Attending small music events, travel, doing something FUN with family/friends
I am going to CT to have fun with my dear HS friends as a matter of fact tomorrow. We will go to the local
fair with music, animals etc and catch up on life 💕
Being with dear friends and loved ones does. Singing does; today there was a lovely opportunity to listen to my friend who is a pianist, playing my piano. She chose pieces of Schumann and of Chopin. It was so touching to listen to it and at the end, we could sing a piece in unison while she as well accompanied our singing with the piano. Cooking for my friends and sharing a meal together often brings much joy and happiness and reading and sharing here is always inspiring. Thank you for your being here and sharing also. Might be that the next 2-3 days, there could be difficulty to join in while possibly being somewhere without internet access. Just to let you know. May the new day be a peaceful day for all.
Funny, today I was trying to think of all the natural, absolutely free things that bring me joy-here are 3 of them:
The ability to finish a sneeze – I celebrate that each time!
A cool breeze when it is warm out – I say thank you out loud!
Gazing into the night sky when it’s clear – the immense feeling often goes deeper than even joy, although joy accompanies it:)
A good hearty sneeze is so satisfying! I’ll add to that, having a really good yawn that truly feels complete. Sometimes I have sort of a half-yawn that just doesn’t do it for me. I read somewhere that it needs to be big enough to give your eardrums a bit of a stretch, which gives me a chuckle but if I pay attention it does seem to track.
Feeding the birds and making sure they have water during the drought. Seeing or getting pictures of my great grandchildren. And last but not least, acts of kindness. “Be kind” is one of my favorite mantras.
Working in my garden on a calm, not too hot day, hearing the insects shrilling, smelling the bitter green of tomato plants as I prune or the aroma of herbs as I cut them for drying, looking at the growing things. Last weekend I also dug potatoes, which is extremely magical and satisfying. So much from one little chunk of potato!
My cat purring on my lap, which is actually extremely rare and has happened twice in the last three days. (He sits on my lap every morning and evening getting his tribute of chin skritches but usually doesn’t purr for me, only for my husband.)
I made myself stop at three since that was the question. More things:
– Hot coffee in the morning, which my sweetheart makes and brings to me.
– Hugs from my daughters, which actually aren’t simple because they involve travel in order to be within hugging radius.
– How quiet and peaceful our neighborhood is.
– Living in a town where total strangers smile and wave as they pass you.
– My improv group making me laugh until I cry (happened last night at rehearsal).
– Visiting my best friend who lives nearby, having tea and knitting together.
– Reading the kind of book that takes me into that world and keeps me there even after I turn the last page.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, because it hasn’t always been true, but, so many things bring me joy. Really, any time I can be captured by something and taken out of my mundane existence and brought into another reality. Even if it’s just for a minute. It’s not like I can just sit in the house and joy will find me. I mean, it might, but the odds are slim. It usually requires an action and some level of intention. So, three things, in no particular order or ranking, my morning coffee, riding my bike (downhill😁), and playing music and singing.
As I’m sitting here contemplating this, I’m realizing that the important part about finding joy, or even better, letting joy find me, is a cracking open of my hard exterior shell and being open and vulnerable. This can be a difficult and frightening process.
Like I have said many times and something that I have to remind myself of daily, is that, willingness and surrender are my main job here. If I can do these things and focus on kindness, joy will find me.
My morning coffee, Loc’s embrace, and the many accessible navigation apps that help people with low vision or blindness live an easier life. I’m grateful. I’m happy.
My Ngoc, I love your embrace too. Beyond that, I feel really comfortable with you expanded from my answer yesterday. You see me for me. I can be myself most naturally with you.
This delicious cup of coffee I’m having right now.
Holding hands with my husband.
Sunshine.
I’m going to my first NFL game tonight and am so excited! It’s a preseason game, but it will still be fun… Carolina Panthers vs Pittsburgh Steelers. My husband has been a Steelers fan all of his adult life, and he helped me become a fan. We like the Panthers as well – they’re our home team. I’ll be in a Steelers shirt but rooting for both. My husband thinks I have too many teams, but that’s his fault for making me love the game!
Go Eagles! They are on my list of teams I love! Funny, there was a guy in an Eagles jersey last night. Amidst all the black and yellow… and black and blue for the Panthers… an Eagle was flying 🙂
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family, bible, me
I love that you listed yourself. Yes, we can bring joy being ourselves.
Attending small music events, travel, doing something FUN with family/friends
I am going to CT to have fun with my dear HS friends as a matter of fact tomorrow. We will go to the local
fair with music, animals etc and catch up on life 💕
Three simple things?
Just three things?
If I pick three,
the others will feel left out.
Okay,
three things . . .
rainy days,
being loved and loving,
simply,
growing anything. ♥.
Thank you for the chuckle, dear Sparrow.
Lol-Love it – “the others will feel left out,” I know what you mean 😉
🙂
Being with dear friends and loved ones does. Singing does; today there was a lovely opportunity to listen to my friend who is a pianist, playing my piano. She chose pieces of Schumann and of Chopin. It was so touching to listen to it and at the end, we could sing a piece in unison while she as well accompanied our singing with the piano. Cooking for my friends and sharing a meal together often brings much joy and happiness and reading and sharing here is always inspiring. Thank you for your being here and sharing also. Might be that the next 2-3 days, there could be difficulty to join in while possibly being somewhere without internet access. Just to let you know. May the new day be a peaceful day for all.
