I don’t know about you but sometimes, with the busyness in my life, I forget to notice the little things. The everyday things that can make me smile. That can bring me happiness. Sometimes, we get so caught up with life, that we need the big things to bring us joy. A promotion. A big surprise. A grand gesture by someone. Winning the lotto. We seem to forget that little things in our every day life can bring us happiness too. That the small moments all add up. That there is joy to be found if we consciously keep an eye out for it.
At the start of the year, my mind was in a bit of a funk. My sister suggested the #100happydays challenge to me. I looked it up but wasn’t sure about the commitment due to my tendency to hike and camp on weekends and therefore not have any network availability. But in February, I felt a bit worse. And towards the end of the month, decided to take up the challenge for myself. It didn’t matter if I couldn’t instagram it. As long as I took a picture, to me, that’s all that mattered.
I started on the 1st of March and have been able to commit to it so far. There are dreary and stressful days when I don’t really do anything extraordinary to make me happy. But because I know I have taken up this challenge, I make a conscious effort to find joy in the ordinary. And you’d be amazed at the things I can find.
Blue skies. A cup of coffee. A cuddle from the cats. Food. A message. A comment. A work out. So many things from my daily life that obviously occur regularly were making me smile. Sure, it doesn’t mean I’m happy all the time. That would be ridiculous {and slightly on the manic side…} but it makes me smile in spite of the stress. In spite of being burnt out from work. I’ll share some photos I’ve shared on Instagram for the challenge below:
Feeling bright as I head to work & later, a weekend away | Good times with friends | Blue skies | Being added to a list called ‘growing writers’ | Farewell lunch for a lovely friend | Night out at the theatre
So tell me, how do you find joy?
Do share!
***This post is part of the April A to Z challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge. You can read my previous posts here***
Until next time,
Cheers!!!
Pinky Poinker
11 April 2014 at 7:49 amI love the hot chips! That would make me smile on this overcast day 🙂
Pinky Poinker recently posted…I – is for I of the Tiger!
Pinky Poinker
11 April 2014 at 7:49 amI love the hot chips! That would make me smile on this overcast day 🙂
Pinky Poinker recently posted…I – is for I of the Tiger!
Mrs. Sexy
11 April 2014 at 8:10 amThat sounds like a fun challenge. It would have been good for to do it too. Now that spring is here and the sun has been out every day I’m realizing that I was a in huge funk myself. I’m visiting from the A to Z Challenge!
Mrs. Sexy recently posted…Heart: My Journey Through Parenthood
Mrs. Sexy
11 April 2014 at 8:10 amThat sounds like a fun challenge. It would have been good for to do it too. Now that spring is here and the sun has been out every day I’m realizing that I was a in huge funk myself. I’m visiting from the A to Z Challenge!
Mrs. Sexy recently posted…Heart: My Journey Through Parenthood
Erica
11 April 2014 at 11:22 amI did a thirty days of gratitude challenge last year. It was quite easy in the beginning…I am grateful for my great health, for my lovely husband, for my kids etc but then, after you get past the big things, the obvious ones, it becomes more of a challenge. You have to be more thoughtful and find the little things.
Thanks for an interesting post.
Erica
Erica recently posted…J is for Jester
Erica
11 April 2014 at 11:22 amI did a thirty days of gratitude challenge last year. It was quite easy in the beginning…I am grateful for my great health, for my lovely husband, for my kids etc but then, after you get past the big things, the obvious ones, it becomes more of a challenge. You have to be more thoughtful and find the little things.
Thanks for an interesting post.
Erica
Erica recently posted…J is for Jester
Chuck Allen
11 April 2014 at 12:37 pmI may just have to give that a try! I’ve seen a few friends posting with the #100happydays tag on Facebook, but I didn’t know what that was about. Having a challenge to force me to stop and recognize these things would be good. Thanks for sharing!
Chuck Allen
11 April 2014 at 12:37 pmI may just have to give that a try! I’ve seen a few friends posting with the #100happydays tag on Facebook, but I didn’t know what that was about. Having a challenge to force me to stop and recognize these things would be good. Thanks for sharing!
R's Mom
11 April 2014 at 1:23 pmNice pics PB…loved the combination of orange/red and black
R’s Mom recently posted…Randomness Returns
R's Mom
11 April 2014 at 1:23 pmNice pics PB…loved the combination of orange/red and black
R’s Mom recently posted…Randomness Returns
Corinne Rodrigues
11 April 2014 at 2:34 pmIt is always the little things that bring much joy, PB.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…My Happiness Project – March & April
Corinne Rodrigues
11 April 2014 at 2:34 pmIt is always the little things that bring much joy, PB.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…My Happiness Project – March & April
PNA
11 April 2014 at 4:47 pmJoy is always in the little things… because when I look back at night to what I did during the day, it could that flower on the road, or that smile from a friend at the other end of a corridor that brought the maximum joy.. 🙂
PNA
11 April 2014 at 4:47 pmJoy is always in the little things… because when I look back at night to what I did during the day, it could that flower on the road, or that smile from a friend at the other end of a corridor that brought the maximum joy.. 🙂
Wendy
11 April 2014 at 9:23 pmYou have found the secret to a happy life.
Visiting from A to Z~
Wendy at Jollett Etc.
Wendy recently posted…A to Z April Challenge: J is for Jones
Wendy
11 April 2014 at 9:23 pmYou have found the secret to a happy life.
Visiting from A to Z~
Wendy at Jollett Etc.
