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50 moments of joy that money can’t buy

Moment of joy for the kids

As a kid, I dreamed of all the spectacular things that would make me happy when I grew up. But the older I get, the more sharply I see it: The good life isn’t found on glossy bucket lists or distant horizons. It’s hidden in plain sight, scattered like pennies throughout the moments of our days. The belly flop into a cool lake on a hot day. Finishing an incredible book. Hitting all green lights when you’re running late. The giggles of kids in the back seat telling jokes that make no sense.

Joy is a standing invitation to anyone who pays attention.

  1. First cup of coffee in the morning when the house is quiet.
    “I’ve got nothing to say but it’s okay, good morning, good morning”, The Beatles
  2. The first beer on a vacation.
    “Vacation calories don’t count.”
  3. The hot sun on your skin.
    “This kiss of sunshine on my cheeks is a balm for my soul.”, Serena Ma
  4. Morning walks on the beach.
    “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.”, Rumi
  5. The smell of rain in the forest.
    “Petrichor (definition): The unique, earthy smell associated with rain.”
  6. The smell of bacon in the morning.
    “Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”, Doug Larson
  7. Last minutes of work before a vacation.
    “A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.”, Robert Orben
  8. The satisfaction of a freshly mowed lawn.
    “The grass is always greener where you water it.”, Neil Barringham
  9. Listening to an old favourite song on the radio.
    “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”, Bob Marley
  10. Reuniting with a long-lost friend.
    “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be.”, Winnie the Pooh
  11. Wind rustling through trees on a quiet day.
    “The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.”, Saint Teresa of Avila
  12. A long, heartfelt hug.
    “A hug is like a boomerang – you get it back right away.”, Bil Keane
  13. The comfort of hotel beds.
    “There’s no place like home. Except for Grandma’s. And the hotel room.”
  14. Snow-covered trees in winter.
    “The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.”, J.B. Priestley
  15. A rejuvenating nap.
    “A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting.”, Terri Guillemets
  16. Gazing at an enormous full moon.
    “The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do.”, Tahereh Mafi
  17. A child’s spontaneous joy.
    “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”, Angela Schwindt
  18. The excitement of a child running to greet you.
    “The soul is healed by being with children.”, Fyodor Dostoevsky
  19. Spotting a distant mountain range.
    “The mountains are calling and I must go.”, John Muir
  20. Vacation planning.
    “The pleasure of planning a trip is often greater than the trip itself.”
  21. A spotless kitchen after a messy meal.
    “Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”, Phyllis Diller
  22. A toddler’s infectious belly laugh.
    “A baby’s laugh is one of the most beautiful sounds you will ever hear.”
  23. The first sip of cold water after a hot run.
    “Water is the driving force of all nature.”, Leonardo da Vinci
  24. Finishing a captivating book.
    “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”, William Styron
  25. Realizing you have more time to sleep.
    “The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.”, E. Joseph Cossman
  26. Diving into water.
    “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”, Isak Dinesen
  27. Getting goosebumps from hearing a random song.
    “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”, Plato
  28. Uncontrollable laughter.
    “I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.”, Maya Angelou
  29. Sitting around a campfire.
    “The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter.”, Henry David Thoreau
  30. Slipping into clean, cool sheets after a long day.
    “There is no sunrise so beautiful that it is worth waking me up to see it.”, Mindy Kaling
  31. Having a whole row to yourself on a plane.
    “A hidden treasure in the sky.”
  32. Being barefoot outdoors.
    “I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things… I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.”, Leo Buscaglia
  33. Hitting multiple green lights in a row.
    “Red lights are just yellow lights that haven’t turned green yet.”, Unknown
  34. The smell of flowers.
    “If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom.”, Audra Foveo
  35. The simple pleasure of skipping stones.
    “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”, Walter Bagehot
  36. Watching a heavy thunderstorm.
    “The sound of rain needs no translation.”, Alan Watts
  37. The spectacle of fireworks.
    “Fireworks are like people. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, but they all have the ability to make you smile.”, Unknown
  38. The smell of freshly baked bread.
    “Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.”, James Beard
  39. The satisfying crunch of stepping on frozen puddles.
    “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”, Aristotle
  40. Lying in soft grass.
    “I believe in the cosmos. All of us are linked to the cosmos.”, Mikhail Gorbachev
  41. Seeing your spouse in a carefree, happy mood.
    “The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.”, Henny Youngman
  42. Peeling an orange in one piece.
    “When life gives you lemons, sell them and buy oranges.”
  43. The catharsis of decluttering.
    “Outer order contributes to inner calm.”, Gretchen Rubin
  44. The relief of a good sneeze.
    “Sneezing is like an orgasm for your nose.”, Unknown
  45. Witnessing children helping each other.
    “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”, Charles Dickens
  46. Wearing comfortable shoes.
    “Good shoes take you good places.”, Unknown
  47. A great kiss.
    “A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”, Ingrid Bergman
  48. A carefree walk with my dog.
    “The best therapist has fur and four legs.”, Unknown
  49. Dancing like no one’s watching.
    “Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt.”, Mark Twain
  50. A good meal.
    “Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.”, Alan D. Wolfelt
  51. Petting a cat that crosses your path.
    “Time spent with cats is never wasted.”, Sigmund Freud
  52. Ice cream on a hot summer day.
    “Ice cream is happiness condensed.”, Jessie Lane Adams
  53. A relaxing bath in the evening.
    “A bath is not just a place to wash; it’s a sanctuary for the soul.”
  54. Looking at the stars at night.
    “The stars are the street lights of eternity.”
  55. Listening to ocean waves.
    “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.”, Wyland
  56. Singing to my favourite song.
    “Those who wish to sing always find a song.”, Swedish Proverb
  57. Butterflies in the garden.
    “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.”
  58. The calm after the kids have gone to sleep.
    “There is no greater joy than to see your children asleep and know they are safe.”
  59. Holding hands with my spouse.
    “Hand in hand, heart to heart, we will never be apart.”
  60. Beautiful art.
    “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”, Thomas Merton
  61. Feeling energetic and healthy.
    “Take care of your body; it’s the only place you have to live.”, Jim Rohn
  62. Watching leaves fall during autumn.
    “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”
  63. Walking barefoot in the sun
    “Walking barefoot for 30 minutes a day can relieve stress, lower anxiety and improve sleep.”
  64. Making babies
    “You don’t truly understand unconditional love until you have a baby.”

More to come…

  • Spotting a rainbow after a storm
  • The scent of freshly baked bread
  • A gentle breeze on a hot day
  • Watching a flickering candle
  • Watching snowflakes fall
  • The sight of the stars on a clear night
  • Reading a line in a book that resonates deeply
  • The smell of freshly ground coffee
  • Getting the perfect spot in a busy car park
  • The feel of sand beneath your bare feet
  • Watching clouds drift by on a lazy afternoon
  • Finishing a task you were putting off
  • Seeing a friendly face in a crowded place
  • Holding someone’s hand
  • The sight of a full moon
  • Laughing at a memory from years ago
  • Feeling grateful for something small
  • Getting a gentle massage
  • Warm socks
  • Watching a squirrel
  • Getting a postcard or letter in the post
  • The joy of petting a cat or dog
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