50 Little Joys

Can you think of fifty ordinary things that make you smile? What are the simple little joys that brighten your life?

The challenge was to think of fifty everyday things you enjoy and write them down. Here's my list. What joys are on your list? 

1. Walking on my favorite local nature trail
2. Going for a jog
3. Making my daughter laugh
4. Mocha frappacinos  
5. Listening to music
6. Falling asleep to the sound of the rain
7. Reading stories to my daughter in the hammock
8. Family walks after dinner
9. Watching a sunrise/sunset
10. Wednesday night TV with the hubby. (Current favorites: Modern Family and Nashville)
11. Having a conversation with a good friend
12. Surfing Pinterest
13. Crafting
14. Viewing family photos and videos
15. Doing a yoga video at home
16. Unprompted hugs from my three year old
17. Dancing with our little princess
18. Baking muffins with mommy's little helper
19. Admiring a cloud formation
20. Reading the Bible
21. Shopping at Target
22. Walking around JoAnn's
23. Back rubs with the hubby
24. Sunday Arby's on the way home from church
25. Taking my daughter to the park
26. Making love
27. Pillow talk before falling asleep
28. Playing hide-in-seek with the kiddo
29. Catching the Chip Ingram show on the radio while in the car running errands
30. Family date night to a restaurant 
31. Savoring a piece of dark chocolate
32. Word games
33. Watching HGTV
34. Seeing our child play with other kids
35. Organizing 
36. Having dinner with friends
37. A full moon low on the horizon
38. Singing in the shower
39. Opening up the windows
40. Getting a Redbox movie with my husband
41. Pausing to watch big snowflakes fall from the sky
42. Snuggling with my kiddo
43. Completing a project
44. Sitting around a crackling fire
45. Finding deals at a garage sale
46. Being silly with the family
47. Dominoes Pizza Carry Out
48. Video editing family videos
49. Mid day phone calls from the hubs
50. Swapping advice with friends

It took a while to think of fifty items, but I'm glad I wrote them down. Putting them on paper has helped me to see what I really enjoy and value. I notice many of the items relate to spending time with my husband and daughter, appreciating nature, and creative pursuits. 

I also notice what's not on the list -- blogging. While I still enjoy many aspects indirectly related to blogging (Pinterest, crafting, photography, completing projects, sharing advice) the actual writing of posts and blog upkeep is no longer that fulfilling to me. 

Maybe I'll return to blogging in the fall, but for the time being, there's at least fifty other things I'd rather be enjoying this summer :)