Appreciating the small joys during a difficult time

The girls who work on the farm and diligently pack your orders every week gave me a gift for Christmas - a calendar with pictures of lovely sunsets and quotes from the Bible. I was moving soon, so I didn’t look past the cover and stuck it in a box. 

A couple months later, I moved. And last week, my husband and I started unpacking decorations. And there it was. The calendar I had almost forgotten about!

I opened the calendar and was taken aback by what I found inside. I started to cry.

Each page and each day is filled with handwritten notes, inspirational quotes, fun easy tasks to complete, short poems, and birthday wishes for my family (they must have done some covert detective work for that last one). 

It was undoubtedly a group project. The pages are filled with each person’s handwriting, a variety of inks, and a cornucopia of ideas. Each month is themed with the season. 

On the day that I opened it, the day read “Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for the big ones…”

And that was it. I’m in week three of strict self isolation. My life is quite different from before. “Boring” is the word that our modern society would label it. And fear is unfortunately rampant. But, regardless of that, there are many, many small joys.

So I started thinking of the joys in my newfound life. 

Opening the calendar certainly falls into the category of small joys. Watching the season change with spring flowers budding. Laughing with my children. Listening to the wind rustle the trees and the sound of a stream nearby. Hiking with my family. Starting my gardens. Sipping a warm cup of tea. Eating really great home cooked meals made from quality small farm ingredients.

Once I started thinking about it, I realized I had so very much to be joyous about. 

It is no secret that happiness and health are inextricably related. It boosts the immune system, fights stress and pain, and supports longevity. I encourage you to find joy in your life, small or large, especially in turbulent times like these. 

What’s bringing you joy lately? I would love to hear from you. That would bring me some joy, too :)

Best wishes for your family’s health and happiness.