Friday Five #7
Simple pleasures
Today’s Friday Five is all about simple things that bring me joy. Recognizing the small graces that bring me joy, especially in hectic seasons, helps remind me that I have much for which to be thankful.
Here are 5 ways I am chasing joy:
Burning candles. I love the cozy, warm glow of candlelight (and I even love the word “candlelight”), and having a gentle fragrance wafting through our home is so soothing. I’m always on the lookout for good candles, so send recommendations my way.
Seems like a fire hazard, but ok. Photo by Marissa Lewis on Unsplash Playing Connections and Wordle. I have been playing Wordle for over a year, but Connections is a more recent discovery. (I think it’s fairly new. I like to be on the cutting edge of Internet trends. Just kidding. I still don’t know how to make an Instagram reel.) I enjoy these games even on days when I don’t solve them. It’s also fun to rub it in with friends when I do better than they do. :)
Making playlists. Before there was digital music, I was making my own mixes on cassette and later on CDs. I would give them to friends or keep them for myself, and finding the perfect songs to match a theme or mood has long been a source of joy for me. I make playlists on Spotify on a regular basis. You can see my public ones here.
Reading thrillers. I don’t know if I have been drawn to this genre this year because I feel like my own life lacks thrills, but when I looked at my list of books I’ve read this year, I was surprised to see that 9 of the 26 are thrillers. I can usually read them pretty quickly, they are entertaining, and if they’re good, they keep me guessing.
Opening the windows. Overall, our house has a dearth of windows, but I enjoy opening the ones we do have to let in the cooler air in the spring and fall. Even though we have lived in our house for 13 years, it was only within the last year or so we discovered that our back door has a screen window on it, so opening that at night has been a fun bonus. The nighttime sounds are amplified with the windows open, and I especially love combining the chill of the night air with a lit candle, a good book, and a cozy blanket.
Not my bed, but I wouldn’t mind reading here. Also, peep those thrillers! Photo by Jessica Kantak Bailey on Unsplash
Now it’s your turn: what are your simple joys?
I love the simple joy of reading in bed right in the hour before I go to sleep. Also, a nice cup of hot tea any time of year.
Garner Blue has the best candles!! My favorite is Golden Coast.