It’s The Simple Things

Daily writing prompt

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

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Without a doubt, we are the architects and construction crew for how we define “our life.” The highs and lows, the good and bad and the neutral day-to-day in life are going to happen regardless of what we think and or do about it.

The key is what we do about or react to those things that happen. It is how we react or deal with “life” that in many regards points us in the direction of how we deal with what brings joy into our lives.

Unfortunately, there are many folks I’ve known over the years who are always seeking the next big “joy or high” in their life. Not a drug or substance-induced high, but the next big thing to bring them joy and make them happy. The bigger and better the toys; the more exotic the vacation; the better and more exclusive area to live.

You get the idea here. Always wanting and chasing the “next better thing” thinking this will bring more joy into my life. But chasing the next better thing is like a drug addiction. The euphoria of the latest bigger and better thing eventually wears off leading folks to seek out the “next bigger and better.”

I’ve been around a long time. Yes, not as long as some, but I have enough skin in the game to have figured out the joy isn’t from bigger and better.

No, joy in life lies in the simple things.

• A quiet morning sitting on the back deck having a coffee.
• Chatting with my daughter on the phone.
• A day strolling along the waterfront in Halifax.
• An afternoon driving throughout the countryside with Lynn.
• Saturday morning farmers markets.
• Completing a new painting.

These are just a few things off the top of my head early on a Saturday morning.

Part of the key to this(at least I think it is) is loving ourselves; and being comfortable with who we are.

When we’re there or at that point, joy can be found in anything. But, when we’re not comfortable with who we are, we’re unsettled so to speak and seek or strive for joy in the “bigger and better” to make us feel good about ourselves. If we take that more exotic vacation, that will bring me joy.

One day and this is for certain, we’ll all look back and realize that it was those seemingly insignificant moments in our lives that held the greatest amount of joy.

Some of us will have nailed it; others of us not so much.

–as always with love–

— get outdoors; find inspiration; discover yourself —