Wendy recently posted…A to Z April Challenge: J is for Jones
Stephanie
11 April 2014 at 9:53 pmJoy walks in my front door every weekday morning. They are the ‘2 footers’ under age 5 that I have the priviledge to care for in my home daycare. There’s nothing like a child’s smile first thing in the morning. *another a to z blogger
Stephanie recently posted…Jesus Loves Me
Stephanie
11 April 2014 at 9:53 pmJoy walks in my front door every weekday morning. They are the ‘2 footers’ under age 5 that I have the priviledge to care for in my home daycare. There’s nothing like a child’s smile first thing in the morning. *another a to z blogger
Stephanie recently posted…Jesus Loves Me
Kate Jarvik Birch
12 April 2014 at 12:24 amI love this idea, especially the idea of cataloguing all those little joys with a photo. I might have to do this myself 🙂
Kate Jarvik Birch recently posted…If I had a… Jar
Kate Jarvik Birch
12 April 2014 at 12:24 amI love this idea, especially the idea of cataloguing all those little joys with a photo. I might have to do this myself 🙂
Kate Jarvik Birch recently posted…If I had a… Jar
Christy@SweetandSavoring
12 April 2014 at 12:56 amLove this post. Thanks for some Friday morning inspiration! I find joy from cuddling with my husband, being in the woods or by the sea, eating a really good meal, and laughing a lot. I’ll make sure to do a couple of those today! 🙂
Christy@SweetandSavoring recently posted…Do You Have a Favorite Independent Bookstore?
Christy@SweetandSavoring
12 April 2014 at 12:56 amLove this post. Thanks for some Friday morning inspiration! I find joy from cuddling with my husband, being in the woods or by the sea, eating a really good meal, and laughing a lot. I’ll make sure to do a couple of those today! 🙂
Christy@SweetandSavoring recently posted…Do You Have a Favorite Independent Bookstore?
maanneilaganlopez
12 April 2014 at 9:37 amI love playing with kids. Reminds to be happy on simple things.
maanneilaganlopez recently posted…Just on the other side of the wall
maanneilaganlopez
12 April 2014 at 9:37 amI love playing with kids. Reminds to be happy on simple things.
maanneilaganlopez recently posted…Just on the other side of the wall
Nibha
12 April 2014 at 8:01 pmI am also thinking of taking up this challenge, hope to do it soon!
Nibha recently posted…Keeping Quiet
Nibha
12 April 2014 at 8:01 pmI am also thinking of taking up this challenge, hope to do it soon!
Nibha recently posted…Keeping Quiet
Nev
12 April 2014 at 8:09 pmWhat a lovely challenge! Being in a funk is partly why I dived headlong into this A to Z challenge and as I’m a keen photographer too, I think I’ll have a look at #100HappyDays once this is done 🙂 Thank you
Nev recently posted…J is for Just Do It!
Nev
12 April 2014 at 8:09 pmWhat a lovely challenge! Being in a funk is partly why I dived headlong into this A to Z challenge and as I’m a keen photographer too, I think I’ll have a look at #100HappyDays once this is done 🙂 Thank you
Nev recently posted…J is for Just Do It!
Josna
12 April 2014 at 11:10 pmA hot cup of tea, slices of fresh green chillies on a sandwich, going for a short walk, a short get-together over tea with a good friend, a letter–even an email–from a friend or distant family member, a visit from my son: even in the most stressful and bleak of times, these things bring me joy. Thanks for your post.
Josna recently posted…257. (Leaving on a) Jet Plane
Josna
12 April 2014 at 11:10 pmA hot cup of tea, slices of fresh green chillies on a sandwich, going for a short walk, a short get-together over tea with a good friend, a letter–even an email–from a friend or distant family member, a visit from my son: even in the most stressful and bleak of times, these things bring me joy. Thanks for your post.
Josna recently posted…257. (Leaving on a) Jet Plane
Josna
12 April 2014 at 11:14 pmP.S. And reading a good book, of course. Cheers, J
Josna recently posted…257. (Leaving on a) Jet Plane
Josna
12 April 2014 at 11:14 pmP.S. And reading a good book, of course. Cheers, J
Josna recently posted…257. (Leaving on a) Jet Plane
Carol Graham
13 April 2014 at 6:05 amInteresting question? How do you find joy? Joy is all around us — we don’t have to go looking :} I got one of the nicest compliments the other day that really made me stand up and take notice. A friend that has known me for over 20 years said “I have never known anyone that has gone through what you have gone through that has never lost their joy. It is always there, always evident.” It made me cry when I realized that it really is a choice. My life had not been easy but I have no shortage of things to be happy about and laugh about and in turn, people like to be around you and share the laughter!
Carol @ Battered Hope
Carol Graham recently posted…DOGS – K is for Babe is Killed
Carol Graham
13 April 2014 at 6:05 amInteresting question? How do you find joy? Joy is all around us — we don’t have to go looking :} I got one of the nicest compliments the other day that really made me stand up and take notice. A friend that has known me for over 20 years said “I have never known anyone that has gone through what you have gone through that has never lost their joy. It is always there, always evident.” It made me cry when I realized that it really is a choice. My life had not been easy but I have no shortage of things to be happy about and laugh about and in turn, people like to be around you and share the laughter!
Carol @ Battered Hope
Carol Graham recently posted…DOGS – K is for Babe is Killed
Shail Raghuvanshi
24 April 2014 at 3:16 amThose little joys truly matter….a nice honest post.
Happy Blogging A to Z.
Here is my take on the letter J.
http://musenmotivation.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/j-for-jewelery-and-what-it-stands-for-in-todays-world/
Shail Raghuvanshi
24 April 2014 at 3:16 amThose little joys truly matter….a nice honest post.
Happy Blogging A to Z.
Here is my take on the letter J.
http://musenmotivation.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/j-for-jewelery-and-what-it-stands-for-in-todays-world/