Joy Inventory

I'm often inspired by other writers. I've had this writer that I follow for years named Alyssa Natoci, and she just wrote a long list, in no order, of all the things that brought her joy. https://alyssanatoci.substack.com/p/joy-inventory She encouraged the readers to make their own list, and so here I am, after what feels like a long week, full of uncertainty, mourning, and an emotional roller-coaster, and I'm choosing to write.

I know often times when you are feeling anxious, it's best to think about things you are grateful for. I often forget to focus on the gratitude in life, and point a flashlight on all the things that are negative and going wrong. It's a thing I'm trying to grow in---embracing gratitude and positivity. I know by choosing joy, gratitude and positivity, it lets the negative emotions fizzle out a little.

So without furtherado here is a list, in no particular order, of things that bring me joy:

The first sip of hot coffee in the morning; my quiet office; essential oils; soft light; melodic tunes from Indie artists; my Mother's texts in the morning; the first kiss in the morning with Brady; when Brady tells me I look beautiful; traveling to a new country; breakfast when I'm starving; my mug collection; a hot meal on a cold day; my friendships; walking with a friend; coffee on the porch with Lauren; my local job; the changing of seasons; getting cozy on the couch with a good Netflix movie; hot tea before yoga class; the community in Eau Claire; laughs with different friends; my nephew's sweet smile; my sister's sassy comments that make me laugh out loud; writing on my new computer; my Dad's nice text messages; my Mom's laughs over the phone for our daily chats; the feeling after a good workout; sticking to my rhythm; my in-laws' cozy home; weekly family dinners; Brady's grandma's hugs; the tingly feeling I get when I read a good quote; eating healthy food; drinking hot chocolate in the wintertime; having my house freshly organized and a candle lit; thrifting a new shirt that I love; a soft cozy hoodie that hasn't been washed yet; taking a train at 90mph; seeing Germany for the first time; looking into my now husband's eyes at the altar and feeling so many emotions, but the only natural one was to smile; a sense of relief after a long year of planning; completing tasks; having a good cry and moving forward; dancing at concerts; listening to Japanese House; eating sushi and drinking Japanese beer; letting myself feel free by not wearing make-up for a day; dressing up and feeling glamorous; getting a new tote bag; texts from Jordan and our genuine friendship; eating Indian food; receiving the same love back from friends; my relationship with Rafaela and our texts; running on a Spring day; petting a dog or cat; smelling lavender; getting massages and pedicures; having my nails done on occasion; drinking beer in Germany; enjoying movies on a transantlantic flight with Anne Hathaway in it; having something to look forward to; summer days on Lake Altoona; boat rides; drinking wine at family dinners; crockpot meals after a long work day; dancing in the living room; $5 Tuesday movie nights with my husband; chai tea lattes with espresso; drinking from a hand crafted mug, going for swims in a lake on a hot day; laughing genuinely; hiking and being outside; living in my favorite city.

That was 15-minutes of free-writing, and I too, encourage you to try it! I feel good. I'm about to go to my friend's house soon to chat and walk, so I'm going to hang onto good feelings today and let life happen to me, try to savor new experiences and welcome joy into my life. :)

"Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always." -Rainer Maria Rilke

a lake in Freiburg, Germany