Monday, September 14, 2009

Finding joy in ordinary places

Taken with my camera phone, one block from my house.

So, today we are going to talk about happy stuff. That little brick smiley face is on a patch of street that I must walk over at least 6 times a week, but I never saw it before Friday. I took the photo about an hour after my last post.

Would anyone like to share a recent, small, unexpected happiness? Or something you're looking forward to? My daughter has her first day of preschool today, and I'm really hoping that she'll find something joyful in that classroom, despite her stranger anxiety. And if she doesn't, well, then we'll just come home and re-read all our storybooks about kids going to school, and how they're scared at first but it all turns out okay. I know she'll be fine, it's just a matter of taking the time to adjust. Or, maybe she'll just fall in love with the school turtle and never want to leave. (She has two stuffed turtles that are her favorite toys in the whole world. The last time we went to the zoo, she tried to climb in with the giant tortoises.)

Let's get the week started off right. Tell me something good.

11 comments:

  1. Hi Carrie - I found your blog through Katie Ganshert's, and I've really enjoyed reading here, especially since you're a chick-lit writer too. Your blog on 9/11...wow.

    My kids started preschool last week, so I'm enjoying my few hours of free time. I'm sitting in a soft chair at Barnes & Noble, sandwiched between the bare-chested, hunky-man covered Romance novels on one side and the 300pt. font titled Mystery novels on the other. That makes me pretty darn happy.

    Hope your day has a few more unexpected surprises for you - GREAT picture.

    - Beth

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  2. My sister had a baby last Friday! It doesn't get any better than that.;-)

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  3. I live in Paraguay and have lived in South America for 25 years, this has made me a big soccer fan. Last Wednesday our team here in Paraguay qualified to compete in the World Cup next year in South Africa. And better yet, we beat Argentina, here in Asuncion. If you follow SA soccer you will know that Argentina is the team we all love to hate. (Kind of like the Yankees)

    This small country was united in celebration and happiness! Fireworks, all broadcasts switched to the celebration, people in the streets. True joy and happiness was everywhere. The President even declared the following day to be a holiday so the parties continued.

    I was so happy to be here and share in their glee!

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  4. My son's in kindergarten this year, but I remember his first day of preschool last year. He went there nervous and came home thrilled because all the girls kissed him.

    Yep. I'm in trouble.

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  5. I sat on my covered porch this morning and watched the rain pour down. It was lovely.

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  6. The smell in the air this morning as I stepped out onto our wet driveway, plastered with fallen, wet pasted leaves. Fall is here and I can taste it. This made me incredibly happy.

    Great post Carrie and a timely reminder to stop and look at those smiley faces in the bricks.

    PS Jungle Mom-- glad there's another mom writer out there who is also a massive soccer fan! Mon the Hibs!

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  7. I'm learning to find joy in the unexpected ordinary-ness of life, myself. I feel a lot more content for doing so.

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  8. My nine-year-old daughter worked on her Crash Bandicoot (of video game fame) the ENTIRE weekend. She was drawing pictures - and my estimate is that there were 50 or more she drew - for this book, and she was completely engrossed with her project from Friday at 5 p.m. up until last night at bedtime. To see such dedication to her passion (she loves to draw) at such a young age made me very proud and very happy.

    Another bit of happiness - I read a book all day Saturday. For six hours, I barely moved from my spot on the couch. I loved it. I loved that I had nothing to do that day, that I could take this time to just enjoy this book (it was excellent, too) and relax. Simple, yet glorious.

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  9. My littlest daughter just learned to pump on the swing. I just love watching her. My heart fills up with happiness as I see her little legs pump up and down! It's a small thing, but brings so much joy!

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  10. It's a very blue sky day here today. Does that count? I like blue sky days... and I just woofed down a peanut butter and banana sandwich, I like those too :)

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  11. Happiness... Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks are back in season. That's one grande order of happy in a cup!

    I'm also looking forward to performing at this Saturday's Royal Medieval Faire... we're putting on a 30-minute show as bellydancing pirates, with simulated sword battles (real swords!) and I have a death scene. Definitely looking forward to that one. :)

    I hope you have your own happiness to share tomorrow after you learn how your daughter's day was!

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