To ask what little joys you find in life?

[PeapodBurgundy]

I've got myself into a little rut of self pity and can't seem to get myself out of it. Objectively things are tough at the moment, but I find myself jumping to the negative in everything, which isn't helping matters.

My usual go-to pick me ups genuinely are off limits for a period of time, but I know this will pass and things will start to fall back into step again.

I need to start focusing on the positives more. What little things do you see/do that give you that little moment of joy or satisfaction?

Today's 'happy' has been the TAAT of the batshit AIBU threads some people have posted. I could be much worse!

Sinking into a hot bath with a good book
Sinking into a comfy bed after said bath with a cup of tea and the smell of freshly washed hair

Two absolute joys that I hardly get to do these days but I enjoy so much when I do.

Other little joys:
My daughter velcroing herself to me during the night
Seeing the woman at work that I've had a huge crush on for ages
Getting my exercise in before 8am
A clean bathroom
Garlic chicken

I'm currently watching Live Aid on BBC and been dancing for my socks off. I was feeling really rather sad earlier and now I'm buzzing 😊.

Birds.
Leaves.
Insects and other small creatures busy with their lives.
A cup of tea, especially if accompanied by a dark chocolate hobnob.
Music.
David Suchet as Poirot.
Someone else washing/drying my hair.
A really good book.
Hugs, especially from my closest people.
Tangible results - folding laundry, mowing the lawn, finishing a task at work, making dinner, finishing an item that I'm crocheting, etc.

Finding pleasure in small things is the secret to a happy life, I think.

This is a very small thing but makes me smile every time it happens. After I’ve squirted washing up liquid into the bowl there are often small bubbles in the air. They make me really happy!

Finding a new book by my favourite authors
Listening to birdsong in the early hours
A empty house
A cup of tea and a biscuit...or four!! ❤️

My cat coming in buzzing after he’s been out all night
Putting extras in my trolley for the local food bank who are collecting at the supermarket
Ordering a hot curry after a few drinks.

I'm AuDHD. DS is autistic, DD autistic and lately PDA has been mentioned. Things are not straightforward for any of us. It's always a bad time of year with the DC being out of routine, and anxiety about new classes starting in September. I'm a teacher and have similar anxieties around the new incoming students (I'm in FE, so haven't even met a lot of them yet, so I have no idea what my classes will be like). I'm a single parent, and their Dad is less present at the moment due to a temporary job he has taken on, so I've had no support or respite since April. I'm very harsh on myself. I did get slightly better, I used 'The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck', which is similar to the spoon theory with a fuck budget and a limited capacity mental barn.

I was given some extra responsibility at work last year, and the outcome of that was quite poor. Partly due to circumstances outside of my control, and partly to my decision making, although I genuinely feel I wouldn't have done anything differently. I could only have known that wasn't the best way to structure things by trialling it. I have maintained that responsibility for next year, and have tweaked the structure to hopefully make improvements for a better outcome.

That coincided with the DC melting down more as they always do towards the end of the school year, so I've ended up throwing myself a little pity party.

We are all healthy, we have a nice home, enough money to cover the expenses and a little for treats (because I spend carefully). We are fortunate. Everything that is 'going wrong' is either temporary or fixable. I just need to get out of my rut.

Taking pics of stunning trees. Noticing nature a butterfly or dragonfly. Watching my dog do zoomies. Listening to the voices of my two grandsons. Yoga. Eating green veg. Clearing out my wardrobe. Sitting on the sofa watching TV as a family. My husband's fish and rice dinner. Waking up to sunshine. First cuppa. Making bread. Roasting seeds. A friend actually calling me for a catch up. Lying in the sun. Taking a power nap. Raspberry dark chocolate.

I love it when that happens. My late Nana used to tell me they were fairies, and that's why it was called Fairy Liquid <3

My coconut matcha every morning
Being on maternity leave with my 9 month old, feeling so lucky I can spend so much time with him
My almost 3 year old suddenly being delightful!
Sleep!!! Both are sleeping
my dog
my iced matcha when I go for walks
my social life starting to return

reading a book with a cat on my lap.
watching vegetables & flowers grow at my allotment.
my teen fell asleep on my shoulder the other day - reminded me of when he was small! Very happy moment.

Audio books make every day chores and commuting more fun for me 🤩

Ticking off a list app on my phone when I complete a task gives a little sense of achievement too!

Matcha tea after work 😊

A fuck budget sounds eminently sensible! Good luck with everything. I hope you have a bit of routine and break over the summer.

I had the Sweepy app, that gives you a cheerful little 'bing' noise when you complete a task. When I got my new phone, I never got around to setting it back up again, but that really worked for me, it's on my list for tomorrow to set it back up, even if I don't do anything from it straight away

I've discovered that you can order books on line from the library. So now when I read about or see a book I think I'll like I order it up and get a message when it's there to collect. I sometimes have several to collect so I have a nice walk out to the library and come out swinging a bag full of (free!) books over my arm. I sit outside the local cafe with a coffee and browse through the books.

Also, a pair of peregrine falcons have started visiting the church tower opposite my house. Listening to them and watching them swoop around the church yard is making me very happy.

Ardbeg Ten.

5 minutes of quiet drinking a coffee with no one talking to me … just silence

Flowers … I buy a bunch but also can’t waste loads of money so just get the ones in the bargain bin!

the very rare occasions when I can wake up and sit in bed watching a programme to myself

First brew of the day outside looking at my garden. If it’s cold I wrap up.

Lifting.

Shop or weight?

I go and do a slug inspection first thing in the morning, trying to let my Dalia’s recover!! I am winning the war 💪

Same! And:
-books
-art (I have a habit of checking out at least 1 art object a day, I got inspired by Raf Simons documentary on his first season at Dior)
-shower gels - I was gifted a set of Molton Brown shower gels and they are divine! I have a 3 year old and currently 38w pregnant, so time spent in shower is much needed relief from daily grind

Sun rises and sun sets.

I love them. Especially with a cup of tea in the morning and a cold glass of something at night.

Filter coffee every morning in a nice mug.
Ideally drank in the in the sunshine before work.
My dog.
My son (who is off to uni soon 😭).
A glass of wine
Ideally drank in the garden after work on a warm day.
Ticking things off a to do list.
Throwing shit away.
Giving stuff away.
A catch up with a friend.
My bed (purchased this year and so comfy).
A good podcast or audio book.
Flowers.
A shower or long bath.

Love this but I’m guessing you don’t live in a big city? I bought a box of 4 choc ices from a supermarket last summer as was much cheaper than a single ice cream. Came outside and took one for myself and offered the other 3 to various passers-by, all of whom politely declined or looked at me as if I was a nutter and walked on by! Had to chuck all 3 in the bin!