By Sarah
When I first began writing for this blog, I explained that my personal motto was “La vie est belle,” or “Life is beautiful” in English. After taking French for nearly five years now, it seemed like a perfect way to encompass an important aspect of life for me. Oftentimes, we can only focus on the most significant moments in our life. For instance, we strive for major success. We stress ourselves out with “maybes” and “what ifs.” We are unable to live in the moment because we are so obsessed with what the future holds. However, noting that nearly every single part of life is beautiful in some way is a wonderful way to live in the present.
Personally, I have tried to notice the simple moments in life that bring a smile to my face. Rather than major memories or successes, these moments might flicker by in a few seconds but can always leave a meaningful touch of joy. Noticing these moments more in my life has helped me to find happiness in even the most tedious activities. Seeking out peace, rather than waiting for it to find me, has been very rewarding for me.
So here is a roundup of twenty simple moments to find joy in. They might seem trivial, but they are much more than meets the eye.
- Tapping your fingers on the steering wheel during a long drive.
- The cold rush of the first jump into a body of water.
- The pitter-patter of rain on the roof in the middle of the night.
- A little child’s smile when they see you.
- A dog putting their nuzzle into your lap.
- Singing in the car and hitting a good note.
- The tickly feeling of a ladybug crawling on your skin.
- Putting your head out the window and feeling the wind in your hair.
- Silent, breathtaking laughter.
- Hearing a beautiful song for the first time.
- Closing your eyes after a long, fulfilling day.
- Seeing an old picture that brings back a fond memory.
- Someone expressing genuine gratitude to you.
- Blowing out candles on a birthday cake.
- Jumping up and down at a concert.
- The sun peeking out in front of the clouds, flooding the world in sunlight.
- Riding a bike down a smooth road.
- The colorful sky that a sunset creates.
- Embracing an old friend.
- The clicking sound of typing on a keyboard.
Each one of these moments, from insignificant to profound, have brought me some level of joy. They may not be an astounding accomplishment that I will tell people for ages. Rather, they are simple things that make me smile.
This next week, I challenge you to make a list of your own twenty moments. They will be easier to find than you might expect, and they will certainly spark happiness in your life.
THE SISTER SITE 