Simple Joys

Today has been an off day for me, and I've been struggling to feel happy and myself. As I was sitting on my bed with my sweet almost 4 month old boy, I noticed that he was staring up at the ceiling fan spinning. I was struck with the thought, "Children find joy in some of life's most simple things." As I laid down beside him and watched with him I started to think about all of the things that my baby finds joy in. Watching the ceiling fan spin, hitting and grabbing the hanging toys on his bouncer, a shaking rattle, a stroller ride around the block, laying on the ground sucking on his hands, being able to hold his head up, standing up on Mom or Dad's lap, tickle fights on the bed, splashing in the bath, Daddy's laugh, a bottle of milk, stories before bed, being rocked in a rocking chair, swinging, being thrown in the air, babbling to someone or himself, watching a mobile spin, and seeing ME smile! There are probably a few handful more things I could come up with, but the point is what happens as we grow up that makes it difficult for us to find joy in simple things?

I couldn't come up with an answer. For me I've found that I look for joy in going out to eat, buying new clothes, scrolling on social media, traveling, going to Disneyland, staying caught up on my favorite reality/drama TV shows, but is this true JOY I'm getting out of these kind of things. The times where I've felt real JOY honestly have been in simple things like the day I married Eric, seeing my son for the first time and then watching my husband tear up looking into his eyes, hearing my son laugh, hearing "I love you" from my husband, sweet kisses on the forehead, talking on the phone with my mom, being around friends and family, watching my son sleep so peacefully and seeing his sleepy smile when he wakes up in the morning. Basically things that don't cost money, waste time, or cause me to compare myself to others or feel unimportant. Today I chose to take the time to find joy in the moment I had with my sweet boy.

Those sweet baby hands and long eyelashes,

those beautiful blue eyes,

the way he curls his feet like I do, and you know what? I answered my question. I don't think we ever forget how to find joy in simple things. Instead, we choose to ignore the things that bring us true joy while being absorbed searching for joy in worldly things. I want to do better at noticing the small simple joys that everyday brings and not search for something I cannot get from things of the world.