I love being a person who easily finds joy in lots of things. Sometimes I feel like a perpetual toddler–eyes wide to take in the dazzling world, unreasonably pleased by all the small things. Here are a few things that have brought me joy lately:
- The astonishing colors and patterns of tree bark
- How bright and silent the city is after fresh snow
- The vanilla cupcake smell of my favorite cat Chipotle (to be fair, everyone else says he smells like a cat but I always catch notes of vanilla cupcake when he leans against me)
- Finding a book I was just thinking about buying already on my shelf
- Checking off the last item on my to-do list
- Extra ice in an iced coffee
- Completing the daily Wordle
- Jorts the Cat
- The bursts of color that Detroit’s many murals provide in winter
- A collage of old stamps on a new letter from a penpal
What small things are bringing you joy?
*********
My theme for Slice of Life 2022 is finding inspiration in the writing of others. Each day I plan to find my slice in someone else’s words or forms. Today, I was struck by the wonderful observation of a seven-year-old in a post from Megan’s Mindful Minute: “Well, you do find joy in lots of things.” What a high compliment! Be sure to visit Megan’s blog and discover some of her “small joys.” Thanks for the inspiration to write today!
the dirigible plum 
30 responses to “Small Joys #sol22 2/31”
Checking the last item off my to-do list is one for sure …. for me candles burning when I first wake up, daffodils in every room in March, and my dog curled up beside me as I write in the early morning hours.
Beautiful list of small joys! I challenged myself NOT to include cats in my list, since they’re such a given for me, but of course I couldn’t resist. I can’t wait for daffodils!
The small list of ordinary celebrations is heart warming to read. “Checking off the last item on my to-do list” – is such a satisfactory accomplishment.
It’s surprisingly satisfying to have a completed list!
Thanks for reminding me to collect small joys. It just makes life a little happier.
Yes it does! I try to take photos of my small joys as well so that I can have a little dopamine boost simply by scrolling through a few photos on my phone!
Thank you, I think I have found inspiriation for today’s slice! I like lots of ice in my drinks too!
So glad you found some inspiration here! And someone will probably find inspiration in your post as well–a whole cascade of slicers inspiring slicers!
That’s a picturesque scene, a cascade – love it!
[…] What small things bring joy? Today I was inspired by another wrtiter’s post. You can read it here: https://thedirigibleplum.com/2022/03/02/small-joys-sol22-2-31/ […]
We all need to find joy in the small things happening around us. Thanks for this reminder that joy is there if we open our eyes to it.
The small things are my favorite! I feel like a squirrel, running around each day collecting little tiny treasures!
Thank you for sharing and for the reminder. Finding those small joys helps us to keep life in perspective. It is so easy to focus on the negative. I will be collecting my small joys for the rest of the day.
I hope you found some wonderful small joys to collect today!
That bark is beautiful! I think that the true gift is noticing what brings us joy!
My small joy this morning was one of my kittens snuggling up against me with so much love.
That is always the best kind of joy–kitten snuggles!
I didn’t realize how much I would love these kittens!
It’s the small things…
I know I already said this, but I love what are you are doing with your post inspiration!
Thank you! I’m glad to have a focus to keep me on track (and to narrow the possibilities each day), and it’s a fun way to highlight and honor other writers.
A great list of Joy, Elisabeth! I love the picture of the bark!
Isn’t it beautiful? I really need to figure out what kind of tree it is.
What a month we’ll have as we follow the inspiration you find in the writing of others. I’m hoping there will be some cat pictures!
There will most definitely be cat pictures galore! It had been so long since I last blogged that I couldn’t remember how to add photos to my blogs! By the time I figured out how to get the tree bark on here (and failed to resize it to a smaller, more normal size), I was too exhausted to add more lol.
You are an inspired inspiration. I love your list and I have no doubt Chipotle smells like vanilla cupcakes. My cat smells like licorice. And sometimes rosemary.
Licorice and rosemary. Of course! What a beautiful detail!
I read this post too, and thought it would be fun to try some day. You have captured some really magical sensory images.
Thank you! I realized as I was writing this that my joys tend to be very visual and olfactory.
Great plan for the month. As always, you are an inspiration. Love the idea of listing our joys. Tucking this away for a ‘rainy’ day. I want a cat that smells like vanilla cupcakes.
My family assures me that I am deluded by love for Chipotle and there is not even a hint of cupcake. But just this morning I sniffed his neck carefully and yep, there it was! Vanilla cupcakes!
OMG, I do love Jorts the Cat. When I read the initial internet post about him, I literally laughed so hard that I could not speak and had tears rolling down my face! It was very therapeutic. Also, I totally believe you that Chipotle smells like vanilla cupcakes. We have a new cat this year, and she absolutely completely smells like cinnamon roll frosting. I think it is the same waft of vanilla you get! Everyone else thinks I am nuts, of course.