Lately, I’ve been thinking about small delights.
Three books that introduced more delight in my life include:
Joyful – Pushed me to think about what brings me joy and how to discover joy in the world.
The Artist’s Way – Demonstrated how “Artist Dates” and a “little luxury” every day can inspire.
Life in Five Senses – Reminded me to stop, notice, and interact with the world around me.
In addition to the books, there have been other influences.
My photo a day group – 365 Picture Today – encourages me to notice & photograph daily life.
A few of my “words of the year” that furthered the journey included be present, mindful, and joyful.
My Recent Journey
The latest push to small delights is my day planner.
At the beginning of each week, there is a box to list “this week’s main goal”.
Below the box is another box titled “Reward if Achieved”.
At first, I resisted this box and just didn’t fill it in.
However, my perspective is changing.
I started to notice small things around the house that needed to be replaced and would bring me joy.
Items that have been the same since we got married or moved to this house.
A delight like new, soft washcloths for my face.
Or replacing my favorite small mixing bowl that broke several months ago.
The items are small purchases (under $15) but have had a big impact on my happiness.
The intent isn’t to bring unnecessary clutter and products into my life.
I’m also thinking of simple delights that are experiences and/or don’t cost anything.
A trip to the park.
Something special to cook for dinner.
A puzzle on a lazy evening
Or a visit to a museum.
Your Turn
Do you know your simple delights?
How could you work them into your day-to-day life?
Can you use simple delights to reward yourself for accomplishments?