Coffee or Beach? 

If a cup of coffee or tea cannot give you joy, then a beach will not do it for you.

This is simply to say that joy can be found in everyday simple things that do not have to cost you a fortune. Even in the middle of the worst time of your life, there joy is.

I chose not to watch, read or listen to news about a decade ago. I have made many decisions in my life but this was far the best one.

I soak in the energy around me, the people I spend my time with and what I consume affects the things I do, say and believe. I am of the opinion this is the case with most of us.

Yesterday, I was browsing TikTok and post after post after post were videos of the floods that are happening in our beloved country, Kenya. I went into panic mode and started calling my family, especially those I thought could be affected. This led me to stressing and sleeping late in the night. This is how much other people’s burdens affect me. I thought I would be more resistant with age but it’s not forthcoming.

I would get so heavy hearted every time I engaged with the news before I realized I needed to guard my personal space, especially what I give attention to.

In this little tweak of circumstances, I did not know that I chose joy. I chose me and brought more color and good tidings along my way.

Simple Pleasures

I can now smile at the wind caressing my face, be glad I am alive and here. I can show up a little at a time to those who need my help without depleting my compassion cup. Their situations may be bad but not so much if my limited resources cannot help them. It helps little if I worry about these things.

When you are expecting to get somewhere or something big for you to finally be joyful, then it will never come. You will get there and realize the same then start chasing the next big thing. You do not have to participate in this loop. Choose you. Choose the simplest of things that the big things only come to increase and add on to the existing joy.

Take interest in what happens around you. Notice the wind, notice the smell of your food, notice the smile on people’s face and how it makes them look, their eyes growing smaller or larger, notice the good and keeping seeking it out. Let these be reasons, many of them, tuck them in your bags, wallets and pockets to nibble on as you go on with your day.

Let these simple pleasures put a smile on your face and create a little glow and warmth on your chest.

Joy is always all around us, waiting for you to notice it because it notices you.