There is something I have learned about myself over the past few years, and it took longer than I’d like to admit. Joy does not usually arrive in big, dramatic moments. It sneaks in quietly, through the ordinary things you almost stop noticing.
I started paying attention to those things on purpose after a season that changed me. Loss has a way of doing that. It strips everything down and then, slowly, starts showing you what actually matters.
These are mine. The small, simple joys that help keep me moving forward, and honestly keep me feeling like myself on the days when that feels hardest.
1. My Morning Routine and a Good Walk
This one is non-negotiable for me. Before the noise of the day starts, before my phone fully pulls me in, I need a little time that belongs to no one else. Most mornings that looks like a walk. Just me, whatever is blooming outside, and enough quiet to think clearly or not think at all.
It does not have to be long. It does not have to be fast. It just has to happen. When I skip it, I feel the difference by noon.
This weighted vest gives me a little more workout to the walk.
2. Coffee in My Yeti Mug
I know this sounds small. It is small. That is exactly the point.
There is something about pouring my coffee into that mug every single morning that feels like a small act of taking care of myself. It stays hot. I actually finish it. And for about twenty minutes I sit with it and just exist before the day takes over. Here is the one I use if you want to grab one yourself. Check it out here on Amazon.
3. Music in the Background
I am a firm believer that the right music can completely change the energy of a room and the energy of a person.
When I am working, I have something soft playing. When I am cooking, it gets a little louder. When I need to shake off a mood, music is my medicine.
4. Window Bird Feeders
I have completely fallen in love with watching the birds fly right to my windows to have a bite. There are so many that visit daily. And the colors! Amazing. When the Cardinal or Blue Jay shows up, I know it’s a special visitor. These are the ones I have!
5. Remembering Molly
I lost my dog Molly not long ago, close to losing my mom, and there are still moments in an ordinary day when it just hits again.
Sometimes it is the morning walk, because she was always right there beside me for it. Sometimes it is just a quiet moment where the house feels different than it used to.
I do not think grief ever fully leaves. I think it just changes shape over time and starts living alongside you instead of on top of you. Molly taught me a lot about simple joy, actually. She found it in everything. Every single day.
If you are carrying something like that right now, something that does not have a clear name, I want you to know you are not alone in it. I put together something for women in exactly that place. It is called When A Season Ends and it is completely free. You can get your free copy here.
What’s On Your Simple Joy List?
I really do believe that noticing these things is a practice. It does not always come naturally, especially when life feels heavy. But the more you look for small joys, the more you actually find them.
If you are working on building a little more momentum and consistency in your days, that is exactly what my 3-Win Daily Momentum Workshop is about. No pressure, just know it is there.
And I would love to know: what is one simple joy you keep coming back to? Drop it in the comments. I read every single one.
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