Reflections

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  1. m
    mma nwobi
    2 days ago

    family, bible, me

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      2 days ago

      I love that you listed yourself. Yes, we can bring joy being ourselves.

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    2 days ago

    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 💕

  3. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    2 days ago

    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. ♥.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 days ago

      Thank you for the chuckle, dear Sparrow.

    2. Cathie
      Cathie
      2 days ago

      Lol-Love it – “the others will feel left out,” I know what you mean 😉

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 days ago

        🙂

  4. Ose
    Ose
    2 days ago

    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.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      2 days ago

      You have a lovely group of friends,
      dear Ose . . . ♥

  5. Cathie
    Cathie
    3 days ago

    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:)

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 days ago

      “The ability to finish a sneeze -” 😊

    2. L
      Loc Tran
      2 days ago

      Kathy, I have trouble tolerating hot weather. A cool breeze is always nice.

    3. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 days ago

      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.

  6. Novalie Valdez
    Novalie
    3 days ago

    Three simple things that can bring me joy is my family, my best friend and the love that God has to give me.

  7. Richard51934
    Richard
    3 days ago

    1. Children being excited by simple things
    2. My morning cup of coffee in the middle of the day
    3. Clouds

    1. Michele
      Michele
      2 days ago

      My daughter and I just saw a heart shaped cloud the other day 💗☁

  8. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol Ann Conner
    3 days ago

    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/

  9. Brian
    Brian
    3 days ago

    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

  10. Barb C
    Barb C
    3 days ago

    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.)

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 days ago

      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.

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        2 days ago

        ”– 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 . . . ♥

  11. Meghan Ewanyk
    megmonarch
    3 days ago

    Coffee, live music, a good book

  12. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    3 days ago

    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.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      2 days ago

      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.

    2. Carol Ann Conner
      Carol Ann Conner
      3 days ago

      Willingness and surrender…Amen

  13. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    3 days ago

    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.

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 days ago

      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.

  14. pkr29022
    pkr
    3 days ago

    My morning cup of coffee & toast.
    Flowers.
    Classical music & birdsong.
    🕊️♥️

  15. Patti
    sunnypatti
    3 days ago

    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 🙂

    1. Michele
      Michele
      2 days ago

      EAGLES vs NY Jets pre-season tonight 💚🦅

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 days ago

        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 🙂

        1. Michele
          Michele
          19 hours ago

          they won! 19- 17 💚🦅

    2. L
      Loc Tran
      2 days ago

      Sunnypatti, I’m excited for the NFL season. It’s right around the corner. Just 2 weeks.

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 days ago

        After last night, I am super excited!

    3. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 days ago

      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.

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        2 days ago

        They are a very serious fan-base!

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