Happiness One Tiny Delight At a Time
When tiny things give us BIG joy!
Gretchen Rubin on her podcast called Happier last week talked about tiny delights.
She was talking about small objects that bring us joy. Don’t we all love little things that spark joy, as Marie Condo says? What do you have at home that brings you joy when you look at it?
I have downsized several times. The last time I moved across country and only wanted to bring a few things with me. Just enough to fit into my new smaller home.
I had to sell a large cottage where my kids and I had spent every summer for more than 30 years. Luckily these cottages are sold with most of the furniture and even the kitchen dishes, pots and pans, and just about everything. It was seven bedrooms and many years of memories that we were leaving behind.
I am one of the lucky ones. I am not especially attached to my “things”. And for happiness, that is a benefit. True happiness comes from our thoughts and habits and our relationships. Our possessions are only about 10% of our real happiness.
I was ready to sell and move, but I also had so many years of memories that I wanted to preserve for my kids. I did the next best thing. I brought some small things that mean a lot to my kids and me.
I chose a few pieces of furniture that gave me joy. But one of the best things I did was picking and choosing some of the kitchen items and personal items that we had scattered around the cottage.
I had a complete set of dishes that were perfect for a cottage, but not for every day. I picked and chose a few items. I brought the mugs and the matching pie plates. They were enough of a reminder without having to pack a big box with the entire set that would just end up in storage.
I brought an antique wooden sign with “Dinner” etched on it. I brought a few other serving dishes and trays. Again reminders of our time there, but not bulky and we use them.
I had to sell a home too. And I did the same thing. I brought just a few things that bring me joy. We talk about having emotional baggage. I knew I didn’t want all the physical baggage either. I wanted to travel light. I wanted to feel joy from a few reminders, but not be weighed down by the heavy load of “stuff”.
Try it, you may just feel lighter! And it’s good for our soul to let go of things we no longer need, and open up to the new.
Betsy Smith, Certified Happy For No Reason Trainer and coach
betsyrsmith@mac.com
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