Yesterday was Thanksgiving, so I tasked myself with coming up with as many things that brought me joy and fulfillment as I am years old. As I wrote, I realized how much richness there is in small, often overlooked moments -- those little sparks that quietly shape our days, and add up to a successful and joyful year.
I’ve now grouped my list, since 62 random things is, er, reeeeeally random. Which of these bring YOU that momentary plip-pop of happiness?
Nature: sunrises, the smell of pine needles, the fuzzy feel of lambs ear, acorn mast years, the crunch of autumn leaves, the deep and humid stillness of caves, the color of fall leaves, Bob the raccoon and his (her?) begging ways, textured tree bark
Music & literature: Brahms (all of Brahms), T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, poetry, musical sequences with appoggiaturas, online Doctor Who, kazoos (and collecting kazoos and sharing kazoo wisdom)
Family & community: turkey with family, parallel play, the hubbub of togetherness, passenger seat productivity, the instantaneous transpacific chat world
Everyday joys: the smell of brewing coffee, warm-water showers, wool socks, the set of ten garden clippers so one is always to hand, bubbles in my seltzer, the light tug of a brush in my hair, chapstick, the potato masher – the most useful single-purpose tool, baby wipes as a cleaning tool
Activities and their accoutrements: walks at the beach, birding with dad, hiking boots, amazing artwork, arrows for archery practice, compost!, pickleball, another training (and one more than that), the garden cart, campfires (with marshmallows, or even without)
Specific joys: plans (they’re their own goodness!), books, so many books! a snuggle blanket on the couch, photo collections, birdseed, cat snuggles, a really juicy footnote, stretchable gloves , felt-tip pens, a good book on tape, a fuzzy hat with chin flaps, afternoon naps, frisbee
Teaching joys: That “we can do this” feeling at the start of a class discussion, the direction the discussion goes that you weren’t expecting, the lightbulb moments, medieval dancing
Foods: dilly bread, raspberries, peapods warmed by the sun, fresh-baked cookies, dehydrated apples with cinnamon and cloves, corn and popcorn and hominy and corn pudding, potstickers
Little sparks like these, when counted up, turn into a year full of happiness.
What is it that brings YOU that slight little “plip” of joy to your day?
