My morning coffee ritual - a new book, my knitting, my water colors, a new candle, quiet moments in nature, birds, music, family, photographs, a text from my best friend, my morning walk
Reading about joy has sparked ideas about what brings joy to me. It’s been a hard year - losing my husband after he was ill for many years..learning to live alone and everything that goes with it. Yet simple little treasures can bring joy back. Thank you for posting this. ❣️
Michele what a brilliant post. I love it. I have not had the surgeries that you have had, but I have had cancer twice. I have faced a terminal disease at 19 and attacked that the same way you are describing with defiance and throughout my life (I'm 72 now) I have done that with everything I face. I'm a little overwhelmed and fatigued this year just because of all the work there has been for me but what gets me through everything is joy. For me joy is finding that quiet happiness in the little things each day. Since I was little, very little, I naturally had to find joy in whatever I could each day and that lead to a lifelong habit of feeling joy no matter what happened to me. Very often it meant reading and becoming part of that story, yes even when I was 4. Always I have found my joy in nature - the birds, the tiny things, the big things, so much. To me, toxic positivity is the absolutely worst. But finding joy in the simple things - that is where joy lives. I wish everyone who might read my reply (and even those who don't) the ability to find joy in the little things in their life. They are there - its just a mindset to be learned.
Zoie- what an incredible story of resilience you are. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us 🥰 it’s amazing how big the small things become when we start to take notice of them intentionally! 💛
It's two days to the start of spring where I live and we have just had the biggest snow storm of the season in the mountains. Nature doesn't play by our rules. That brings me joy - to know that we are part of it, not directing it!
I enjoy the warmth of the walk to the mailbox and seeing the valley before me. I love the big sky and seeing the different sections of cloud formations. This, just being in the moment brings me joy.
Looking up at the clouds and remembering what a miracle it is that we are hurtling through the cosmos in an environment that supports life. It's so easy to miss it and it takes my breath away every time!
Mary, truly. The things that take a million things working together to create the space we thrive in while blissfully unaware of them… it is such a miracle!
Joy is an act of resistance, and an act of defiance. And, as you so eloquently write, the seeds of joy are all around us. Love your idea of a Joy Garden. Plant the seeds, change the world.
The morning pot of coffee my husband makes me every day. My cats coming to great me at the door after work or snuggling up. My office plants growing and thriving. A call from my grown-up kids... Sunshine :)
Forgot to say... I may not write in my thankful journal every day, but I can read a bit of it every day, to remind me of all the things in my life that bring me joy.
My thankful journal. I don't write in it every day, just when I have something to record that I'm thankful for. A long slow sunset; a visit from my daughter; something growing in my garden; re-reading a book I love. Anything, big or small, that makes happy and glad. Joy!
I have always found joy in the little weeds and insignificant (I use that word with hesitation...) flowers and plants that I see on my walks with the dogs. A spider's web between two thistles, dew on the grass, the pattern and colours of leaves that have fallen. These small things lift me. And yes, the joy of seeing the seeds that I have planted (as well as the bulbs and tubers) starting to grow. So exciting and so delightful, and so full of promise.
So full of promise! And hi, I'm the woman with her plant identification app open, bending down to figure out what plants are growing around me and taking pictures of “weeds” in parking lots.
Andrea, knitting seems like it would be so soothing and meditative. I am hoping this winter to finally get out last year's supplies and start to learn knitting and crocheting. It's just so cozy, and seeing something appear from yarn, it's just magic. I also love embellishing my clothes with embroidery. Flowers growing out of my jean pockets—yes, please.
Andrea- that sounds like so much fun! As soon as I get my book proposal finalized with my agent, I may do exactly that and take you up under your offer! Thank you so much!
https://peggypolacek.com/
The day before this article this More Joy site went live! Affirmation! 🥳
Joy is outside for me. Interaction with nature and people. Concentrating every day on a kind of curtesy.
