Life is busy. Even when I have some down time at home I seem to be doing something that needs to be done. It can get very mundane and weighty. In those times, I need to remember the things that bring me joy and make me smile. Here are just a few….
1. Laughing at work with Yolanda about the simplest things. Somedays I don’t even feel like I went to work. Yolanda and I laugh non-stop throughout the day. Most of the time we are laughing at ourselves. We are so similar that it is scary….even crazier that our birthdays are two days apart. Teaching at the preschool with Yolanda brings me joy.
2. Hearing my three children laughing and playing together definitely brings me joy. They love each other and enjoy each others’ company. It puts a smile on my face to hear them laughing together in the other room.
3. Going out with my girlfriends brings me joy. I have the greatest girl friends. They are all women that I can be completely honest and open with and know that I will not be judged. We all have different strengths and personalities, but we love each other just the same. Of course our favorite place to go is the Comedy Zone in Uptown Charlotte. Here is Michaleh, Ashley, Sidney and I with the headliner of the night, Greg Morton. He was hilarious and very talented.
4. We have movie night every Friday and Saturday night. On Friday night we typically watch Survivor (Miller calls it “Challenge”) and Saturday is a kids movie of some sort. I love sitting on the couch with Tom and the kids, eating popcorn and having nothing to do but enjoy their company. Spending those hours on the couch with Tom and the kids definitely brings me joy.
5. For the last 6-8 weeks, I have made the commitment to go to the Cardio Funk exercise class that I enjoy. The class is near the church so after church Tom takes the kids home while I hang out for an hour, relax, and then go to my class. This class reminds me that I am still fun, young, not so out of touch and that I can still shake my money maker!
6. Now, for those who know me well, this will not surprise you…..Finishing a project brings me joy! I love a good project, whether it be painting a room, making a picture frame, or decorating the house. Checking it off my list and seeing the fruits of my labor brings me satisfaction and joy (I think I may actually clap and say “Yea!”)
The saying “It’s the little things in life…” did not become popular for no reason at all. People say it because it is true! I know that I have inner joy all of the time, but certain things in life give us greater joy in the moment. These are the things that bring me joy on a regular basis and I am thankful for them and those that create the memories with me.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13