about the moment you finally understand how your taxes work, or why your sourdough starter keeps dying. That clarity is a gift.
A quick look at "I" in tech and gaming
In the world of gaming, immersion is the holy grail. It’s that feeling when the real world disappears and you are in the game. Developers at studios like Bethesda or Rockstar spend years trying to perfect this. It’s why the sound of wind in Skyrim or the lighting in Red Dead Redemption 2 matters so much.
In tech, we have innovation. We throw that word around a lot in business meetings, but at its core, it’s just someone finding a better way to do something. The "I" in iPhone or iMac originally stood for "internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire," according to Steve Jobs in 1998. Regardless of how you feel about big tech, those five "I" words are objectively nice goals.
The "I" words we often overlook
We shouldn't forget infinity. It’s a terrifying concept if you think about it too long, but it’s also beautiful. It means there’s always more. More to learn, more to see, more to experience.
And instinct. That gut feeling that tells you to take a different way home or to trust a new person. It’s your internal hardware running a billion calculations a second based on past experiences. It’s nice to know your body is looking out for you.
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Why "Improvement" is better than "Perfection"
Perfection is a lie. It’s boring. Improvement, on the other hand, is a journey.
Seeing yourself get 1% better at a language or a sport or even just being a more patient person is incredibly rewarding. It’s the "I" word that keeps us moving forward.
Practical ways to bring more "I" into your life
If you're looking to actually use this information rather than just reading a list of words, think about how these "nice things" can be integrated into a standard Tuesday.
- Indulge intentionally. Don't just eat the ice cream; sit down, put your phone away, and actually taste the vanilla. That’s intensity—another "I" word—applied to a simple pleasure.
- Invite someone. Inclusion starts with an invitation. Send a text. It takes ten seconds and can change someone's entire week.
- Identify a new interest. Go down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. Find something you didn't know existed and learn three facts about it.
- Increase your "insolation." Get outside for ten minutes. Even if it's cloudy, the lux levels (light intensity) are significantly higher outdoors than under office LEDs.
The nuance of "I"
Not everything that starts with "I" is a sunset and rainbows. Irritation exists. Isolation is real. But the "nice" things—the inspirations, the investments in ourselves, the impact we have on others—usually outweigh the negatives if we’re paying attention.
It’s easy to overlook the small stuff. We wait for the big "I" events—the inaugurations, the inheritance, the international trips. But the small "I" moments, like the ink on a handwritten note or the irony of a funny situation, are what fill up the gaps.
Moving forward with intention
The best way to wrap your head around all these "nice things" is to pick one and lean into it today.
Maybe you need more imagination in your work. Maybe you need more intimacy in your relationships. Or maybe you just need a big bowl of Italian gelato.
Whatever it is, the letter "I" has you covered. It’s a versatile, personal, and surprisingly deep category of life's little wins.
Next steps for you:
Look at your current surroundings and find three things starting with "I" that you're grateful for. It could be your intellect, your iPhone, or the ivory color of your walls. Then, take five minutes to do something intentional—whether that's a quick meditation (inner peace) or planning an impromptu walk. Focus on the quality of the experience rather than just checking it off a list.