Small Joys #sol22 2/31

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?

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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!


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30 responses to “Small Joys #sol22 2/31”

  1. Clare Landrigan (@ClareLandrigan) Avatar

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      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!

  2. Terje Avatar
    Terje

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      It’s surprisingly satisfying to have a completed list!

  3. margaretsmn Avatar
    margaretsmn

    Thanks for reminding me to collect small joys. It just makes life a little happier.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      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!

  4. Patricia J Holloway Avatar

    Thank you, I think I have found inspiriation for today’s slice! I like lots of ice in my drinks too!

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      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!

      1. Patricia J Holloway Avatar

        That’s a picturesque scene, a cascade – love it!

  5. SOL 2022 Day 2 – A Space for my Creative Efforts Avatar

    […] 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/ […]

  6. arjeha Avatar

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      The small things are my favorite! I feel like a squirrel, running around each day collecting little tiny treasures!

  7. rdicarne Avatar

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      I hope you found some wonderful small joys to collect today!

  8. Trina Avatar
    Trina

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      That is always the best kind of joy–kitten snuggles!

      1. Trina Avatar
        Trina

        I didn’t realize how much I would love these kittens!

  9. Leigh Anne Eck Avatar
    Leigh Anne Eck

    It’s the small things…

    I know I already said this, but I love what are you are doing with your post inspiration!

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      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.

  10. Melanie Meehan Avatar

    A great list of Joy, Elisabeth! I love the picture of the bark!

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      Isn’t it beautiful? I really need to figure out what kind of tree it is.

  11. Ramona Avatar

    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!

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      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.

  12. jarhartz Avatar

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      Licorice and rosemary. Of course! What a beautiful detail!

  13. carwilc Avatar

    I read this post too, and thought it would be fun to try some day. You have captured some really magical sensory images.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      Thank you! I realized as I was writing this that my joys tend to be very visual and olfactory.

  14. Susan Kennedy Avatar

    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.

    1. Elisabeth Ellington Avatar

      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!

  15. karpenglish Avatar

    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.

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