My Joy List

While I have been working my best to distance myself from the news that surrounds every place communication resides, I decided to focus my attention on joy. It is important to find joy, but sometimes I forget to look for it. Sometimes I need to remember on purpose, so today I chose to write a simple list of things that bring me joy. They were listed as they came, in no particular order. 

1. The smell of Jergens lotion. It reminds me of childhood. 
2. The sound of waves crashing down onto the sand and starting over again.  
3. Smelling the salty ocean in the air before it appears.
4. Suntan lotion. It reminds me of home.
5. The whistling sound of a cool breeze blowing through the leaves of many trees.
6. The color green.
7. The color blue.
8. My mother’s arms.
9. Laying my ear against my son’s chest to hear his heart beating. 
10. Kicking my feet up on my bed and listening to my son tell a story. 
11. My hands in the dirt.
12. Watching chickens chase each other for fun.
13. Hide and Go Seek… with anyone. 
14. Acting out a read aloud.
15. Jumping and waving at the sight of a student far down the hall, because waiting for a new day is long.
16. Morning sunlight through my bedroom window.
17. The unexpected laughter that erupts after hearing someone’s contagious laugh.
18. Laughing out loud until it hurts.
19. Listening to Yo-Yo Ma.
20. Witnessing acts of courage.
21. The sounds of a group listening, laughing, and reacting to a story.
22. Koi fish.
23. Reading in absolute silence.
24. Writing in absolute silence.
25. Listening to friends share stories.
26. Breathing out into a smile.
27. Walking among pine trees. 
28. Water lilies. 
29. Peachy-Pink Gerbera Daisies. 
30. Pomegranate green tea.
31. Dutch chocolate ice cream with sliced almonds.
32. The shadow of a leafy tree on green grass.
33. Water gun wars.
34. Playing Chess with my dad.
35. Sculpting grey clay into life.
36. Watching the seeds I planted, grow.
37. Pausing to watch a load during the wash cycle. 
38. Fresh sheets.
39. Organic coffee.
40. Lyrical poetry. 
41. My uncle calling me, Marinita.
    
42. My sister Sandra’s garden.
43. My sister Lisa’s giving heart. 
    
44. Having my mother’s tamales.
45. Listening to my father’s family stories. 
46. Listening to my aunt Flora’s gentle voice.
47. Conferencing with a writer. 
48. Going out to a good movie. 
49. James Arthur songs.
50. Green tree frogs.
51. Large butterflies swimming through my backyard.
52. Causing change with written words.
53. Receiving a box in the mail, any size.
54. Smudge free eyeglasses.
55. Folded laundry.
56. The sound of my parents laughing together.
57. Inspiring kids to love reading.
58. Inspiring kids to love writing. 
59. Teaching my sons to cook.
60. Watching my sons become friends. 
61. Staring into my husband’s eyes and feeling butterflies, every time.
62. Going for a bike ride.
63. Falling asleep.
64. Saturday mornings. 
65. Hope.