Finding Joy in Life’s Simple Moments – Embracing Everyday Happiness

Although joy may be found in diamond earrings or a fancy hotel in Mexico, it is also found in the most common places, on the most common of days, when the wind is cold, and the sun isn’t shining.

I found many joys in the last few weeks.

I found it in the giggles of a 2-year-old.

Holding a newborn in my arms while she peacefully slept with smiles in her slumber.

Seeing a new mom so confident and seeing her challenges and hardships as temporary.

Being comforted and surrounded in love and feeling so nurtured in my space.

In a glass of wine meeting new people and discussing my most passionate subjects.

In the absolute squeal of seeing and hugging a friend I haven’t seen in twenty years, knowing that her sense of humor always brought me so many smiles. It was like finding an old, cherished toy from childhood and squeezing it with delight.

In seeing myself in a young adult who is navigating and figuring out her world which will save her years and years of heartache, her wisdom is something I am just slowly learning.

In a white sangria tower, surrounded by Mexican flags and decorations, while the six-month-old snow has started it’s thaw on the sidewalk.

In my daughter’s laugh and feeling so content in happiness, like seeing a friend and a version of yourself at the same time.

One after the other seeing old friends and family, coming out to support my message and passion.

At a beer fest with cherished old friends, making me feel twenty again and a good ole spark of mischief that had me knocking down a Jenga tower and close to being ushered out by security.

In a magical night with new and old friends, talking about the deep and mystical parts of life which fills my soul up in awe and wonder.

In a group of people who have lost more than I can ever imagine who find me the brave one, while I am in awe of their strength.

Having a body scrub and massage, and the feeling of peeling off the old winter skin, waiting for the freshness and newness of the spring to come.

Watching some of my favorite shows like they were theatre events for their finales.

Crawling into my heated blanket when I need a little bit of comfort and want to envelop myself in warmth.

While there were many more things that I could go on and on about, I’m guessing you get the picture and overall, the greatest joy that I can imagine is when I get to experience joy.

For me finding joy is finding a lost treasure. It has been digging through tunnels and following all kinds of different maps. It has been setbacks and roadblocks. It has been stop signs and full-on roll overs. It has been kicking the glass out of my overturned vehicle, getting cut with the jagged edges but surviving. It’s crawling onto the road and having all the people I love driving up and showering me in blankets, bandages, and love. It’s the chicken soup on a cold day.  It’s the rain in a drought. 

It’s everything to me to see and feel it again.  These are the moments that I am so thankful that I am still here and still fighting, and I won’t stop. I may lose this again, but the greatest part is knowing it exists and that I have the hope and will to find it again and again.

Chat again soon, 

Michelle