Joyful things and moments (v1)

I love what vacation takes me mentally as I pause, slowdown, reflect in simple life pleasures and moments. My sleep scores have improved a lot, my resilience level went to its highest level, and my overall wellbeing is at its optimal level. I hope to continue cultivating rest, pause, mindfulness, and appreciation of small things and blissful moments even when I’m not on vacation.

Sharing few things that are bringing me lots of joy

These bracelets that we got in Bali. I love seeing them in my waist every day, multiple times, they remind me of my girls who have the matching sets

This diffuser. I loved the scent we had at our ubud villa and asked the host what scent it was, then I ordered the same ones.

Pre run snack/PM snack: rice cake with almond butter. I am loving this combo. Both brought back from DC trip.

You know I love spoons and happily got a new pair in Bali. These are expensive, like 10 USD per spoon but I use it every morning for my oatmeal.

BLISSFUL MOMENTS OF JOY:

• Evening time: Sofia playing soothing piano, Lizzy giving me a massage. I was in heaven

• Reading a passage of sandwich brings me nostalgia and joy at the same time. Anticipated nostalgia for when girls leave this nest, joy because I still have time to enjoy them

• Cooking with the girls. They are at the age that can be tasked to do what I don’t want to do, happily, like making these glutinous rice balls. I made the dough and the filling, but left them making the balls.

• Doing girly things with the girls like nails, moisturize after shower, face masks. I soak up those moments of excitements and soothing rituals.
• As I apply eczema cream to Lizzy’s little arms, I know she feels loved, cared. I want to eat up her squishy little arms so I can keep them that way forever.
• Laying in the dark before sleep while Sofia tells me her worries, excitements about middle school. Which friends she’ll share classes together, what exciting food will be offered in middle school cafeteria, which subjects she’s mostly excited about (social studies).
• Reading girls’ written stories, I smile for a long while.
• Husband taking my hand in the taxi after his colonoscopy.
• Lizzy’s horror face when we asked her if she’d like a little sister (we are not having one!!!)

• Morning walk to school with Lizzy. We may chat, we may walk in silence, we hold the hands, she pulls me closer to her when a car approaches.
• Silent and dark room when I start my day before 5am. Calm, peace, hopeful.
• The ritual of putting the blanket out on the floor, put the pillow, lie down for my 10 min morning meditation. Comfort, joy, peace.
• The sound of coffee machine with the anticipation of the first sip of morning coffee.

Post edit: I realize how wise Elizabeth is by doing her Happy Things Friday posts. I love the feeling when I wrote down this list, reliving those moments again, and appreciate these little bits of joy everyday. I shall follow Elizabeth’s wisdom and do more of these.