To really revel in small joys?

[LovelyTheresa]

This is a gratitude thread, to counteract all the doom and gloom and depressing news stories. My small joys are as follows

Spring Flowers, daffs in particular
That beautiful grey blue shade that the sky turns after it has been raining
My wood fire, bliss
Cats
Easter eggs
Superga trainers: the most stylish and comfortable
Netflix
Cracking open a really satisfying novel, especially a crime novel
Fresh bedlinen
Home baking
The smell of coffee brewing
Anticipation of summer holidays
Nail polish
Making a really good playlist (I am very very good at that, my playlists are always highly in demand at parties)
Real tea, made with leaves not bags, in a teapot
Spicy pasta
Coffee eclairs
Good perfume
Long walks in the park
Bay windows with stained glass
Cashmere jumpers in pastel colours

Great thread, thank you! And so many lovely small things.

Balmy summer air that caresses your face on an evening walk.
Daffodils and magnolias
The comforting weight of a cat on your lap

Seeing robins and finches. Forgetting what tulips I planted where and waiting to find out

I’ve been feeling shitty with peri menopause this last year or so, and have been really making the effort to appreciate small joys. Lots of what’s already been said, but I will add:

The little roar my cat makes when she jumps up on me in bed, then cuddles in

Seeing spring flowers pop up - we’re in Scotland so a bit behind

Having a student suddenly get something they’ve been struggling with

Our elderly neighbour’s dog, who I often walk for her - she’s SO happy when I go in to get her and pick up her lead, her whole body wags (dog not neighbour)

Quite niche but yesterday I was in the shopping mall at lunch and watched a man and his little boy (maybe three-ish) ride up and down the escalators multiple times. It made me laugh between the man’s patience, and the wee boy’s happy face at getting on/off

Saw two curlews this evening.
Distant blue skied views after days of grey skies and mist.
DH cooking supper on the day that I work and he doesn't (collaborative effort the rest of the week).
Finding a lovely piece of art or an interesting book in a charity shop.
A bunch of tulips from the supermarket.
An hour of crochet or quilting.
Hares in a field.
A walk round the lake at our local Wildlife Trust location.
Starling murmurations.
A glass of red wine with a dish of salted almonds.

The fact that it was warm enough today to sit outside and enjoy a cup of tea made me happy today

Hearing my little boy laughing and laughing with his best friend. They are at different schools now but still, whenever they get together, they are such a match. The house is full of their laughter.
The crisp air and sunshine that tells me spring is here.
The magnolia tree in bloom and the garden filled with the scent.

Following 🩵

Watching waves at the beach.
Nights finally cooling off to the mid teens after months of stifling humidity, allowing a restful sleep (I'm in Sydney).
Kittens.

Having a shower before bed and then getting into freshly washed bedding that's been dried on the line outside
Warming your hands on a mug of hot tea when you're feeling cold
A freshly cut lawn (smell and appearance)
Wood pigeons cooing - reminds me of summer evenings
Standing outside on a still evening at any time of year and just looking up at the sky and taking in your surroundings and listening. A few weeks ago, it was the Whooper swans flying over every evening at dusk. Spectacular.

Most of mine tend to be outdoors-related.

Unexpected belly laugh moments
cuddles from DCs
smell of the sun in DCs hair
smell of sun on DCat’s fur
massive slow bumble bees waking up and droning around garden

What a great thread. The simple things in life are what it's all about. Personally I love a short walk in the evening sunshine, facing the sun if possible (though not looking straight into it!) The beautiful brightness seems to imprint a memory that lasts all day and gets me through the grey bits of the day.
Birds chirping. They just don't care about their problems, or the government, life is just chirp, chirp, chirp all day! They're great.
Daffodils.
Springtime. Sudden hailstorms and sunny spells. Rainbows. Tawny mining bees.

The smell of Dove soap
The sound of birdsong
My Nivea Soft handcream
Toast with butter and jam on
A hot cup of tea in the right cup
Walking through the woods
A glorious sunrise/ sunset sky
Rain on my face

Ahh I love this thread!! Fully enjoyed reading all the responses 🤗

Clear blue sky and sunshine, even if it’s -20 outside.
The Northern Lights
The view of the Three Sisters from my bedroom window.
Mountain creeks still trickling and burbling under the (rapidly thinning) ice
The perfect conditions that produce snowflakes you can examine in detail
Sun dogs and ice pillars
Knowing that the worst of winter is behind us and summer is just around the corner

Going for a run on a crisp frosty morning

Period drama

Cream tea

A sunny day

French fries and mayonnaise

Bacon sandwiches with the bread dipped in the fat of the bacon

HUGS FROM CHILDREN

Line dried washing with a new fabric conditioner
Daffodil and cherry blossom
Clean bedding
Hugs from my purring kitten who is always playful and curious
Any cats
Smiling positive people
Steaming black coffee
Walks anywhere
Colourful tops hanging in my wardrobe for sunnier days 😁

The smell of book shops
Back massages
Getting a delivery you've been waiting for
The smell of something cooking in the kitchen
Going to markets/shops from other countries and trying things you've never had before
Sitting at the front of the train in front of the windows, or the front of a double decker bus
Trying perfume
Nail polish/designs
Flat whites with a little heart or frond in the foam
Chinatown
Street markets
Bubble baths
Fresh cozy blankets
Giant Sports Direct mugs of tea
Friendly outdoor cats

This -and all of these. I actively look for small things to appreciate and it has made me a much happier person choosing to actively fill my mind with positive thoughts.

The sweet smell of our dog’s head as she cuddles up to you on the sofa.

A pure blue sky.

Opening the door to friends or family.

Sitting on my lawn with a cider for the first time in the year.

The kitchen quiet and gleaming when you’ve got all the pots washed and everything wiped down in the evening.

Watching flames in a fire.

The sounds of nature with no traffic.

Waking up on holiday on the first morning and taking the dog out in the quiet early morning somewhere new.

Crumpets.

Bird song - absolutely love it