Small Joys January 1, 2021

 Today, I begin a pictorial blog of all the small joys in life that go unnoticed unless you look for them.  Whether you are going through a transition, a difficult time, or just living, it is important to stop and enjoy something that made you smile during your day.  Life can be challenging and we many times perseverate on the difficulties we face and we forget to savor the small joys that we experience.  I urge everyone to stop and look around you and remember and celebrate all the simple pleasures that you encounter in a day. Many times we miss them and dismiss the little things that bring a smile to our day.

  The idea for recording these small joys comes from author, Aisha Saaed.  During the pandemic, she tweeted a simple question that made me pause and reflect on myself, the way I was approaching life, and the pandemic that was crashing down around me.  She asked ,What simple pleasure will you savor today? Her question changed me my focus. I started to see all the positive tiny things that happen throughout the day, that I took for granted or that didn't even appear on my radar screen. Her question helped me to find strength in the beauty that surrounds me if I would only take the time to honor it. I encourage you, to stop and take the time to look at the world from a new lens. 

 I made a decision to start the year off by taking pictures of the little things that make me pause.  They are not big items or earth shattering revelations, they just are simple joys.  Each day I took a picture and at first I just created an album in my phone, but I decided to create this blog so that I can keep a record of my thoughts as well.   I added all the pictures  and writing at once to the blog and will continue until I hopefully have 365..

Here, is my first image to commemorate a new year and a chance to start looking on the positive side of life, even when the world around me seems to be on the brink of  conflict and strife.  I might not have a  lot to say about each joy, which is alright.  A picture is many times worth a thousand words.  I hope my blog inspires you to look for and cherish all the small joys in your own life. 

 My daughter sent me this picture of her little Boston Terrier, Ogden with his new Christmas chew. You gotta love that impish face.