Small Joys Tag

Even with all the challenges of 2020, Christmas is a time to be joyful. A big thank you to Michelle from Boomer Eco Crusader for tagging me in the Small Joys Tag. This is a fun tag where I get to share 15 things, and 5 bloggers, that make me happy and bring joy to my life.

I’ve always been a positive person, but I’ve learned a lot about gratitude over the last couple of years and I’ll admit to having scribbled about it before:

• Gratitude
• Silver Linings

How the Small Joys tag works

1. Thank the blogger who tagged you 
2. List 15 of your small joys. They can be as weird, random and silly as you want to make them. 
3. Tag 5 blogger friends who bring you joy, and feel free to say why they bring you joy! Have fun with it! 

15 Small Joys – What makes me happy

Those Boys and Himself

Its kind of obvious and not so small, but in these straightened lonely times I’m acutely aware that I’m so lucky to live in a house with pleasant company. I know I’m so lucky not to live alone or with people I don’t get on with, or an abusive partner.

Warm Slippers

My mother in law bought me some Bedroom Athletics slippers for Christmas and they are bliss! A pair of fluffy slipper socks inside and my toes don’t get cold at all. So comfy, I feel like I’m walking on marshmallows. So I don’t need to do this any more:

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My Work Wife

I have an awesome colleague, she’s supportive and funny and always up for a gossip. We’re such different people with a 30 year age difference, rather opposing politics, contrasting upbringings and education. But we click, we keep each other going and just generally make work a more pleasant place to be – even if we’ve never met! My work wife.

Silence

There’s so much noise lately! Yeah so we’re back in home learning so there’s a constant background of Zoom calls, himself’s work calls, TV noise, gaming or general chuntering from the boys. But all that means that the occasional moment of peace make it all feel a bit better.

Running

On the same theme as a bit of peace a quiet, running is my “me time”. My opportunity for some thoughtless plodding, forgetting the stresses of the day and reawakening an awareness for my surroundings.

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The NHS

Where would we be without the NHS and the heroes who work in all the roles that are keeping our health service running? Its unthinkable isn’t it. You guys, you’re amazing and really I think you all need a 100% salary increase and doubled holiday allowance at the very least.

Books

I’ve always been one for escaping into books, from Charlotte’s Web to Jane Austen to biographies to analyses of data processing. Now more than ever I’m enjoying hiding from the problems of the real world and revelling in some other universe.

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Countryside on the Doorstep

We’re so lucky to live on the edge of a small town. Within a ten minute walk or five minute run we can be surrounded by fields on all sides with stunning views across them to the hills beyond. Just turning our backs on buildings and watching the paths and lanes change through the year is a lovely joy.

My Grandma

Of course I’m very grateful for my whole family, particularly my amazing mum. But my grandma is just brilliant. She’s in her 90s, lives alone and keeps her mind active every day. She danced the Strip the Willow at our wedding in her mid 80s and sends the boys poems and art whenever something catches her eye. Above all she gives wonderful advice: “don’t wish your life away”.

My Favourite Mug

We all have one right? Here’s my favourite. Its cute and has racing cars but most importantly, its huge for all the coffee it needs to supply.

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Art

I don’t know much about art, I know what I like and my recent acquisition makes me smile every time I see it.

Recipe Books

Without the shelf full of recipe books, bloggers sharing ideas and himself’s ambitious ideas, we’d be living off macaroni cheese, spaghetti bolognese and chicken kievs. The variety of food we eat because of these culinary inspirations is so much more interesting than those options (I do love spag bol though).

Gin and Chocolate

Well, any small comforts really. I’ve got quite into my gin the last few years and really enjoy making up or adapting cocktails on the weekend. That moment when something delicious hits your taste buds definitely fits the “small joys” description.

Technology

Technology doesn’t necessarily bring me really pure joy, but it leads to moments of joy. Large boy reading The Silver Chair to himself when he was 7, small boy choosing David Attenborough over cartoons, both of them waving to their great grandma who they haven’t seen since August.

Teachers and School Staff

So it does also feel like I’m being tortured lately by this home learning business. But that’s got nothing to do with the staff at my boys’ school. No, they certainly provide moments of joy. Every year large boy proclaims that this year’s teacher is the best one ever, they put so much care and innovation and gentleness into our children. Now more than ever they’re going so far above and beyond the required commitment to teach our children to read, write and do maths. Large boy was praised this week for his sense of humour. Small boy was coaxed to speak out in front of his class. Both little moments of joy made possible by their lovely school staff.

5 blogger friends who bring me joy

Thanks again to Michelle from Boomer Eco Crusader for tagging me. If you haven’t seen her blog, do check it out for a taste of home, gentleness and comfort.

Now, it’s my turn to tag these 5 bloggers who bring me joy.

• Eddie, for the car chat at Yorkie Not Just for Dads
• Claire, for her beautiful sincerity at Our Favourite Jar
• Devon, for her unashamed honesty at Loud Mouth Brown Girl
• Lindsay, because she makes me laugh and she’s classier than me at Live, Parent, Teach, Repeat
• Molly, for her clarity and concern for the wider world at Transatlantic Notes

What small joys make you happy? Tell us below.