My morning coffee ritual - a new book, my knitting, my water colors, a new candle, quiet moments in nature, birds, music, family, photographs, a text from my best friend, my morning walk
Reading about joy has sparked ideas about what brings joy to me. It’s been a hard year - losing my husband after he was ill for many years..learning to live alone and everything that goes with it. Yet simple little treasures can bring joy back. Thank you for posting this. ❣️
Every night watching the bats 🦇 fly over head is my daily moment of joy
Michele what a brilliant post. I love it. I have not had the surgeries that you have had, but I have had cancer twice. I have faced a terminal disease at 19 and attacked that the same way you are describing with defiance and throughout my life (I'm 72 now) I have done that with everything I face. I'm a little overwhelmed and fatigued this year just because of all the work there has been for me but what gets me through everything is joy. For me joy is finding that quiet happiness in the little things each day. Since I was little, very little, I naturally had to find joy in whatever I could each day and that lead to a lifelong habit of feeling joy no matter what happened to me. Very often it meant reading and becoming part of that story, yes even when I was 4. Always I have found my joy in nature - the birds, the tiny things, the big things, so much. To me, toxic positivity is the absolutely worst. But finding joy in the simple things - that is where joy lives. I wish everyone who might read my reply (and even those who don't) the ability to find joy in the little things in their life. They are there - its just a mindset to be learned.
Zoie- what an incredible story of resilience you are. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us 🥰 it’s amazing how big the small things become when we start to take notice of them intentionally! 💛
It is isn't it!! Attention with intention! Many hugs and love to you. xoxo
It's two days to the start of spring where I live and we have just had the biggest snow storm of the season in the mountains. Nature doesn't play by our rules. That brings me joy - to know that we are part of it, not directing it!
I love that perspective, Cate! Nature's wildness is such an invitation to stand in awe of her beauty.
I enjoy the warmth of the walk to the mailbox and seeing the valley before me. I love the big sky and seeing the different sections of cloud formations. This, just being in the moment brings me joy.
Walks with beautiful views, such a source of joy!
Looking up at the clouds and remembering what a miracle it is that we are hurtling through the cosmos in an environment that supports life. It's so easy to miss it and it takes my breath away every time!
Mary, truly. The things that take a million things working together to create the space we thrive in while blissfully unaware of them… it is such a miracle!
Joy is an act of resistance, and an act of defiance. And, as you so eloquently write, the seeds of joy are all around us. Love your idea of a Joy Garden. Plant the seeds, change the world.
Flourishing as an act of defiance. I mean just look at what plants do to cement sidewalks! Joy seeds to change the world.
Exactly!
The morning pot of coffee my husband makes me every day. My cats coming to great me at the door after work or snuggling up. My office plants growing and thriving. A call from my grown-up kids... Sunshine :)
Those all sound like such lovely moments of connection and joy!
Forgot to say... I may not write in my thankful journal every day, but I can read a bit of it every day, to remind me of all the things in my life that bring me joy.
My thankful journal. I don't write in it every day, just when I have something to record that I'm thankful for. A long slow sunset; a visit from my daughter; something growing in my garden; re-reading a book I love. Anything, big or small, that makes happy and glad. Joy!
I love that! A thankful journal is a joy garden indeed!
I have always found joy in the little weeds and insignificant (I use that word with hesitation...) flowers and plants that I see on my walks with the dogs. A spider's web between two thistles, dew on the grass, the pattern and colours of leaves that have fallen. These small things lift me. And yes, the joy of seeing the seeds that I have planted (as well as the bulbs and tubers) starting to grow. So exciting and so delightful, and so full of promise.
So full of promise! And hi, I'm the woman with her plant identification app open, bending down to figure out what plants are growing around me and taking pictures of “weeds” in parking lots.
Knitting brings me soooo much joy every single day🧶
Yes!!!!! This and keeping a little sketchbook! But I admit to knitting more!!
Andrea, knitting seems like it would be so soothing and meditative. I am hoping this winter to finally get out last year's supplies and start to learn knitting and crocheting. It's just so cozy, and seeing something appear from yarn, it's just magic. I also love embellishing my clothes with embroidery. Flowers growing out of my jean pockets—yes, please.
I could teah you😍 I learn such al lot from you....time to give back a little
Andrea- that sounds like so much fun! As soon as I get my book proposal finalized with my agent, I may do exactly that and take you up under your offer! Thank you so much!