Tending the Fire: Joyful Moments
I'm not one for toxic positivity. We don’t need to find the silver lining of every circumstance. I'm also not one for dwelling in the blues if I can help it. We gotta feel to heal it, but we also need breaks from that which ails us. There's a sweet spot in there, I suppose. It probably comes back to mindfulness... noticing the pleasant and feeling it fully in that moment; noticing the unpleasant and feeling it fully in that moment. Then letting go when each moment comes to a close.
A friend asked me recently what a highlight of my summer was. "It wasn't my most adventurous summer," I told her. "I didn't kayak as much as last year, but it's the most I've ever loved watermelon."
Sometimes (a lot of the time) we look to BIG moments or adventures to catapult us into joy and dismiss the importance of the micro-joyful-moments that are sprinkled into our daily lives.
These joyful sprinkles are powerful and they deserve our awareness.
How about slowing down and naming some micro-joyful-moments as of late? Let's see if we can get to 10... I'll go first:
🐾 In the spring we got a second dog (a puppy!!). While getting a dog isn't a micro-moment, he (Milo) brings lots of daily joy. One of my favorites is the way one of his ears is always flipped inside out. How does it get like that? Whhyy does it stay? Why is it SO cute?
🍪 Trader Joe's pumpkin spice snickerdoodle cookies entered my life last month and I'm so glad they did.
🍂 The row of small red trees as I drive down my street (I could make a list of 10 trees I adore... maybe that's a different newsletter)
🫧 I took a bubble bath for the first time since getting a new water heater and it was so lovely! The water was so much warmer and I could top it off with more hot water as needed.
📺 Rewatching the Office. loling nightly.
🥂 Ok this one isn't necessarily a micro-moment, but it keeps popping up as I'm making this list so I'm including it: the hubs and I went on a trip recently with some friends and it was so.much.fun. Like soul-reviving fun.
🤤 Had the best churro of my life the other week. Every bite was savored.
🥳 A client had a big win and said they wouldn't be where they are without our time together. I was/am so happy and honored to get to be part of their story.
💃 omg y'all. I got a new pair of jeans that are reminiscent of the style I wore in high school. They're flares and I feel cool when I put them on.
💥 The sound of crunchy dried mud on my walk yesterday. So satisfying.
Ok! I didn't time myself, but I think that took about 5ish minutes, and it was really nice to reflect on some of the little things that have brought a smile to my face recently. Science shows that recalling happy memories can bring those feel-good sensations back again. Thanks, memories, for the lil’ brain-chemistry boost! 😘
So how about you, dearest reader? What are a handful of micro-joyful-moments that have been sprinkled into your days lately? Time with friends, pets, shows? Nature, music, food? There's no joy too small and no need to over think it-- the invitation is to jot down whatever comes to mind (no right or wrong). And if only three things, or one, come up, that's all good too. No judgment, just noticing. Appreciating. Once you make your list, check in: How did that feel? Does anything stand out to you from your list? (patterns? surprises?)
If you'd like your experiences witnessed, I'm here to receive! Send them my way anytime.
Otherwise, until next time, yours in puppy cuddles and bubble baths,
Shannah 🤍
Nurtured Founder & Coach
Micro-moments of joy can be easy to miss! What if you had a partner to help you tune in to what lights you up and gently let go of what doesn’t? Get in touch! I’d love nothing more than to explore this with you.