Tiny Moments Of Delight ~ It's The Little Things That Spark Joy
My Oprah “A-Ha” Moment
A short time ago, after a punishing morning workout on the Wheel Of Pain (spin) as part of my personal reward program I wandered into my local neighbourhood bakery (guilt free-ish) to get myself my usual… a café latte and a fresh baked blueberry muffin. I had earned it! That particular morning something unexpected happened. As I let the sweet warm scent of baking bread, rising yeast, cinnamon, vanilla and sugar enveloped me I instantly was transported into a joyous moment of pure, unquestionable happiness. I inhaled deeply as if to hold in the delicious moment of total bliss for as long as I could. Bakery air I thought. Something as simple as bakery air made me happy. I had been in that bakery before, in fact many times but I had not really paid attention, I’d just grabbed my muffin or warm baguette and leave. But that day for some reason…I was aware…I paid attention and was present…and it in the words of Marie Kondo (look her up)….it sparked joy.
It has been said if we could find a way to enjoy and appreciate the simple moments in life, stop rushing to get where we think we need to be, stand still for a moment and really take in everything around you… we would be a happier human. Well I am clearly not a therapist, although I have spent many a useful hour with one and I don’t pretend to be particularly enlightened like say…for instance Oprah, but like the great woman herself has said…this I know to be true.
This moment sparked me to ask my friends what are their little, simple moments of delight? What makes you as happy as bakery air? The results were so incredible I knew I just had to share the happiness.
Tiny Moments of Delight ~ Little Things That Spark Joy
Nature Moments
The first tiny buds of spring pushing up in my garden
Everyday the wisteria is in bloom
The gentle sound and smell of a warm summer rain as seen from my back porch
The sunset from my little balcony
Standing on the side of a majestic snowy mountain and feeling small
Human Moments
A long hug when you really need it
Having one of my children unexpectedly text me and want nothing other than to say, “hi”.
A unexpected text from a good friend saying hello
Strangers who smile
The sound of laughter, including my own
Touch
The way a hot cup of tea warms your cold hands on a chilly day
The audible “aaah” sound one makes when lowering yourself into a welcoming hot scented bath
Clean fresh sheets sliding frictionlessly up against freshly shaved legs
The cold side of the pillow
Cracking the spine of an greatly anticipated unread book
Taste
That first quiet sip of morning coffee before anyone else is up
That first glass of evening wine after a long day
That first taste of a cold frosty beer on a hot summer’s day that makes you say…aaahhhh!
Pets Moments
Opening my eyes in the morning to my dog staring at me in bed with no idea at all how long he has silently been sitting there looking at me.
The light contented sigh my dog lets out as he finally lays his head down beside me but not until he has completed three full rotations at the foot of my bed
Watching my dog’s reaction when I get home, even if I have only been gone for ten minutes
When my cat climbs on top of my keyboard to remind she will not be ignored
Watching my cat bask in the sunlight on her favourite chair
Sounds
The sound of ice cubes cracking in my glass
The happy waking sound of the birds outside my window signalling to me that winter has made way for spring
Crashing waves when I am falling asleep
The laughter of children playing, anybody’s children
Smells
The smell of the heavy humid air steaming up from a hot sidewalk after a summer shower
Freshly cut grass
The rich smell of a crackling wood fire on a chilly day
A fine mist of lavender on my pillow before I get into bed
The smell of bacon on a Sunday morning
The smell of fresh brewed coffee wafting into my bedroom and I haven’t even opened my eyes
The smell of fresh crisp early morning air
Chorley Park, Rosedale at dawn.
and… the delicious welcoming sweet scent of bakery air.
As I pondered these simple seemingly inconsequential moments of a day I am now certain that these little moments are more essential to happiness than I ever really knew. It’s not like it has made my problems go away, in fact very little if anything in my life had changed…expect for me…I had shifted focus…I started paying attention. An awareness of my world, through a gentle lens.
“Life is so great that we only get a tiny moment to enjoy everything we see. And that moment is right now”.
Neil Pasricha, The Book of Awesome