The simple things can bring a smile to your face
If you’re up early and catch a sunrise, it can put you on the path to making it a good day.
As we begin this new and hopefully better year, I’ve discovered that it is the simple things that bring smiles and a respite from the fray. Certainly, last year was a hard year, but here you are, looking forward to better times.
You can start by looking for the simple things that can bring you joy. It could be a fond memory, an unexpected encounter or a surprise happening. Or it could be something as insignificant as a balloon dancing. Yes, I said a balloon dancing.
During the last week of 2020, as I was busily delivering birthday goodies to the doors of Brittany Pointe residents who had
birthdays, someone stopped me in the hallway to ask a question. As I paused to answer her, I realized that the green helium-filled balloon at the end of the ribbon tether that I held tight in my hand had begun to dance.
I don’t mean gently move as a result of momentum. I mean it danced as if it had a mind of its own. It was a happy, bubbly dance, and it instantly made me smile.
I released the ribbon and still, it remained on its makeshift dance floor, dancing as if no one were watching. I had inadvertently stopped directly under a vent, and a simple stream of air held this happy balloon captive for a few moments. And for some inexplicable reason, it brought me immense joy.
I watched for a moment as this playful balloon amused not only me but also those who happened by. It looked happy. I’ll take happy anywhere I can find it!
I think one of the best lessons learned from the longest year ever, 2020, is that joy is everywhere. You just have to look for the little things. They can be found in the unlikeliest of places.
Smiles are all around us, waiting for us to claim them. Grab a smile! They’re free! You know the feeling of stepping onto a fresh blanket of snow, pristine and beautiful ... it’s serene. Look around at the landscape, frosted white by Mother Nature. It is indeed worthy of a smile.
Sunrises are always a surefire feel-good evoker. If you happen to be up early, take a look outside for a glimpse of God’s masterpiece — the dawn of a new day. Remember that each day is chock full of possibilities. That beautiful sunrise puts you on the right path to make it a good day.
And I’ve noticed that sunsets in the dead of winter are exquisite. Bright oranges and pinks, laced with the shadows of wispy clouds – they are stunning.
It has become a hobby of mine to capture these beautiful images on my phone camera, savoring the joy later as I glimpse my images of the day. Take a moment, step outside and watch. It’s free. It’s majestic.
Little things — kisses from a puppy, a video chat with a child in your family, a hug from a close family member — all bring joy.
You don’t need to win the lottery or drive a fancy car. You don’t need to make a million dollars or win a Pulitzer Prize.
The joy I’m talking about comes from within. Have faith, it’s there. Look past the negative aspects that you may encounter in your day-to-day life and look within. Tucked away, hidden in happy memories of better times, is a joy that can grow within you.
It may seem cliché but start keeping track of the simple joys you encounter. Finding a quarter. A parking space near your destination. A rainbow. Catching a snowflake on your tongue. Looking for shapes in the clouds. A dancing balloon. They add up. Little things. Simple things. Joyful and peaceful.