You have a lovely group of friends,
dear Ose . . . ♥
Funny, today I was trying to think of all the natural, absolutely free things that bring me joy-here are 3 of them:
The ability to finish a sneeze – I celebrate that each time!
A cool breeze when it is warm out – I say thank you out loud!
Gazing into the night sky when it’s clear – the immense feeling often goes deeper than even joy, although joy accompanies it:)
“The ability to finish a sneeze -” 😊
Kathy, I have trouble tolerating hot weather. A cool breeze is always nice.
A good hearty sneeze is so satisfying! I’ll add to that, having a really good yawn that truly feels complete. Sometimes I have sort of a half-yawn that just doesn’t do it for me. I read somewhere that it needs to be big enough to give your eardrums a bit of a stretch, which gives me a chuckle but if I pay attention it does seem to track.
Three simple things that can bring me joy is my family, my best friend and the love that God has to give me.
1. Children being excited by simple things
2. My morning cup of coffee in the middle of the day
3. Clouds
My daughter and I just saw a heart shaped cloud the other day 💗☁
Feeding the birds and making sure they have water during the drought. Seeing or getting pictures of my great grandchildren. And last but not least, acts of kindness. “Be kind” is one of my favorite mantras.
Today’s reading from Richard Rohr is heavy duty food for thought. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/releasing-our-passions/
A hug; A smile; Seeing my 2 children healthy and happy; Time with my cat and dog; Sunlight on the ocean; Cool and quiet fall/spring mornings
Bird calls.
Working in my garden on a calm, not too hot day, hearing the insects shrilling, smelling the bitter green of tomato plants as I prune or the aroma of herbs as I cut them for drying, looking at the growing things. Last weekend I also dug potatoes, which is extremely magical and satisfying. So much from one little chunk of potato!
My cat purring on my lap, which is actually extremely rare and has happened twice in the last three days. (He sits on my lap every morning and evening getting his tribute of chin skritches but usually doesn’t purr for me, only for my husband.)
I made myself stop at three since that was the question. More things:
– Hot coffee in the morning, which my sweetheart makes and brings to me.
– Hugs from my daughters, which actually aren’t simple because they involve travel in order to be within hugging radius.
– How quiet and peaceful our neighborhood is.
– Living in a town where total strangers smile and wave as they pass you.
– My improv group making me laugh until I cry (happened last night at rehearsal).
– Visiting my best friend who lives nearby, having tea and knitting together.
– Reading the kind of book that takes me into that world and keeps me there even after I turn the last page.
And much, much more.
”– Reading the kind of book that takes me into that world and keeps me there even after I turn the last page.”
Yes, Yes, Yes,
dear Barb . . . ♥
Coffee, live music, a good book
I can’t believe I’m saying this, because it hasn’t always been true, but, so many things bring me joy. Really, any time I can be captured by something and taken out of my mundane existence and brought into another reality. Even if it’s just for a minute. It’s not like I can just sit in the house and joy will find me. I mean, it might, but the odds are slim. It usually requires an action and some level of intention. So, three things, in no particular order or ranking, my morning coffee, riding my bike (downhill😁), and playing music and singing.
As I’m sitting here contemplating this, I’m realizing that the important part about finding joy, or even better, letting joy find me, is a cracking open of my hard exterior shell and being open and vulnerable. This can be a difficult and frightening process.
Like I have said many times and something that I have to remind myself of daily, is that, willingness and surrender are my main job here. If I can do these things and focus on kindness, joy will find me.
Take care of the little things, and the big things take care of themselves. I was told that many years ago. Seems to work for me.
Willingness and surrender…Amen
My morning coffee, Loc’s embrace, and the many accessible navigation apps that help people with low vision or blindness live an easier life. I’m grateful. I’m happy.
My Ngoc, I love your embrace too. Beyond that, I feel really comfortable with you expanded from my answer yesterday. You see me for me. I can be myself most naturally with you.
My morning cup of coffee & toast.
Flowers.
Classical music & birdsong.
🕊️♥️
This delicious cup of coffee I’m having right now.
Holding hands with my husband.
Sunshine.
I’m going to my first NFL game tonight and am so excited! It’s a preseason game, but it will still be fun… Carolina Panthers vs Pittsburgh Steelers. My husband has been a Steelers fan all of his adult life, and he helped me become a fan. We like the Panthers as well – they’re our home team. I’ll be in a Steelers shirt but rooting for both. My husband thinks I have too many teams, but that’s his fault for making me love the game!
Have a great Thursday, everyone 🙂
EAGLES vs NY Jets pre-season tonight 💚🦅
Go Eagles! They are on my list of teams I love! Funny, there was a guy in an Eagles jersey last night. Amidst all the black and yellow… and black and blue for the Panthers… an Eagle was flying 🙂
they won! 19- 17 💚🦅
Sunnypatti, I’m excited for the NFL season. It’s right around the corner. Just 2 weeks.
After last night, I am super excited!
When I was in Pittsburgh several years ago, I got a chuckle out of bike lane stencils that had been adorned with Steelers helmets on the riders.
They are a very serious fan-base!